Big Apple Circus will return to Boston with "Picturesque" -- a joyful palette of movement, rhythm, color, light and sound, reflecting the spirit that has long drawn the world's greatest artists to the emotional immediacy of the circus.  Tickets are on sale now for this year's performances, April 2 - May 8, to be held under the Big Top at Bayside Expo Center.  Boston marks the fifth stop on the Big Apple Circus's 11-month, 11-city tour.

Renoir, Degas, Chagall, Toulouse-Lautrec, Calder and Picasso all gave us visions of the wonder under the Big Top, in pen and ink, oil and charcoal, pastel and watercolor and sculpture. Now the Big Apple Circus brings their art to life with acrobats and jugglers, birds and horses, flying men and women, clowns and more.

Artistic director and producer Paul Binder and creative director Michael Christensen have drawn together a cast of world-class artists to present the work-of-art inspired "Picturesque." They include:

From the U.S. - International Clown Hall of Fame inductee and star icon of the Big Apple Circus Barry Lubin  (a.k.a. Grandma)  and emcee par excellence Dinny McGuire

From Mongolia - on the single swinging trapeze the exciting and sensuous female duet, The Mongolian Angels

From Ukraine - the hilarity and dexterity of world-acclaimed Russian comedic artist Vallery

From Russia - the gravity defying 13-person teeterboard aerial acrobatics of the Kovgar Troupe

From Switzerland -  beautiful and lyrical solo female hand balancer, Mei Ling

From China - the unique Chinese ceramic vase balancing of GuiMing Meng

From Russia - renowned and flamboyant bird, dog and cat trainer Svetlana Shamsheeva

From Spain - the sizzling juggling fun of the sensational Picasso Jr.

From England - the elegant and stately Arabian stallion liberty act of international equestrienne star Yasmine Smart

Rounding out the the multi-talented, international Big Apple Circus Company are Max Binder (USA), Regina Dobrovitskaya (Russia), Andrey Mantchev (Bulgaria), Virgile Peyramaure (France), Christian Atayde Stoinev (USA) and Valdis Yanovskis (Russia) in astonishing displays of floor and aerial acrobatics

For 27 years the Big Apple Circus, New York's original one-ring circus, has been delighting audiences of all ages with the finest in live family entertainment. Additionally, no seat is more than 50 feet from the stage.

For tickets and information, call 617-931-2787 or log onto www.ticketmaster.com.   Beginning Feb. 12, tickets may also be purchased in person at the Community Box Office at Boston Childrens' Museum, at 300 Congress Street in Boston. The Circus Box Office in front of the Big Top at Bayside Expo Center will open Friday, April 1.

-- OnStage Boston

02/06/05