Success over an extended time requires adapting to change. The Hadi Shrine Circus, which bills itself as “The Last Great American Circus,” has done that for more than nine decades, from its early days at Veterans Memorial Coliseum to Roberts Municipal Stadium to its Ford Center residency the last 13 years.
Back for its traditional Thanksgiving weekend run, this year’s circus aims for new and exciting twists. Recognizing a need to shake up some old formulas, leadership worked with the University of Southern Indiana in early 2025 on a survey of what circusgoers are looking for, and the results are being incorporated into what Executive Director Joe Vezzoso describes as “a more modern” show. “We’ll still have the high-wire acts, ponies, dogs, the ‘wheel of death,’” Vezzoso says. “But it will be a younger-looking circus, with more extreme and action-type acts.”
Acts anticipated to be on the 91-year- old circus’ lineup this year include a high-wire motorcyclist and BMX freestylers from around the world, as well as the popular “wheel of death.”
The Flying Cortes family returns, as does a human cannonball act that Vezzoso says scored high in the survey. There are animal acts, too — camels, horses, dogs, and a new act featuring pigs called Cousin Grumpy’s Pork Chop Revue.
Endangered animals, including elephants, are no longer part of the show due to their controversial nature as well as the elephants’ increasing age. Some survey respondents reflected a desire to keep elephants in the circus, but “once you make the decision, it’s hard to go back,” Vezzoso says. “We didn’t want to look at another (herd). Times change, and we had to change with the times.”
The Hadi Shrine Funsters clown performers continue to offer their usual hijinks, and Vezzoso says longtime ringmaster Ari Steeples will be on hand “as he wants to come to Evansville.”
Vezzoso had been a part of the circus since 1970, when he was a young member of Hadi Shrine and worked as an usher. Jody Jordan, who has produced the circus since its move to the Ford Center, is a former performer – he drove a motorcycle in a cage for the “wheel of death” act at multiple Roberts Stadium shows.
The Hadi Shrine Circus is unusual because it recruits all of its own acts, says Jordan, a Las Vegas, Nevada, resident who travels with his own circus company. Jordan points out that Hadi Shrine puts on its own show, making it rare in the industry.
“It’s a prestigious show to put on.” Jordan says. “And of course, over Thanksgiving, the Hadi Shrine treats us very well. It’s an honor to come to Evansville.”
Tickets start at $12. Tickets at that price are in sections 108 and 114 and must be bought in advance at Hadi Shrine’s ticket office, 6 Walnut St.
