Illusions and magic won't be the only acts to astound audience members. Circus-goers' jaws will drop as they experience an incomparable array of stunning thrill acts that defy gravity and logic, along with a magnificent menagerie of exotic animals including Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, and Arabian and Friesian horses.
This all-new, 139th edition of the circus has some of the most incredible thrill acts ever seen. Fearless human cannonballs blast through the air in a dramatic display of daring bravery. A treacherous never-before-seen quadruple Russian fire-swing sends acrobats crisscrossing two stories in the air, the mind-boggling Qi Qi Har Chinese Swinging Log Trapeze makes its North American debut, and the dangerous dueling wheels of steel defy gravity and logic.
Audiences are encouraged to arrive an hour before show time for the Ringling Bros. Clown College® All Access Pre-show. Free to all ticket holders, the All Access Pre-Show gives fans a chance to meet the circus performers and animals up-close, learn circus skills and enjoy a taste of the performance before the show even starts!
Zing Zang Zoom arrives at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont from November 5-15, then moves to Chicago's United Center, November 17-29
Tickets are on sale both arena box offices and all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (312) 559-1212, or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com . Prices are $13, $19 and $24, with V.I.P. tickets selling for $35 on weekdays and $50 on weekends, and front row seats, $40 on weekdays and $60 on weekends. There are also a limited number of $85 Circus Celebrity seats, guaranteeing a one-of-a-kind Ringling Bros. experience, available for each performance.
For general show information, call the Allstate Arena at (847) 635-6601, or the United Center at (312) 455-4500. To learn more about Zing Zang Zoom go to www.Ringling.com .
About Zingmaster/Illusionist Alex Ramon
- At 13 years old, Alex became intrigued with magic after a colleague of his father showed him some tricks.
- Alex has earned many top awards and honors for his phenomenal magic, including San Francisco Bay Area's Best Stage Magician, the coveted Lance Burton award, given to the National Teenage Champion Magician by the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, and the National Stage Magic Champion award.
- Alex traveled the globe with Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show with the world's most famous mouse for two and a half years, seeing 14 countries, four continents, 656 shows and more than a million people.
World class illusionist Alex Ramon summons over a decade of magic experience to bring an unexpected twist to the American circus as he joins the cast of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Zing Zang Zoom. Starring as the magical Zingmaster, Alex astounds audiences with his incredible mastery of illusions, all while keeping his nemesis, Mr. Gravity and his gang of Heavies from causing trouble.
A true principal of his craft, Alex earned many top awards and honors for his phenomenal magic, including San Francisco Bay Area's Best Stage Magician, the coveted Lance Burton award, given to the National Teenage Champion Magician by the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, and the National Stage Magic Champion award.
But even a master magician can't learn to make an elephant disappear overnight. So like the tourist who asks directions to Carnegie Hall, Alex says the answer is to practice, practice, practice. But, he says, practicing magic is a labor of love for him.
Raised in Richmond, California, Alex developed a deep connection with magic when he was just 13 years-old. His father's colleague, a magician, often showed Alex magic tricks, and Alex dedicated hours learning and perfecting his technique. Alex's father took notice of his son's growing passion and natural talent for magic and bought him a 370-page magic book for Christmas that allowed Alex to take his talent to the next level.
With performance in his heart, Alex began entertaining friends and family. His first successful magic show at a family gathering impressed and astounded so many, Alex decided he wanted perform in front of more audiences. Soon after, he was hired at a local restaurant to perform close-up magic for guests. Alex continued to refine his skills as an entertainer, gained confidence in his abilities, and entered his first competition at the age of 16. Alex, one of the youngest competitors, won second place and began to make a name for himself as a talented magician in the Bay Area.
Seen as a popular and acclaimed magician, Alex was asked to be the spokesperson for a popular, state-wide library showcase. Alex could not turn this opportunity down as he had a strong connection to books; Alex learned the art of magic by reading. The admired teenage magician traveled across the state of California and performed in more than 250 magic shows a year.
When Alex returned to Las Vegas in 2005, he auditioned for Disney Live! Presents Mickey's Magic Show, and skillfully won a spot as a professional illusionist alongside Master Magician Mickey Mouse. Alex traveled the globe with the world's most famous mouse for two and a half years, seeing 14 countries, four continents, 656 shows and more than a million people.
"Magic is universal. It transcends language," Alex says. "At a restaurant in China, I made a coin disappear in front of a little boy. The kid's face just lit up. I taught him how to perform the trick and he gave me a note written in Chinese that I later learned said 'I will practice what you have taught me.' When you see a performer who really loves what they do, they're not doing it. It's happening."
Alex's talent and dedication put him top of mind when producers Kenneth Feld and Nicole Feld imagined a magical circus– one in which an elephant disappears and a man turns into a tiger.
"Here I am in The Greatest Show on Earth. You don't get any bigger than this," Alex says. "But I'm waiting for the day a kid, maybe 10 years from now, says, you know, 'I saw you in the Ringling Bros. show Zing Zang Zoom, and now I'm a magician and it's my passion.' "
