Director Gives Circus a Contemporary Twist

By Samah Dada

Many people have seen a circus before, but some may not have viewed one that is constructed on the spot.

The new Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey's "Built to Amaze," scheduled to begin this week at the Honda Center in Anaheim, promises to give audiences a contemporary circus, constructed as the show goes on.

"We [try] to create a loose concept or theme. With this year's show, Built to Amaze!, the theme is construction, and creating a show on the spot,"  Rye Mullis, the circus director who attended Newport Harbor High School, explained. "It's basically about what would happen if Ringling wasn't ready and we had to build a show on the spot and see what happens."

Traditional circus acts include a variety of trapeze artists, tight-rope walkers, clowns, jugglers on unicycles, elephants and tigers all to capture the attention of audience members. 

"Built to Amaze!" will bring something different to the arena.

A bigger production, stunt tap dancing on skiis and the youngest human cannonball in the world, to name a few.

"It's an honor to be a part of a tradition that is so old, older than Coca Cola and Broadway," Mullis said. "[And as director,] it's in my hands."

Mullis grew up in Costa Mesa and went to school in Newport Beach. He always loved Disney and went on to study musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York.  

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's "Built to Amaze" will be showing at the Honda Center July 26 -Aug. 4. Purchase your tickets at http://www.ticketmaster.com.

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