Video: Behind The Scenes at ‘Super Circus Heroes’

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) — The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus starts a 4-day day run this evening in Tupelo. While thousands will see the feats of strength, and agility from performers and also witness a variety of animal acts, it takes a lot of behind the scenes work to stage the show.

They have been working since Sunday getting everything ready for the Greatest Show on Earth.

150 travel with the Gold Unit, and this production is called “Super Circus Heroes.” Rob Lange is the General Manager.

“My responsibilities are getting the show in, out, making sure all the performers are safe, crew is safe, getting them from one location to the other, getting the show set up, smooth run of shows and getting us to the next town,” Lange said.

While Rob oversees the crew setting up the rigging, Johnny Eline is making sure the sound system is good to go, he’s head of audio for this show.

It’s his job to make sure the audience and performers can hear the live music from the six piece band, and all the other audio effects that make a great performance.

“What we do out here is kind of , almost try to change your emotions a little bit as the show goes, some parts of the show we will have a higher volume, get energy up, get things going, and it will come down a little bit, for a little more kind of suspenseful part.” Eline said.

One of the biggest attractions are the animals. This show has 17 dogs, 11 horses or ponies, 3 camels and 3 elephants, including Carol. Cathy Carden is a seventh generation circus performer.

“I’ve always worked with animals since I was a little kid, I grew up in the circus, my family, my dad was a bareback rider, mom was a trapeze artist so we’ve always had horses and other animals, so it’s sort of a lifestyle for us,” Carden said.

And there are performers, such as the twin titans, two gymnasts from Bulgaria who bring their balancing, strap and strength act to Super Circus Heroes. They even gave me a quick lesson.

You can see all the attractions as Super Circus Heroes runs through Sunday at the BancorpSouth Arena.

For more information, visit www.bcsarena.com and www.ringling.com.