Big Apple Circus
Is All - New
With "Play On!"

April 4 - May 10 At City Hall Plaza

The spectacular Big Apple Circus is heading back to town for its 31st season with "Play On!"— a brand new, music box of a show! Performances will take place on Boston's City Hall Plaza from April 4 to May 10. The Boston engagement will mark the fifth stop on the Big Apple Circus's 11-month, 10-city tour, following its world premiere engagement in the Washington D.C. area.

While the title is from Shakespeare ("If music be the food of love, play on!"), "Play On!" is pure circus, featuring some the world’s finest artists under a classic Big Top tent, performing in the intimate setting of a single ring! No seat is more than 50 feet from the ring.

You can expect high-spirited Colombians on the flying trapeze; an acrobatic Chinese ballerina, pirouetting on top of her partner; jazzed-up juggling twins from America; Russians springing skyward from their Russian barre; a talented troupe of Italian dogs; and the breath–taking exploits of Big Apple Circus equestrians vaulting onto galloping horses. Not to mention the Big Apple's incomparable paragon of love and laughter, Grandma the Clown!

Artistic and Creative Directors Paul Binder and Michael Christensen have gathered an amazing cast of extraordinary performers, from eleven countries around the globe:

They include:

• From England, Carrie Harvey, sensational international ringmistress — from Spain’s Circo Mundial to France’s Cirque Amar to England’s Hippodrome — returns to host "Play On!"

• From America, the beloved Grandma (Barry Lubin), iconic clown of Big Apple Circus’s Department of Laughter, and International Clown Hall of Fame inductee!

• From Russia, the award–winning Rodion Troupe amazes with startling, soaring leaps and flips from a bar that is only 5 inches wide in a Russian Barre act!

• From Italy, Luciano Anastasini and his Pound Puppies, rescued from animal shelters, deliver doggone delight!

• From America, clowns Glen Heroy and Mark Gindick embark on a quest to reconstruct an extraordinary music box in a magical adventure full of merry mischief!

• From Belgium, renowned mime and comedian Olivier Taquin is joined by company member Valdis Yanovskis (Russia) in a whimsical, playful and endearing act that takes audiences back to the silent film era!

• From America and Kazakhstan, Christine Zerbini and Sultan Kumisbayev are joined by their equine partners in a thrilling vaulting display around the ring!

• From China, the Nanjing Acrobats combine world–class acrobatics and classical ballet to create unforgettable images of unparalleled skills and grace!

• From Colombia, an astounding, heart–stopping trapeze act, The Flying Cortes!

• From America, flashy identical juggling twins the LaSalle Brothers, Jake and Marty (above), are double the trouble . . . and the fun!

• From Germany, Sarah Schwarz vibrates with playfulness and elegance on her tight wire as she dances to musical inventions and variations!

• From China, Guiming Meng returns to the ring with unequaled equilibrium, jauntily juggling colossal ceramic jars!

• From Russia, the lovely Regina Dobrovitskaya (below) swings stylishly high above the ring in a breath–taking trapeze act!

• Completing the cast are the extraordinary and multi-talented Andrey Mantchev (Bulgaria), Virgile Peyramaure (France), Christian Atayde Stoinev (America)!

Veteran clown and versatile director Steve Smith is staging "Play On!" While award–winning Broadway composer Michael Valenti has created original music and orchestrations for musical director Rob Slowik, who both conducts and performs with the Big Apple Circus Band. Choreographer Vicki Davis adds her scintillating stepwork. Costume designer Austin K. Sanderson has created another vibrant and eye–catching wardrobe. 2008 Tony Award–winning scenic designer Todd Rosenthal has created the elaborate and innovative set.

New to the creative team are accomplished sound designer Nick Borisjuk and lighting designer Shannon January. As always, creative consultant Barry Lubin contributes his one–of–a–kind comic genius to bump up the laugh factor.

For 31 years, the Big Apple Circus, New York’s original one-ring circus, has been delighting audiences of all ages under its Big Top by presenting the finest in live family entertainment featuring world-class circus artistry. The Big Apple Circus is a not-for-profit performing arts and outreach institution committed to invigorating the communities it serves with the joy and wonder of classical circus. Tax-deductible contributions made by corporations, foundations and individuals enable the Big Apple Circus to bring its special magic to diverse audiences through its outreach programs — Clown Care, Vaudeville Caravan, Circus After School, Circus For All!® and Circus of the Senses® — as well as its critically acclaimed performances.

For tickets and information, call 888-541-3750 or visit www.bigapplecircus.org.

Tickets may also be purchased at the Community Box Office in the lobby of Boston Children’s Museum from 11 AM to 2 PM daily. The Circus Box Office in City Hall Plaza opens Wednesday, March 18. Note that The Big Top is heated in cold weather and air–conditioned in warm weather for all–season comfort.

Photos: Bertrand Guay/Big Apple Circus

-- OnStage Boston