Coming to You: A Circus Legacy

Those who want to be part of local tradition and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the world's oldest independent circus should prepare themselves for the show they're about to see next weekend. Audiences traveling near and far will be witness to 360 amateur circus performers next month when the Great Y Circus once again comes bursting back into town, this year with a show that remembers and honors its Redlands legacy and history. "The birth of the All American Youth Circus dates back to 1929 when it was founded by Roy Coble, a former Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus clown," explained Program Director Tanner Greenhalgh. "This year is our 75th anniversary and our show is called A Circus Legacy. We're re-living the past and bringing past acts to life, from 1929 through the present." The two and a half hour show will incorporate awe-inspiring and gravity-defying acts, including artistically-choreographed acts like tumbling, juggling, acrobatics, unicycle riding, teeterboarding, hand balancing and clowns, of course. Sparkling costumes, theatrical lighting and dramatic music will all contribute to a night of heart-stopping entertainment, with something for everyone. What makes this upcoming season all the more special is the utilization of circus artifacts of years past. Bringing past acts to life, performers will also sport some original Great Y Circus costumes, directly incorporate old circus relics into the show and use modern technology to incorporate visuals from some of the performances of the 1930s. "Redlands loves Redlands history. It will be so much fun to relive that and it will be such an important show," said Greenhalgh. "We probably won't do a show similar to this for another 25 years." Performances run on the following weekend days: Fridays, May 1, 8 and 15 at 7 p.m.; Saturdays, May 2, 9 and 16 at 5 p.m.; and Sundays, May 3, 10 and 17 at 3 p.m. in the Redlands YMCA Coble gym. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-12, with kids under 3 free, and may be purchased at the YMCA lobby, 500 East Citrus Avenue, or by calling the ticket hotline at 909-798-9622 extension 205.