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The Circus Is Back in Town at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville
by Rich and Laura Lynch
The all-new Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presented a revised and riveting version of their The Greatest Show On Earth at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee January 24-26, 2025 with seven big showings over their weekend residency in Music City. This circus thrilled kids of all ages with 75 artists representing more than 18 countries performing acrobatics, aerial, comedy, daring tricks, music and more. Plus, there was plenty of fun circus-themed schwag and snacks to purchase.
The circus returned to Nashville - revamped and reimagined.
The stop in Tennessee represented a remarkable comeback for the legendary brand after closing up shop initially when many fans lost interest once the large and lovable elephants were removed from the show. The six years off led the management company to re-imagination their offering completely without the presence of any animals and left them plenty of time to scour the world for new and thrilling talent to present in their three-ring style showcase. Without wildlife the production over two halves was more life-affirming than death-defying as human achievement and ability was celebrated to the fullest. That is something we can all use in this day and age as Feld Entertainment continues to modernize the circus experience for a changing audience.
"Welcome to the Show" kicked off the festivities with dancers sporting dazzling costumes paired with stunts giving us a broad overview of what was to come. Skits incorporating comedy and music were mixed in with awe-inspiring achievements of acrobatics, balance, flying tricks and more. Traditional circus acts such as high wire and trapeze were exciting as was the inclusion of newer ideas such as BMX Freestyle Riders.
A number of musical numbers worked perfectly in Music City.
The skill of Teeterboard was well represented by the Tic Tac Trio and the Troupe Brothers who combined gymnastics with soaring see-saw flips. One of our favorite daring acts was the Double Wheel of Destiny in which The Havas Troupe twisted and turned on a pair of fast-moving wheels. Although safety measures were in place it did seem like their tricks and many others performed during the show were still dangerous.
There is a "WOW" factor seeing these feats presented live plus the musical portions gave the audience opportunities to be a part of the production. There were plenty of "WOW" moments including Wesley Williams riding the tallest unicycle (34.6 feet tall) and Argendance a troupe from Argentina who cleverly choreographed movement using cords with weighted stones paired with Malambo a traditional folk dance featuring percussive footwork. Also, Troupe Ethio Selam from Ethiopia perform various feats such as Chinese pole, club juggling and hoop diving.
Cotton candy at the circus - some things never change.
We noticed that one of the most popular items selling on the concourse was a molded plastic dragon hat that was being worn around the arena by adults and kids alike. While they were tying in the dragon theme to the Chinese "Year of the Dragon" there wasn't necessarily any occurrence of this particular creature exhibited in the show. Since it was a fast moving and brandable item perhaps they can adopt a marketable character a la Disney as they re-affirm their mythical status and continue to breathe new life into their fabulous and fiery "Greatest Show on Earth". They already are featuring a new robotic dog named Bailey who was a welcome addition to the troupe. So, that would give them two animal figures to promote in the future as well as all the fantastic human talent on display.
The circus delivered an eclectic event featuring performers from around the world. The Greatest Show On Earth currently has dates scheduled through early April and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® are ready to entertain folks with never-before-seen stunts paired with engaging effects - so check out the circus when it comes to your town!
Scenes from the Saturday morning edition of "The Greatest Show on Earth" in Nashville.
Related Links:
For more information on THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey |
Bridgestone Arena
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