Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Lions and tigers and tradition, oh my!
The 66th annual Shrine Circus rolls into town Monday, April 6, as it always has the week following Easter.
And it’s all about the animals. There are some new acts, some returning acts and some old favorites like the elephants, which are here to stay.
The Royal Hanneford Circus will return for the fifth consecutive year with a two-hour action packed show, including exotic animals, dancers, aerial acts and clowns through Saturday, April 11. The circus troupe, based in Sarasota, Florida, is the second largest circus in America.
“Everyone’s favorite acts are the animals,” Billy Martin, ringmaster, said in a phone interview while on the road to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “We have the most animals of any touring circus in the country.”
Martin said that elephants will be a part of the troupe noting that the decision by Ringling Bros. to retire their 13 elephants by 2018 has no bearing upon Hanneford. “We cannot speak for Ringling Bros., but in our opinion, our audiences demand and embrace animal acts,” he said. “We will continue to present our animal friends as part of our performances.”
Each year the circus aims to bring a brand new exotic animal act on the road. This year is no exception.
Vicenta Pages and her six Asian white Bengal tigers will entertain and enthrall under the Big Top. Pages, 25, is one of the circus world’s youngest female wild animal trainers. She began presenting the big cats at her parent’s circus when she was just 16 years old.
“This is very unique,” Martin said. “This is one of only two acts in the country.”
And don’t worry if you missed last year’s six rare paint camels billed as the Dancing Dromedaries, they are back. But if you saw them before, Martin assures they will be presented in a brand-new fashion by Ian Garden Jr.
Castle’s Bears, missing for several years, return by popular demand.
Other acts include aerial artists Virginia and Giovanni, who make up Duo Fusion, who have come to the troupe direct from recent European engagements.
The high-wire Lopez family will present a race on four-wheelers in the giant motorcycle globe. Sadrak literally ties himself in knots. Also featured will be the Fernandes on the double wheel of destiny, and Brian Miser, America’s human cannonball.
Grandma the clown, the featured comedian of the Big Apple Circus for 25 years, will make a special appearance.
“It’s nice to perform at the Kingston Armory,” Martin said. “It’s really up close and personal. It’s pretty cool to look at the children and see the expressions on their faces when they are watching all the acts.”
There are 55 members touring in the Hanneford troupe. Of those members, there are 18 displays on stage and sometimes two to three acts at any given time, for that true three-ring circus effect.
“We travel with 25 house trailers, motor homes and semis,” Martin said. “And we make it all fit at the Kingston Armory. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, but we make it work.”
The usual circus fare of popcorn, peanuts, snow cones, hot dogs and candy apples will be available.
The circus program offers 13 chances for children to win a $25 gift certificate from Toys R Us. Each program also lists a number to win one of 31 bikes to be raffled off during intermission along with Burger King, McDonald’s and Sky Zone coupons.