Under the purple and blue Big Top: A dream come true

In a tiny Chicago storefront theater on North Broadway named National Pastime Theater in January 1997, husband and wife team Jeff Jenkins, formerly with Ringling Bros. Circus, and Shakespearean actress Julie Greenberg performed their first Midnight Circus show.  Jeff began the performance  by "raising" the big top. It was made of swatches of purple and blue fabric. This year the dream came true. Midnight Circus is working under a purple and blue big top, bringing the Circus in the Park to six Chicago neighborhood parks.

"This is amazing," said Greenberg gesturing toward the big top with its flags flapping high overhead. "Jeff has been working with a tent manufacturer for years. The tent is made in the U.S. of all U.S. products except the purple. That came from France. They don't make the purple fabric in this country!"

Originally committed to presenting these events for five years, they are in the midst of negotiations for a multi-year agreement which includes the purple and blue tent. This year's addition of Mt. Greenwood on the Circus in the Park schedule expands their coverage in the City to the far south side.

"We performed the Taste of Chicago this year too. The Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team is more integrated with the show now. It started at the Taste. They did so well, we have included them in more of this show too.

"In July, we resurrected the Soul Sonic Circus this summer and performed in the two-day Chicago Folk and Roots Festival, held annually in Welles Park, hosted by the Old School of Folk Music."

Jenkins and Greenberg have two other members of their family performing in the show. Max, their son, is six and Junebug, their dog who is a loving talented rescued pit bull, refuses to divulge her age. According to Greenberg, daughter Samantha, aged four, runs the entire circus from home but will probably be under the big top next year.

Prior to the beginning of the second Saturday performance, Alderman Scott Waguespack was on hand to checkout how the event was going. He was very enthusiastic about it being under the tent this year and the additional incorporation of the Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team.

When it began in 2007 in Welles Park with the help of then 47th Ward Alderman Gene Schulter, Circus in the Park was performed in an entirely outdoor space. Now it is in a covered environment under the big top and the venues have increased to six. Comprised of jugglers, aerialists, trapeze artists, contortionist, clowns and acrobats of all ages of human and canine types, this event, through last year, raised $160,000 for the Chicago Park District.

Co-founder of Friends of Holstein and currently serving as its secretary, Lucy Jacobs is part of a five person Core Committee running the Circus in the Park. She commented, "We are hopeful that last year's income for the parks of $58,000 is raised to $75,000 but one never knows if people will come if the weather is rainy. I think people do not realize that we are really tented now."

With four more events left, Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice, will be the last opportunity to see the show in our area. Performances on Oct. 15 will be 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and children under three are free. Tickets may be purchased on line.

For more information: Last year's outdoor show

For more views of what can be seen at the Circus in the Park, check out photos below....