My family and I had the opportunity to see Bello Mania at the New Victory Theater in Manhattan this past weekend. If you haven't ever been to the New Vic, NOW is the time! Bello Mania, starring Bello Nock is fun for the whole family! Bello's slapstick comedy paired with amazing acrobatic act were indeed a one of a kind show.
Bello is clearly the star of the show, but he is not the only performer. The shows host, Matthew Morgan is an impersonator extraordinaire! His personality changes through-out the show go from circus nerd, to game show host! Bronx-born buckaroo AJ Silver amazes the audience with his lasso skills. Bello is also joined on stage by his daughter, Annaliese Nock and performer Andrew Pratt. Annaliese gracefully swings through the air in aerial ribbons and at one point is suspended by what loos to be like only her hair! Crossing the tightrope appears to be a piece of cake for Annaliese and Andrew. Bello had to steal the act by crossing the same tightrope on the worlds smallest bicycle.
Members of the audience were selected randomly for a few different acts. In the past, I've always wondered if those audience members were actually staged actors. Well this time, my husband was picked to be a part of the show! It was so exciting to see my husband interact with the star of the show. After a few rounds of follow the leader, mixed with musical chairs, Bello pulled the chairs out from under them, and surprised us all with a neat trick.
You can see Bello and his group of entertainers April 4-20 at The New Victory Theater in Times Square. We drove in and parked at one of the suggested parking garages that are listed on the New Vic website (we even used a coupon), but a train ride in on the LIRR is always fun too!
A little note about the theater...The New Victory Theater is the PERFECT place for families! When you get to the theater if you head downstairs, you'll find stroller parking, FREE storage lockers (for your coats, umbrellas, etc), a small gift shop, a concession booth with healthy snack options, and the restrooms. There are video monitors so that you won't miss any of the show if you need to leave your seat. There's also an area set up with some fun cutouts to pose for pictures. The theater itself is not too big (maybe 400 seats) so it would be hard to find a "bad seat". If your little one does find themselves struggling to see above the head in front of them, there are booster seats available too.
My family was provided with tickets for this show in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. Thank you New Victory Theater!
Bello Nock, the gravity-defying dud with the foot-high hair, returns to 42nd Street! "America's Best Clown" (TIME Magazine) will tower above the audience on a 44-foot sway pole in just one of his many daredevil stunts during the new incarnation of his 2013 Drama Desk-nominated Bello Mania at The New Victory Theater in Times Square from April 4-20, 2014.
Lauded for his physical and comedic agility as a "comic daredevil," Bello redefines what it means to be a modern-day clown. "I have never been one to follow the norm. I don't expect up-and-coming performers to do the crazy sort of stunts I do, but my hope is to inspire new generations to find what makes them unique and push the boundaries of what they can offer to this wonderful art form called the circus," says Bello.
An honorary New Yorker, Bello's unique connection to the city is drawn from his long history as a circus performer as well as his appearances in nail-biting stunts at popular New York City landmarks. Bello has hung by his toes under a helicopter flying over the Statue of Liberty, walked a high wire from the New York City Ballet to Avery Fisher Hall, repelled off of Madison Square Garden and even ridden an elephant through the Midtown Tunnel.
Born in Sarasota, Florida, Demetrius Alexandro Claudio Amadeus Bello Nock is one of the most honored modern day circus celebrities. He is featured in 2013 edition of the Guinness World Book of Records for the first ever high wire walk over a cruise ship at sea; and in 2011, he received the circus world's highest honor, the Gold Clown (presented by Princess Stephanie of Monaco), at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. Bellow was the Ringling Museum's 2012 "Circus Celebrity of the Year," and in 2009 was the youngest person ever inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame. He's won the Silver Clown in Monte Carlo, the Gold Lion in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Prix Special twice - one in Grenoble, France, and again at the Daidogei World Cup Festival in Japan. Bello has also won the Walt Disney Award for Creative Entertainment. Bello spent several years with Big Apple Circus and stayed with the company for three seasons, leaving after his final tour, Bello and Friends. He wooed millions as a star of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, becoming the only person in the company's history to have a production named after him; Bellobration toured the U.S. from 2007-2008.
On April 17 at 7pm, The New Victory will host a special autism-friendly performance of Bello Mania, which will be modified to accommodate and support the sensory, social and emotional needs of individuals on the autism spectrum. For information on the autism-friendly performance of Bello Mania, please visit: http://www.newvictory.org/Show-Detail.aspx?ProductionId=5731
In collaboration with The New Victory Theater, Autism Friendly Spaces, Inc. provided consulative services for Bello Mania. For more information, visit www.autismfriendlyspaces.org.
Performance Schedule: 16 performances
Friday 4/4 7pm
Saturday 4/5 12pm and 5pm
Sunday 4/6 12pm and 5pm
Friday 4/11 7pm
Saturday 4/12 12pm and 5pm
Wednesday 4/16 2pm
Thursday 4/17 2pm (autism-friendly performance)
Friday 4/18 2pm
Saturday 4/19 12pm and 5pm
Sunday 4/20 12pm and 5pm
Watch a trailer of Bello Mania on the New Victory website. Bello Mania has a running time of 90 minutes including one intermission, and is recommended for everyone ages four and older.
General Ticket Information
Tickets for Bello Mania at The New Victory Theater (209 West 42nd Street) are $25, $18, $12 and $9 for Members based on seat locations, with full price tickets starting at $14. Theater-goers who by tickets for three or more New Victory shows qualify for free Membership, with benefits including 35-percent savings on tickets all season long and unlimited free ticket exchanges. Purchase tickets online or by phone at 646-223-3010. The New Victory Theater box office (209 West 42nd Street) is open Sunday and Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm. For more information, please visit www.newvictory.org.
Bello is clearly the star of the show, but he is not the only performer. The shows host, Matthew Morgan is an impersonator extraordinaire! His personality changes through-out the show go from circus nerd, to game show host! Bronx-born buckaroo AJ Silver amazes the audience with his lasso skills. Bello is also joined on stage by his daughter, Annaliese Nock and performer Andrew Pratt. Annaliese gracefully swings through the air in aerial ribbons and at one point is suspended by what loos to be like only her hair! Crossing the tightrope appears to be a piece of cake for Annaliese and Andrew. Bello had to steal the act by crossing the same tightrope on the worlds smallest bicycle.
Members of the audience were selected randomly for a few different acts. In the past, I've always wondered if those audience members were actually staged actors. Well this time, my husband was picked to be a part of the show! It was so exciting to see my husband interact with the star of the show. After a few rounds of follow the leader, mixed with musical chairs, Bello pulled the chairs out from under them, and surprised us all with a neat trick.
You can see Bello and his group of entertainers April 4-20 at The New Victory Theater in Times Square. We drove in and parked at one of the suggested parking garages that are listed on the New Vic website (we even used a coupon), but a train ride in on the LIRR is always fun too!
A little note about the theater...The New Victory Theater is the PERFECT place for families! When you get to the theater if you head downstairs, you'll find stroller parking, FREE storage lockers (for your coats, umbrellas, etc), a small gift shop, a concession booth with healthy snack options, and the restrooms. There are video monitors so that you won't miss any of the show if you need to leave your seat. There's also an area set up with some fun cutouts to pose for pictures. The theater itself is not too big (maybe 400 seats) so it would be hard to find a "bad seat". If your little one does find themselves struggling to see above the head in front of them, there are booster seats available too.
My family was provided with tickets for this show in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. Thank you New Victory Theater!
Bello Nock, the gravity-defying dud with the foot-high hair, returns to 42nd Street! "America's Best Clown" (TIME Magazine) will tower above the audience on a 44-foot sway pole in just one of his many daredevil stunts during the new incarnation of his 2013 Drama Desk-nominated Bello Mania at The New Victory Theater in Times Square from April 4-20, 2014.
Lauded for his physical and comedic agility as a "comic daredevil," Bello redefines what it means to be a modern-day clown. "I have never been one to follow the norm. I don't expect up-and-coming performers to do the crazy sort of stunts I do, but my hope is to inspire new generations to find what makes them unique and push the boundaries of what they can offer to this wonderful art form called the circus," says Bello.
An honorary New Yorker, Bello's unique connection to the city is drawn from his long history as a circus performer as well as his appearances in nail-biting stunts at popular New York City landmarks. Bello has hung by his toes under a helicopter flying over the Statue of Liberty, walked a high wire from the New York City Ballet to Avery Fisher Hall, repelled off of Madison Square Garden and even ridden an elephant through the Midtown Tunnel.
Born in Sarasota, Florida, Demetrius Alexandro Claudio Amadeus Bello Nock is one of the most honored modern day circus celebrities. He is featured in 2013 edition of the Guinness World Book of Records for the first ever high wire walk over a cruise ship at sea; and in 2011, he received the circus world's highest honor, the Gold Clown (presented by Princess Stephanie of Monaco), at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. Bellow was the Ringling Museum's 2012 "Circus Celebrity of the Year," and in 2009 was the youngest person ever inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame. He's won the Silver Clown in Monte Carlo, the Gold Lion in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Prix Special twice - one in Grenoble, France, and again at the Daidogei World Cup Festival in Japan. Bello has also won the Walt Disney Award for Creative Entertainment. Bello spent several years with Big Apple Circus and stayed with the company for three seasons, leaving after his final tour, Bello and Friends. He wooed millions as a star of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, becoming the only person in the company's history to have a production named after him; Bellobration toured the U.S. from 2007-2008.
On April 17 at 7pm, The New Victory will host a special autism-friendly performance of Bello Mania, which will be modified to accommodate and support the sensory, social and emotional needs of individuals on the autism spectrum. For information on the autism-friendly performance of Bello Mania, please visit: http://www.newvictory.org/Show-Detail.aspx?ProductionId=5731
In collaboration with The New Victory Theater, Autism Friendly Spaces, Inc. provided consulative services for Bello Mania. For more information, visit www.autismfriendlyspaces.org.
Performance Schedule: 16 performances
Friday 4/4 7pm
Saturday 4/5 12pm and 5pm
Sunday 4/6 12pm and 5pm
Friday 4/11 7pm
Saturday 4/12 12pm and 5pm
Wednesday 4/16 2pm
Thursday 4/17 2pm (autism-friendly performance)
Friday 4/18 2pm
Saturday 4/19 12pm and 5pm
Sunday 4/20 12pm and 5pm
Watch a trailer of Bello Mania on the New Victory website. Bello Mania has a running time of 90 minutes including one intermission, and is recommended for everyone ages four and older.
General Ticket Information
Tickets for Bello Mania at The New Victory Theater (209 West 42nd Street) are $25, $18, $12 and $9 for Members based on seat locations, with full price tickets starting at $14. Theater-goers who by tickets for three or more New Victory shows qualify for free Membership, with benefits including 35-percent savings on tickets all season long and unlimited free ticket exchanges. Purchase tickets online or by phone at 646-223-3010. The New Victory Theater box office (209 West 42nd Street) is open Sunday and Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm. For more information, please visit www.newvictory.org.
