Gamma Phi Circus to Fill Redbird Arena April 18,19

Several additions – both big and small – are in store for this year’s 72nd annual Gamma Phi Circus show under the familiar Redbird Arena “bigtop” April 18 and 19 at Illinois State University.

A big addition this year is a flying trapeze act, a first for Gamma Phi Circus.  Members have been learning the flying trapeze act from fifth-year director Al Light, a former professional flying trapeze performer, and also from his mentor, legendary flyer Tony Steele.  Not only has Steele worked with Gamma Phi Circus members beginning last summer, but the 71-year-old world-record-holding veteran is expected to perform with the Illinois State group on April 18 and 19.

Steele, who literally left his Boston, Mass., home at 15 to join the circus (with his mother’s blessing), was the first person to perform a flying trapeze 3 ½ backwards somersault and, during the 1960s, was the only person to perform it regularly at every performance.  Steele also was first to perform a 2 ½ somersault with a full twist.  Along with his wife and partner, Lily, Steele toured with circuses throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, gaining international fame. 

When the economy limited his touring circus work in the 1960s and into the ’70s, Steele worked at Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas in a flying trapeze act and doing a “dive of death” – leaping from a 60-foot-tall platform onto a small sponge.  In recent years, especially following Lily’s death after a 37-year marriage, Steele has been working with students of all ages interested in learning the flying trapeze.

Including the flying trapeze at Gamma Phi Circus is especially noteworthy because Bloomington-Normal was the winter home for many famous trapeze acts from the 1880s to the mid-20th century.  Former national and international circus performers lived here and some of their descendents still live in the community.  ISU’s Milner Library’s Circus and Allied Arts Collection is one of the largest and finest of its kind.  More than 100,000 items, including more than 6,000 books, document the role of circus in Bloomington-Normal history.

Because of that connection between Milner Library and Gamma Phi Circus, the library will host a reception honoring Steele from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, April 18, in the Special Collections (sixth floor) of Milner.  Steele will make comments at 1:30.  

This year’s Gamma Phi Circus will be at 7 p.m. both days in Redbird Arena.  For the first time, there will be reserved seating and on-line sale of tickets through Ticketmaster.  Tickets also are available at Redbird Arena the day of show and the Bone Student Center box office.  Tickets are $12 for adults  and $10  for students with a valid Student ID and $8 for children 5 to 12 years old.  Children 5 and younger are admitted for $1.