Piccadilly Circus rings up fun memories for children
During the "Elephant Extravaganza" a pachyderm will stand on one foot when the Piccadilly Circus stops at Hoffman Estates' Sears Centre Arena May 6-8.By Jennifer Burklow Kid Zone
May 6, 2011
By focusing on affordable family fun, the Piccadilly Circus harkens back to days of yore when entertainment under the big top meant clowns, animals and feats of derring-do.
Families can sample traditional circus entertainment when Piccadilly rolls into Hoffman Estate’s Sears Centre Arena for eight shows May 6-8.
Named for London’s famous roundabout, Piccadilly Circus is celebrating 25 years.
“There are a few things that kind of set us apart,” said Cuinn Griffin, circus promotional director. “The Piccadilly Circus is more of a family kind of event. We try very hard to keep the focus in it on children and their parents. A lot of circuses, modern circuses nowadays, [are] kind of taking an approach to kind of wow you through these ridiculous stunts — and they do a good job at it — [so] some of them have become more of an adult-oriented thing.
Families can sample traditional circus entertainment when Piccadilly rolls into Hoffman Estate’s Sears Centre Arena for eight shows May 6-8.
Named for London’s famous roundabout, Piccadilly Circus is celebrating 25 years.
“There are a few things that kind of set us apart,” said Cuinn Griffin, circus promotional director. “The Piccadilly Circus is more of a family kind of event. We try very hard to keep the focus in it on children and their parents. A lot of circuses, modern circuses nowadays, [are] kind of taking an approach to kind of wow you through these ridiculous stunts — and they do a good job at it — [so] some of them have become more of an adult-oriented thing.
Clowns will entertain during the Piccadilly Circus, running May 6-8 at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.“We’re really always targeting children. We like to keep it very affordable for families and make it kind of a kid thing. A lot people probably remember the first time they went to a circus — kind of a special memory. … That’s the kind of thing we’re trying to keep alive.”
With that in mind, highlights of the 90-minute show include the “Elephant Extravaganza,” in which an elephant stands on one foot, plus motorcycle daredevils, contortionists, clowns and a 250-pound boxing kangaroo named Rocky.
Griffin called Rocky “a real hoot.” Audience members are invited to take him on in a boxing match.
“They actually will offer that up to anybody who thinks they can take on the kangaroo,” he said. “It’s perfectly safe. Last I checked, he’s the reigning champion.”
“Motorcycle Madness” cyclists will do somersaults and other stunts while spinning in the Globe of Doom; the Mongolian Angels contortionists will bend their bodies into amazing shapes; clowns will entertain with goofy comedy, and aerialists will fly overhead.
Besides elephants, fans of the “Madagascar” movies will enjoy the antics of the circus’ lemurs, which Griffin described as “probably the cutest monkeys that have ever existed.”
At the end of the show, kids are invited into the ring for the Piccadilly Circus Fun Zone, where they can ride elephants and ponies ($10 a ride) and enjoy activities like face painting and balloons.
Produced by the Ice Capades team, Piccadilly Circus blankets the area with free tickets for kids prior to the circus’ arrival. Local elementary schools, preschools, churches and sponsoring businesses have been providing the free tickets. Buy-one-get-one-free adult tickets are available online until 10 a.m. May 6 at thefuncircus.com.
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