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Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Returns In August

Updated: Friday, June 15 2012, 07:13 AM CDT
By Rob Faubion, AustinOnStage.com

 "The Greatest Show on Earth" - Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey - brings a surge of circus entertainment back to the Frank Erwin Center on August 22 through 26 with their all new show, Fully Charged.  The production promises breath-taking daredevilry, superhuman stunts and never-before-seen performances.

Fully Charged celebrates all kinds of power - including horsepower, performance power, the power of beauty and grace and sheer athletic power.  The show is led by newcomer Brian Crawford Scott, who introduces the acts while singing original songs as the 36th ringmaster in the 141-year-history of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
     
Performances includes sixth generation circus star Tabayara "Taba" Maluenda, the dynamic animal trainer making his fourth tour with the "The Greatest Show on Earth."  His ability to communicate with animals allows him to ride rearing stallions and orchestrate majestic four-ton Asian elephants in a symphony of dance, in addition to standing eye-to-eye with 12 tigers.
     
The Fernandez Brothers will perform daring feats of athleticism on the Twin Turbines of Steel, including extreme jumps and twists inside and outside of the spinning wheels. The Human Fuse, Brian Miser, will set the arena sky ablaze as he is ignited and propelled 110 feet through the air at 65 miles per hour from his self-made human crossbow.
     
The Tian Yi Cheng Troupe combines ancient Chinese acrobatics and modern sports technology as they perform jumps, leaps and flips on state-of-the-art bounce stilts.  The Danguir Family - including world-record holder and circus veteran Mostafa Danguir - will electrify circus-goers as they jump rope, dance and ride bikes on the high-wire.  And the world-famous Ringling Bros. Clown Alley will hold court with their antics and comedy.
    
Performances will run Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. An Animal Open House and All-Access Preview will open 90 minutes before each showtime and is free to all ticket holders.
    
Tickets are $15 and $25, with $40 VIP and $60 VIP Gold - and $80 Circus Celebrity tickets - available.  Opening night tickets are $10, and college and university students, faculty and staff save $5 on tickets to all performances except Opening Night with valid ID at the Frank Erwin Center box office.
    
The Frank Erwin Center is located at 1701 Red River Street.  Tickets are now on sale at all Texas Box Office outlets - including select H-E-B stores - by phone at (512) 477-6060 or 1-800-982-BEVO (2386) and online at www.TexasBoxOffice.com.

(Image courtesy Frank Erwin Center)Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Returns In August