THE BALLOON MAN

Cat circus rolls back into town

April 14, 2011 The Amazing Acro-Cats 3 and 6 p.m., April 17, May 8, Sept. 25 and Oct. 16, Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL $10-$18. (847) 677-7761, www.skokietheatre.org.
By J.T. MORAND
Samantha Martin gets hung up on a lot.
But that's just the nature of being the ring leader of a cat circus called the Amazing Acro-Cats.
When she pitches the show to theater owners around the country, the call usually ends with a click. The show features 12 cats that walk tight ropes, ride skateboards, push carts, ring bells, jump through hoops, and do assorted other tricks, sometimes with a chicken or groundhog sharing the stage, followed by a concert by the Rock Cats. The Rock Cats "play" guitar, drums and piano ... when they feel like it.
But, the Skokie Theatre didn't hang up on Martin and audiences love her and the cats. The Amazing Acro-Cats are scheduled to perform there April 17, May 8, Sept. 25 and Oct. 16.
SRO shows The Acro-Cats packed the theater last spring. Martin coaxed the felines into performing various feats with a clicker, but prefaced the show with a warning: Although the cats are trained, they are cats and pretty much do whatever they want. The show also included rats, ferrets and fowl, critters cats would love to pounce on. The potential for disaster seemed immense, especially with children and adults laughing and clapping. An animal freak-out was bound to happen.
read more at:http://www.pioneerlocal.com/parkridge/entertainment/3148686,entertainment-cook-acrocats-041411-s1.article