BIG TOP ROCK Circus Returns To Seattle

After selling out the tent in October 2011, Teatro ZinZanni has partnered once again with Seattle's beloved Kindiependent bands to bring the acclaimed BIG TOP ROCK music and circus series back as a special winter break treat for local families. This December, warm up those paws in the ZinZanni tent to the tune of Seattle's one-and-only Caspar Babypants, Recess Monkey, and The Not-Its!.

BIG TOP ROCK is a project of the ZinZanni Institute for Circus Arts (ZICA) in collaboration with Seattle's unique and nationally recognized Kindiependent music collective. Together, these two entities join the circus arts and kindie music together to create a 70-minute entertainment experience all ages (including parents!) can enjoy. Similarly to the wildly successful fall series, each show in the winter break series will feature a music set by a local kindie band. Peppered throughout each show will be circus acts performed by Teatro ZinZanni cast members as well as alumni from Camp ZinZanni, ZICA's summer camp program for 5 to 16-year-olds.

Designed with kids in mind, the seating in Teatro ZinZanni's 100 year-old spiegeltent will be altered for the best sightlines for kids and will include an area for little ones to bounce to the music. The lobby will open one-hour prior to each show for a carnival, featuring beanbag tosses and other easy-to-play games. Everyone wins with each play ($2 per game). Food and beverage concessions will also be available.

Caspar Babypants makes simple upbeat acoustic sing along music for babies brains and parentsears. Caspar Babypants is also known as Chris Ballew, Grammy nominated lead singer of the rock and roll band The Presidents of the United States of America. CASPAR says: "I want to make music for the very young because I admire their associative inventive imaginations and as an adult I nurture that same creativity in myself." (babypantsmusic.com)

Recess Monkey is the critically acclaimed, award-winning trio of three Seattle schoolteachers, who bring their special brand of undeniably hip, yet also kid-accessible music and humor to their shows for kids and families. Jack, Drew and Daron, the teacher rockers of Recess Monkey, regularly tour nationally and have sold out venues from New York to Los Angeles and dozens of cities in between. Their shows mix high-energy dance with catchy singalongs and feature songs from every album. (recessmonkeytown.com)

The Not-Its! are Seattle's most rockin' band making music for children. Their debut album, We Are The Not-Its!, took the kindie rock scene by storm, receiving a Fids & Kamily Music Award for one of the best family music albums of 2009-unprecedented for a freshman release. Featuring the vocals of Sarah Shannon (of lauded '90s indie-pop band Velocity Girl), The Not-Its! combine crunchy guitars with smooth, four-part harmonies, all nestled within "fantastic danceable pop gems about gettin' fancy, birthday parties, bath time and intergalactic play dates." (wearethenot-its.com)

About KINDIEPENDENT: Comprised of six of the region's top musical acts for kids, Kindiependent includes tot-rockers Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew of Presidents of the United States of America), Recess Monkey, The Not-Its!, The Board of Education, The Harmonica Pocket and Johnny Bregar & the Country Dawgs. A music collective of like-minded artists who are passionate about cultivating a vibrant kid's and family music scene in the Pacific Northwest, Kindiependent's mission is to develop a network of family-friendly artists and organizations that supports cultural innovation through creative collaborations and community events. (kindiependent.com)

Additional BIG TOP ROCK Cast Members Include: Teatro ZinZanni cast members Tobias Larsson and Domitil Aillott, Camp ZinZanni Alumni Max Peterson, Ezra Weill and Una Bennett. For complete cast bios visit http://zinzanni.org/bigtoprock/.

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