The Big Apple Circus is back in town with their newest show, Metamorphosis—and Maximo can’t stop raving about it. He was mesmerized the entire show so much we’re planning a second trip to watch it coming up in December! The production, which runs through January 11, 2015 under the tents at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park, has everything from flying trapeze tricks to magic to a live-animal carousel. Here’s why you’ll want to grab tickets for your family:
What to expect at the Big Apple Circus
The performers take the show seriously, providing high-excitement, live family entertainment for two hours (there’s a 15 minute intermission). Hear music from a live band, watch the Ringmaster perform magic tricks and be entertained by Francesco the clown’s interactive impromptu skits. (Don’t be surprised if you get pulled into the ring to help!)
Aerial shows
No circus is complete without death-defying aerial performances. Kids will be amazed as trapeze artists dangle high above the ring with nothing more than a rope and their feet (no safety cords here!). Take bets on how high the bouncing acrobats can get, and be wowed by the Anastasinis Brothers as they tumble in the air with just their feet.
The animal show
The circus takes great pride in caring for their animals—they even rescue many of them from local shelters. All of the animals are handled with care by a number of trainers, including head trainer Jenny Vidbel. (She’s a third-generation circus performer who traveled in various shows with her grandparents.) Since no one sits more than 50 feet from the ring, kids will truly have a close view of the dogs, goats, llamas, horses and camels. Jenny and her furry crew create a live-animal carousel, jump through hoops, and even show you how goats can ride on top of horses.
Magic and wonder
It wouldn’t, of course, be a circus without magic tricks like disappearing rabbits inside hats. But also get ready to see ladies twist their bodies to fit into tiny boxes and balance themselves on top of multiple roller jars (while juggling!). There’s even a dancing duo that magically changes outfit after outfit. (We still can’t figure out how they do it!) With so much non-stop action, the show is sure to hold the attention span of even the smallest critic.
About the circus
The circus can sometimes get a bad reputation, but did you know that the Big Apple Circus is actually not-for-profit. The organization brings performers from all over the world to do more than just entertain. They also offer multiple community programs, such as Clown Care (visiting children in over 14 hospitals around the United States), Circus of the Senses (a special performance for children with hearing and vision impairments), Circus After School (an opportunity for at-risk students to participate and learn new life-enhancing skills), and Circus For All (free and discounted shows for disadvantaged children and schools). As mentioned above, they also rescue many of their animals from animal shelters.
Hours and Admission
Location: Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park (62nd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues)
Admission: Prices range from $25 to $175; purchase tickets here. Mommy Nearest subscribers can also flash the app to save up to $25 and no service fees on tickets purchased at the box office.*
Dates: Shows run through January 11, 2015.
How to get there: Take the 1 to the 66th Street–Lincoln Center.
This article was originally published on MommyNearest.com
