'Zing, Zang, Zoom' show brings magic to the circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's is bringing magic to the circus.
Their current production, "Zing, Zang, Zoom" finishes the first half of a two-year tour with shows in Rosemont and Chicago. The show frames traditional circus acts like clowns, elephants and high-wire demonstrations with a plot featuring their zingmaster Alex Ramon. As the ringmaster-turned-zingmaster, Ramon uses magic to save the circus from the cynical Mr. Gravity and his team of Heavies who want to bring everybody down.
"It brings the magic of the circus to life with magic that you don't get to see anywhere," said production manager Kathy Chilcoat.
Magic tricks are used to transition into the different acts in the two-hour show. Ramon makes an elephant disappear and turns a man into a tiger. This year's show also does away with the traditional rings in some of the acts, with performers and animals moving freely around the stage.
A dog show features two sets of performers, with 24 bichons, poodles and terriers performing at once. The two groups have been exchanging training ideas and techniques as they tour, and the acts include dogs riding scooters and jumping over performers like hurdles.
"My dogs do a lot of athletic tricks," said Hans Klose, who coordinates the canines along with his wife Mariya Surnina, a former acrobat. "They walk on their hind legs; I have a dog that does a backwards somersault."
Other animal highlights include an elephant show, where the animals do headstands, dance and pick up performers who ride them. A tiger act features 12 big cats, who climb over each other and leap over their trainer, and a horse and zebra show where a trainer leads the animals as they run around rings without harnesses or riders.
"Zebras are really hard to train so getting them to do anything is really impressive," Chilcoat said.
There's also plenty of purely human talent, with 97 performers representing 20 countries. Instead of trapeze acts, "Zing, Zang, Zoom" features a Chinese group using two 9-foot-tall swinging platforms to fly 30 to 40 feet in the air.
On the Russian swing, performers are launched between four platforms, and the act ends with a man jumping through a flaming hoop. The Fernandez Brothers perform acrobatics while walking along the edge of a hamster wheel-like device moving more than 15 mph.
But the best part about buying tickets to the show may happen an hour before the first act. Ticketholders are welcome to attend a 40-minute preshow where they can come on the arena floor and meet the clowns and performers and ask them questions.
Children can learn how to juggle and put on clown makeup, walk on a spinning globe and a low wire, try on costumes and practice training tips with the dogs. The preshow also includes a silk performer, a magic act and a Diablo act where a performer juggles sticks using strings. Buying tickets in advance is recommended, as the show has been consistently selling out during the tour.
<p class=factboxtext12col>Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's "Zing, Zang, Zoom"</p> <p class=factboxtext12col>Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont, (847) 635-6601, ringling.com</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Prices:</b> $13-$85</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Time:</b> 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday Nov. 5-15</p> <p class=factboxtext12col>United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago, (312) 455-4500</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Prices:</b> $13-$85</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Time:</b> 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18-20; 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 21 and 28; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22; 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 24-25; and 1 and 5 p.m. Nov. 29.</p>