CIRCUS ANNOUNCEMENT: Press conference participants included (left to right): Rachel Smith, Grand Bahama Red Cross Society member; Mercynth Ferguson, Director, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce; Derek Newbold, Business Development Manager – GBPA; Cal Dupree, Ringmaster, Big Bumpin Circus; David Wallace, Event Organizer, Soft Touch Productions; Norris Bain, President, Grand Bahama Principal’s Association; and Renaldi Forbes, Chairman, Grand Bahama Red Cross Society.
By GBPA
Freeport, Bahamas – May 5 – 9, the St. George’s High School Gym will be transformed into a ‘Big Top’ as Universoul Circus comes to town. Led by ringmaster, “Casual Cal”, the Bumpin Big Show Circus promises to provide soulful, high quality entertainment for the entire family.
On hand for the announcement was event organizer, David Wallace, Soft Touch Productions, along with circus co-sponsors, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA), the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce and representatives from beneficiary organizations.
FUN TIME: The upcoming May circus opens with a bang. A black-tie, tuxedo and sneaker gala event planned for the opening evening. As one of the circus co-sponsors, GBPA’s Business Development Manager, Derek Newbold (left) posed along with Cal Dupree, Ringmaster, Big Bumpin Circus (centre) and David Wallace, Event Organizer, Soft Touch Productions.
According to GBPA’s Business Development Manager – Derek Newbold, the highly-anticipated circus has the prospect to impact local businesses. “This project has the capacity to greatly benefit the small business community of Grand Bahama by generating economic activity locally. It will also benefit the tourism sector, giving visitors an opportunity to see this unique type of entertainment right here on Grand Bahama Island. GBPA is pleased to support such projects as we work to better the lives of persons in the Grand Bahama community.”
Wallace expressed similar optimism, citing the possibility of over 100 spin-off jobs being created during the circus’ presence. With its primary target audience in mind, he announced that special arrangements have been made to bus the island’s school students to daily matinees. Additionally, local charities will be given opportunities to raise much-needed funds at each evening performance.
According to ringmaster, “Casual Cal”, the Bumpin Big Show Circus features a host of world class performers from every corner of the globe. Local audiences will be stunned and amazed as performers turn stunts and acrobats into motion accompanied by high-performance music. Also, the group looks forward to expanding to other Bahamian islands and drawing even larger audiences during successive visits to The Bahamas over the next ten years.
The Grand Bahama leg of the circus commences with a “Ringmasters Sneaker Ball”, on Wednesday May 5, the first-night gala event. Each successive day will feature daily matinees and evening shows.
The critically acclaimed Universoul Circus has been thrilling sold-out audiences of all ages and is the first touring African-American owned and operated circus in more than a century. A motorcade featuring some of the circus performers is planned for the end of April to herald their arrival.
