"WALKING TO WORK"

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants are led to The Orleans on Wednesday, the day before the circus is scheduled to begin a four-day run. Shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today and Friday, and at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

JESSICA EBELHAR/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

RINGLING OPENS IN CONEY ISLAND---

Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier

Everyone loves elephants — and they’ll be back in the Ringling Bros. summer one-ring circus, “Illuscination,” which opens on June 15 in Coney Island
Photo by Heinz KluetmeierHot stuff: Sun Junjie does an amazing fire leap in the Ringling Bros. one-ring circus, “Illuscination,” which opened last night in Coney Island.
June 18, 2010 / GO Brooklyn / Where to GO /

Coney Island It’s no ‘Illuscination’ — new Ringling circus is solid entertainment

By Thurston Dooley III, The Brooklyn Paper
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey hails itself as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” but the latest incarnation of the company’s one-ring venture in Coney Island is more like “The Subtlest Circus on Earth.”
Mixing small-bore animal acts, quiet acrobatics and magic — yes, magic in a circus — the new “Illuscination” show is definitely a solid night of entertainment, but one that’s most enjoyed by the people in the good seats.
The rest of you, frankly, will spend the night craning your neck.
First, the good news: Just as last year, there are some outstanding wonders of human amazement on display under the big top on W. 21st Street.
.Ringmaster David DaVinci brings a modern take on the traditional role, commanding the eye a bright gold lame jacket and tight black jeans — like some kind of mix-and-match Elvis. DaVinci adds an entirely un-circus-like element: his ramped-up magic acts.
He’s a great showman and a solid illusionist. No matter how many times I see the “lady in a box” trick, I am spellbound. And DaVinci and partner Jamieleigh’s version of the old trick where two people switch places in a locked box was one of the best I’ve ever seen.
Better still, the inevitable Chinese acrobatic team of Sun Junjie and Qin Guojing provided a rare mix of strength, agility and daredevilishness with a fiery acrobatic act.
First, they bend metal with their bare throats. Then they do some martial arts. And then, they tumble through a knife-covered tube. Then one of them does it blindfolded. And then with the tube on fire. And then with the tube on fire and spinning!
The much-hyped hair-hanging act of Viktoriya Medeiros and Widny Neves lives up to its billing. It’s one thing to hear that two women will hang from their hair, but it’s another thing to watch them spinning and twirling like teacups when connected to the high wire only by their thick ponytails.
Now, the bad news: A handful of the acts are just too small or too subtle to register with the bleacher creatures. The cat act was particular problematic, playing out in the same way that Jimi Hendrix must have appeared to people who were at the back of Yasgur’s farm.
Several extended clown bits — including one with a horse whose timing was better than his human partner — fell flat. And a motorcycle number is less than interesting.
Even the lion routine was fairly, well, routine.
But those misses are outnumbered by the hits — and with tickets that start at just $10, Ringling Bros. is certainly “the Greatest Show at the Lowest Price on Earth.”
And one more thing: The action is hot, but the tent is cold — bring a jacket, as the air-conditioning is comfortable only to pregnant ladies who are past their due date.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s “Illuscination” [W. 21 Street between Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk in Coney Island, (800) 745-3000], through Sept. 6. Tickets start at $10. For info, visit, http://www.ringling.com/.

TODAY'S MERMAID PARADE IN CONEY ISLAND

CIRCUS PERFORMER HOSPITALIZED---BREAKING NEWS---

Circus Performer Hospitalized

Accident happened during show at Newport GrandUpdated: Saturday, 19 Jun 2010, 5:51 AM EDTPublished : Saturday, 19 Jun 2010, 5:51 AM EDT
NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) - A circus performer was rushed to Newport Hospital Friday night after an accident during a show.
It happened during a performance of the Cole Brothers Circus, which is playing at Newport Grand.
It's not clear how the performer was injured, or how severe the injuries are.

OHIO TURKEY FESTIVAL

Visitors can find a variety of delicious foods at the Danville-Howard Turkey Festival including pizza, popcorn, hot dogs, French fries, funnel cake, sugar waffles, cotton candy, and much more. (Kenesha R. Beheler)
Children of all ages eagerly waited in line to ride the Loop Planes, an upside-down twirl of excitement, at the Danville-Howard Turkey Festival at Memorial Park in Danville. (Kenesha R. Beheler)

Alexia Pack of Howard was out with her friends at enjoying the Danville-Howard Turkey Festival. Pack tried her skills at shooting targets to win a prize. (Kenesha R. Beheler)

Fried oreos were a popular food at the Danville-Howard Turkey Festival. Daniel Hinkens of Howard bites into one — one of his favorite festival food. (Kenesha R. Beheler)

Turkey Festival kicks off in style

By Kenesha Beheler June 18, 2010 EDTDANVILLE, Ohio

Turkey Festival kicks off in style — “Can you talk like a turkey,” Master of Ceremonies Keith Miller asked contestants of the Little Miss and Mr. Turkey Contest.

Thursday evening was the start of this year’s Danville-Howard Turkey Festival, an annual gathering of summer excitement with food, rides, crafts, games and live entertainment each night.

FROM DENNIS YOUNGER--

Hello DickFirst to say your site always has some interesting items to view. Good work!

Second, could you give out a little info on my book to the circus fans. The book website is www.freewebs.com/circusdays2005.

'Wild Animal Circus -True tales from the Carson & Barnes Circus. Published May 2009 and available only from the webpage.Thanks for your time. Regards, Dennis J. Younger

UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS IN NEWARK, NJ

.Tigers, Elephants and Poodles Steal the UniverSoul Circus Show

.Friday, 18 June 2010 16:20 Walter Elliot .NEWARK -

The UniverSoul Circus nearly filled the 40-foot-tall big top Wednesday, June 16 despite cloudy weather at their new stand at the former Lincoln Motel site on Broad Street.
The 17 year-old Atlanta-based UniverSoul Circus' tent was previously set up off the southwestern corner of Irvine Turner Boulevard and Spruce Street. Circus administrators however jumped at the opportunity when the lot bordering NJTransit's Broad Street Station and near Interstate 280 and N.J. Route 21/McCarter Highway became available.
The Newark Bears have occasionally used this lot for overflow parking and performers say this year's UniverSoul venue is more convenient for commuters.
"This seems like a more stable location," said Randall Jackson, one of the circus' high steppers. "It's easier for people to get to."
Jackson, of Atlanta, has a basis for comparison. He explained that he was with the troupe when they stopped at Turner and Spruce last year.
"I worked the lights and sound last year," said Jackson. "My brother, Papa Dok, is a quick change artist."
Jackson was waiting for his cue backstage, dressed in military camouflage fatigues. He and the seven other high steppers were the two-and-a-half show's third act.
He said the 200 performers, stagehands and related personnel are on tour from Feb. 12 into November. Their stays last a week on average before moving on - which leaves no time for sightseeing.
Jackson, however, says he can tell how different the Newark crowd is from other stops - and differences in crowd from performance to performance.
"The audience here is a little more friendly, they want to talk a little bit," said Jackson. "Sometimes we get a younger crowd who get excited with our acts."
The Circus' June 16 performance was filled with an audience of all ages including children from Newark's Lady Liberty Academy and Bloomfield's Watsessing School. There were at least two minibuses of Newark senior citizens in attendance. Joining them were Mayor Cory A. Booker and Councilman at Large Donald Payne Jr.
Booker, no stranger to circus openings, had to leave early. So did Payne - but not before addressing the crowd with Ringmaster Tony Tone during intermission.
"UniverSoul brings quality entertainment to Newark," said Essex County Freeholder Payne in the ring. "It's an honor for them to be here - they picked us. Now I have to go back to City Hall to help make life better for you."
Ringmaster Tone involved the audience with sing-a-longs, shout-outs and selected 15 men, women and children for on-the-spot dance contests.Bengal tigers were one of at least four animal acts, including 10 trained French poodles and elephants. The elephants either came out for several acts and some 30 audience members climbed aboard.
A Chinese eight-member troupe performed acrobatics in the first half and juggled drums in the second. There were also African acrobats and a third group of aerialists who hailfrom the Dominican and Central African Republics.
Tone and ushers also brought out four-foot-diameter beach balls for the crowd to toss around while stagehands broke down equipment.
The UniverSoul Circus will fold its tent after June 20 and when it will head to Connecticut. For more information, visit UniverSoulcircus.com.

SAXONBURG, PA FIREMAN'S CARNIVAL

Mark Sedlak, 8, of Saxonburg, goes down a slide Thursday at the Saxonburg Firemen's Carnival. Erica Hilliard For the Valley News Dispatch

Saxonburg Firemen's Carnival packs in decades of fun
By Tom Yerace, VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Friday, June 18, 2010
As their seats plunged about 30 feet, Nicholas and Chelsea Dyer's faces looked as though their hearts had leaped into their throats.
The "Super Shot" at the Saxonburg Firemen's Carnival can have that effect on its riders.
The effect on Mike and Becky Dyer of Lower Burrell, the parents of Nicholas, 6, and Chelsea, 10, was much different.
They could hardly stop laughing.
"They were hilarious," Becky said.
His feet safely on the ground and his father's arm around him, a smiling Nicholas said, "It was fuuunnnn."
The Dyers were among hundreds of people who packed the carnival grounds Thursday night to enjoy the 79th edition of a Saxonburg --- and Alle-Kiski Valley -- tradition.
"Mike lived in Saxonburg, he grew up in Saxonburg, and when we dated, this is where we came," Becky said. "Now we bring the kids."
"This is the first year we let the kids ride the rides themselves, and they're fun to watch," she said.

Nevaeh Barlow, 7, of Butler, plugs her ears Thursday as the fire trucks pass during the Saxonburg Firemen's Carnival parade along Main Street. Erica Hilliard For the Valley News Dispatch

With rides and food ranging from strombolis to fried Oreos, the weeklong carnival serves as Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Department's major fundraiser.
It's billed as having the largest firemen's parade east of the Mississippi.
The parade took place Thursday on a cool,bright evening that drew several
thousand people to line the parade route through town.
"They were all along Water Street, they were all along Butler Street and Main Street," said Carol Neubert, the carnival chairwoman who manned an ambulance in the parade. "They were standing three and four deep on every street."
Among them were Gary and Melissa Costel and their three sons, Andrew, 8, Michael, 6, and Timmy, 5, who live in Penn Township and were attending the parade and carnival for the first time.
"The kids are finally old enough to come," Gary said.
Andrew was looking forward to seeing the fire trucks.
"I have about eight or 10 little ones," he said.They're more excited about going to the carnival," Gary said. "They spotted the rides."
Farther down the street, Charlene Johns of Cabot, Winfield Township, said she's attended the parade every year since she was little and never tires of it.
"It's fun, plus there's friends and family, and my son's a fireman. So we show up to support them," Johns said.
Watching the parade in front of his millwork business on Main Street, Chuck Matus said, "The (visitors) are really good. Saxonburg is the kind of place that people love to come to.
"I think it reminds them of the good, old small-town days."
Neubert pronounced the carnival's first four days a success and hopes for the same today and Saturday.
"I think it's going just fine," she said. "The weather has cooperated, thank God."

CINNAMINSON, NJ CARNIVAL

The St. Charles Borromeo Carnival draws more than 100,000 visitors each year for rides, games, food and more. The event continues through Saturday on the church grounds in Cinnaminson.

Cinnaminson carnival gives traditions a fun ride

By JANINE E. MOONEY • For the Courier-Post • June 18, 2010
The 42nd annual St. Charles Borromeo Carnival is in town, bringing the community another year of fun and thrills. The excitement will continue through Saturday.

The carnival is always a huge success, but would not thrive without the help of more than 1,400 active volunteers, organizers said.

About 60 people are assigned to oversee specific areas of the fair, such as food booths.

And Pete and Jen Stansky are in charge of the whole event this year.The Stanskys are new to the position, but not to the event.

KELLY MILLER THIS WEEKEND AT:

Saturday, Sunday & Monday, June 19 - 21
Charlestown, RI * Ninigret Park
Show Times: Sat: 2:00, 5:00 & 7:30 / Sun: 2:00 & 5:30 / Mon: 4:30 & 7:30Sponsored By: Charlestown Chamber of CommerceAdvance Tickets Available At:Charlestown Chamber of Commerce4945 Old Post RoadCharlestown, RI401-364-3878or visitwww.charlestownrichamber.com
Tuesday, June 22
Berkley MA * Berkley Common
Show Times: 4:30 & 7:30 p.m.Sponsored By: Berkley Lions ClubAdvance Tickets Available At:Sedell's Pharmacy, Mechanics Bank, Marty's USRV, Rockland Trust & Common Crossing

THE MEADOWLANDS FAIR--

The original Batcopter from the 1960s TV show — here giving a lift to Adam West (Batman) and Julie Newmar (Catwoman) — will offer two-minute rides at $30 to fair visitors. Other attractions include the usual array of rides as well as free concerts and a sea lion show.

TV's Batcopter swoops in on State Fair Meadowlands

Thursday, June 17, 2010

BY JIM BECKERMAN The Record, STAFF WRITER
Holy cool promotions, Batman!
The original Batcopter – airborne cousin to the Batmobile in the campy 1966-1968 TV series – will be winging its bat-way to the annual State Fair at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, where it will be competing with racing pigs, deep-fried Oreos, circus clowns and more than 150 rides and attractions. The fair, in the sports complex parking lots, runs tonight to July 5
There's a lot of 'Batman' fans wherever you go," says pilot and owner Eugene Nock of Sarasota, Fla., who flies his custom copter to scads of events each year. "The Batcopter is a happy thing. I think it brings back good memories. It's all about fun. I think that's what people remember."
For $30, you can take a two-minute ride in the helicopter that flew Batman (Adam West), Robin (Burt Ward) and Batgirl (Yvonne Craig) – their signatures are on the instrument panel — to their knockdown-dragouts with the Joker, the Riddler, Catwoman and the Penguin. Pilot Nock still does publicity events, each year, with these and other "Batman" actors.
"I only do the biggest events in the country, because the Batcopter deserves that kind of coverage," says Nock, who will also be piloting an aerial stunt show.
There's a lot more at the Meadowlands fair, of course – magic acts, free concerts, "human oddities" sideshows, the Piccadilly Circus, a sea lion show, a "Bubble Wrap popping event" on June 27, and the usual bumper crop of carousels, coasters, Ferris wheels, Himalayas and Scramblers.
But the Batcopter, built originally for the 1966 "Batman" spinoff feature film and used later in the series, is in a bat-class of its own – not least because of its checkered career as one of TV's first regularly employed whirlybirds.
Not only was the Batcopter – a Bell 47, model G3B-1 — in front of the camera on the "Batman," "Green Hornet" and "Lassie" series, but it also was used by ABC behind the scenes to film fires, floods and the early Super Bowls. "This was the first helicopter in California that was used for helicopter camera," Nock says.
The Batcopter came into Nock's possession almost by accident.
His Florida company, NockAir, does promotional events and movie stunt work; in the late 1990s he had been looking to add a copter to his fleet. He made a few calls, and soon he had dibs on a machine in Oregon.
Every U.S. helicopter is assigned an individual "N" registration number, displayed prominently on the side of the machine. This bird's number was N3079G. Something about that number – seen in the logbook Nock was sent as a prospectus — was strangely familiar. "The minute I saw that I started laughing," he says. "I called my wife, I called my friends. I said, 'You won't believe what I have on my desk. It's the logbook of the original Batcopter!' "
The sleek red dragonfly of a copter, with its glass-bubble cockpit, is a righteous machine in itself. But Nock, who comes from a show business family (his brother is Bello the Clown from the Big Apple Circus and formerly with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey), recognized the value of its "Batman" associations. He spent $300,000 to refurbish it and bring it back to its former bat-splendor. "I think I was the perfect guy to end up with the machine," he says. "I respect it. I'm a bat-fan."
Just how hot is the Batcopter? Hot enough to have its own agent.
"The Batcopter and Burt Ward have the same agent, believe it or not," Nock says. "If you want to book the helicopter, you have to go through this guy."
E-mail: beckerman@northjersey.com
WHAT: State Fair Meadowlands.
WHEN: 6 p.m. to midnight Monday to Thursday; 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. to midnight Sunday. Special hours tonight (5 p.m. to 1 a.m.); July 3 and 4 (2 p.m. to 2 a.m.) and July 5 (2 p.m. to midnight). Through July 5.
WHERE: East Rutherford. 201-372-4080 or njfair.com.
HOW MUCH: $7 adults, $5 for children Monday to Thursday; $9 for adults, $6 for children Fridays, weekends and holidays.

AMERICAN CROWN CIRCUS

Big top circus a five-generation affair

By Ben Wilgus, June 17, 2010

Family traditions often involve going to the same vacation spot each summer, the same restaurant every Friday night or unfailingly gathering on certain holidays, year after year. Certain family traditions date back several decades, such as the way grandma makes her pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving dinner, or if you receive the same gift from Aunt Flo each Christmas.

This does not apply to the Osorio family.

The Osorio’s family tradition is not one that is common among those in the United States, but it’s one that once you are a part of, you don’t want to leave. The Osorio’s are a circus family and with more than 90 years of circus experience, you can say their family tradition is unlike any other.

Brothers Frank, Leo and Robert along with their parents and sister run the American Crown Circus-Osorio out of Las Vegas, NV and will be performing for three days at Waterfront Park in Downtown Martinez on June 22-24.

There will be two shows, one at 5:30 p.m. and the other at 7:30 p.m.

The American Crown Circus-Osorio will have several attractions, including the Globe of Death, where motorcycle riders perform tricks in a circular ball Also performing will be a contortionist, a high wire act, a teetering board act with flips and special tricks and everyone’s favorite circus attraction – clowns.As a traveling circus, they rely on sponsors to help with costs and to find places to perform.

While in Martinez, the American Crown Circus-Osorio is sponsored by Main Street Martinez

.As a fourth generation circus family, Frank, Leo and Robert now have their children involved and there is now a fifth generation of Osorio’s in the circus life. “One of my daughters actually works the ticket booth and handles all the bookkeeping and accounting stuff, while my parents stay in Las Vegas and handle a lot of things. Everyone else handles the day-to-day stuff,” Frank Osorio said.

As kids the Osorio brothers learned the high-wire act from their parents, first starting to learn to walk on the 5/8” wire a foot off the ground, then three-feet, then working their way up to 30 feet above the ground.“It’s a mind game. You just train yourself to do it and it becomes second nature to you after a while, being up there. We trained seven days a week for two-to-three hours per day,” said Frank.

Jesus Osorio created the original Circo Osorio in 1927. Later on Frank, Leo and Robert’s father, Hermino, became a trapeze artist, a lion trainer and the first person in Mexico to create the human cannonball. Even though working for the family was important, each of the Osorio children got their education, and when the time came, they resorted back to their love – working in the circus.

The family moved from San Antonio, Texas to Florida where the kids worked on their high-wire act. “A lot of people who perform in the circus are from Florida. The weather is really nice in the winter time, which is when you train for the upcoming year,” Osorio said

In 1990 the brothers got a job working in the midway at the Circus Circus in Reno, NV.

They were known as the Electrifying Osorio Brothers where they worked until 1995 when they moved and took a job at the Circus Circus in Las Vegas, NV. They worked the high-wire act there until 2001 when they started the American Crown Circus-Osorio. “The window of opportunity to perform in the circus is small. But once you work for the circus, there is always something for you to do,” Osorio said.

Prior to working at each of the Circus Circus’, the Electrifying Osorio Brothers worked at The Great Escape Park in New York, Busch Gardens in Florida and Knotts Berry Farm in California. The brothers performed two-man highs, flips and a variety of other tricks in their performances.“People would come and pay to watch us walk on a high-wire. It was really enjoyable,” Osorio said.

Currently the American Crown Circus-Osorio employs roughly 25 people between performers, an event crew and administrative people back in Las Vegas.

Traveling across the country they visit Nevada, California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Mississippi, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.“It’s great. We basically get paid to travel eight months of the year and we get to meet people and see difference places of the country, that we normally wouldn’t see,” Osorio said.

Prior to coming to Martinez, the circus spent time in Newark and will then be traveling to Suisun City.Not everyone in the family works for the American Crown Circus-Osorio, as sister Maria Vargas-Osorio and husband Alex Vargas work for the Ringling Brothers Circus. Maria is in charge of the wardrobe department and Alex is in charge of the animals.“My father used to say, people come to the circus to get away from their problems. We want people to enjoy themselves and we feed off of the people,” Osorio said.

While none of the brothers still do the high-wire act, they still travel and Frank said the months when they are at home, organizing for the next year, he can’t wait to be out on the road.

COMMERFORD & SONS DATE REPORT---

FILE PHOTO

Lions Club carnival kicks off Millerton summer

By CORY ALLYN - Staff ReporterJune, 17, 2010

MILLERTON, NY — The Millerton Lions Club wanted to do something a little different this year for its big fundraiser, according to Lions President Todd Clinton. In the past, the annual circus has provided the local organization with most of its funding, but this year the first ever Millerton Lions Club Carnival filled Eddie Collins Field with rides, games, animals, food and much more.
“The circus had for some of us outlived itself,” said Clinton Sunday afternoon, as the carnival began to wind down. “So we decided to go a different avenue this year.”
Running from Thursday, June 10, to Sunday, June 13, the carnival was run by R.W. Commerford & Sons, a Goshen, Conn., based business that operated the rides, games and petting zoo for the carnival.
“They’ve been very respectful of the park, which was one of our concerns from the very beginning,” Clinton continued. “They’ve been a pleasure to deal with.”
Helping the Lions Club were three not-for-profit organizations. American Legion Post 178, the Millerton Fire Department and the Sunday in the Country food drive organization all had food booths set up, next to tents where carnival-goers could take a break from the rides to grab a burger or steak sandwich.
Parents who brought their kids had plenty to keep them busy. There were the carnival rides, exotic animals at the petting zoo, and even camels to ride. The Marrapodi family took advantage of it all.
“It’s pretty cool,” Al Marrapodi said of the carnival while watching his 3-year-old son, Tom, ride around on a camel. The Marrapodis, from Hillsdale, said they would be back next year.
Three teenagers just coming off a potentially nausea-inducing ride on Friday night had one-word adjectives to describe their night.
“Stupendous,” said 15-year-old Emily Lynch.
“Awesome,” added 16-year-old Allison Lacko.
“Fabulous,” concluded 15-year-old Cristina Evans.
Clinton, who was spotted Sunday afternoon making good on a bet with Sunday in the Country’s Dave MacMillan that had them taking turns riding the camel, added that there was no way the Lions Club could have handled putting on a carnival by themselves. He thanked the three not-for-profits for helping with parking and food, and the village and its police department for providing a constant presence.
Disappointing weather didn’t stop the event from being a success, he said. There was plenty of positive feedback about the carnival and lots of ideas for next year’s event.
“This is the foundation,” Clinton said. “This is something to build on for future years.”

CIRQUE SHANGHAI REVIEW--

'Cirque Shanghai: Cloud 9' on Navy Pier: Cheering their return, thrills, spills and all

THEATER REVIEW: "Cirque Shanghai: Cloud 9" ??? Through Sept. 6 on the Pepsi Skyline Stage at Navy Pier; Tickets: $12.50-$19.50 at www.ticketmaster.com
Somewhere in the middle of “Cirque Shanghai: Cloud 9” — the annual Chinese circus performance on Navy Pier — something went wrong with a balancing act and several performers took an unscheduled Saturday afternoon tumble. One brave young lady, hanging precipitously off the edge of a bicycle, went up in the air, tugged to safety by the wire attached to her back.
Since “Cirque Shanghai” has billed itself for five years as a feast of acrobatic proficiency, you might think that was one of the low points of the show. In fact, it was the reverse. Everyone near me seemed to perk up in their seats, a grin breaking out across their faces and their hands rushing to applaud. Onstage, the performers dusted themselves off, re-attached their smiles and did the trick again. Perfectly.
I've been going to “Cirque Shanghai” for all of its five years. The first year was pretty bad. It was the debut of a Chinese acrobatic show that was terrified of merely being a Chinese acrobatic show, and thus there were was a lame comedian and some dumb theme involving Marco Polo. The comic was thrown overboard, thank goodness, and, since then, Cirque Shanghai has become a consistent and much-loved summer tradition. This year's edition features the usual spirited set pieces, including juggling, balancing, twirling and, for the first time, a globe filled with interweaving Chinese motorcyclists.
read more at:http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2010/06/cirque-shanghai-cloud-9-on-navy-pier-cheering-the-return-of-cirque-shanghai-thrills-spills-and-all.html

COLE BROS NEW JERSEY DATE---

BlueClaws to Host Cole Bros. Circus,

August 5-8 June 17, 2010 -

South Atlantic League (SAL) Lakewood BlueClaws LAKEWOOD, NJ -

The circus is coming back to FirstEnergy Park!

For the fourth year in a row, the BlueClaws will host the Cole Brothers Circus of the Stars, and for the first time, there will be four days worth of shows.
Thursday, August 5th and Friday, August 6th, the shows will be at 4:30 and 7:30. There will be three shows on Saturday, August 7th (1:30, 4:30 and 7:30) and two more on Sunday, August 8th (1:30 and 4:30).
Tickets will go on sale Monday at 9 am in person at FirstEnergy Park or on the phone at 732-901-7000. The Cole Brothers Circus of the Stars has sold out their FirstEnergy Park shows in each of the first three years, so interested fans are encouraged to reserve their spot early.
Past circuses have featured the Toprasta Troupe, whose members recreate the renowned three-tier, 7 Man Pyramid on the High Wire, Elephants, Globe of Death, Dogs and Pony Review, Aerial Ballet on Streaming Silks, Clowns, Camels, Jugglers, Acrobats, The Human Cannonball and more.
Circus acts are subject to change.
As in years past, children 12 and under will receive a free general admission ticket. Adult general admission tickets are just $12. Reserve seats are $15 and VIP seats are $17.
The Cole Bros. Circus is celebrating its 126th year and is the oldest American Circus performing under the Big Top.The Lakewood BlueClaws are in their 10th season of providing family fun and affordable entertainment at the Jersey Shore.