41st Annual Triton Troupers Circus – website
Location: Robert Collins Building at Triton College, 2001 5th Ave, River Grove, IL 60171
Performances:
Thursday, March 29 at 7:00 PM
Friday, March 30 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 31 at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM
*The 1:00 PM Saturday show is interpreted for the hearing impaired by the “Center for Students with Disabilities” at Triton College.
There is also an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8:00 Am-Noon on Saturday. The breakfast is $4/person in advance, or $5 the day of. Breakfast and circus tickets are $8/person ($10 day of).
Doors open one hour before showtime, so arrive early for parking, tickets, and the clown pre-show. Shows are two hours long with an intermission. In the past, there have been a few times people have been turned away for overcrowding. The Thursday evening show generally has the lowest attendance.
Admission: $6 per person (all ages). No charge for infants sitting on a parent’s lap.
Advance tickets can be purchased at the Office of Student Life, room C-120 during school hours in the College Center Building (on main campus, across street from gym). Student services, 708-456-0300.
Parking: Free parking in the adjacent lot.
Bathrooms: Bathrooms are available, but there is no changing table.
Nursing: No designated area.
Handicapped/stroller accessibility: All shows are handicapped accessible; there is a handicapped section for wheelchairs. The 1:00 PM Saturday show is interpreted for the hearing impaired. Strollers are NOT permitted in the gym.
Concessions: Water and snacks like popcorn, cotton candy, and licorice whips will be available for sale.
A little bit about Triton Troupers (from their website):
Triton Troupers Circus is a non-profit effort dedicated to the preservation of the circus arts and to the local community. They have been performing annually since 1972. The Circus is held each year the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday on full week before Easter.
Triton Troupers Circus is a regional/local circus run through Triton College in River Grove, near Chicago. Within the school curriculum Triton Troupers Circus is considered a continuing education course. Triton Troupers Circus is populated with cast and crew ranging from circus arts amateurs, to skilled dancers and gymnasts and clowns, to alumni of world famous circuses, in a structure where experienced performers educate newcomers.
“Who are these Triton Troupers? They are your friends, your neighbors, the people down the street. They are students, business people, and housewives. They spot each other for safety, encourage each other to excel, and help each other to mend sprained ankles and bruised egos. Their dedication and hard work are in the center ring for all to see. Their enthusiasm fills the gym. This is their time, they are to be applauded.”
Expect to see:
- skilled performers in classic circus specialties such as Chairs, Clowning, Double Stunts, Globes, Gymwheel, Juggling, Statues, Teeterboard, Trampoline, Trapeze, Unicycle, Web, Wire, feats of strength and more
- No animals
- Balloons, confetti, fog, and strobe lights
We paid: $24 for tickets and approximately $5 for snacks and drinks.
Our experience:
We attended the Triton Troupers Circus last year (the 40th annual). We arrived early because we wanted to be sure the show didn’t sell out before we got in. We were greeted outside the building by two clowns. We arrived in time for the clown pre-show and they were doing face-painting for kids. Cooper got a large snake painted on his face. Some friends of ours met us at the show and their daughter Allegra didn’t make it in line for face painting before they closed it, but the painters were nice enough to give her a little red clown nose. We purchased snacks and the prices were very reasonable – only $1 for each of the items they sold. We bought popcorn, cotton candy, licorice, and water.
The seating is on bleachers and the gym is large, but definitely small enough that you feel close to the action and have a great view from any of the seats. The show itself was wonderful. It was entertaining and very family friendly. It was great to see performers of all ages doing all sorts of tricks and acts. Cooper enjoyed seeing kids performing. Dexter (who was only one and a half when we attended) was a bit crabby that day and didn’t sit still well, but John and I were able to take turns walking with him through the hallways.
The Triton Troupers Circus was a very enjoyable show and definitely something I’d like to do again. I’d highly recommend it to families. It’s a fantastic value!
