It takes a certain individual to keep control of a show dubbed "The Greatest Show on Earth."
For example, take current ringmaster of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey's 131st edition circus, Johnathan Lee Iverson. He was recognized in Barbara Walters' special, The Ten Most Fascinating People of 1999.
Iverson and the rest of the 131st edition began their stay at The Bryce Jordan Center last night and will perform shows tonight, tomorrow and Sunday as well. Showtime for tonight is 7:30, showtimes for tomorrow are 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Sunday's shows are at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
No one can say Iverson, who does an average of eight shows per week, is not busy. But his day does not stop after his job. A typical day for Iverson usually involves a morning jog, studying Portuguese (he is making a trip to Brazil soon), reading (to keep his mind fresh), listening to music, exercising his voice and practicing martial arts. And that list does not even include the three and a half-hour circus performances or preparations for those performances.
"It makes for a very long day. I'm very active," Iverson said. "The live performance schedule can be pretty insane."
Since starting in Ringling Bros. in 1998, Iverson said he has been enjoying his stay as the ringmaster of the show.
"There have been ups and downs, tragedies, controversy, the whole thing. It's an adventure," Iverson said.
He was asked to try out to be the ringmaster after the director of Ringling Bros. saw him during a dinner theater production. Being a triple threat in the fields of singing, dancing and vocal prowess, Iverson was a sure fit for the role.
When asked how he would describe the role of ringmaster, Iverson's voice switched into a tone of seriousness, which seemed to evoke the role.
"He's this great host where any arena is his house. You could call him the 'count of the circus.' He invites all of his friends to perform for all his friends around the world, the people," Iverson said.
In the circus, the role of ringmaster is intriguing, bringing to life all the different acts and displaying the imagination of the show, he added.
"It involves singing, dancing and announcing. The voice -- it's almost biblical," Iverson said.
As Iverson explained, the role of ringmaster grew out of rich tradition within the circus.
"The ringmaster role started as the equestrian director. Originally, the circus rings were built for horses. Typically, he worked himself through the ranks; maybe he started as a clown, maybe he shoveled poop. He has sawdust in his veins. Typically then he is the boss under the owner," Iverson said.
Even though the circus has many traditions, one that Iverson said is stereotyped is the idea that most circus folk are crazy or freaks.
"I think many people mix us up with the carnival," he said.
Citing how he learned the circus business from being an outsider, Iverson said it is a giant family business, where everybody knows everybody.
"It's like this big community," Iverson said, adding that within the circus business all the major circuses know one another.
The highlight of the 131st edition, according to Iverson, is the elephants.
"They have been the stars for over 132 years," he said.
He continued, not wanting to discredit any of the other acts.
"But you can take your pick, it's a buffet of fantasy. If you come to a Ringling show and don't get something out of it, you have a hole in your heart or something," Iverson said.
Other acts featured in the 131st edition include Bo and Bello, Mark Oliver Gebel and the Max Air Blizzard Battalion.
Audiences can expect an odd pairing when the comedy team of Bo and Bello take the ring. The pairing is eccentric, Bo is an elephant and Bello is a clown from the upbringing of a circus dare devil.
In a press release, Bello explains the chemistry between Bo and him.
"If you took Laurel from Laurel and Hardy and put him with Curly from the Three Stooges, it wouldn't work because the chemistry isn't there," Bello said. "And the same goes for us. We're both unique performers, but we have great chemistry together. No other circus performers can do what we do."
Considering that Gebel was raised in the circus atmosphere, it is only natural he trains the animals in the circus now. Son of the famous animal trainer, Gunther Gebel-Williams, Gebel takes care of over 40 animals for the 131st edition of Barnum and Bailey.
The Max Air Blizzard Battalion is hailed in a press release as extreme sports meet "The Greatest Show on Earth." The Battalion is an act consisting of an "explosive, pyrotechnic display of indoor ramp skiing and freestyle trampoline jumping."
But, Iverson's favorite part is a song and dance number, called "Spectacle," which gets all the acts involved.
"All the acts, including the elephants, are out on the floor to perform this Latin dance and there is a beat going. It's really beautiful. It's right before intermission, so we leave the crowd with a bang," he said.
Iverson said that everybody should come to the circus, just for the experience.
"It's one of those experiences you can't explain, like falling in love or getting a new religion. You don't know what it's like unless you experience it. It's up there with those tonalities," he said. "I mean, sometimes people just come once and they become lifetime fans."
Iverson differentiated between the different audience members of the circus.
"The average kid just enjoys the elephants and animal poop, but adults can decipher the details. They appreciate all the work that goes into it," he said.
The adults are not Iverson's favorite people to entertain, though.
"My favorite people to entertain are the young kids and the senior citizens. A lot of people don't get into the show like they do. Many people are self-conscious about other people watching them. I mean you pay for the ticket, you may as well enjoy it," he said.
Tickets for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus can be purchased at the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center, Eisenhower Auditorium, select Uni-Mart ticket outlets or by calling 865-5555 or (800) 863-3336. Ticket prices range according to section and are $10, $15, $18 or $25.
