Windy City Circus at Navy Pier Feb. 17-26, 2012

Windy City Circus, an all-new locally produced professional circus featuring jaw-dropping circus acts and hilarious characters from around the world, will make its debut inside Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand Avenue, Feb. 17-26, 2012. This exciting “circus with a purpose” will have a strong hometown feel, featuring cameo appearances by an assortment of famous and infamous Chicago area historic figures. 80% of net ticket sale proceeds will go to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana and the Special Olympics Chicago and co-sponsor Special Children’s Charities.

Windy City Circus is proud to announce its new partnership with the City of Chicago to celebrate the city’s 175^th birthday.  This will include a special salute during every performance of the circus throughout its 10 day run.  Further details will be announced at a later date. 

David Maas is the Big Top producer and founder of Windy City Circus, and also will serve as master of ceremonies.  A renowned magician and the star of many American and international circuses, Maas is best known as the co-star of the “World Renowned David & Dania Quick Change,” in which he and Moscow Circus veteran Dania Kaseeva Maas perform an astonishing series of split-second costume changes, an act that has been featured on such programs as “America’s Got Talent” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and also has wowed stage and arena audiences world-wide.

Have you seen David and Dania's act? If not check them out here.  I LOVE THEM!!

Want to see them LIVE?  Use promo code CHICAGO  for $15 grandstand tickets, valid for any performance.

At Navy Pier, a colorful circus scene will be designed inside Festival Hall, and Windy City Circus audiences will sit within 50 feet of the performance ring.  In addition to David and Dania’s “Quick Change,” Windy City Circus will feature an internationally acclaimed roster of circus stars, including aerial and trapeze artists, clowns, jugglers and animal acts.

                                                                                   

Among those performing in the Windy City Circus are:

·         Acrobat and juggler Vladik was born into a circus family and began his training at an early age. Taking the stage for the first time at age nine, he has since performed in more than 30 countries in various circuses including “Lido de Paris” in Paris, “Le Cabaret” in Monte Carlo, and Cirque du Soleil’s “Dralion.” He has also won numerous awards including the gold medal in Paris’ “Cirque de Demain,” for his act which includes a modern mix of juggling, dance and acrobatics.

·         Jenny Vidbel is a third generation circus performer and animal trainer who grew up traveling with her grandparents and their animals in various circuses throughout the United States.  At the age of 12, she trained her first pony and presented him in her grandparents’ show, Vidbel’s “Olde Tyme Circus,” which she later owned and managed. Over the years, she has trained and presented a 12-pony drill team, a 2,000-pound draft horse, goats, llamas, a large variety of dogs, three beautiful Arabian horses, a Capybara and an African Porcupine.  For the Windy City Circus, Vidbel will bring her Miniature Champion White Horse act.

·         The Winn Family has been involved in daredevil stunts for nine generations. Originating in France and Germany, the Winns came to America in the early 1960s and raised five sons and a daughter to continue the family tradition. The Winn Family has entertained audiences in America for more than a half century.  They continue to amaze crowds all around the globe to this day with a full showcase of daredevilry at levels from the ground to sky-scraping high towers. 

·         As a young man in Argentina, Jonatan Riquelme developed talents as a trampoline performer, trapeze artist, balancer and horseback rider. He began performing in 1999 and his act has brought him around the world dazzling audiences in places such as Brazil, Japan, Mexico, China, Puerto Rico as well as the United States and Canada.

Ticket Information and Performance Schedule

Individual tickets range from $17.50-$45 for weekday performances and $20.50-$60 for weekend performances. Four-ticket family packages are available for prices starting at $63. Special group rates are available for school and charitable organizations.

Performances will run Feb. 17 – 26, with performances every day.  Performances are:

Tuesday – Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sundays at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

There will also be performances on Monday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Individual tickets are available online at windycitycircus.org or by calling 312-803-0096.  Groups of 10 or more can purchase discounted tickets by calling Grouptix at 773-327-3778 or visiting Grouptix.net.

Cirque Shanghai Extreme at Skyline Stage, Navy Pier, Chicago

This past Sunday the family hopped a train to downtown Chicago.  

We were headed for Navy Pier for Cirque Shanghai Extreme at the Skyline Stage.  If you've never been there, the Skylines Stage is outside on the pier but is covered and sort of enclosed.  It was a pretty warm day and without the breeze from the lake it was fairly warm in the auditorium, but once the show started we never even noticed.

I've never been to a Cirque show but they always look exciting, and this one certainly was.  The action was nonstop and the skill was amazing.  Many of the acts use the same performers so the cast is actually fairly small, which to me only makes it all the more incredible.  For instance, the girl at the top of both of the photos (above, in yellow, and below, in blue) are the same adorable little girl.  She can't be more than 8 years old and amazingly strong and brave, AND SMILEY!

These guys did some super entertaining hat tricks.

Obviously these guys are strong and there was a TON of strength involved in all of the acts, but there was also a ton of well choreographed beauty too.  There were constant stage and costume changes.  The time flew by!  

If you enjoy the skill and strength acts of your typical circus, but would like to pass on the clowns, THIS is the show for you.  Cirque Shanghai Extreme is about an hour long show of nonstop action and suspense.  I promise I've left many surprises for you if you decide to check out the show at Navy Pier.

Cirque Shanghai Extreme now showing at the Skyline Stage on Navy Pier through September 5. This spectacle for all ages features acrobatic performers direct from China who are leaders in their craft of tumbling, juggling, balancing and more. This year's all-new production goes to the extreme with a death-defying motorcyclist on a wire, action-packed sword fighting and thrilling new twists on family favorites. Kids are $15 all summer long!

Check out this special discount offer!

Use code KIDS for $25 Adult Gold Circle tickets for Wed-Fri performances for July and August.

Tickets now on sale through ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000

Disclosure: My family received complimentary tickets to this show for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own honest personal feedback and I was not compensated for a positive review.