Written by Stephanie Green
Circus life is a wild ride, and Johnathan Lee Iverson, the first African American and the youngest ringmaster in the history of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s “greatest show on earth” is right in the middle of the madness. Iverson was in the center spotlight when the circus began its run at Verizon Center yesterday.
Arts Post caught up with him about his role and dizzyingly chaotic career.
Arts Post: It seems like everybody has had dreams about running away and joining the circus. How do you define circus life?
Iverson: It’s like the sawdust mafia-you never really get out! The biggest lie is that we’re the biggest show on earth, because it’s not a show. It’s an event. I love the generational quality to the circus, and that we are one of the few major family shows left. I call what we do “the science of miracles.” All of the artists live together. We become friends, lovers, and enemies, but we love and respect each other. You have to because we operate on a different level of artistry. Unlike a movie actor who gets several takes, if we make a mistake, someone could die.
Arts Post: What is the basic role of the ringmaster, in your mind?
Iverson: It all boils down to words. I’m like John the Baptist. I’m the proselytizer. I’m the bridge between fantasy and reality. It’s all about my voice and the vocalization. I think of trying to represent our artists and their energy. They are god-like to me. My role is not magic, but it is hard work.
Arts Post: Anything special you do to get your voice ready?
Iverson: I do a lot of vocalization exercises leading up to the show. I like to read Shakespeare monologues and read from the Bible. Of course, I have to stay hydrated and drink a lot of water, and I have to exercise and stretch my body.
Read the rest of this article at The Washington Post.