Newark's Mayor Corey Booker joins us opening night May 6

We are excited to announce that Newark Mayor Corey Booker will join us opening night in Newark, NJ set for Tuesday, May 6 at 7:30pm.

If you are in the area be sure to get your tickets because along with joining Tony Tone and Zeke in the ring as a Guest Ringmaster, Mayor Booker will also receive a special honor from the UniverSoul Circus.

We call her the most dangerous animal at the circus...

That's Pepper. Zeke's little dog with the big bite! If you get within a foot of Zeke's trailer Pepper is ready to attack you because she does not like anyone getting near her Zeke.

But here's the secret, if you talk real sweet to her and pick her up gently she becomes putty in your hands.

Who's that guy in the tux?

When you are at the circus you might see this guy standing in a tux right where the talent enters the ring or you might see him signaling the deejay in the audio booth. That's our stage manager Fernando España.

Fernando is responsible for making sure the show starts on time as well as making sure the acts get in and out of the ring. He's also responsible for the props and the rigging of the aerial acts and trapeze act. He's been with UniverSoul for five years now.

So the next time you are at the show, make sure you tell Fernando hello!

LL Cool J & NY State Senator Malcolm Smith rocked the house!

We had an exciting day with NY State Senator Malcolm Smith & entertainer and author LL Cool J who we honored for their outstanding community service work for creating the Queens based "Jump and Ball" Tournament.

The crowd went wild when they both came into the ring and LL even brought his two beautiful daughters. Both men offered encouraging words and were delighted to receive the plaques we bestowed on them.

We got it all on videotape below. After the video check out some of the behind-the-scenes photos.


LL and the Senator receive their award. Check out Tony Tone wearing an old-school Kangol in honor of LL


LL and the Senator hang with Tony Tone and Zeke at intermission .


LL and the Senator talk with BET "Black Carpet"


UniverSoul Circus Executive Cynthia Walker (wife of CEO Cedric Walker) welcomes the Senator and LL on behalf of the circus


We thank LL and Senator Smith for coming out and also spending so much time taking photos with our performers and staff after the show. Also, a special shout out goes to our UniverSoul Circus friend Lester Muse who was essential in making this all happen AND he provided the amazing photos.

LL Cool J and NY State Senator Malcolm Smith coming to Queens

Tomorrow in Queens we are honoring entertainer and author LL Cool J and NY State Senator Malcolm Smith. They are going be in the house at the 4:30pm show and everyone at the circus is very excited because they are all huge LL fans.

LL and the Senator gave back to the Queens community by starting the "Jump and Ball Tournament" that takes place every summer and we want to continue our tradition of recognizing the achievements of individuals in the communities where we set up the Big Top!

Check back later to see behind-the-scenes photos. In the meantime, see one of our favorite LL songs and videos!

Deneise Howard in May "Sister 2 Sister" Magazine - You Go Girl!

You caught a glimpse of our Director of Talent & Production Deneise Howard in a previous blog (April 19) but get the full story about this dynamic African-American woman in the May issue of "Sister 2 Sister" Magazine currently on stands. She is just one of the incredible African-American women who make the UniverSoul Circus possible. More to come later.

In the meantime, you go Deneise!

Meet the Rodriguez Family

The NY Post's blog "Tempo Espresso" ran a great story about the Rodriquez Family- Danny Rodriguez our Operations Manager, his wife Lilliana our House Manager and their 12-year-old daughter Alia.

Along with our performers, there are so many people like the Rodriguez Family who have wonderful stories, plus their interview gives some insight about the circus life. You'll find out that Danny and Lilliana are former performers themselves and Alia has the performing bug!

Enjoy


NY Post Tempo Espresso
One Happy-Family To Go

Traveling around the world with a couple hundred people who are into clowning around, dozens of wild animals and a few truckloads of equipment may seem like mayhem to you, but for the Rodriguez Family, it’s life. Danny Rodriguez, who has been the operations manager at the UniverSoul Circus for nearly six years, along with his wife and the circus’ House Manager Lilianna and their daughter Alia, spend most of the year on the road with the circus.

Q: What led you to get involved with the circus?

Danny: I’m a fifth generation circus kid, so it’s in my blood. I started out as performer. Both my mother and father were performers. I was born on the road, while my parents were traveling to do a show. You are either born to do this work or you’re not. Our oldest daughter, America, was not born to do this. She hates the traveling and decided to go to school in Sarasota, Florida.

Lilianna: I’m like him, but I’m seventh generation and I was born and raised in Mexico. I moved to the states when I was 6. We met in the circus, I was a performer, doing floor work and he was into the trapeze and aerialist. I didn’t like him at first, but it’s funny that, that is usually who you end up with.

Q: Why did you continue the tradition of joining the circus, instead of getting a typical 9-to-5 job?

You can do what you do and look at it as a job; I don’t because I love what I do. This life isn’t for everybody. You know, the traveling, every week you’re in a different city. It can drain you, but I love it. I really couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Lilianna: It’s fun. You see a lot of different cities and great things. But, it’s still a job. You have to be responsible and stay on top of what you’re doing.

Q: Do you plan to perform with the circus, someday?

Alia: Yes, I love the circus so much. I love meeting people and [having] new experiences. I practice a lot. If I am not in school with the other performers, I am practicing. I want to be really good because a lot of my family members are still performing.

Q: How does your family get around?

Danny: We have an R-V that we live in on-site, during the tour. It pretty much has all the comforts of home, washer, dryer, microwave, flat-screen TV, refrigerator—everything you could want. It’s our home away from home.

Q: How do you spend your downtime?

We try to spend as much time together, as possible. It’s really difficult because my wife is the House Manager. She has shows and dealing with the crowds. We make sure to do something, maybe go out to dinner, catch a movie, or even sit down together and watch the King of Queens. It’s hard to do, but you have to make that time. In the two months that I have off, we take a vacation, usually a cruise, with no phones, computers or contact from the outside world—it’s just us.

To find out more about life in the circus or to purchase tickets to the UniverSoul Circus, in the Tri-state area March 26th through May 4th, visit universoulcircus.com. –Tichelle Porter

A Surprise for Steve Harvey

During a scheduled meeting with Steve Harvey the other day, our CEO Cedric Walker surprised Steve Harvey with a plaque for his longtime support of the UniverSoul Circus as well as his work in the community.

A Day in the Life of UniverSoul Circus CEO Cedric Walker

We thought you might be interested in a glimpse of the day in the life of our CEO Cedric Walker. You read in our last post that he flew into New York from Atlanta to interview with Steve Harvey. After the interview he went to Prospect Park in Brooklyn to the circus site to check up on things. After 15 years he says it is still exciting for him since the circus was just an idea many years ago but now it is a reality.

Mr. Walker arrives just in time to say hello to one of the "Rough Riders"


The backstage talent manager let's Mr. Walker know everything is running smooth


Our aerialist gets a chance to chat with Mr. Walker after finishing the opening number


Before he runs into the tent Mr. Walker greets two hard working guys from the production crew


Inside the tent Mr. Walker and Ringmaster Tony Tone joke around between acts. They are saying about each other "he is really the owner." People often think Tony Tone is the owner of the show.


He shares some of his thoughts (and a laugh) about the show with Talent/Production manager Deneise Howard.


He continues on through the evening with meetings. We can barely keep up.

Steve Harvey hooked us up today

Our CEO Cedric Walker flew in from Atlanta to New York join the Steve Harvey Morning show at the WBLS studios for an interview about the circus and it was fantastic. We caught this photo of Steve and Mr. Walker above in the studio.

Steve and his crew gave major props to the circus and Steve even asked all of their listeners to log onto the UniverSoul Circus website www.universoulcircus.com and buy tickets. What was interesting was that Steve and Mr. Walker had not officially met so it was a historic moment.

Mr. Walker and UniverSoul Circus Market Manager Tony Starling also got a chance to catch up with some of their friends at WBLS. Mr. Walker has had a long relationship with the folks at WBLS as he was one of the biggest music promoters in the country before he started UniverSoul Circus. Check out these behind the scenes shots:

Mr. Walker and UniverSoul Circus Market Manager Tony Starling prepare for the interview


Here he is with Gloria Sims the Account Manager for the UniverSoul Circus.



During the interview Mr. Walker sat by comedian/actor Anthony Anderson who was also a guest on the show. Mr. Walker told us later that he is big fan of Anthony's!



On the way out of the studio Mr. Walker got a chance to also chat with Steve's manager Rushion McDonald.


Our thanks to Steve Harvey and his crew!

Our favorite NYC "Soul Train Line" and "Platinum Lovers" of the week

Our first week in New York at Prospect Park was incredible and we truly believe the adults are having more fun than the kids.

If you haven't seen our show yet you have to understand that it is a mandate that the audience be involved in the show and the "Soul Train Line" is strictly for the old school. Now if you are coming to the show with your significant other and you decide to come in the ring for the "Platinum Lovers" spot you better bring it because Tony Tone will call you out.

Check out highlights from our favorite "Soul Train Line" and the "Platinum Lovers" from opening week. I can't stop laughing!






-Paula