Zoppé, an Italian family circus, returns to Addison with an equestrian ballerina, dancing dogs and aerial acrobats, July 18 through 22. The one-ring circus featuring world-renowned clown Giovanni Zoppé, brings together new international acts and past favorites for a show that captivates audiences under the big top at Caputo’s Fresh Market, 510 West Lake St., in Addison.
Giovanni is a sixth-generation circus performer and the youngest inductee to the International Clown Hall of Fame. Combining slap-stick comedy with world-class acrobatic skills, Giovanni has traveled throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, Asia and Canada performing as Nino, an old-word clown.
Acts from around the world join the Zoppé family in what promises to be the ultimate family event of the summer. Audience members are seated inside the tent less than 25 feet from the spectacle of performers, talents and surprises. Kids and adults of all ages will go back in time and experience the excitement of a traditional circus with a few modern touches.
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Featured this year is the Cristiani Brothers Trampoline Act from Moeena, Italy; with Tino and his wife Mara, their sons Calen and Mateo, and Mateo’s wife Gena and son Mace. Cousins of the Zoppé family, the two families are performing together again for the first time in 52 years.
“Welcoming our cousins back to the family circus adds a new dimension to the show,” said Giovanni. “It’s like a family reunion that I know our audience will want to be a part of.”
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Direct from Mexico City, the Rosales family returns to Zoppé to perform the perch pole, a rare act in which Papa Rosales balances a 30-foot metallic pipe on his forehead while his wife and sons climb up top performing a series of tricks.
Adding to the already talented list of performers is Giovanni’s 2-year-old son, Giovanni Julien Veneto Zoppé (Julien), who often performs alongside his father as his mini me, “Nineto”. Julien is a regular this year, between naps, and while his specialty is simply being adorable, he can be seen performing hat tricks, balancing acts and more.
Giovanni’s sister, Tosca, continues in her family’s footsteps as the equestrian ballerina. She combines death-defying equestrian feats with exquisite grace as she dances on horseback.
Rudolf's Performing Canines from Bavaria features Giovanni’s other sister, Carla, her husband Rudolf Heinen and their dogs. Dressed in a lederhosen and dirndl, Rudolf and Carla seemingly play a secondary role to the talents of their energetic thirteen dogs.
Additionally, Giovanni’s wife, Amy Riccio Zoppé, is breathtaking on the cloud swing; performing at heights of 30 feet, with nothing but the crowd below.
With three great ways to save, Zoppé is affordable entertainment for the whole family. Free children’s tickets are available online at www.Zoppe.net/addison. Receive $7 off adult tickets purchased in advance through one of Caputo’s Fresh Markets’ six locations: Addison, Hanover Park, Elmwood Park, Bloomingdale, Naperville and South Elgin. And, discount group tickets are available by calling the box office at 773-255-1467.
The performances for the five-day run take place on the parking lot at Caputo’s Fresh Markets, 510 West Lake St., July 18 through 22. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday. A special one-hour show for smaller kids or the “kids at heart” takes place on Friday at 10 a.m. Visit www.zoppe.net for more information about the show or visit www.zoppe.tv to see show clips.
