UniverSoul Circus will present “Jabulani: Joy, Happiness & Laughter” as part of 15th season

Northeastern University will host the UniverSoul Circus’ culturally and musically diverse family show “Jabulani: Joy Happiness & Laughter,” from Tuesday, July 1 to Sunday, July 6 in the Columbus Avenue parking lot in celebration of its 15^th season.

The UniverSoul Circus will present 13 shows at Northeastern and will feature 12 visually stimulating, interactive and unusual multicultural acts from 75 entertainers around the world. Performing to R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel and Funk music, the “Rough Riders” from Kazakhstan, Russia and Gabon, Africa will defy gravity with daring, hands-free horseback riding; a male and female aerialist team from New Zealand and Brazil will leap, spin and fall through the air suspended only by two pieces of silk; 14 acrobats from China will perform a martial-arts inspired act between two vertical poles; “El Niche,” from Colombia, South America, will guide six fierce tigers through tricks others never even teach their dogs; expertly-trained elephants will dance to today’s biggest hits; Ringmaster “Tony Tone” and his sidekick, “Zeke” will have the audience laughing until they cry and dancing on stage, and more.

“Our show is about bridging generational and cultural gaps,” said UniverSoul Circus founder and CEO Cedric Walker. “As our world is getting smaller, families are looking for ways to spend time together and appealing to all ages is no easy feat. But UniverSoul’s blend of old-school soul and modern hip-hop sounds provides entertainment and a rich cultural experience that grandparents, parents and kids can enjoy.”

Hailed by the New York Times as a spirited show that leaves one feeling that their soul has been nurtured, and by Fast Company Magazine as a “unique reimagining of family entertainment,” UniverSoul Circus was ranked No. 8 in 2007 on Ticketmaster’s Top 10 “Most Requested Family Attractions” list, besides “Disney on Ice” (No. 1), “Sesame Street Live” (No. 4) and “The Wiggles” (No. 9). During the course of its nine-month tour, it will visit 29 cities, including Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles and put on 500 shows.

“The world has discovered through the global impact of Black culture the essence of who we are,” Walker said. “Whether it’s our business savvy, spending power, creativity, intelligence or spirituality. The UniverSoul Circus is an expression of our experience set under the big top and is the ideal opportunity for families of all ethnicities to participate in a cultural exchange that they can all enjoy.”

Performances include:

Tuesday, July 1 – Sunday, July 6

Tuesday, July 1 – Opening Night -7:30pm

Wednesday& Thursday show times: 10:30am and 7:30pm

Friday, July 4th (special show times) – 12pm, 3pm and 6:00pm

Saturday show times – 12pm, 4:30pm and 8pm

Sunday show times -2:00pm and 5:30pm

Tickets to the UniverSoul Circus are available on Ticketmaster and at the Circus Box Office. Ticket prices are $17.50-$30 for adults and $15.50-$28 for children 1 to 10 years old. 10:30 am shows on Wednesday and Thursday are $10 and special Fourth of July prices include $16.50 for the 12 pm performance and $17.50 for the 3 pm and 6 pm performance.

For more information on the UniverSoul Circus and show times, please contact Jason Kornwitz at 617-373-5729 or j.kornwitz@neu.edu or visit http://www.universoulcircus.com.

About Northeastern

Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern is a leader in interdisciplinary research, urban engagement, and the integration of classroom learning with real-world experience. The university’s distinctive cooperative education program, where students alternate semesters of full-time study with semesters of paid work in fields relevant to their professional interests and major, is one of the largest and most innovative in the world. The University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in six undergraduate colleges, eight graduate schools, and two part-time divisions. For more information, please visit www.northeastern.edu.