THE BALLOON MAN

People Talk: Ringmaster John Kennedy Kane of the Big Apple Circus
from:  buffalonews.com
BY: Jane Kwiatkowski
Published: 11/25/2012

 

“Of all my years being a clown, I’m finally a ringmaster and they’ve got me in a clown costume.”– John Kennedy
 Kane Bertrand Guay/Big Apple Circus
John Kennedy Kane is living his dream as ringmaster for the Big Apple Circus. It’s a role he prepared for as a child, when he would stage circus acts in the basement of his South Buffalo home. In fact, his childhood memories form the basis for a one-man show he wrote and performs. It’s called “Life in the Basement.”
A 1979 graduate of Bishop Timon High School, Kane started in the circus as a fire eater named Kanen the Human Volcano. He has since appeared in 15 circuses, often playing clowns with names like Egg Roll and Circ (short for Circus Man). Last year, Kane performed as the World’s Biggest Elf at the Hamburg Fairground’s Festival of Lights show.
His latest gig finds him in Manhattan, where “Legendarium” runs for 134 shows through Jan. 13 under the Big Top at Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center. This year, the 35th anniversary of the Big Apple Circus salutes the old time one-ring circus.
Kane adds humor to his role as ringmaster, growing muttonchops, walking the sawdust-and-dirt circle to engage the audience and allowing them to experience the circus through the eyes of a 10-year-old.
People Talk: How did Hurricane Sandy affect the circus?
John Kennedy Kane: We all took refuge in the band shell basement during the hurricane, and we found a pizzeria that delivered. It was wild. All of a sudden the sky was coming down, and this guy is coming down to the band shell with pizza. Our 4:30 p.m. Sunday show didn’t go on because the mayor canceled all shows in parks. And the actual Monday and Tuesday we had off. The Big Top wasn’t touched at all.
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