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Circus Has New Acts Up Its Sleeve

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Trish Anne and Randall Snowden Jr. will perform in Clown Alley at Ringling's Zing Zang Zoom.

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By SARAH HOYE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 17, 2008

Updated: 12/17/2008 11:42 am

Ladies and gentleman, children of all ages, it's almost time to make your way to "The Greatest Show on Earth."

The 139th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is coming to town with Zing Zang Zoom, a two-hour magic-themed show featuring disappearing elephants, spinning trapeze artists and human cannonballs.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey pulled back the curtain on rehearsals Tuesday at the Florida State Fairgrounds, where the circus sets up shop each year in the weeks before performances begin.

The location is dubbed the "winter quarters" and is used to prepare for the nationwide tour. The Zing Zang Zoom group, which has 100 performers and 50 animals, is one of three Ringling Bros. teams that tour the country.

"For the last year and a half, our scouts have been touring the world for the best acts," said Nicole Feld, the show's producer and executive vice president of Feld Entertainment.

"For about five weeks, we put together the new edition," Feld said. "We're in rehearsal every single day."

Practice makes perfect, and working in the circus is serious business, said acrobat Ivan Vargas. The Tampa native didn't have to run away to join the circus; he was born into it. A generational circus performer, his parents met in the air, literally, as they performed a trapeze act with The Flying Vargas Troupe.

"The circus is serious; you have to know what you're doing. It takes dedication and hard work," Vargas said. "It's the best job in the world."

ZING ZANG ZOOM

WHAT: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show featuring classic circus acts.

WHEN: Jan. 7-11 (7:30 p.m. Jan. 7-9; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10; 1 and 5 p.m. Jan. 11)

WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa

TICKETS: $15, $20 and $25; $35 (VIP); $55 (front row); $85 (circus celebrity). Call the box office, (813) 301-2500, or Ticketmaster, (813) 287-8844.

Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832.

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