Circus once again a family affair
"Yippee!"
That was the response by officials at the Palatine Opportunity Center, when they received 500 free tickets to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which opens today.
The circus, this year designed around "The Ultimate Bellobration!" runs through Nov. 11 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont before a Nov. 13-25 stay at Chicago's United Center.
The tickets came by way of a broad-scale initiative started by Ringling Brothers and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to donate 10,000 tickets to underserved families in the Chicago metro area.
Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins received 500 of them, which she dedicated to families served by the Palatine Opportunity Center. They will attend the show on Wednesday.
For most, it will be their first trip to the circus, say officials with the Palatine Opportunity Center, which links families in the Northeast Palatine corridor with social service agencies.
When they go, they will see all the death-defying acts of the circus, as seen through the eyes of the comic daredevil, Bello, who has emerged as one of the biggest stars of the circus.
With his signature stand-up orange hair, Bello performs stunts that are both hilarious and acrobatic. But this time, they will play out during a story line that will allow fans to get to know more about his character.
Along the way, they will meet other leading players, including Tabayara, the tiger trainer who controls 12 Royal Bengal white tigers, as well as the Palazovi teeterboard troupe, balancing as many as five people in a tower rising three stories high.
High-wire specialists, the Aguilar brothers, do everything from running and dancing, to jumping rope on the thin wire cables, while Brian and Tina Miser are the astonishing human cannon balls.
In trying to decide how to dole out the free tickets, Kathy Millin, executive director of the Palatine Opportunity Center, turned to the agencies in her building that worked directly with families with children.
"We didn't know what the response would be, but people were really excited," Millin says. "In the end we had a list of over 700, so we had to narrow it down."
The biggest block went to families served by the Early Childhood Development Enrichment Center, whose programs serve families with children with developmental delays.
Other tickets went to families of children whose parents study English as a Second Language, citizenship, computer literacy and other classes offered at the center by Harper College. Another group of tickets went to families who receive counseling on site from officials with The Bridge Youth & Family Services.
"What I'm most excited about, is that it's not just a field trip, but a family trip," Millin says. "For most of these families, who live at or near the poverty level, they don't have opportunities to share an experience like this with the whole family."
If Ringling Brothers officials have their way, it will be a memorable one.
"Bellobration is a perfect blend of circus tradition, and modern entertainment," says Nicole Feld, producer, "creating a fun and interactive experience that will truly be enjoyed by all generations."
If you go
What: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, featuring the comic daredevil clown, Bello
When: Tonight through Nov. 13 at the Allstate Arena, and Nov. 13 through 25 at the United Center in Chicago
Cost: $13-$80
Call: (312) 559-1212 or visit www.ringling.com