Las Vegas Weekly

June 17, 2010 · 10:28 AM

Circus returns to town with thrills, chills, spills — and Kevin Burke

By Robin Leach

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Photo: Courtesy

The chills come when the Flying Caceres attempts the dangerous four-tumble somersault on the trapeze. The spills come when the Torres Family rides seven motorbikes simultaneously in a spinning 16-foot sphere speeding at 65 mph. The thrills come when the Sky High Ice Gliders tread out on tiptoes across the tightrope that’s big-top high.

Yes, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus returns to town at The Orleans Arena tonight through Sunday with nightly shows and morning and afternoon performances Saturday and Sunday. It also marks the return of ringmaster Johnathan Iverson after a five-year absence from the traveling circus. He’s the youngest ringmaster to join The Greatest Show on Earth, and as a former singer with the Harlem Boys Choir also the first black ringmaster.

Tomorrow, however, our local comedy magic star Kevin Burke of Defending the Caveman is the guest ringmaster. Kevin, who hails from a legendary circus family, studied his physical comedy at Ringling Clown College in Florida and in 1986, after he became an official clown, was a ringmaster’s understudy.

Kevin recently celebrated his fourth year with the one-man show at Excalibur, and he’ll be honored with a certificate when he declares that The Greatest Show on Earth is underway.

The performers have all arrived, the trucks and motor homes are in position at The Orleans, and the Funundrum Experience is ready to roll for kids of all ages. Before each of the shows, visitors can wander the Animal Open House for close-up looks at the elephants, tigers and other animals hosted by cowboy clown Andre McClain.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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