Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to stage first live show in 6 years in Bossier City
“We couldn’t think of a better place ... to bring it to audiences for the very first time”
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KSLA) — Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey are back. And their very first show will be staged in Bossier City!
“We’re excited to premiere in Bossier City in Louisiana,” said Jan Damm, show guide for the Ringling Bros. “And we couldn’t think of a better place to bring our show to life, to bring it to audiences for the very first time.”
It’s been six years since Ringling Bros.’ last performance in front of a live audience. Now the first place the Ringling Live Show is stopping is Bossier City.
“I am so excited to welcome them in, to share Ringling with them and to have the Bossier City audience be our very first audience,” said Juliette Feld Grossman, CEO of Feld Entertainment Studios.
KSLA News 12′s Michael Barnes traveled to Tampa, Fla., to take us behind the scenes of The Greatest Show on Earth and give us a peek at what to expect Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Brookshire Grocery Arena.
“If you’ve seen Ringling before, you’re going to love it. You’re going to feel nostalgic as soon as you walk into the building,” show guide Alex Stickles said.
And make lasting first impressions on a new group of fans.
“This is over 150 years of history. We’re just bringing in new things for the new generation, so it’s the best of both worlds,” Damm said.
Let’s walk you through just a sample of the brand-new show. It starts with an opening number sung by show guide Lauren Irving.
“I’m bringing the vocals and the fun and the interaction,” she explained. “All of us, we really have our own thing. But the three of us are being those storytellers, guiding the audience along.”
Then Lauren, along with the other two show guides …
... the musical master Alex Stickles: “My character’s name is Sticks; I am the rhythm of the circus. I am the heartbeat of the performers. I help the audience get involved making beats and rhythms and songs.”
... and your comedic comrade Jan Damm: “I do juggling and other kinds of stunts, that’s my personal acrobatic act. I also do a lot of comedy in the show, pratfalls, spills and thrills; and I have a robot dog named Bailey.”
... come together for a show I’m told you won’t wanna miss.
“Definitely go. It’s a great show. You’ll be on the edge of your seat the entire time,” audience member Abby Dipinto said.
“Ringling Bros. doesn’t do anything halfway,” publicist Teresa Franzen said.
“Dangerous, breath-taking, just incredible,” audience member Patrick Dipinto observed.
Following the opening act, you see what happens when you give a group of trained acrobatics a few ladders and seesaws.
Then you’re introduced to an incredible display of elegant aerial acrobatics.
And the last thing we’re able to show is a symphony of synchronized swingers.
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