Prepare to be amazed

It's a circus in the Ector County Coliseum, but it's definitely not frantic or disorganized.

A long caravan of RVs lined up Wednesday morning outside the Coliseum, as the hustle and bustle of workers inside prepared for "The Greatest Show on Earth," which opens tonight.

To production manager Jason Gibson, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is an entertainment spectacle of accuracy and precision, adapting the show's setup to each venue on the tour.

"There's no such thing as a cookie-cutter building, but we're all very good at what we do," he said. "It's very organized - we keep a very tight ship."

With a cast and crew of 100 people, many of the performers have to work double duty in preparation for the show. They set rigging, raise concert-quality sound and lighting and arrange the striped, solo ring positioned close to audience seating for the optimum circus-viewing experience.

The quick-paced excitement of six white Bengal tigers, elephants, high-wire aerialists and international performers from Russia to Venezuela, provides big-show entertainment in a close-up environment.

"The one ring unit is different from our other shows, but we still have the same world-class performers and athletes," Gibson said. "It's a more intimate setting. You have the beautiful Asian elephants up close - you can't have that experience on the Internet or TV."

A former military man, the 38-year-old production guru said he pays close attention to the show's detail in order to maintain the Ringling Bros. integrity - timing each portion of the show with a stopwatch. During the performance he calls the shots in a black suit near the sound and lighting platform.

"Attention to detail is my forte - this is what I love to do," he said. "We put smiles on people's faces for a living, and I get to do that every day."

Gibson said he's spent 11 1/2 years with Ringling Bros. and managed all three of its shows - living on the company's famous circus train for 10 of those years. The circus clan is like a close-knit family, he said, traveling from town to town complete with day care attendants and a school for the children.

General Manager Angelina Quevedo, 38, said she oversees every aspect of the circus show from animal care to purchasing supplies, and she's the first female in Ringling Bros. history to ever hold that management position. She started out as a cotton candy vendor in 1991.

"I love it - to see the joy that we bring on those faces, it's amazing," she said.

Ringling Bros. has a 138-year tradition of fun, maintaining many of its traditional acts while adding new twists for a completely new show, Gibson said.

"We always want to raise the bar - keep is fresh," he said. "These are everyday people doing extraordinary things."

A bonus to the "Boom a Ring" performance is the "All Access Pre-show," he said - one hour before show time, where children can walk a mini trapeze, learn to juggle, try on circus costumes and meet the performers.

"It's just that close to feeling like a circus star yourself," Gibson said.

WANT TO GO?

>> The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey "Boom a Ring" circus opens at 7:30 tonight at the Ector County Coliseum, 4201 Andrews Highway. There's a $7 discount on tonight's tickets only.

>> Additional show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

>> Regular ticket prices are $15 and $20 - service charges may be additional. Order tickets at www.ringling.com, Luskey's Western Wear in Odessa, Super Mercado in Midland or call 800-462-7979.

>> Come an hour early to meet the animals and performers at the "All Access Pre-show," free with your ticket.

BY THE NUMBERS

>> 100: Members of cast and crew.

>> 2: Years the "Boom a Ring" gang will be on tour.

>> 58: Cities they'll hit in that time.

>> 350: Number of performances.

>> 38: RVs in the circus caravan.

>> 10: Trucks of equipment and supplies.

>> 3: Animal transports.

>> 138: Year tradition of "The Greatest Show on Earth."