By Kate Bartlett
After a 6-year hiatus, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is back on the road and coming to the KeyBank Center in Buffalo March 22-24. With awe-inspiring acts including aerial, acrobatics, world dance, music, comedy and jaw-dropping thrills, the show is sure to impress. The Villager got a sneak-peak into the show interviewing performer Skyler Miser, the human rocket.
At the young age of 20, Skyler already has over a decade of experience performing circus acts. Her parents, Tina and Brian Miser, starred as Human Cannon Balls in previous Ringling shows dating back to 1999. Skyler grew up around performers, and her earliest memories are of the circus. “The circus was always a part of my life,” recalls Skyler, “and I loved every minute of it. I remember watching the perform-ers, inspired and in awe. I always knew this was what I wanted to do.”
Skyler’s first performance was around 2 years old as she performed various dance numbers as well as trapeze. At 6 years old, her mom left the circus and decided to plant roots in their hometown of Peru, Indiana, aiming for a more ‘normal childhood’. Skyler enrolled in circus school and learned various trapeze, high wire and aerial acts. Performance was in her blood, and she loved it more and more each year.
Her parents famous act was the Human Cannon, so her father was always working on perfecting the art. Skyler experienced her first Human Cannon when she was 11 years old, and she’s been hooked ever since. “My dad made an 8-foot cannon for a Europe show. He asked me if I wanted to try out the cannon, I jumped at the chance and I’ve never looked back. I absolutely loved it.”
After graduating high school, Skyler was approached to join the reimagined Ringling when it reopened in 2023. “They knew how adept at the cannon my father was; it was the perfect opportunity to preserve some of the old Ringling and join it with a new chapter. My father told them he knew the perfect cannon girl: me.”
Skyler loves the adrenaline rush of being launched from the rocket. “I struggle for words to explain what it’s like, because there’s truly nothing like it. It’s incredible.” The actual rocket device is a trade secret to the Miser family, but the dynamics of a good flight involve a lot of mathematics. “A good flight consists of many variables, from the temperature of the cannon to the elevation and angle. I’ve learned from my parents to keep my body tight, squeeze, and keep my eyes on the airbag the entire flight.”
Before a flight, Skyler is typically excited and looking forward to putting on a good show. “Occasionally I might be nervous if my previous flight didn’t go the best, but I usually have good butterflies.” She is thrilled to be a part of the reimagined Ringling tour. “It’s such an amazing opportunity to travel and see the world, all while doing what I love most, performing. I love the audience’s reaction; to bring joy and inspiration to our guests is amazing.”
“Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: The Greatest Show On Earth” is touring until April 2025 at various cities around the United States. The tour began in September and consists of 75 performers representing over 18 countries. They’ve already completed 108 shows, with hundreds yet to come. For more information and tickets visit https://www.ringling.com/show/.