On Saturday, Feb. 15, around 150 people visited the Jimmie O. Rector Community Center in Whitesboro to attend a one-of-a-kind experience – Circus Pop! The Giant Bubble Show.
With shows at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., folks of all ages were mesmerized by a one-hour performance from veteran Ringling Bros. Circus performer Logan Jimenez. The show included a mix of circus stunts ranging from fire eating to contortionism, with a focus on bubble artistry.
Jimenez used years of training and skill to create 15-foot soap bubbles, bubble sculptures, a bubble volcano and more.
The community center was transformed with pipe-and-drape and dark lighting to create a magical atmosphere that greeted guests as they entered the room. Concessions like popcorn and cotton candy were available for purchase, as were bubble toys. In the center of the room, giant carpet mats surrounded by rows of chairs set the stage for the performance.
Dressed in a sparkly jacket reminiscent of a circus ringmaster, Jimenez took tickets at the door and warned attendees that the first two rows would get lots of bubbles, the next two rows would get less and the back rows would hardly get any. What he really meant was, prepare to get wet.
Children and adults alike squealed with delight as bubbles of various sizes and shapes (ever seen a cubed bubble?) showered down on them from a variety of giant bubble wands.
Jimenez included volunteers in the show, with many children finding themselves inside giant bubbles. Throughout the performance, energetic music helped set a tone of excitement and adventure.
Each year, Jimenez travels across the country, taking his show to fairs and festivals in anchor cities. Along the way, he seeks out small towns (populations of 4,000-10,000 are the sweet spot) with affordable venues to bring the show. But how in the world did he wind up in Whitesboro?
“In January, we were driving through Oklahoma when a giant piece of metal flew off the back of a truck in front of me,” Jimenez said. “My truck was completely totaled. I was stranded in Oklahoma and began searching online for another truck. I found what I was looking for in a little town called Whitesboro, Texas.”
A man was selling a bright yellow pick-up but hadn’t had any success due to the color of the vehicle.
“One guy was really interested, but his wife refused to be seen in it,” Jimenez said.
The seller knocked $5,000 off the price and Jimenez was thrilled to purchase the truck (which was parked outside the community center on Saturday). As he was plotting the rest of his tour for this season, he remembered Whitesboro.
“I thought, maybe that town is lucky for me!” Jimenez said. He reached out to the Parks and Recreation Department and booked two performances.
“The fact that we sold 150 tickets our first time here is really great,” Jimenez said. “We’re thrilled that Whitesboro worked out for us.”
The feeling seemed to be mutual, as the first show of the day earned uproarious applause from audience members.
“Let’s just take a minute to appreciate something,” Jimenez announced as the show came to an end. “Ninety people just spent an hour together, and nobody was looking at a screen. Thank you for bringing your kids to see live entertainment. That’s what this show is all about – bringing community together.”
To learn more about Circus Pop! The Giant Bubble Show, and to see tour dates and locations, visit www.giantbubbleshow.com
