Circus is coming to town

Old Bridge graduate returns to entertain as a professional circus clown

Pat Cashin

BY PATRICIAYOCZIS

Correspondent

OLD BRIDGE — Clowning around is serious business for Pat Cashin, who will soon return to his hometown as a professional circus clown with the Yankee Doodle Circus.
The circus is set for three performances on Feb. 26 at Old Bridge High School.
Cashin is a 1985 graduate of Cedar Ridge High School in Old Bridge.
“Never in high school did I believe I would become a circus clown,” said Cashin, who graduated from the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in 1997 and is a board member of the Clown Hall of Fame. “I loved to perform as a stand-up comedian in school but didn’t realize I’d end up with a fantastic career as a circus clown.”
Cashin has toured worldwide in the U.S., Europe andAsia with circuses including the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, the Hansen’s Spectacular Circus Thrill Show and the Kelly Miller Circus. Also, he spent a season with the Caesars Royal Roman Circus at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
Cashin has toured worldwide in the U.S., Europe andAsia with circuses including the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, the Hansen’s Spectacular Circus Thrill Show and the Kelly Miller Circus. Also, he spent a season with the Caesars Royal Roman Circus at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
“After I graduated, I did TV commercials, including an award-winning Super Bowl commercial for Visa, some standup comedy, film and stage work,” he said. “It wasn’t until I was 30 years old that I decided to apply to clown college.”
Admittance to the nowdefunct Ringling clown college, Cashin said, was very competitive, with about 5,000 applicants vying for a maximum of 60 slots. Only about five to 10 graduates are offered a job with Ringling, and luckily, Cashin was one of them, he said.
Though Cashin comes from a family of longshoremen, he has no regrets about his career choice and credits his father with introducing him to the world of clowns when they would go to the circus together. He married his wife, Terry, in the center ring of the Ringling Bros. circus in Madison Square Garden, and they now reside in Tinton Falls with their two sons, Shane, 9 and Jamie, 2.
When Cashin is not touring with a circus, he makes it a point to bring laughter to the children at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, through his Jersey Shore Clown Doctor program, in which he portrays the Stupidvisor of Pedia-Tricks and Clownocology.read more:http://sub.gmnews.com/news/2012-02-16/Front_Page/Circus_is_coming_to_town.html

Windy City Circus cancels Chicago debut engagement

David Maas and his wife Dania Kaseeva Maas (both at far left) announced today that their Windy City Circus has cancelled its debut engagement at Navy Pier's Festival Hall

BY MIRIAM DI NUNZIO Staff Reporter

from: Chicago Sun-Times

February 15, 2012

Windy City Circus announced today that its debut engagement, Feb. 17-26 at Navy Pier, has been canceled. The circus, founded by the famous “Quick Change” husband -and-wife team of Dania and David Maas, was set to officially kick off the city’s 175th birthday celebration festivities. In addition to a variety of circus acts, scheduled entertainment also included strolling performers portraying historic Chicago figures.
The circus had also hoped to donate 80 percent of its net ticket sales to the Special Olympics and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
“We are incredibly saddened to report that in this economy as a new non-profit organization, we have fallen short of our projected sponsorship and funding goals,” said David Maas, in a written statement. “We want to ensure that Chicago receives a high-quality production that befits our incredible hometown and will be a successful fundraiser for our charitable partners. We are looking forward to mounting Windy City Circus at a future date, and will continue to strive toward that goal.”
All tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase. Refunds for tickets purchased at windycitycircus.org will be automatically refunded prior to date of performance purchased.

STAR-LITE DANCING CANE
magicfantasia

Chaplin to judge circus competition

The Montreal Gazette

February 15, 2012

Eugene Chaplin, son of legendary actor Charlie Chaplin, will be in the off-island area this June for the 2012 edition of the Festival du Cirque Vaudreuil-Dorion which is holding its first-ever International Circus Competition.
Chaplin will be strolling the streets of Vaudreuil-Dorion at the competition, which will attract the top circus performers from around the world.
Chaplin, a renowned recording engineer and documentary filmmaker, and president of the International Comedy Film Festival in Switzerland, will be part of the jury at the circus competition from June 22 to 25.

Women find inspiration in the circus

Women’s Circus member Natasha Devonish-Jordan tackles the aerial cube.

Picture: Scott McNaughton

from: mooneevalleyweekly.com.au

14 Feb, 2012

For more than two decades the Women’s Circus has been empowering and inspiring women through innovative and socially challenging circus programs and performances. It began in 1991 and was set up mostly for survivors of sexual abuse. These days fewer women identify as ‘‘survivors’’, yet the fundamental ideals of the circus have remained: building confidence, reaffirming control over one’s body, and above all, having fun. Reporter Robert Fedele went behind the curtain to shed light on the ever-changing culture of the Women’s Circus."JUST mainly these guns,’’ laughs Natasha Devonish-Jordan, when asked about the rewards of joining the Women’s Circus.
‘‘Check this out,’’ she declares, motioning towards her now fully flexed right bicep. ‘‘You have a feel. Two months!’’
Humour aside, Devonish-Jordan is one of hundreds of women who each year take the plunge and enrol in the new women’s program, a year-long introduction to all aspects of the circus geared specifically towards first-timers.
The Women’s Circus, as its name suggests, is a community circus run by, and for, women. There’s tumbling and trapeze, juggling and the German wheel, even a tightrope to walk if you’re game enough.
It began in 1991 as a project of the Footscray Community Arts Centre, then grew to become its own entity.
Its mission statement aspires to ‘‘provide an opportunity for women to build self-esteem and reaffirm control over their bodies in a safe and non-competitive environment’’.
Born in the US, Devonish-Jordan moved to Australia six years ago and has just become a qualified primary school teacher.
Because of her performing arts background back home, the Women’s Circus seemed the perfect outlet when a friend encouraged Devonish-Jordan to give it a go.
It’s a common story told by many women who, at least in spirit, want to run away to join the circus.
In the dusty former army drill hall in West Footscray which the Women’s Circus calls home, Devonish-Jordan loosens up with a routine of stretches so she can tackle the aerial cube, an aluminium apparatus that she’s soon dangling from gracefully. read more:http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/women-find-inspiration-in-the-circus/2455131.aspx

Judge's order halts Fulton elephant bullhook ban

Richard Miron (center), from Marietta, holds up sign supporting a ban on elephant bullhooks before the Fulton County Commission meeting on June 1, 2011.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

By Joel Anderson

February 13, 2012

A Fulton Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday that could prevent the county from enforcing animal control laws in the city of Atlanta, according to a Fulton County commissioner.Commissioner Rob Pitts said Judge John Goger's order effectively blocks the county's ban of the use of bullhooks by circus elephant trainers.
The decision comes only days before Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to Philips Arena in Atlanta. The show will run from Wednesday to Feb. 20.
Pitts, who has been an advocate for the bullhook ban, said the judge's order hinged on the lack of a specific intergovernmental agreement between Fulton and Atlanta.
"The fact is that Fulton County has been providing animal control services in Atlanta, and Atlanta has been paying Fulton County for those services," Pitts said in a written statement Monday night. "That amounts to an Implied Agreement/Contract.”
Pitts further suggested the order would prohibit the county from enforcing animal control laws in Atlanta, with the exception of rabies cases and cases of imminent danger to citizens by animals.
Anna Ware, a Buckhead resident and local animal rights' advocate, said she was disappointed with the judge's order.
"I believe that when the Fulton County Board of Commissioners passed the bullhook ban ... they heard and understood the concerns of their citizens relating to the use of the of the bullhook," said Ware, who attended the court hearing Monday.
Ware also said the judge's order could nullify previous citations issued in Atlanta by Fulton County Animal Control.
"This could have opened a big ol' can of worms," she said.
Fulton was the first Georgia jurisdiction to approve a bullhook ban, following cities and counties in Florida, South Carolina, New York, Kentucky and Indiana. Commissioners voted for the ban in June.
Officials with Atlanta and Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Brothers, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday night.

Circus not a family business anymore

Express News Service , The New Indian Express

Feb 14, 2012

When Sheela Jaisingh left home to join the circus in order to support her family, she assumed that it was the end of her happiness. But before she realised it, she met cyclist Suba Jaisingh and her life took a new turn when they fell in love at the circus, and got married. Suba recalls, “I was forced to join the circus because my parents were also circus artistes.” Mostly, Suba speaks on behalf of his shy wife. He takes a look at her and adds, “But we don’t want our children to come here; it is definitely a difficult job. They are studying in Kolkata.”
It is definitely refreshing to see a change that the circus is not considered a family business anymore. The story is the same for Seethu Rajesh. It is easy to assume that she might not understand the language because she is from Nepal, but the minute one asks her a question, she answers in Tamil with the ease of a local. “I am married to a Keralite, so I know Tamil,” she gushes.
Her husband, Rajesh, works in the same circus. Both of them were forced to become circus artistes because of their parents and because they have been through the drills, they don't want to put their kids through it. “Our kids are still too young. They are studying in Kerala. We told them they can do anything they want with their lives,” she says. “But when the kids do see us perform, they get excited!” she adds. read more:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/circus-not-a-family-business-anymore/229977-60-120.html

Circus Coming to Richmond This Week

Credit: Media General

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

By: Richmond.com Staff Richmond.com

February 14, 2012

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is coming to the Richmond Coliseum this week and will have evening and matinee shows Wednesday through Sunday.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents DRAGONS is a once in a millennium event that honors The Year of the Dragon. Circus performers from the farthest reaches of the earth have assembled for Ringling Bros. Presents DRAGONS to showcase their astounding acts of bravery and astonishing athleticism.
Ringling Bros. Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson presides over this fantastical celebratory tournament of circus champions that brings together mystic dragon lore with authentic circus feats. DRAGONS is a never-before-seen blend of renowned spiritual and real life legends and is coming to the Richmond Coliseum inRichmond, Va. Feb. 15-19, 2012.

Tickets are now on sale.

A day at the circus!

Express News Service , The New Indian Express

Feb 14, 2012

As you enter the dingy Moore Market area to reach The Great Bombay Circus, you witness an omnipresent sense of doom all around. The parking lot is empty, not counting the circus vehicles, the big, colourful tent has lost its sheen over the years and even the supposed-to-be glittering logo within the tent looks like it’s straight from a low-budget Bollywood film. The Great Bombay Circus is definitely not what it used to be a couple of years ago.It is easy to get comfortable in the red plastic chairs with the hope that the acts are going to compensate for what the eyes have just seen. But as the show begins, the hope takes a mild beating. The clowns are visibly grumpy, yelling out their insignificant jokes in vain. ��However, the animal acts were pretty impressive, with the dogs performing fancy balancing routines and the elephant having a ball with his cricket bat. As the acts roll by and the damp dung stench is replaced (to an extent) by a freshly-popped, warm popcorn smell, it was hard not to lose focus. But this was good in a way because the few acts that did make you sit up did their jobs more than just well.Artiste Pooja with her hoola hoops was a delight to watch. No doubt, she was one of the few performers who looked like they took a certain pride in their routines and performed with a touch of showmanship. A natural charmer, she was!The two young dancers on the flying ring made everyone feel bad about the state of their own bodies, as they blithely slid off, climbed up and down and even danced on top of the ring with immense flexibility. The Kenyan performers were hands down the best in the business. Their strength, agility and the complexity of their routine were not the only strong points. What made them click were the uncanny charm they had, their wide grins and dance moves. They were a delight to watch. �The Russian girls showed ample skin and were definitely a pretty sight. Even their skills and tricks with fire, nails and broken pieces of glass were impressive, but they do make you cringe in slight fear (which can be good). The rest of the acts, minus a few young male gymnasts, the jugglers and the dancers, were easy to forget.With over 300 people to feed each day for the three months that they are in the city, how does the management make ends meet? Pradeep Kumar, the manager, says, “Only on weekday afternoons, we have less crowds. But on weekends and in the evenings, we have full houses,” he reveals. “Each aspect of the circus is taken care of and handled by a different department, so everything goes well.”Pradeep’s words definitely do not match the circus experience, but there definitely remains a certain rustic charm to the whole affair. Childhood memories and fears come rushing back with each familiar routine. And it is definitely something that needs to be passed on to each generation, maybe even an effective distraction from Facebook!

The Monday After: Stark couple's circus love story

This lift was in the large repertoire of William and Eva Loos when they performed together in a circus act.

By Gary Brown

CantonRep.com staff writer

Feb 13, 2012

The late William and Eva Loos of Alliance found love to be like a circus act. Actually, it was a circus act — performed in tents throughout North America, Central America, South America and the British West Indies.
A yellowed clipping from a 1922 Buenos Aires newspaper explains their “iron jaw” and “slack wire” act in these words:
“Mr. Loos and his lady partner perform all kinds of different stunts upon a slack wire which is held all the time in the teeth of Mr. Loos and, when his lady presents the finish of her act in which her body revolves at the rate of 160 revolutions a minute, there is a strain upon the teeth of Mr. Loos which represents the weight of several full-grown persons.”
That, indeed, is love.
And as Valentine’s Day approaches, it is appropriate, perhaps, to recall the interesting start to the relationship of these two circus performers.
LOVING A PARADE
The Canton-born William Loos and Eva Dannenburg of Schenectady, N.Y., met in a circus parade in Birmingham, Texas.
“We paid no attention to each other when we first met,” said Eva Loos in a story published in The Repository in December 1961, recognizing their 50th anniversary. “But we soon realized that if we were together, everything was fine, and we’ve felt that way ever since.”
The two became engaged when the circus reached Paw Paw, Mich. Then, on Dec. 22, 1911, when the circus was in Mayo, Fla., they were married, with the ceremony and reception attended by “100 carnival and city officials,” the 1961 article noted.
“Our romance was not smooth. The Sanger Circus, with whom we were traveling, was a pretty famous outfit in those days,” Eva Loos recalled for the Repository reporter who wrote the article. “They had a strict rule against their performers fraternizing, and every time my husband was caught talking to me, he was fined $5.”
They talked much. The tally of fines mounted. Mrs. Loos left the Sanger operation and joined a Florida carnival. Her husband was reunited with her when his contract with the circus ended.
GETTING A START
Eva Loos had begun performing with a circus when she was 17, the article noted.
“She answered a Schenectady newspaper advertisement in 1904 and was hired to lecture on a circus personality,” the article reported. “As the show traveled across the country, fellow performers took an interest in her and taught her a dance routine. She soon had an act of her own.

”READ MORE AT:http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x2112942879/The-Monday-After-Stark-couples-circus-love-story

The Greatest Show On Earth Comes To St. Augustine’s Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!

on Feb 14 2012

“HELLZAPOPPIN” TO PERFORM AT THE ORIGINAL RIPLEY’S IN ST. AUGUSTINE SATURDAY

Get ready to travel back in time this Saturday February 18 as the outrageous stage antics of “Hellzapoppin” come to the original Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in St. Augustine, FL. This vaudeville freak show of extreme stunts and dark humor recalls the 1920’s heyday of circus sideshows with a mix of modern and traditional performances — including the most famous living sideshow performer, Zamora the Torture King. All performances will be free to the public.Zamora hits the stage at 12 noon as he presents various death defying stunts, including lying on a bed of razor sharp swords while a giant brick is crushed on his chest by a sledge hammer. He’ll be joined by burlesque dancers, fire-eaters, and the infamous sword-swallower from New Orleans, Miss Chelsea.
Hellzapoppin’s performers have been featured on rock tours and festivals all over the U.S. and Europe, including OZZfest, the Warped Tour, and Lollapalooza.
For more information, please contact Kim Kiff by calling (904) 824-1606, (904) 624-9349, or by emailing kkiff@ripleys.com.

Yankee Doodle Circus is Coming to Old Bridge

As an Alumni of Old Bridge, Cedar Ridge High School Class of 1985, Circus comic, Patrick Cashin, returns to the neighborhood with fun and giggles straight from a tour with Ringling Brothers.

Maggie Naughton

Feb. 2, 2012

The Yankee Doodle Circus is coming to Old Bridge High School. Performances will be Sunday, February 26th at 12:45pm, 3:15pm, and 5:30pm at the Old Bridge High School Gym.

Free tickets for children under 14, available with advance purchase of an adult ticket.

Tickets available online at: GetCircusTickets.com.

A limited number of $5.00 off Advance Sale Adult Tickets are available for just $17.00.

At the door adult tickets are $22.00 and $15.00 for children under 14 years

.The all-new 2012 edition of the Yankee Doodle Circus features world-class performers from the United States and Europe.Children of All Ages will watch in amazement at the sparkling spinning hula hoops of Elena, the National Champion who twirls 31 hoops at one time.

The Golden Girls of Magic, Trudy, Elfie and Honey wow the audience at every show with their Las Vegas style magic and illusions.

Father and son acrobatic duo, Alex and Alex, practiced their routine for 2 hours a day for 3 years before their debut with the world acclaimed Moscow Circus. This is their first American tour.

As an Alumni of Old Bridge, Cedar Ridge High School Class of 1985, Circus comic, Patrick Cashin, returns to the neighborhood with fun and giggles straight from a tour with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

The Fancy Poodles of Paris show off the latest styles with their International Fashion Show.Were the kid-friendly circus because the children will be entertained without being overwhelmed. says Mike Naughton, circus director.

The show was produced to entertain every member of the family, from the toddlers to the grandparents and everyone in between.Additional information at GetCircusTickets.com.

Fair Day for Hillsborough County students
From TBO.com

WICHITA SHRINE CIRCUS FOTOS

(Continued from Sunday)

PART III

WHICITA SHRINE CIRCUS

PART IV

"ALL OUT AND OVER!"

La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil

Uploaded by cirquelasvegas on Feb 17, 2011
Trailer for La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, performing at Walt Disney World Resort in Flordia. For more info, visit: http://cirquedusoleil.com/lanouba

Yankee Doodle Circus in Holbrook MA

From: 365thingssouthshore.com
“Yankee Doodle Circus has won many awards for a family circus. They have pony rides and mini-trapeze artists. The poodles are always a big hit. There are quite a few talented puppies and dogs.”The circus is very interactive. They will have the kids come right down on the floor. They have a lot of kids helping.
Yankee Doodle Circus will arrive in Holbrook on Saturday, February18, performing three shows at the high school gym at 1pm , 4pm and 7 p.m.Proceeds from the circus will enable the parents group for activities such as the annual $250 scholarship for a graduating Holbrook High senior (the group hopes to establish a second scholarship), purchasing SmartBoard technology for classrooms, supplying lab equipment for science, and bringing academic enrichment programs to Holbrook.
Ticket presales are important. For presales, 25 percent is donated to the parents group. For ticket sales at the door, 10 percent is donated. One adult ticket is $17, and the price includes two free children’s tickets. Individual children and adult tickets are also available. Door prices are much higher.