Wire-walker Nik Wallenda bringing new holiday circus show to Sarasota
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High-wire daredevil Nik Wallenda is making sure he gets to spend the holiday season in his hometown of Sarasota for the first time in years by producing and starring in what he hopes will become an annual tradition, “A Brave New Wonderland.”
In a partnership with the Circus Arts Conservatory, Wallenda is creating a new holiday-themed circus show that will be presented in a big top tent on the east side of the University Town Center shopping district.
Wallenda said as a result of his ownership and involvement in the Big Apple Circus, a holiday season staple at Lincoln Center in New York City for 45 years, he and his wife, Erendira, “had a dream of bringing a holiday show to Sarasota. The Big Apple Circus is such a family tradition with a huge following,” along with such other seasonal treats as the Radio City Rockettes (who perform their annual Christmas Spectacular) and productions of “The Nutcracker.”
“I saw what an impact Big Apple makes on the community in New York and wanted to bring something like that to Sarasota,” Wallenda said.
The show is scheduled to run for six weeks Nov. 18 to Dec. 31 at UTC on the site where “Beyond Van Gogh” was presented in 2022.
Even with a wide variety of aerial and other circus acts, the show will have a running theme that “kind of introduces everyone to Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah and what the holidays represent. They’re all about unity and giving,” he said.
Wallenda and the Conservatory also will be actively involved in the UTC holiday parade and tree lighting on Nov. 11, said CAC Executive Vice President and COO Jennifer Mitchell.
Wallenda said every show he’s produced, from circus productions to his daredevil stunts like walking a tightrope over the Grand Canyon, Times Square and Niagara Falls, “has an inspirational message. Every person will come to the show to be impressed and will leave inspired.”
The circus acts, which will be announced later, will all tie into the storyline that runs through the show.
The production means there will be more circus than usual this winter. “A Brave New Wonderland” will overlap with the Conservatory’s annual Sailor Circus holiday show, this year called “Candyland,” which runs Dec. 27-31 in the Sailor Circus arena. Circus Sarasota returns for its annual winter show Feb. 16-March 10 at Nathan Benderson Park.
In years past, the Conservatory grew concerned about other circuses presenting shows close to its winter schedule, but Mitchell said attitudes and mindsets have changed.
“We are much more collaborative and sideline cheerleaders for everyone in the industry,” she said. “We are all stronger if each entity is vibrant and people are attending circuses. It made sense to partner on this project and not present the same program or show like we do in other formats, like Circus Sarasota and the Summer Circus Spectacular.”
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Wallenda said the production gives him his first chance to work alongside his longtime mentors, CAC founders Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs. “I was always a performer for them, a subcontractor, so it’s exciting to be on the line of partnership.”
Mitchell describes “A Brave New Wonderland” as “an innovative theme show. We’re here to preserve the legacy as an institution and advance it. With longtime artists like Nik, it’s an easy choice of someone to partner with because we share the same vision. While there’s a competitiveness, there’s also a desire to move the artform forward.”
For more information about “A Brave New Wonderland” and other Circus Arts Conservatory shows, go to circusarts.org.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Wire-walker Nik Wallenda will bring holiday-themed circus to Sarasota
