BruceBacks: Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus – October 28, 1987

Celebrities join world’s greatest circus acts for NBC-TV special Nov. 27. (Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus)
Article from:PR Newswire Article date:October 28, 1987
CELEBRITIES JOIN WORLD’S GREATEST CIRCUS ACTS

FOR NBC-TV SPECIAL NOV. 27 ACTS

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Mickey Mouse, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Tony Randall, Kim Fields, Tim Conway and Jim “Earnest” Varney will join the world’s best circus acts and 500 clowns, lions and elephants for the “Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus” Nov. 27 from 8-9 p.m. EST on NBC-TV.

Setting for the circus will be the 10 international pavilions of Epcot Center World Showcase.

Highlights of the show:

Mickey Mouse, with help from the Nock Family, hangs by his heels from a trapeze suspended from a helicopter hovering over the World Showcase Lagoon.

From Canada’s “Cirque de Soleil,” clown/comedian Denis Lacombe performs his mad-conductor routine which dazzled audiences at this fall’s Los Angeles International Festival.

Another act from the “Cirque de Soleil” in Quebec, The Andrews, perform their derring-do aerial review. The pair, who are English, are considered to be the best in the world.

The Berousek Bears from Czechoslovakia do handstands on wires and display amazing agility with an incredible foot-juggling routine. They have toured with every Iron Curtain state circus including the renowned Moscow Circus.

Trapeze artist Mark Lotz works without a net while performing his extremely dangerous routine which includes a barefoot heel hang. A South African who now lives in France, Lotz recently received a gold medal at the Circus of Tomorrow Festival in Paris.

The Winn Troupe, presented circus’ highest honor, the Gold Clown Award, in 1987 by the Price of Monaco, thrill viewers with their “wheel of destiny” and “sky cycle” acts. Presently, they are performing these acts daily in the “Epcot Center Daredevil Circus.”

Anthony Gatto, a 13-year-old American, performs his incredible juggling routine which has earned him numerous awards since he was five.

From Switzerland, trainer Roby Gasser brings the only act of its kind: A comedic sea lion with a seal for a straight man.

For a touch of insanity, the BMX Riders, two acrobatic teenagers, perform bicycle tricks on half-moon ramps.

Writers for the show are Bruce Vilanch, who writes for Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin, and Tom Perew, who has written for “Saturday Night Live.”

The show is produced and directed by Marty Pasetta.