Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® to Hold The Greatest Election On Earth!

VIENNA, Va., Sept. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at Barnum Elementary School in Denver, Colorado, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus announced that kids will get a say in who will be the Boss Clown of The Greatest Show On Earth®!  

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120926/PH81620 )

Two candidates have been nominated and are scheduled to debate throughout the month of October in Denver, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.  Elementary schools across the United States will also have the opportunity to watch the Ringling Bros.® 2012 Boss Clown Voting-Matters Debates and participate in this kids' only election as each host school will live stream the debates on www.ringling.com/BossClown. Archived footage of the candidates' debates will be available for viewing online if a classroom or school is unable to participate in real time.

"We are so excited that elementary school students are participating in the first-ever Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Boss Clown Election!" said Nicole Feld, producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.  "The Boss Clown is an important job at The Greatest Show On Earth! and it's time that kids get to vote on who will hold that honored position."

"Elementary school students will decide through a series of debates which candidate has the qualities that best represent the clowns at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey," said Alana Feld, producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.  "We encourage students to listen and ask questions of both Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey candidates and most importantly do it all with gigantic grins, gut-busting giggles and loads of laughter!"

The nominated candidates were recently interviewed by Chet Chatterly, Ringling Bros. Voting-Matters Debate Clown Commentator about why kids should participate in the Ringling Bros. 2012 Boss Clown election. "Comedy is a serious business and there are important topics up for debate like should clowns drive a Volkswagen^© Beetle or a smart® car, carry a rubber chicken or a rubber fish, throw a real pie or a foam pie? These are issues that we need to get to the bottom of because what the kids want, the kids get!" said Todd Voting, candidate of the Yesterjester Party and fan of the multi-colored bow tie.

Opposing candidate Mike Matters of the Nouveaubuffo Party concurred on the issues that will be highlighted during the Ringling Bros. debates, but not before placing an inflated whoopee cushion on Chatterly's seat, which exploded upon contact. Chatterly will be following the Ringling Bros. Voting-Matters Debates, assisting the host school moderators and reporting on the candidates results during the 5,000 mile campaign trail.

Information including videos and photos about each clown candidate along with activity worksheets are accessible for teachers on www.ringling.com/BossClown to assist in classroom discussions.  Host students may vote using a paper ballot following the debate in their school or with assistance from educators and adults use the online poll on the website. The online poll is available for all elementary school students watching the debates through Tuesday, October 23 until 5:00pm EST. The final Ringling Bros. Voting-Matters Debate will be held in Chicago on October 24.  The final ballots will be cast by approximately 400 students at the Walt Disney Magnet School in Chicago to complete the voting process. That same day, the Ringling Bros. 2012 Boss Clown will be announced during a victory party at the school.

The Ringling Bros. Voting-Matters Debates schedule and four host schools:

Tuesday, October 2 at 1:30PM MST
Barnum Elementary School
Denver, Colorado
Local Media Contact: Debbie Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald Petersen Communications
Phone: 303-669-5323 or [email protected]

Wednesday, October 10 at 1:30PM EST
Cunniff Elementary School
Watertown, Massachusetts
Local Media Contact: Courtney Mercier, TD Garden
Phone: 617-624-1853 or cell 617-571-8680 or [email protected]

Monday, October 15 at 1:30PM EST
Lincoln Elementary School
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Local Media Contact: Laura Lawler, Stern Advertising
Phone:  412.928.1987 or [email protected]

Wednesday, October 24 at 10:30AM CST
Walt Disney Magnet School
Chicago, Illinois
Local Media Contact: Bonni Pear, Miller-Pear Public Relations, Inc.
(312) 674-4566 or [email protected]

About Feld Entertainment: Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!

SOURCE Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey(R) Circus