Executive Q&A: Scott O’Donnell says Circus World is more of an attraction now

Scott O'Donnell, executive director of Circus World

from: host.madison.com

By Barry Adams | Wisconsin State Journal

April 20, 2014 

Scott O’Donnell has never been shot out of a cannon, but he’s done many other jobs in his circus career including training dogs, horses and camels, being a ringmaster and performing as a clown.

His newest gig brings O’Donnell back to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo where he was operations manager from 2002 to 2005. In August, O’Donnell was named executive director of the historic site that is split by the Baraboo River, owned by the state and is home to the largest collection of antique circus wagons in the world.

O’Donnell, who says he went to college as a backup plan to his circus dreams, was one of more than 25 candidates for the position with the Circus World Museum Foundation, which operates the museum. He replaces Steve Freese, who left Circus World in August after seven years on the job.

O’Donnell, whose father was a firefighter and his mother a nurse, brings a rich circus background to Circus World. His stints include boss clown and talent manager for Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus. He also was vice president and general manager of the Big Apple Circus in New York and has worked for a number of circuses throughout his career.

Over the last six months, O’Donnell has been reacquainting himself with the museum, its employees and operations.

He’s also been working on retooling the museum’s website, adding new exhibits and bringing back a big top tent for daily circus performances that in recent years had been held in a building on the grounds.

Q: How did you get interested in the circus?

A: I was the quirky little kid from Canada who fell in love with the circus. While some of my friends were learning how to play hockey or going to Ozzy Osbourne concerts, I was the kid who thought the circus was mighty cool. Even as a kid, there was something wildly romantic about a circus. Where did this wacky world come from overnight and set up in our high school field or in the arena next door? And how did these people know they had all these talents and where did they disappear to overnight? It was just fascinating to me as a child.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/business/executive-qa/executive-q-a-scott-o-donnell-says-circus-world-is/article_42add4f0-1497-5c80-9b95-a305fe15e2f7.html#ixzz2zX7MH1cj

Torres Family Circus Globe of Death Will Shock, Thrill You

By Space Coast Daily  

April 21, 2014

WILL FEATURE MOTORCYCLE GLOBE OF DEATH

ABOVE VIDEO: The Torres Family Circus – This one ring circus is fun for the entire family and features aerial acts, juggling and balancing acts, circus clowns, a living carousel and the motorcycle Globe of Death.
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Torres Family Circus will entertain you during the 11 days at the Space Coast Spring Fair, now running through Sunday on the grounds of Space Coast Stadium in Viera.

If you love fun, thrill rides, delicious fair foods, fun games and live entertainment, then DON’T MISS THE SPACE COAST SPRING FAIR

More than 200 popular thrill rides, shows and games will be enjoyed by guests to the Space Coast SpringFair.

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA — The 4th annual Space Coast Spring Fair, a much-loved area tradition, returns to Brevard County this spring to the delight of all Fair lovers across the Central Florida.

"Legends" opening - Ringling Bros. and Barnum &Bailey Circus 

Attractions Magazine
Published on Jan 10, 2014
The full opening of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show called Legends. Experience amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and the mysterious: a Unicorn, a Pegasus and a Woolly Mammoth.

Review: Moscow State Circus

Flying trapeze act White Birds

from: newhamrecorder.co.uk

BY Janine Rasiah , Senior Reporter

Sunday, April 20, 2014 

There is nothing like a visit to the big top to draw you into an enchanting and beguiling world, no matter what age you are

Hand balancer Vlad Khyostik

Set in the Park Gorkogo, mystical centre of Moscow’s cultural & artistic quarter, the Moscow State Circus’ new tour includes some never seen before acts.

We were lucky enough to have ringside seats which gave us a fantastic view almost in touching reach of the action.

The bar was set high with the first act, a handbalancer who contorted himself into unbeliveable shapes while upside down.

The seamless merge into the subsequent acts, from trapeze acts to rollerskating tricks on top of a table just two metres in diameter, has to be seen to be believed.

I was particularly impressed by the vertical jugglers who performed with glow in the dark clubs atop what must have been 15 foot poles.

And while slapstick isn’t usually my thing, the clown was a big hit with the kids - and even I mustered a giggle at some of his more outrageous behaviour.

For a couple of hours of pure escapism, marvelling and laughter there is nothing better.

The Moscow State Circus will perform in the International Quarter in Westfield Avenue, Stratford from Wednesday to Sunday.

For more details, visit moscowstatecircus.com

Can You Make It Through Without Happycrying???

Luke waits almost three years to see the circus again

ROLL UP: A huge fan of the circus, an excited Luke James, 8, meets Stardust Circus ringmaster Adam. Luke wants to join the circus and is learning how to ride the unicycle. Luke’s favourite acts were the lions, the flying trapeze artists and the springboard troupe.

Allan Reinikka Rokacircus

from:  cqnews.com.au

21st Apr 2014

ROCKHAMPTON--THERE'S no place Luke James would rather be than at the circus.

Luke, 8, finally got the chance to see Stardust Circus again on Saturday night after waiting for almost three years for it to roll back into Rockhampton.

He said it was "really exciting" to watch the show again.

"My favourite thing was really the lions," he said. "I really like the trapeze... I like how they fly on the swings."

But the cherry on top of the night for Luke was when his mum Janette arranged for him to get a photo with circus ringmaster Adam.

"(That was) the best part of the night," Luke said. "I would also like to be a ringmaster in the circus."

Ringmaster-in-the-making Luke said he loved Stardust and would love to join it in the future.

"(I like the circus) because there's a lot of sparkly coats and good acts and really big Big Tops," Luke said. "It's a really good circus and every act is different."

A Clown is Born

Published on Apr 7, 2014

Get $10 off tickets to the Big Apple Circus when you use BIGAPPLE code.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.BigAppleCircus.org 

Big Top Returns To Hillsboro,IL Thursday

from: thejournal-news.net

Monday, April 21, 2014

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, step right up because the circus is coming to town!

The Kelly Miller Circus returns to Hillsboro for two shows on Thursday, April 24, at the Hillsboro Sports Complex.

Advance tickets are still available to both the 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. shows, and are $10 for adults and $6 for kids, ages 12 and under. Tickets will be available at the circus, but the cost will be $15 for adults and $7 for children, ages 12 and under.

Circus elephants will begin putting up the big top tent that morning at 9 a.m., and everyone is invited to watch the tent raising, free of charge.

This year's show features elephants, tigers, horses and a cast of international circus stars under a beautiful circus big top.

Advance tickets are now available at The Journal-News, First Community Bank, Gianni's Pizza, National Bank, Security National Bank in Coffeen and Witt, and Dollar General in Hillsboro.

Proceeds from the circus will benefit the Hillsboro Sertoma Club for a variety of community service projects.

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes of Disney's 'Bears'

The film hopes to inspire viewers to experience national parks.

Posted by Sarasota Patch Team ,

April 19, 2014 

By Michael Sewall

This post is sponsored by Disneynature's "Bears," in theaters April 18. 

In Disneynature's newest film Bears, which opened in theaters April 18, cameras follow a family of brown bears through Alaska.

But the movie is about more than documentation—it's about inspiration. 

"I think that people will be inspired to actually get out there and experience these amazing national parks," said Gavin Thurston, principal photography on Bears. Watch the video above to learn more about the filming of the movie.

~~~THE WELDE'S~~~

PERFORMING BEARS

JOHNNY & MONICA WELDE

Montreal embraces the circus arts

DAVID LYON FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

An end-of-the-year performance by students at TOHU Pavilion.

from: bostonglobe.com

By Patricia Harris and David Lyon  | GLOBE CORRESPONDENTS  

APRIL 19, 2014

If you want to run off to join the circus, you don’t have to go very far. Montreal has become the circus capital of North America, and right now, circus season is getting into high gear.

We’re not talking about the jugglers, fire-eaters, and clowns on unicycles you are likely to encounter on Place Jacques-Cartier or Place des Arts on a balmy summer evening. The founders of Cirque du Soleil may have started out 30 years ago as stilt walkers and street performers, but they became famous as proponents of the “new circus.” This arty brew infuses the great clowning and acrobatics traditions with theater, music, dance, and sheer New Age spectacle. It struck a chord with a generation of Quebecois. The artistic and financial success of Cirque du Soleil spawned an industry. Suddenly the young acrobat had a future that didn’t involve teaching gym.

The epicenter of Montreal circus culture is the TOHU campus on the outskirts of the city, where Cirque du Soleil established its international headquarters in 2000. Nearby is the National Circus School (École national de cirque), which was founded in 1981, moved into a new building next to Cirque du Soleil in 2003, and had to expand in 2009. The TOHU Pavilion, with Canada’s only high-tech circular performance space, has been the virtual big top for the campus since 2004. The complex is one of the largest in the world to integrate all aspects of circus arts from training to performance — not bad for an organization whose name, “tohu,” comes from the French term “tohu-bohu,” which translates “hurly-burly” or “hustle-bustle.”

There are shows all year long at the TOHU Pavilion, but none are more anticipated than the productions (May 27-June 8 this year) that feature the advanced and graduating students of the National Circus School. The highly competitive professional school teaches five disciplines of circus arts: acrobatics, aerials, balancing, juggling, and clowning. You might get a glimpse of the concentration and dedication the students bring to their studies if you peek into a gym on your way to the school’s library, one of the world’s great repositories of circus artifacts.

RÉNALD LAURIN/MONTREAL CIRQUE FESTIVAL

The Montreal Cirque Festival offers many outdoor performances.

But the show’s the thing. It’s where students demonstrate their skills, debut their personal acts, and prove they can collaborate to create a full production with a coherent narrative. Going to a performance is nearly full immersion in the exuberance of contemporary circus.

read more>>>

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2014/04/19/montreal-embraces-circus-arts/X1oJTmFmuEYQsPNAhJo87M/story.html

One-man circus comes to RVCC Theatre on May 3

Pictured is Jamie Adkins in Circus Incognitus.

from:  nj.com

By The Messenger-Gazette 

April 19, 2014 

The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg will present Jamie Adkins’ Circus Incognitus on Saturday, May 3, at 7 p.m. The performance is the final offering in this season’s Family Series, recommended for audiences ages eight and older and their families.

Clowning around and performing acrobatic feats—on the ground and on a suspended slack wire—are all part of the entertainment in Circus Incognitus. The production depicts the story of a man who has something to say, but can't quite get it out. A shy Jamie Adkins musters the courage to face what he fears most: speaking in public.

Follow Adkins on an adventure about having the courage to try new ideas, pushing them to their limits, and not giving up when all goes wrong. Most of all, Adkins enlightens audiences about the importance of surprising yourself, because you never know what you can do until you try.

Tickets cost $15 each. To purchase tickets or for additional information, contact the Box Office at 908-725-3420 or order online at rvccArts.org. Senior citizen, student and group discounts are also available for a variety of performances.

RVCC’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg. For more information, visit raritanval.edu.

The circus is on the peninsula

from: examiner.com

By Janice Holland

April 18, 2014

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is currently performing at the Coliseum in Hampton, VA through April 20, 2014. In our area for its annual tour, it stopped at Norfolk’s Scope the week previously for shows from April 8 – 13.

Those desiring to gain the full measure of the show needed to be by the animal enclosures at 6:00 p.m. with tickets in hand to garner a closer look at many of the animal celebrities who would be performing a little later in the evening. Children and adults alike were thrilled to get within a few yards of lions, tigers, horses, goats, llamas, wallabies and a group of playful elephants.

Moving to the indoors for the 6:30 p.m. pre-show was most welcome due to the cool, brisk wind blowing outdoors Thursday evening. Those with programs were encouraged to gain autographs from performers who were in the staging area. Any of the children who ventured out to the stage could have their pictures taken with them, receive a temporary tattoo proclaiming The Greatest Show on Earth, wear an outfit that a performer might wear and receive their very own clown nose – free.

Moving to your reserved seats prior to the 7:30 p.m. starting time allowed you to be ready for the grand entrance of Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson to the tune of “Jump.” It was an apropos opening for the spirited storyteller of this year’s Legends circus experience. Paulo, the Legend seeker, enters with him and is a major player throughout the show.

Iverson led the crowd in the singing of the National Anthem, accompanied by a live orchestra. As honor was being given to our great nation, one of the beautiful women performers carried an American flag while riding a huge elephant.

Afterwards, the show began with a parade-walk similar in nature to that of the Olympics, where all – or most all- of the performers took a walk around the ring, waving to the crowd, in anticipation of performing for them. The variety of styles and colors of clothing, as well as the multi-cultural unity presented by the group, gives one hope for a world of unity one day.

The two acts most comparable in terms of raw courage and nerves of steel are almost an antithesis of each other. No doubt, any person willing to stand in an enclosure with seven lions and tigers with only a bullwhip to protect himself must exude the “Alpha” persona throughout the act. Asking not one, but two, of these beautiful, wild beasts to give you a kiss and trusting you will step back with your head intact, much less your lips, is surely not an act of cowardice.

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

Clowns took turns performing in the staging area and taking pictures with the kids during the pre-show activities. It was a wonderful opportunity for kids of all ages to get an up-close look at the antics of these very talented performers.

The act most comparable to that would have to be the Amazing Acceleration act of the Torres family. Beginning with 3 motorcycles all but flying around a globe of steel, the act builds to having 8 cyclists revving around the globe at the same time, sometimes coming within four inches of each other. The timing for such an act must be to the nearest milli-second and does not allow for anything less than the performer’s complete attention.

Unlike most circuses attended in the past, there seemed to be far fewer “hawkers” moving up and down the steps while the performances were occurring. For those with children in attendance, that must have been a welcome difference as it allowed for one’s attention to be on the ring and not on what was for sale.

The accompanying list will showcase some of the scenes from Legends, the latest production of The Greatest Show on Earth.

READ AND SEE MORE>>>

http://www.examiner.com/list/the-circus-is-on-the-peninsula

They let go of trapeze to vote

Three artistes from Thalassery working with Gemini Circus — which pitched tent here on March 28 — took two days off to vote in the Lok Sabha election held in Kerala on April 10

from:  thehindu.com

by RAGHAVA M.

April 20, 2014 

Gemini Circus artists say vital to be part of country’s future

Duty-minded Sagar Ashok Kumre, a popular clown with Gemini Circus, is taking a break this weekend from the work, for a valid reason. Like a few of his colleagues, Mr. Kumre is going all the way to Manmad in Maharashtra to cast his vote for the Lok Sabha election on April 24.

“This is the first time I am doing so,” Mr. Kumre told The Hindu. Mr. Kumre, who is among the six clowns in Gemini Circus, said pressure of work made it difficult to take time out for voting. “But this time I decided to vote and have been granted a few days leave.” He said he had been calling his family to know about candidates in fray. “It is my duty to exercise the right,” he said.

Mr. Kumre is not the only artiste to do so. Three artistes from Thalassery working with Gemini Circus — which pitched tent here on March 28 — took two days off to vote in the Lok Sabha election held in Kerala on April 10. P.K. Vijayan, a clown, his brother Gangadharan and his colleague Sanjay N. were granted leave to exercise their franchise. “Last (Lok Sabha) election we came all the way from a place in Tamil Nadu. We try our best not to miss the chance,” said Mr. Vijayan (55), who has been in the circus since he was five years old. “We need to vote if we have to bring about a change in the administration,” said Mr. Sanjay.

But not all are fortunate. Babu Das (50), who hails from Kolkata, said it was difficult to get leave. “Though I want to exercise my right, the work is such it is difficult to get long leave to reach my native place. Distance is a big factor that prevents us from going to vote,” he said.

CIRCUS OZ PROMO

Circus Oz hurl themselves to new heights -- this show has been honed, road-hardened, made tight and allowed to play hilariously fast and loose.

Expect the irreverent Circus Oz spirit, revel in the company's much-loved characters and thrill at some daring new feats with a roving Indigenous provocateur destined to disrupt Circus Oz's ongoing brand of ridiculous tomfoolery that leaves audiences howling for more.

Credited with revitalising a traditional artform in a uniquely Australian way, Circus Oz is a rock 'n' roll, animal-free circus that has influenced the development of circus arts around the world since its foundation in 1978.

Six burning questions for ... Lilikoi

Circus performer Lilikoi.

from:  smh.com.au

By Max Olijnyk

April 20, 2014

1. YOU'RE ALREADY SUCH AN ESTABLISHED PERFORMER WITH MANY STRINGS TO YOUR BOW. WHY JOIN FORCES WITH CIRCUS OZ?

I think it's a really important time in the evolution of Circus Oz. They're turning over some really exciting new pages and I had to be a part of that book.

2. HOW DOES THE REALITY OF BEING A CIRCUS PERFORMER DIFFER TO WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF IT?

People see you on stage and think you only work for an hour, but there is a lot of training to develop those skills. You get to see the razzmatazz version. We do get to wear sequins, so that's pretty awesome.

3. DO YOU HAVE INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCUS?

It's pretty all-encompassing. It's not a job you can switch off from. I'm always hanging out with other carnies and going to see other shows.

4. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?

My mum's a Hawaiian circus performer. I went on stage when I was three months old. I could hang off a trapeze before I could walk.

5. THE NEW SHOW BUT WAIT … THERE'S MORE SATIRISES THE FAST-PACED LIFESTYLE MANY OF US LEAD TODAY. ARE YOU A PART OF THAT TOO?

I'm totally part of it. I was sitting on my phone before checking my email, my Facebook, while running through my hoops and talking to someone and I thought, ''How am I doing all this at once?''

6. DO YOU LOOK FAR AHEAD WITH YOUR CAREER?

As a physical performer, there's a time frame on how long you can do it for. You have to take care of yourself and focus.

But Wait…There's More, Birrarung Marr, June 18 -July 13, circusoz.com

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/six-burning-questions-for--lilikoi-20140417-36tab.html#ixzz2zS4kLeo7

JERSEY BOYS - Official Trailer (2014) [HD]

Published on Apr 17, 2014

Release Date: June 20, 2014

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Director: Clint Eastwood

Screenwriter: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice

Starring: John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Vincent Piazza, Michael Lomenda, Christopher Walken

Genre: Musical

MPAA Rating: R (for language throughout)

Official Websites: http://www.jerseyboysmovie.com/, https://www.facebook.com/JerseyBoysMovie

Plot Summary:

Clint Eastwood's big screen version of the Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of the four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic '60s rock group The Four Seasons. Their trials and triumphs are accompanied by the hit songs that influenced a generation, and are now being embraced by a new generation of fans through the stage musical.

WWE: 10 Superstars That Prove Wrestling Really Is A Travelling Circus

WWE.com

You often hear Professional Wrestling be described as a men’s soap opera … with body slams. After all, it has everything that a classic soap opera such as Melrose Place, Dynasty, or Dallas would have. Brutal betrayals, manipulative man-eaters, nefarious villains always hatching some plan to come out on top, and protagonists you cheer for but sometimes want to smack for taking the high road too damn much; resulting in the villain being able to return to cause even more trouble.

However, what most people forget is that while wrestling may be considered a stunt-filled soap opera, it’s more akin to a travelling circus or carnival ground; populated with mysterious and shady characters, persons performing impossible physical feats, or truly bizarre showmen and personalities that you wouldn’t associate with the Ewing’s or the Carrington’s.

What most individuals who take the industry too seriously seem to forget is that Professional Wrestling got its start on the fair grounds of carnivals and circuses. Wrestlers adopted “carny talk” in an effort to talk without divulging certain aspects of the business to those not in the loop. While fans today may dislike outlandish characters or the over-the-top flamboyancy of some personas, demanding that more respect be given to the sport’s “traditional roots,” they must also remember that wrestling’s origins are anything but “traditional” and must also respect that wrestling was cultivated in an environment filled with fun, wonder, and merriment.

With that being said, we take a look at ten wrestling Superstars – past and present – who keep or kept the spirit of wrestling’s roots alive by proving, through their performances and gimmicks, that Professional Wrestling is nothing more than a glorified travelling circus.

Read more at http://whatculture.com/wwe/wwe-10-superstars-that-prove-wrestling-really-is-a-travelling-circus.php#LPMak9v658opIwyI.9