As legend has it, French street performer and clown Napoline Zoppé wandered into a plaza in Hungary when he spotted equestrian ballerina Ermenegilda.
Just like that, he was in love.
When Ermenegilda’s father didn’t approve, the couple ran away. They landed in Italy, where they founded the Zoppé Family Circus — the one that’s survived over seven generations and makes its way to Tucson for the 14th time this month. It’s become a January tradition in Tucson.
Zoppé Family Circus is making its return to Tucson with acrobatic performances, tricks atop horseback and laughs from Nino the Clown.
The traveling Italian-inspired circus was founded in 1842 and was eventually passed down nearly a century later to Napoline Zoppé’s great-grandson, the late Alberto Zoppé.
Alberto Zoppé’s son, Alberto “Giovanni” Zoppé, is now the director of the circus we know and love today. He’s also the hilarious star of the show, Nino the Clown.
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Beyond the deep family history, part of the appeal of the Zoppé Circus is in its intimacy.
The one-ring circus is not held at the Pima County Fairgrounds or the 9,000-capacity Tucson Convention Center. Instead, the big top sets up in an empty dirt lot in the Mercado District, 100 S. Avenida del Convento, welcoming only 500 people to each show.
Zoppé Family Circus was founded in 1842, lasting seven generations of Zoppés.
As you sit on the bleachers wrapped around the single ring, you’ll watch new and returning acts, including acrobatic performances, a trapeze artist, incredible gymnastics, tricks atop horseback and leaps through rings of fire. You’ll probably lose track of the amount of times you laugh (and gasp).
“We try to touch every emotion during the show,” Giovanni Zoppé says on the circus’ website. “They’ll laugh, they’ll cry and they’ll feel for the characters. It’s more of an event than a show.”
Giovanni Zoppé’s first public appearance was when he was only two years old. The naked toddler left his babysitter and wandered out of the family trailer after hearing the sound of music. He headed to the circus stage and as he remembers, he bowed graciously when he saw the audience.
The Zoppé Family Circus travels around the world and will make its return to Tucson on Jan. 10, with nearly two dozen shows through Jan. 26. Most shows are $25 for general admission or $40 for ringside, with two shorter shows at a discounted rate. Get tickets at mercadodistrict.com.
Alberto “Giovanni” Zoppé is the circus director and also Nino the Clown.
