The Venardos Circus a traveling, Broadway-style act is a wholly human experience, as there are no animals in this circus. The performers sing, dance, launch each other into the air, juggle and make the crowd laugh. Ringmaster Kevin Venardos had been a paid actor in multiple circuses, including the Ringling Brothers, before he had an idea in 2014 to create his own circus. He explained to LEO why his circus does not have animals.
I did not do the no animals because of some political reason, Venardos said. Really my whole circus is around people. I abhor the idea of abuse and, looking out into the future, I do not see a future for animals in the circus. I simply want to move forward. I want a sustainable means of delivering joy to people. I want to cut through the crap of this argument on either side. It gets in the way of the whole reason [of a circus] the joy of it.
We stopped by one the performances earlier this week to take some photos. The circus is performing at Waterfront Park through Sept. 15. Buy tickets for the final weekend here.
Ringmaster Kevin Venardos Nik VecheryRingmaster Kevin Venardos Nik VecheryComedian Kirk Marsh Nik VecheryVenardos Circus Cast Nik VecheryThe Aissa Family performing the teterboard Nik VecheryThe Aissa Family performing the teterboard Nik VecheryThe Aissa Family performing the teterboard Nik VecheryThe Aissa Family performing the teterboard Nik VecheryThe Aissa Family performing the teterboard Nik VecheryAerialist Sophia Petrov Nik VecheryAerialist Sophia Petrov Nik VecheryAerialist Sophia Petrov Nik VecheryMother and son Viktoria and Ritchie Gzilak juggling Nik VecheryMother and son Viktoria and Ritchie Gzilak juggling Nik VecheryMother and son Viktoria and Ritchie Gzilak juggling Nik VecheryMother and son Viktoria and Ritchie Gzilak juggling Nik VecheryComedian Kirk Marsh interacting with a crowd member Nik VecheryComedian Kirk Marsh interacting with a crowd member Nik VecheryComedian Kirk Marsh interacting with a crowd member Nik VecheryLaura Gwendolyn Burch performing on aerial silks Nik VecheryLaura Gwendolyn Burch performing on aerial silks Nik VecheryLaura Gwendolyn Burch performing on aerial silks Nik VecheryHand balancers Manuel and Ilenaya Acosta Nik VecheryHand balancers Manuel and Ilenaya Acosta Nik VecheryHand balancers Manuel and Ilenaya Acosta Nik Vechery
Sign up. We hope you like us, but if you don't, you can unsubscribe by following the links in the email, or by dropping us a note at leo@leoweekly.com.
Signup
By clicking “subscribe” above, you consent to allow us to contact you via email, and store your information using our third-party Service Provider. To see more information about how your information is stored and privacy protected, visit our policies page.
Subscribe to LEO Weekly Newsletters
Sign up. We hope you like us, but if you don't, you can unsubscribe by following the links in the email, or by dropping us a note at leo@leoweekly.com.
To sign up now, enter your email address in the field below and click the Subscribe button.
By clicking “Subscribe” above, you consent to allow us to contact you via email, and store your information using our third-party Service Provider. To see more information about how your information is stored and privacy protected, visit our policies page.
