Live on Stage, Friday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m.
New Shanghai Circus takes the stage at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford.  The troupe twists, jumps, flips and balances in time with an elaborate, colorful lightshow and part-Chinese, part-Western music for a wondrous show of extraordinary human feats, acrobatics, magic and incredible tricks. 

Beginning with an ancient Chinese backdrop and ribbon dancing, the act transitions into young contortionists who defy skeletal strictures, bending themselves in half (backwards), pulling themselves through hoops and barrels, and twisting themselves around while balancing plates, glasses or ornamental trinkets — all to the beat of music with ancient Chinese undertones but a prominent techno throb.  A quick Western break-dancing interval features men jumping through hoops — literally. The hoops are higher than they can reach, and with three steps for momentum, the men jump through headfirst.  Shanghai’s strongmen lift each other rather than refrigerators, balancing head-to-head or palm-to-palm nearly as well as the young tightrope walker balances his unicycle on a swinging rope. After one young girl climbs a mountain of tables and chairs to balance in a one-handed stand atop the teetering display, two other girls roller skate while both contorting and spinning each other by mouths or skates for a grand finale to a modern display of an ancient art form.

The New Shanghai Circus, which has been touring the world since 1991, puts on an impressive display of bizarre athletic ability that ranges from sheer muscle power to unreal flexibility. The troupe is mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning more national place-medals than any other acrobat troupe. Its range of acts transition from male performers with intense techno music and flashing lights to female performers with classic flute-based music and pretty backdrops, culminating in a finale with an ornate display of all the performers. Squeals of amazement audiences of all ages are evidence that Shanghai’s circus is a fun, fanciful show for families everywhere.

TICKETS:  $35 / $25 and are on sale now. Purchase online at www.zeiterion.org, by phone 508-994-2900, or in person at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center’s box office located at 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. BOX OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm, closed Monday. Saturday 10am-3pm and 2 hours before each performance.  The 2008-2009 season is available on-line or through the box office.