The circus is leaving town for good after one last hurrah. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is ending the era with “Out Of This World,” through March 19.
The circus’ swan song features an interactive, action-packed storyline of space-age family fun and technology. Audiences will watch the Circus Space Fleet on a heroic mission to bring performers back to Earth, traveling to interstellar worlds of sand, water, fire and ice.
Aston Neves, an out trapeze artist, said he had to learn ice skating for this new production.
“That came because of the show,” he said. “I’m a trapeze flier but I’m also an aerial performer. This show has ice-skating and I was invited to learn to skate for the aerial parts of the show. It was a year of practice in skating combined with my skill as an aerialist.”
As a fifth-generation circus performer, Neves said he’s used to training long hours and adding new disciplines to his performance skill set.
“I have been doing this since I was a kid; I have been training since I was 5 years old. Our background has a little bit of everything. For doing trapeze, I started 13 years ago. It takes hours of practice a day for two years before you can perform.”
Catch the show while you can, as it was announced this year that, after more than a century in the business, Ringling Bros. will close down for good in May because of declining attendance and the loss of the elephant acts. Neves said that once the circus ends, he’s considering other options to continue his career as an aerial artist.
“We’re going to keep working in the entertainment industries,” he said of his post-Ringling Bros. future. “I always try to find other circus plays. I have been living in Europe for over 13 years, so if I don’t find something here, I can always move back to Europe.” n
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents its last area circus show with “Out Of This World” through March 19 at Sun National Bank Center, 81 Hamilton Ave., Trenton, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-656-3200 or visit www.Ringling.com.