Johnathan Lee Iverson has the humbling title of The Last Ringmaster.  For almost twenty years, Johnathan was the ringmaster for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, also known as The Greatest Show on Earth.  He earned the title of The Last Ringmaster because he held that role when the circus gave its last performance in 2017 before shutting down.  Johnathan says that title may have an asterisk behind it now that there are rumors that the Ringling Bros. Circus may be returning someday.

 

When he was just eleven years old, Johnathan joined the world-renowned Boys Choir of Harlem and was introduced to the world of music.  Beyond growing as a musician, Johnathan learned many lessons during his years with the Boys Choir of Harlem.  Those lessons included learning how to accept failure, how to utilize your specific skills and tools, how to build meaningful relationships, and how to work hard for something you really want.  All of these skills are incredibly transferrable and have been vital throughout his life, including his time as a ringmaster.  Johnathan would go on to study music at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and then the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford.  Johnathan was on track to move to Europe and become an opera singer when he happened to run into the director of the Ringling Bros. Circus one day.  They were looking for a singing ringmaster, and though he was initially skeptical of the idea of making a career out of being a ringmaster, Johnathan auditioned for the role against thirty other candidates.  Upon earning the job, Johnathan became the Ringling’s first ringmaster from New York, its youngest ringmaster, and its first Black American ringmaster.  Johnathan’s story and talent quickly made him famous and helped Ringling Bros. Circus break records, but his gift resonated with individual members of his audiences in ways that couldn’t be measured by ticket sales or attendance numbers.

 

Johnathan stated that the role of a performing artist shouldn’t be for yourself but should instead inspire others and push the standard of your craft higher.  Johnathan shared some of the many stories about the children whose lives he touched during his time as Ringling’s ringmaster.  One child who heard his words chose to become a speaker.  Another girl who had been shy before was inspired by Johnathan through a short interaction to become a performing artist.  A mother shared that her autistic son spoke his first words at the circus and now loved their yearly trips to watch the performance.  Johnathan says that he will likely never know the extent of the people that he and the rest of his circus coworkers had an effect on, but he knows that his voice, his words, and his gift continue to make a lasting impact.

 

For several years, Johnathan teamed up with fellow circus performer, Paulo dos Santos, to visit schools and talk about bullying.  Paulo is a little person.  Upon meeting each other, Johnathan admits he had to reassess his personal bias about Paulo.  For example, Johnathan says that Paulo can pick him up and do squats as if Johnathan weighs nothing.  In addition to being incredibly strong physically, Paulo is strong mentally and emotionally.  As Johnathan put it, most people outgrow or can change the thing that they are bullied for, but that isn’t the case for Paulo.  He uses this and what he has learned over the years to inspire kids to think twice about bullying others and to help those who are currently on the receiving end of bullying to realize that they can be strong and successful like Paulo.  

 

One thing that Johnathan loved about the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was that it showcased the talent of such a diverse group of people.  The performers came from different countries, spoke different languages, and showcased elements of their different cultures.  This broad array of people came together to celebrate their wonderful differences but also fi