The Circus

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up

International All-Star Circus offers a combination of big top wonder and theater

By Courtney Nelson | For the JUNEAU EMPIRE

A traveling circus will perform four shows over spring break, one on Monday and three on Tuesday, at Juneau's Centennial Hall. But don't expect to feed peanuts to the elephants, because this modernized circus features "people entertaining people."

Doug Harris, managing partner of the International All-Star Circus, explained that there are two types of circuses these days: "Ours, which is more 'cirque,' which is a combination of circus and theater; then there is the old style which uses trade animals."

According to ringmaster and producer Cornell "Tuffy" Nicholas, he is bringing this show to Alaska because, after many great experiences touring here, he knows that "Alaska loves a circus."

"I love the people," Nicholas said. "The landscape is beautiful, and I love the whole frontier aspect."

Harris agreed saying the Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau "showed great enthusiasm and we've felt the warm hospitality before we've even arrived."

Nicholas said he thinks Juneau will appreciate their circus.

"It's an all-star line-up filled with the finest acrobats from the last ten years, all rolled into one great show," he said.

Because he was born into a family of circus performers, Nicholas would know talent if he saw it. His father was a ringmaster for 27 years with the Ringling Brothers, and his German mother was a bear trainer.

Growing up in the circus, Nicholas said he dabbled in all circus arenas over the last 30 years performing on trampoline, trapeze, teeter board and highwire, and working with elephants, lions and tigers. He also performed magic and eventually began managing and producing performances.

"Just don't ask me to be a clown or a juggler," he said jovially.

Some of Nicholas' 20 hand-picked performers include the famous Flying Wallenda family, consisting of Rick Wallenda; his sister, Rietta; Rietta's daughter, Lyric, who perform on an ariel perch; and Bri, a 10-year-old who, according to Wallenda, is the "youngest daredevil in the history of highwire."

Rick Wellenda said he spotted Bri's talent right away.

"Bri asked if I would train her, and I saw she was a natural, so one day I put her in the pyramid," he said.

Rick Wallenda comes from five generations of acrobats and trapeze artists. His grandparents started the original act in 1928, which they performed in the Ringling Brothers Circus. Wallenda now owns Henrietta Place, a family training complex in Florida, which started off as 22 acres. Then his family began selling off bits and pieces until it was an exclusive all circus neighborhood.

Another young performer is fifth-generation contortionist Amanda Bautista, 19, who's been performing the same routine since she was nine and began practicing when she was 3 years old by mimicking her older sister. Her parents and brother performed on the flying trapeze, while other siblings did hand balancing and juggling.

Bautista, who is visiting Juneau for the first time said she's never wanted to find out what work would be like outside the circus. But at her young age, she has already traveled extensively abroad and has stayed in all the United States except Alaska.

Nicholas said there is something for everyone and something for all ages at their two-hour circus. In addition to the acrobatic skills and contortionists, there will be clowns, magicians, trampoline, rolla bolla, Spanish web, Lyra (flying through the air while suspended on a large hoop) and other balancing acts. The motorcycle on a highwire act had to be excluded from Juneau shows due to restrictions.

Circuses began in London 1782 and the International All-Star circus credits circus popularity to its simple universal appeal.

"lt (circuses) was a truly popular-egalitarian-form of entertainment, enjoyed by all, regardless of race, language, age, education or class. Requiring great skill, benefiting from creativity and originality, circus nevertheless needs no sophistication."

Freaky Fight Night

Jackson's one-punch knockout highlights Roughhouse night

By Courtney Nelson | For the Juneau Empire

It was another freaky Friday the 13th at the monthly Roughhouse fights in Marlintini's Lounge, and the knockouts and knockdowns were abundant.

In the quickest bout of the night - and fastest fight most fans had ever seen - 26-year-old T.J. Jackson went in with a 1-0 record and stayed perfect. Jackson made a knockout look easy when he clipped first-time Angoon fighter Derek Totenoff, 22, in the head with a huge right hook that tipped him to the mat like timber. The quick work turned into easy money for Jackson when Totenoff was unable to continue after the fight's opening seconds.

Later, Roger "Barcode" Booth IV, 30, weighed in at 170 pounds to defeat Shaun Guthrie, 27. Guthrie came out strong on offense in round one, but Booth answered with a thunderous left that instantly dropped Guthrie to the mat. The pair then wrestled for control before Booth delivered a swift kick to Guthrie's groin at the bell.

Guthrie was able to take down Booth in round two, but the elder fighter was able to escape by rolling out. In round three, the fighters spent most of their time locked up on the mat while trading submission holds and plenty of blows. The decision eventually went to Booth, who later said he and Guthrie will fight again in May.

Toni Talamai, 23, a heavyweight hailing from Tonga and aspiring to be a professional boxer, got a good start on his new career path with his win over Coast Guard veteran Ryan Wong, 32. Talamai had Wong against the ropes early in the first round, delivering solid jabs whenever he found an opening. In round two, Wong was able to land a few of his signature haymaker rights to Talamai, but the younger fighter seemed unphased and Wong never seemed to get on solid footing in round three. Wong later said his younger opponent "got some good shots in."

McDonald's employee Aaron "Red Baron" Tucker, 19, a boxer trying his first MMA fight, got the best of undefeated MMA fighter Wayne "Koosh-Da-Ka" Fu, 58. Tucker really liked MMA, despite taking a hard shot to the eye, saying it involved more strategy and was more "intense" than boxing. Fu, a wood carver, said he wanted a rematch with Tucker.

"Tucker got the best of me tonight, but I know I can do better," he said.

First-time fighter Michael James Trull, 18, defeated fellow rookie boxer James "The Bulldog" Bouschor, 24, by exploding at the bell and attacking Bouschor, who repeatedly had to spin away from the aggressive Trull. Early in round two, Trull delivered a standing-eight count to "The Bulldog," who recovered only to have Trull find another opening with his left hook. The blow tapped a sweet spot, as Bouschor fell to another standing-eight-count and retired before the third round.

Rudy Vonda, 44, defeated Casey "Little Big Man" Yakovik, 18, by executing his "attack the body strategy" which he revealed in a pre-fight interview. Vonda pummeled his opponent's torso from the beginning, sending Yakovik to his knees after a hard stomach shot. Both boxers stayed even in round two, with Vonda's plan of attack keeping him confident. Vonda finally worked Yakovik into a standing-eight-count in round three and referee Joe Isturis called the fight, giving the win to the elder Vonda.

Klawock's James "The Beast" Roberts Jr., defeated Metlakatla's Michael Henderson, 28, via split decision in a heavyweight bout that went the distance. Henderson dominated round one by using the athleticism from his basketball playing days and out-jabbing the relentless and steadfast Roberts. The Beast went to work on Henderson in round two, though, pushing him against the ropes and delivering several hard head and body shots. Roberts held his ground in the center of the ring while Henderson was on the move and ultimately won the split decision by being more aggressive.

"I'm just going to try to outlast him," Roberts said before the fight. "I was told he doesn't have much wind."

First-time MMA fighter Anthony Manacio IV, 25, who works for the Alaska Marine Highway, defeated Bullwinkle's employee Tyler Papasodora, 18, in a bout that the elder fighter dominated from the start. Manacio knocked Papasodora to the ground and delivered several hard shots to the head until the younger fighter tapped out early in round one.

Heavyweight Clifford "Bad News" Brown, 18, of Juneau, defeated first-time-fighter Rodney D. Jackson, 39 of Kake with Jackson receiving "Bad News" in the form of a standing-eight-count after a head pummeling. Jackson stayed tough through a barrage of hard head shots, but retired before the start of round two.

The next Roughhoust Friday Night Fights will be held April 10th at Marlintini's Lounge.

High school's 'Jekyll and Hyde:' An unusual love story

By Courtney Nelson | For the Juneau Empire

Building on the success of last year's production, "Les Miserables," the Juneau-Douglas High School drama department, headed by Michaela Moore, felt confident in tackling another big production - "Jekyll & Hyde."

A timeless piece about the struggle of good and evil within a person, this year's musical opens at 7 p.m. tonight at the Juneau-Douglas auditorium.

Although they chose the production primarily for its interesting and thrilling music, Moore, stage designer Lucas Hoiland and student orchestra director Richard Moore also loved the theme.

"The inner struggle between good and evil each man faces, whatever time period they are born, is a fascinating topic to tackle," Moore said. "The dramatic possibilities are endless."

But the play, based on the novella written in 1886 by Robert Louis Stevenson, is not only about good versus evil.

"It is the story of a man trying to expel the evil from mankind's nature in order to save his father from his insanity and ultimately save himself from the same fate," Moore said. "Jekyll's experiments stem from a true desire to help his father and all mankind and make a better world."

According to Moore, there's also a new twist in the musical - love.

"The musical takes the novella to a whole new deeper level of meaning," she said, "It adds love, which is the most craved attribute of human life. It is the twist of love that makes the story of Jekyll and Hyde so compelling."

Sophomore Shanae'a Moore plays Jekyll's love interest Emma. She said she loved the strength and perseverance of Emma's character.

"I love my character because she is so strong and can handle anything life hands her," Shanae'a Moore said.

"It is extremely hard to pull off strength of will and sweetness of heart at the same time," Michaela Moore said of the actress. "Her chemistry with Dr. Jekyll is great to watch."

Aaron Badilla, who plays the "good" Dr. Jekyll, threw himself into acting after performing in "Les Miserables" and falling in love with productions. Badilla, a senior, enjoyed performing and working with Michaela Moore so much, he took upper-division acting classes, including choir and a challenging scripted theater class, to get this role in the knick of time.

Michaela Moore described Badilla as a passionate and compelling Jekyll.

"He has the amazing ability to throw his whole person into his roll, and his chemistry on stage with the other three leads is seamless," she said.

The "evil" Hyde, played by junior Derek Lail, also said he enjoys playing his role.

"Who wouldn't want to play the cool bad guy who gets to yell and kill people?" he said.

Despite being a fun character to play, Lail said there were challenges.

"It was hard to find the right intensity level, and it took a while to get it right," he said. "(But) I can do what I put my mind to."

Michaela Moore was impressed with the young actor.

"He is one of the sweetest kids I have ever worked with and, like Jekyll, can transform on stage into an evil presence," she said. "At the same time, it's an evil presence that draws you in instead of repels you."

But Moore said this is key for the show to work.

"The audience has to have a twisted admiration of Hyde," she said. "After all, we all flirt with our evil side everyday."

Another facet to the play is the choreography for which Michaela Moore spent hours researching. But she didn't do it all alone. When she needed help, she enlisted a Juneau Dance Unlimited ballet student from the cast, Zoey Wilson, who choreographed the upper-level chorus in the big facade opening number.

The elaborate choreography along with the layered set created by Hoiland is one of the reasons for the slightly smaller cast. There are 69 cast members in all, six less than "Les Miserables."

"We have a magic mirror that we built that is thrilling and also a fireplace that is the hidden door to Jekyll's lab and a double layered set," Michaela Moore said. "The set, lights and music all work harmoniously together with the acting and singing to bring a whole idea to life. It is a big opportunity for Juneau to be able to see this kind of theater in our small town."

Michaela Moore knows the theme is dark, but sees it as a play of hope and believes it should raise audiences up.

"None of us are promised tomorrow," she said. "We should see every day as precious and seize every moment, not for selfish gain, but instead as opportunities to give and receive love. That is the magic of catharsis."