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24 january 17-23, 2008 | entertaining u newspaper taking it over the top at the circus by Erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com What: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus When: Jan 16 th -20 th WheRe: Jacksonville Memorial arena Today’s audience wants extra drama and astonishment, but they also want to be part of the action. To that end, the circus has their Circus Celebrities, audience members who can become part of the action. Not everybody gets to be part of the show, but at least you’ll know you have the chance to pay a little extra to be part of it. The circus has changed a lot since its inception over a hundred years ago, moving from outdoor big tops to indoor arenas. After a lull in popularity, attendance figures have spiked since 2001 and the esteem of acrobatic shows have also upped the crowds. Some things haven’t changed though. You’ll be able to find all the classic circus snacks, both at stationary vendors and from walking vendors. “When you come inside the arena, the first thing you’ll notice is the wafting smell of cotton candy followed closely by popcorn,” says Melinda Hartline, Spokesperson for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Sno-Cones will also be sold, because, as Hartline says, “No matter how cold it is outside, the kids are still wanting a sno-cone, and that kid could be six or he could be an adult…being a kid is a state of mind.” The theme for this run, explains Hartline, is a bit of a tug of war between ideas. “This year’s show is titled ‘Over the Top,’ which is based on silliness, [represented by] star clown Tom Dougherty, and seriousness, [represented by] ring master Chuck Wagner. It’s who controls the ring masters hat. And [depending on who] has the hat, silly things or serious things evolve.” ‘Over the Top,’ means that they’ve designed the show to go one step further than standard circus acts. They’ll have the usual motorcycle rider in the 16-foot globe, but he’ll also be riding his bike over the heads of the audience on a high wire. Even better, at one point there will be seven riders sharing the steel globe, traveling at high speeds just inches from each other and often upside down. Trapeze artists will be working off a double trapeze instead of the standard single trapeze. The Hunan Chinese Troupe will be making astounding leaps from high pole to high pole, but this time the poles will also be swinging. Besides death-defying acrobatics, they’ll also have a number of animals in the ring, not only as separate acts, but also as part of the show. “This year some of the…animals we have are potbellied pigs, who will actually roll out the red carpet. We have a porcupine who is presenting a gift…” Some of the animal acts include tigers, elephants, miniature white ponies and a Frisbee catching dog act. You’ll even get to see goats riding on horses during the show. The audience will also enjoy the Cossack’s incredible equestrian stunts. The handsome Daniel Raffo, one of the world’s leading tiger trainers and a 5th generation circus performer, will present an electrifying exhibition of human-and-animal accord with ten majestic and lively Bengal tigers. Tickets are $69 (Circus Celebrity), $34-44 (VIP), $24 and $14. All seats are reserved and tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at (904) 353-3309. For group rates and information, call (904) 630-3900. For more information on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey visit ringling.com. circus performance schedule Wednesday, January 16, 7:30 p.m. (Opening Night) Thursday, January 17, 10:30 a.m. (School Show) and 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 18, 7:30 p.m. (Military Night) Saturday, January 19, 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 20, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
a local spotlight interview with Cirque Dreams Lighting Director Katie Johnston by kellie abraHamSoN KAbrahamson1@aol.com The performers always get the credit, but anyone who has been backstage at a big theatrical production knows it takes a lot of behind-the-scenes hands to make those shows possible. EU caught up with one of those hands, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy Lighting Director and Jacksonville native Katie Johnston, who was kind enough to give us the scoop on her cool gig and how she scored it. EU: How long have you been with Cirque Productions? Katie Johnston: I’ve been with them [for] about a year and a half. EU: Is this your first show with them? KJ: Yeah, it is. I started in September of 2006 on this show and we got a whole season and then we took a couple months off and [now] we’re back for year number two. EU: What are your duties as Lighting Director for Cirque Dreams? KJ: Well, kind of everything lighting. From setting up in the morning to focusing all the lights to making sure that [the show is] consistent from venue to venue, because a lot of times theaters are smaller or bigger, sometimes we have to cut some stuff or add some stuff. It’s really to maintain the artistic integrity of the design; to make sure that it’s the same beautiful production every single show. EU: Are most theaters already equipped with the lighting gear you use in the show or do you need to bring in your own equipment? KJ: The lights that don’t move… are all provided locally and then we travel with all the moving lights and black light. The whole set is painted in UV paint so in the second half of the show we turn that on and it turns into this great psychedelic, black light sort of jungle. It’s really cool. EU: How important is the lighting in Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy? KJ: Well, actually I think it’s pretty important [laughs]. I think really it just creates a landscape for the performers to be able to do what they do. It creates this great mood and sort of puts a beautiful painting on stage where they can really explore different depths of the jungles in texture and color. I think it enhances the mood of the entire production. EU: Once you’ve been assigned a show what’s your process? KJ: Well, this particular show was out for a couple of months doing some trial runs, so I already had an actual light plot, like an actual drawing of where the lights go on stage. So when I got hired, I came in and sat down with Neil Goldberg, the Artistic Director of the show, and we sat for 16 hours a day for a week and programmed all the lights and re-cued the show. We worked really hard to make sure everything is perfect and beautiful. So once the programming is down, during the tech stages of the tour, then it becomes sort of a day-to-day challenge of maintaining that original look that we set. EU: How did you become a lighting director? KJ: I went to Stanton College Prep and did a bunch of theatre there and was really interested in it. The great thing about Stanton is that everyone there says, “You can do whatever you want to do. You have the world at your fingertips.” So I thought if I have to work I might as well do something fun. I was like, “What’s the funnest (sic) thing that I’ve done all year?” and at that point in my life it was going to a concert. So I was like “OK, well, I’m going to do lighting because that way I can go to shows and get paid to work and do something I love to do.” I moved up to Boston for college got a Bachelors in Fine Arts and Lighting Design and then I actually moved back to Jacksonville, because I just love it, and joined the local stagehand union and worked with them for four years. Then I just really wanted to travel, because I’m a travel-a-holic, so touring seemed like the next best step. I’ve just sort of always done it, to be honest with you. I got a degree and just started working professionally. I’m one of those lucky people that the only job I’ve ever had is the job that I love. Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy can currently be seen at the Moran Theatre at the Times-Union Center until Sunday, January 20. Tickets range in price from $26 to $54 for adults, $30.50 to $20.50 for children. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (904) 632-3373 or visit artistseries.fccj.org. eujacksonville.com | january 17-23, 2008 25
Page 1 and 2: JACKSONVILLE 2008 winter movie prev
Page 3 and 4: table of contents feature 2008 Wint
Page 5 and 6: monday january 21 Florida Forever B
Page 7 and 8: february 22 nd be kind rewind Jerry
Page 9 and 10: perfect popcorn cinema Cloverfield
Page 11 and 12: a problem for the ages The Savages
Page 13 and 14: holy high rollers First Sunday by r
Page 15 and 16: netscapades by brenton crozier 2008
Page 17 and 18: ound room with its warm tones. Ther
Page 19 and 20: this is how they communicate interv
Page 21 and 22: no labels needed interview with ind
Page 23: music for a message interview with
Page 27 and 28: dancing with the stars a television
Page 29 and 30: the dead guy Hippodrome Theatre Rev
Page 31: Random thoughts from a cluttered mi

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