Saturday, March 26, 2011

Wallendas, human cannonball part of Shrine Circus

MIKE McCLEARY/Tribune
Jennifer Schneider, better known as the Cannon Lady, looks down the barrel of a 27 foot truck mounted cannon as she eyes the cannon's position to ensure a safe and precise landing on the elevated net in the background on Thursday. Schneider will blast from the cannon like a human cannonball for her act at the annual Shrine Circus held inside the Bismarck Civic Center today and Saturday. By KAREN HERZOG Bismarck Tribune
March 24, 2011
The Floridians that run the Shrine Circus are a bit traumatized with the North Dakota weather they're trekking through to bring the circus to town, said show producer Cindy Migley.
But the show must and will go on.
Tigers and elephants, high-wire aerialists, including the world-famous Wallenda family, will go on Friday and Saturday for performances at the Bismarck Civic Center.
Among the acts will be a white tiger, and a Doberman pinscher act "that's very different from the usual dog act," she said.
Shane Johnson will perform a comedy Model T car act and there's also a magic quick-change act from Russia and a contortionist who flew in from San Diego, she said.
Aerial trapeze performers will include their youngest performing aerialist, 12 years old, who will climb to the top of the Civic Center, Migley said. She is part of the Wallenda troupe, Migley said.
The high-wire Wallendas are world-famous, and the grandson of Karl Wallenda, Rick Wallenda, recently recreated the sky walk in Puerto Rico in which his grandfather died, she said.
The show finale this year will be Jennifer Smith, "the human cannonball," who will be shot across the Civic Center, Migley said.
Performances start at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Friday. Saturday's performances are at 10 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. The circus also will raffle off children's bicycles during each performance.
Reserved seats are $16; general admission is $12. Children under 3 get in free if they can sit on a lap. Car seats are not allowed unless a ticket is purchased for the car seat. No strollers will be allowed.

No comments:

Post a Comment