The circus is in town this November as the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey brings its unique form of live entertainment to Albany’s MVP Arena. On its North American tour, the circus company will debut its all-new, reimagined show, The Greatest Show on Earth. The immersive experience is fun for the whole family and unlike anything audiences have ever seen, with incredible acts that push the boundaries of human potential.
A reimagined American icon, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey have come together to create a fast-paced, action-packed production that includes modernized acts on a never-before-seen scale. The Greatest Show on Earth runs for seven performances from November 8-11 at the MVP Arena in the Capital Region.
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So, what can audiences expect? From comedy to stunts, there is something for “children of all ages.” Each show begins with a bang, taking circus-goers on a music-filled journey bursting with catchy rhythms, beats, and songs as audiences are invited to sing along. Modernized stunts and a globally diverse cast that includes 75 performers from 18 different countries will captivate along the way.
Daredevil stunts like the triangular highwire are led by the Lopez family as they take turns jumping over their partner’s shoulders and riding bikes on the thin wire 25 feet above the ground. To make matters even more exciting, four performers leap and somersault on top and across the double wheel of destiny — two fast-spinning wheels that hang 30 feet in the air.
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Also in the air, nine performers take on the ultimate swing set on the crisscross trapeze, swinging in every direction and barely missing each other as they navigate the altitude. Wesley Williams, the One Wheel Wonder, will attempt to set a new Guinness World Record as he takes on a daring new challenge of riding 10 different unicycles across the show floor — the tallest of which reaches a height of 34 feet.
Of course, it’s not a circus without acrobatics. Every seat in the house has a view of solo and group aerialists as they showcase skills from straps to hoops in the air and jump, dive, and tumble across the floor. The Greatest Show on Earth ends how it starts — with a bang (literally). Coined the Ringling Rocket, the canon will launch performer Skyler Miser across the entire arena at 65 miles per hour.
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The circus shows take place on November 8 at 7 p.m.; November 9 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.; November 10 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and November 11 at 12 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the venue box office.