The circus is a popular place to escape the troubles of the world, but the Medinah Shrine Circus, which makes its 49th annual visit this weekend in Chicago, doesn`t want you to completely forget what`s happening in the Middle East. Anyone who brings a letter addressed to an American soldier in the Persian Gulf will get two tickets for the price of one. You can send it to a specific person or to any military person in general, and Medinah even springs for the stamp.
As for the show itself, which runs for 17 days, there`s plenty of top-notch acts, including Kris Kilpatrick taming Bengal tigers, the King Charles Troupe playing basketball on unicycles and Italo and his Musical Clown Band. The circus takes place on the Medinah Temple`s intimate, U-shaped stage, which allows the front row to sit just seven feet from the action.
”They`ll be looking up the pant leg of the ringmaster,” said chairman Patrick Delaney Sr.
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Medinah Shrine Circus; Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave.; Friday through March 17 (10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. weekends); $6-$15; 266-5050.
