Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey - Built To Amaze

I attended this show on 8-15-13 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA.

About the show: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ® Presents Built To Amaze!℠ , the 143rd edition of the Greatest Show On Earth. Surprise and wonder delights audiences with over the top feats of strength, agility and courage. As the momentum builds so does the anticipation, anything can happen when Ringling Bros. Presents Built To Amaze!

I always like to come early, not only to not have to rush, but to attend the All Access Pre-Show. What is it? Well its 1 hour before the show starts and everyone is invited to go to the show floor. Its time to meet some of the performers, take pictures with the clowns, watch performances, even watch an elephant paint! And you have a chance to win that original painting by filling out an entry form. Grab yourself a funny clown nose on the tables, they always make me laugh. And all of this is free with admission.

Goofy clown with his penguins

Plus if you come even earlier, 90 min earlier - you can enjoy Animal Open house, its held outside the venue. There you can see the performing animals up close. Its only held at certain venues, to check to see if it's going to be at your show, click here. 

Ok here's my review of the show. It was different than the other RB and B&B shows that I've been. This one lacked the appearance of animals and other circus like performances. I was at least expecting to see a lion!
There was a lot of singing and dancing - a lot! Some even reminded me of Cirque de Soleil (with the lighting and type of performance). One performance reminded me of watching the cheerleaders/song girls during a football game in high school. The dancing and the singing was great, but the show lacked the "circus" feel. 
There was the high-wire act, the steel vortex, horses, tigers, acrobatics, girl shot out of a cannon, and the bouncing guys (it was neat) - see the pictures below...

Don't get me wrong, the acts were great and entertaining. But I miss seeing a caged dome with motorcycles, or a trapeze act, more clowns all I can remember are two main clowns that stood out. They did an act with some rabbits where they would take one out of a box and put it on top of the box, then cover it with a hankie. Then the other person would grab the rabbit and the hankie at the same time (as to make it look like it disappeared) and then put it into another box. It just looked mean. 

I really enjoyed the poodles act (very impressive), the tigers and the elephants. I did enjoy parts of the show but it wasn't that great of a show than the one last year (Dragons) - still had a good time.

*I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-show events.

Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine