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In October 2000, Kevin Venardos was one of the many thousands of young hopefuls living in New York City, and dreaming of that great big Broadway show. The young actor and singer had absolutely no idea just how big a show his first break would be.
Kevin auditioned for and was cast in the role of the Singing Ringmaster for RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY’S THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.
Venardos described landing the job: “It was just unbelievable... I was thrust into the very center of this world filled with acrobats, jugglers, aerialists, daredevils, clowns and dancers- practically overnight. Ringling was the biggest musical I could ever have imagined... And I was just 23 years old! The floats, the elephants, the music, and this incredible life on the road... I really loved it. I felt a genuine amazement for what was happening all around me; and as it turned out, simply sharing that joy with an audience is what being the Ringmaster is all about.”
It didn’t take long before others took notice of the tall, handsome man in the center ring.
In an interview with the TAMPA TRIBUNE in 2001, RINGLING BROS. Producer Kenneth Feld shared his thoughts on the new Ringmaster: “He’s young, he’s got this wonderful energy, and our audiences really respond to him.”
When THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH opened at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN in the Spring of 2002, NEW YORK TIMES theatre critic Lawrence Van Gelder noticed Kevin too: “This generous show achieves no little of its drive and atmosphere from the lively, youthful Ringmaster, Kevin Venardos.” VARIETY’s Army Archerd said “The handsome ringmaster fits this unique role with his stirring voice”, and New York’s YES NETWORK called him “a truly commanding presence.”
In July 2003, Kevin was selected for yet another accolade. This time, PEOPLE MAGAZINE featured him in their list of the 25 HOTTEST BACHELORS. “An amazing development, indeed.” said Venardos of the honor. “But not without its challenges- I have three sisters, and years later I still get razzed about it.” With a smile he adds, “A small price to pay, I suppose.”
As the front man and chief spokesperson for RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS, Kevin appeared regularly on television across the U.S. to promote the show. In addition to literally hundreds of local T.V. interviews, Kevin has also performed live and been featured on nationally-seen programs, including CNN, THE TODAY SHOW (NBC), and FOX AND FRIENDS, as well as THE EARLY SHOW and THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS).
In the years that followed, Venardos toured virtually non-stop throughout North America, logging in more than 2,500 performances in three distinct, multi-million dollar RBBB productions. Kevin also put his linguistic skills to the test when he began performing a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) version of the show in Latino markets across the U.S., and an all-Spanish version in Mexico City. (Venardos is tri-lingual: fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese).
By the end of 2005, Kevin had already performed live before more than 25 million people.
The following year, Venardos’ performing engagements sent him globe-trotting from Las Vegas to Macau, China, where he spent two years performing under contract with THE VENETIAN MACAU RESORT HOTEL & CASINO, the largest in the world. First as a featured singer and emcee, Kevin’s role evolved and grew to include writing and directing a diverse repertoire of live shows for VENETIAN’S vast programming needs. All told, this included more than a dozen distinct, semi-permanent shows, as well as numerous original events and productions tailor-made for corporate or private clients.
When VENETIAN MACAU teamed up with CIRQUE DU SOLEIL to produce the INTERNATIONAL INDIAN FILM ACADEMY AWARDS (IIFA) ceremony for 2009, Kevin was honored to tour throughout Asiaon their behalf, singing and presenting to promote this prestigious event.
Recently, Kevin took his cabaret show BELIEVE to Rio de Janeiro’s TEATRO CAFÉ PEQUENO. Together with a fantastic live band, Venardos set inspirational elements of his own personal adventures together with wonderful songs from the Jazz, Broadway, and Musica Brasileira repertoire to tell a truly unique story of love and hope.
In 2009, Kevin was invited to once again step into the ring; this time as Host of the intimate and elegant BIG APPLE CIRCUS. “Ever since my Ringling days, Big Apple had been on my radar as a place I would someday love to be. It is widely regarded as the finest one-ring circus in America, and I wanted to work with the best.” Venardos is thrilled to continue with THE BIG APPLE CIRCUS for its all-new 2010-2011 season DANCE ON!
In addition to performing, Kevin teaches workshops in Musical Theatre and Audition Technique, and has lead numerous seminars on the practical aspects of life as an artist, both in the U.S. and in Brazil. He particularly enjoys speaking with the young theatre and music students at his alma mater, Ithaca College.
For more information, please visit www.KevinVenardos.com!
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