thundjy, September 4, 1 030
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The Ringling Brothers Bamum and Bailey Circus is
billed as the Greatest Show on the Earth,
It has lions, tigers, elephants, some of the world's
most beautiful women and almost 100 clowns. It seems
like a cast of thousands.
According to Assistant Performance Director Jeff
Loseff, 300 people are responsible for producing the
show. Many of them change costumes as often as 10 times
a show, making the cast seem larger than it is.
Backstage, people in various degrees of undress scurry
about, preparing tor the next act. Many speak in foreign
languages, others have heavily-laced accents.
The area surrounding the stage entrance is harried.
Elephants barely miss stepping on a midget assigned to
keep the big beasts in line. A white tiger takes a swipe at
a clown leaning a bit too close to the tiger's cage.
The Greatest Show on Earth is advertised as wonder
ful family entertainment. Part of its success is the feeling
of family which each performer has with his or her peers.
Loseff says the circus is like a big family, not
necessarily a happy family, but big nevertheless. The
turnover rate is negligible.
Even so, one young woman was heard to say she'd do
anything to audition for a chorus line part.
But in the center ring, the ringmaster calls for the
ponies. The show always goes on.
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Story and Photographs
by Mark Billingsley
And now, in the Oenter Ein
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