Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Dragons {Ringmaster Facts and Figures} #ChiRingling

Highlights:

• Johnathan Lee Iverson was the first African American and the youngest Ringmaster in the history of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®.
• At the age of 11, Johnathan began performing with the world-famous Boys Choir of Harlem and was awarded the lead tenor. As a member of the choir, he sang at the intermission for Luciano Pavarotti’s Concert in Central Park, performed in a live show on Broadway and won second place in the Lena Horne Vocal Jazz Scholarship.
• Within Johnathan’s first year of touring with Ringling Bros.® he caught the eye of legendary journalist Barbara Walters who named Johnathan one of the ten most fascinating people in 1999.

Johnathan Lee Iverson {Ringmaster}

Johnathan Lee Iverson welcomes Children Of All Ages to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents DRAGONS. A multi-talented performer and an exceptional vocalist, Johnathan will don the iconic top hat and preside over this fantastical celebratory tournament of circus champions that brings together mystic dragon lore with authentic circus feats found only at The Greatest Show On Earth®!

A New York City native, Johnathan began performing at age 11 with the world-famous Boys Choir of Harlem. For seven years, he was intensely trained in all forms of music including classical, jazz, hip hop, and gospel. Johnathan experienced a string of unforgettable, inspiring moments as a member of the Boys Choir, which included being awarded the lead tenor for the choir, singing at the intermission for Luciano Pavarotti’s Concert in Central Park, performing in a live show on Broadway for two weeks, and winning second place in the Lena Horne Vocal Jazz Scholarship.

Johnathan graduated from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School in May 1998 with a degree in voice performance, and shortly after his graduation, Johnathan was invited to begin his professional entertainment career with the 129th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®. Johnathan couldn’t refuse the offer and felt his prominent role in the show was an unbelievable dream come true.

Johnathan toured with Ringling Bros. all around the United States, and his charismatic charm and his incredible voice caught the eye of Barbara Walters, who within a year of first tour named him one of the ten most fascinating people in 1999. Johnathan’s continuing passion for performance and his drive for excellence earned him an invitation back to perform with the 131st and 133rd Editions.

After three consecutive tours with The Greatest Show On Earth, Johnathan left to pursue other performance opportunities, but continued to work with Ringling Bros. for special events. Johnathan performed in several Off Broadway productions including Carnival, Showboat, The Magic Flute, and Dreamgirls. He also acted in commercials for Jeep, Six Flags Great Adventure and Casual Male XL, as well as singing with the USO Liberty Bells of New York, voiceovers for the animated feature entitled Eloise, and a bit of freelance journalism under his pen name J. Frederick Baptiste/Johnathan Baptiste.

After having toured with the 140th Edition, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents BARNUM 200SM, Johnathan was filled with joy when he was asked to continue his reign as Ringmaster for another spectacular Edition, DRAGONS.

“Ringling Bros. is truly The Greatest Show On Earth. It amazes me how every year the producers and the creative team come together to create one innovative circus spectacular after another,” exclaims, Johnathan.

Joining Johnathan on the rails is his wife and fellow performer Priscilla, whom he met and married while previously touring with Ringling Bros., and their children Matthew Felipe and Lila Simone.