THE BALLOON MAN

Arena transforms into three-ring circus

 

Jason Gibson, assistant general manager, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, talks about the logistics involved with setting up for the circus at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester on Thursday.

(DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER)
By DOUG ALDEN
from: New Hampshire Union Leader
September 27. 2012
Preparing an empty arena for the “Greatest Show on Earth” looks like a bit of a circus.

What appears to be chaos is actually an intricate, detailed process to get everything in place for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which opened a four-night run at Verizon Wireless Arena in downtown Manchester on Thursday night. From hanging the lighting above to laying a rubber surface on the floor, every bit of space has its own role in the setup required for the two-hour show.

”We have to be organized. There's a lot of moving pieces for our show,” said Jason Gibson, an assistant general manager overseeing the tour. “When the show is put together, it doesn't matter if it's the first show or the 450th show, it's got to be the same. We have that exact quality control each and every day.”

Crew members and even some of the performers dodged forklifts Thursday as they fashioned the elaborate setup where fans would marvel at the daredevil performers, animal acts and clowns that try to keep a balance of circus tradition while still being a new show the audience hasn't seen before.

“I don't always dress like this. I'm working!' performer Brian Miser shouted, wearing jeans and a T-shirt as he dashed across the parking lot to a trailer for a tool.

Miser's role was traditionally known as the “Human Cannonball.” In the modern-day show, he's the “Human Fuse,” lighted on fire and sent flying across the arena from a giant crossbow.

Miser's launching device was still packed away in one of the many white wagons being carted through the arena or waiting in the parking lot. His giant landing pads were backstage, along with dozens of other props for the episode titled “Fully Charged.”

The preparation actually began Wednesday night when crew members chained a large trestle from the rafters. The gridwork of metal lined with wires supports the circus' own lights, sound system and even the collapsible cage that when raised encase trainer Tabayara and a dozen tigers that are part of the show. There are also six elephants and 23 horses on the tour, which travels the country by a train with enough cars to stretch it more than a mile, Gibson said.
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