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The all-access "pre-show" on the floor of Calsonic Arena one hour prior to circus time allows spectators to actually meet and interact with clowns and other circus performers. (Feld Entertainment photo) |
Are you comfortable singing in front of a large audience?
Well, could you do it ... hanging upside down?
Joanna McMenamin can.
The Australian and her Ukranian husband, Vlad, are among the acts in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus production of "Illuscination," which will visit Calsonic Arena Feb. 12-14.
"This is my very first time singing in the circus," said McMenamin, a former dancer who was brought into the circus by her acrobat husband. When representatives of Ringling Bros. heard her sing, they asked the couple to create an aerial act which would involve Joanna singing and would also have a touch of humor.
McMenamin sings "Let Me Entertain You," from the musical "Gypsy." She jokes that, unlike the character of Gypsy Rose Lee, she doesn't take her clothes off during the number. She only sings it while Brad suspends her from the trapeze high over the arena floor.
Although she's a newcomer to the circus world, she said Ringling Bros. veterans have been highly complimentary of the unique performance.
"Illuscination" is the current production of the Ringling Bros. Gold unit, a single-ring circus which visits markets smaller than those served by the three-ring Red and Blue units. McMenamin said she enjoys the smaller, more intimate atmosphere, and not having to compete with two other acts for attention.
"As an artist," she said, "I get to shine." All of those attending the circus are invited onto the arena floor an hour before show time for the "pre-show," and McMenamin gets to open that event with a song and then interact with the crowd. She said that when she meets audience members during the pre-show, she asks where they'll be seated, and uses that as a point of personal contact during the performance later.
"Make sure you wave to me," she tells them.
Since she's so far from her native Australia, and in fact is visiting the U.S. for the first time, she knows she won't have any family or long-time friends in the audience, but she can perform for the new friends she made during the pre-show.
 David DaVinci, left, functions as the ringmaster of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Gold unit circus, but he is billed as the "Illuscinator," because of his use of magic tricks and illusions to tie the elements of the show together. (Feld Entertainment photo) [Click to enlarge] |
"It has a lot more fantasy in it," she said, as well as a distinct Latin flair.
The tour kicked off last month, and McMenamin was in Albany, N.Y., when she spoke to the Times-Gazette.
Circus performances will be 7 p.m. Feb. 12; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Feb. 13; and 2 p.m. Feb. 14 in Calsonic Arena. All ticket holders are invited to the pre-show on the arena floor one hour before show time, where they can meet circus performers, including McMenamin, and experience the excitement up close.
Tickets are available from the Celebration ticket office, 684-5915. Advance tickets are $15 for general admission or $25 for VIP floor seating; tickets at the door will be $17 for general admission or $27 for VIP floor seating.
Rodeo
This weekend, meanwhile, the Lone Star World Championship Rodeo will mark its 20th anniversary in Shelbyville with competition Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Before showtime, there will be children's activities, such as a best-dressed cowboy and cowgirl contest and a "gold rush."
Tickets for the rodeo ar $10 in advance, $15 at the gate for adults, $8 in advance, $10 at the gate for children 4-12. Admission is free for children three and under.
Advance tickets are available from The Celebration, 684-5915; World Championship Horse Equipment; or Tullahoma Drug Store. Advance tickets will be available until 5 p.m. on Friday.