Lions and Tigers and Dragons (Oh My!): The Circus Comes to Town

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is transforming the Verizon Center into the big top, and will meld myth, magic and mystery with the presentation of Dragons!, the latest innovation from the 106-year-old company.

Dragons! will feature “tribes from the far reaches of the earth” brought together to compete in a “circus tournament of champions," according to the Ringling website. "Each tribe must prove that they have virtues of Courage, Strength, Wisdom and Heart to arouse dragons which appear right before your very eyes!"

The show promises to have something for circus fans of all ages, with clowns, performing dogs and cats, acrobats, high-wire performers, Shaolin demonstrations, kung-fu presentations, lions, tigers and much more.

Johnathan Lee Iverson, Ringling’s youngest and first-ever African-American ringmaster, will once again preside over the action inside the big top.

Dragons! will opens Thursday with shows at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Additional show dates and times include:

• Friday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 24 at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $15 to $110 for the “Circus Celebrity” package which includes an up-close view of the action from a premium seat, where clowns and dancers will pull you from the stands to include you in the performance.

You can also arrange a pre-show “All Access” tour, where you can learn to juggle, get autographs, meet clowns and much more.

The circus will head north to Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena for shows March 27-April 7, then travel south to Fairfax, VA’s Patriot Center on April 10-21.

For more information on the circus, or to purchase tickets, visit the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey website.