featuring Nik Wallenda & “Grandma” Welcome to the of 1 Welcome to the On behalf of all the performers, administrative staff, design team and crew, we welcome you to this very special production of the Big Apple Circus. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of a beloved New York City cultural gem that has delighted generations of families during its traditional holiday season at Lincoln Center and cities up and down the East Coast and as far west as Chicago. The 40th Anniversary celebrates the rebirth of a New York City and American cultural institution. After declaring bankruptcy in 2016, the Big Apple Circus seemed destined for extinction. Each of us in front and behind the curtain are honored to be part of this renaissance. The circus transcends all barriers bringing together children and adults of all ages, cultures and faith. For two hours, the world inside the Big Top transforms into a colorful kaleidoscope of wonder, amazement and laughter for all to of share. At the Big Apple Circus, we are committed to continuing the outreach programs so every child will have the opportunity to experience the wonder of the Circus. This year we will be expanding the number of shows adapted for children and young adults with Autism as well as those with hearing and visual challenges through our Circus of the Senses. In addition, we continue our commitment to provide children less fortunate the opportunity to attend the circus. Welcome back and enjoy the show. All of us at Big Apple Circus thank you for your support and hope you enjoy the magic and thrill of this special 40th Anniversary Show. Neil Kahanovitz Chairman Big Apple Circus 1 Neil Kahanovitz As a child, when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, the answer never changed, “an orthopedic surgeon and a circus performer.” He achieved both dreams. While attending medical school, he took a leave of absence and began performing in a comedy trampoline act and later as an aerialist in circuses across the country and Hawaii. Once he graduated, Kahanovitz went on to a distinguished career in the medical field. He has published over 50 articles in scientific journals, written about spinal disorders in eleven medical textbooks and published a book on the care and treatment of low back pain. He has served as President of the North American Spine Society and received the prestigious Volvo Award for Low Back Pain Research, as well as a Commendation from The United States House Physician’s Office for his care and surgery performed on members of the United States Supreme Court and Congress. He was also awarded one of the Soviet Union’s most prestigious civilian honors, The Order of The Supreme Soviet Medal of Personal Courage, for organizing relief efforts following a devastating earthquake in Armenia. Despite the success of his medical career, his show business interests resurfaced in the late 1990’s. He has since produced plays and musicals on Broadway, in London’s West End, Chicago, Los Angeles and Off-Broadway. He is thrilled to bring the BIG APPLE CIRCUS back to its rightful place among the most cherished of New York City’s cultural icons. And for a chance to run away with the circus. Not once, but twice! Michael Couper Prior to joining the Big Apple Circus, Michael held leadership positions at Sony, Disney, NBC Universal and Miramax. He was also the founder of Magniture Capital Ventures, a successful New York based consulting firm. His 20 plus year history of consistently delivering stellar results comes from his ability to manage and motivate cross-functional teams, develop innovative opportunities, structure acquisitions, quickly assess and resolve the challenges of a new business venture and negotiate creative partnerships. He has a B.A. in Finance from Michigan State University and a M.B.A. from Wayne State University. He currently resides in New York, NY. Michael finds his oler as CEO of the Big Apple Circus as both exciting and rewarding and he welcomes all to the Big Apple Circus 40th Anniversary 2 Season. 3 Th is is Big Apple Circus’s 40th Anniversary Season, having been founded by Paul Binder & Michael Christensen in 1977. It’s modeled after the traditional European “One Ring” circus, where no one is more than 50 feet away from the ring The new chairman of Big Apple Circus is a spine surgeon and a former Circus performer – having performed a trampoline act and as an aerialist while in med school! CIRCUS LEGACIES THE Nik Wallenda is a 7th generation circus performer and his career began at the age of 2, learning to walk BIG TOP TENT & the wire while holding his mother’s hand. BIG TOP VILLAGE Er endira Wallenda is – on her mother’s side – an 8th generation performer of the Ashtons of Australia, The Big Apple Circus’s tent’s masts and the third oldest circus family in the world. On her father’s side, she is the seventh generation of the cupola were created in Castelnuovo Scrivia, Italy Vazquez trapeze artists from Mexico, known worldwide as the first to successfully complete the The tent is outfitted with enough seats to sit quadruple somersault. 1,700 people! Gu iliano & Fabio Anastisini are 9th generation circus performers and learned the Risley act from their There are 58 trailers that travel with the Circus, father 56 of which will be placed in Lincoln Center The Garcia brothers are 3rd generation circus performers. to house cast, crew, a box office and concessions. Animal Trainer Jenny Vidbel is 3rd generation animal trainer and performer. Elayne Kramer is 6th generation and began performing at age 4. THE ACTS Bi g Apple Circus will make history in their 40th anniversary season by featuring the famous seven-person pyramid on the high wire with Nik Wallenda and The Fabulous Wallendas AND the daring quadruple somersault attempted on the trapeze by The Flying Tunizianis – the first time in circus history that both legendary feats will be performed under the same big top. Barry Lubin, who plays Grandma the Clown, is the first professional clown to perform on all 7 continents Grandma has performed in over 25 Big Apple Circus seasons, making him the longest-running Big Apple Circus employee. Ringmaster Ty McFarlan served 13 years in the Army National Guard Headliner Nik Wallenda has broken ten Guinness World Records, including the longest tightrope crossing by BICYCLE! Nik has “walked” over Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Chicago skyline (blindfolded), and atop the 400ft tall Orlando Eye. Er endira Wallenda (Nik’s wife) broke his record for “iron jaw” this past summer, by hanging from a helicopter, by her teeth, 300 feet above Niagara Falls. This record breaking moment commemorated the 5th Anniversary of Nik’s walk across the Niagara Falls. The circus acts in our show are truly death-defying. Of course, we are very safety-conscious with our humans as well, and have the best technical & safety team available. IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR! ANIMALS There are two sets of brothers in this year’s cast! For over 10 years, Big Thr ee brothers – the Garcias – are in three different acts. Apple Circus has maintained a vital Dandino (the oldest) is in the roller-skating act; Gamal (middle) is no wild or exotic animals policy, and the juggler; and Ammed is a flyer in the trapeze act. most of the animals in the featured acts The Anastasini Brothers (Guiliano, age 27 & Fabio, age 20) are rescues. have been performing professionally together for 10 years. The horses, ponies and dogs that There are 3 married couples performing in the show together: appear in the show are all a part of our 3rd generation animal trainer Nik & Erendira Wallenda in the high-wire act (The Fabulous Jenny Vidbel’s family. Wallendas) Am med & Estefani Garcia in the trapeze act (The Flying Tunizianis) Dandino & Luciana Garcia in the roller-skating act. Se veral of the acts have young children, who live and travel with Big Apple Circus. This year, there are 7 children under the age of 5 and one teenager that will be along for the ride! 2 3 ACT 1 Opening Rola Bola Grandma’s Back Contortion Horses Music Gag Juggling Trapeze Intermission 4 5 TYRON “TY” MCFARLAN RINGMASTER 4 5 JAN DAMM ROLA BOLA 6 7 GRANDMA GRANDMA’S BACK 6 7 ELAYNE KRAMER CONTORTION 8 9 BEHIND THE SCENES 8 9 JENNY VIDBEL HORSES 10 11 GRANDMA & MR. JOEL MUSIC 10 11 GAMAL GARCIA TUNIZIANI JUGGLING 12 13 FLYING TUNIZIANIS TROUPE TRAPEZE 12 13 The Cast CAST, CREW & BAND 14 15 14 15 ACT 2 Lip Sync Roller Skating Horns Dogs Water Gag Risley Highwire Finale 16 17 ACT 2 GRANDMA LIP SYNC Lip Sync Roller Skating Horns Dogs Water Gag Risley Highwire Finale 16 17 DANDINO & LUCIANA ROLLER SKATING 18 19 GRANDMA HORNS 18 19 JENNY VIDBEL DOGS 20 21 GRANDMA & MR. JOEL WATER GAG 20 21 THE ANASTASINI BROS. RISLEY 22 23 THE WALLENDAS HIGHWIRE 22 23 Big Apple is a touchstone of This circus means so much to New American circus. I couldn’t be York and the generations of families prouder to participate in the that have come back year after year. revival of a circus institution It feels amazing to simply say to them, that’s touched generations. “We’re back!” Let’s have fun! JOEL JESKE: WRITER/CLOWN JAN DAMM: ROLA BOLA FINALE Circus artists are some of the most incredible performers I have had the pleasure of designing for. I couldn’t be more excited to help bring these acts to life and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Big Apple Circus.