Circus celebrates P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson, a 1998 graduate of the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music, hosts the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey "Barnum 200" edition of the circus. Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson, a 1998 graduate of the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music, hosts the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey "Barnum 200" edition of the circus. Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Circus celebrates P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

It's all that you can hope for in a circus.

"It's got bombast, humbug, spectacle and sawdust," said Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson, about "Barnum 200," the newest edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus that comes to Bridgeport Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 20-23, for eight performances at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.

The man who helped to create what is now "The Greatest Show on Earth" is celebrated in "Barnum 200" -- "a sensational show, and I speak from the standpoint of a fan" that combines all the aspects of a traditional circus with "wonderful effects."

"There's no CGI (computer generated imagery), but there is marvelous technology" in use "that has a circus soul," said Iverson, a New York native who graduated in 1998 with a music degree in voice from the University of Hartford's Hartt School.

Shortly after graduation, Iverson became the first African-American ringmaster in the show's history, hosting and singing in three consecutive tours. He then took a few years off to perform in several off-Broadway productions, including "Carnival."

For this, the Barnum edition, Iverson was invited to return and has been on tour since 2009. Accompanying him is his wife, dancer Priscilla Iverson, who also is in this show, and their young children, Matthew Felipe and Lila Simone.

"Nothing can compare to this job," he added, laughing.

The show celebrates P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday. Born in Bethel on July 5, 1810, Barnum would become one of the 19th century's most famous individuals -- as a mayor of his adopted home of Bridgeport, philanthropist, community organizer, lecturer, author, land developer, entertainment promoter, circus entrepreneur and "father of American advertising," according to the circus and Bridgeport's Barnum Museum. He died on April 7, 1891.

"Barnum 200" features a nine-member band and 130 performers from 15 countries, including Hungary, Cuba, China, Argentina, Brazil, Romania, Bulgaria and the United States. Asian elephants, Bengal and Siberian tigers, llamas, goats, horses, ponies, watusi (African steer) and python snakes also are on tour.

Featured acts include the Torres Family, of Paraguay, on the Globe of Steel; the Flying Caceres trapeze artists from the U.S., Brazil and Italy; hand-balancing feats by Duo Fusion; the Makarov Troupe of Russian high-wire aerialists; motorcycle high-wire duo of Alex Petrov, of Bulgaria, and Gleice Ribeiro Gillet, of Brazil; the Puyang Troupe of trampoline masters from Puyang, China; and the Sky High Ice Gliders on high wire.

Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, 600 Main St., Bridgeport. Thursday, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m., 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m., 3, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 23, 1, 5 p.m. $95.25 (circus participation), $50.25 (front row), $45.25, $25.25, $20.25, $15.25. 1-800-745-3000, www.Ringling.com, Ticketmaster.com.