It’s been many years since I went to a circus, but I was ready and excited to step right up and discover Let Me Be Frank Productions newest show, “The Dingaling Brothers Circus” at the Meyer Theatre. This production (running July 23-August 9, 2026) continues the troupe’s 27th season of entertainment — proudly sponsored by Festival Foods and Bay Bank. I had the chance to catch the final dress rehearsal on Wednesday, July 22, and it was as colorful, outrageous, and superb as I anticipated.
So, what’s this show all about?
When their circus starts getting shown up by the competition, brothers Ringy and Dingy Dingalingi know it’s time to shake things up. Their solution? Hold auditions to find the most outrageous, unforgettable acts they can—and hope something (or anything!) saves the show.
Desperate to compete with the big-name circuses, the Dingalingi brothers set out to discover talent that’s bigger, better, and unlike anything audiences have seen before. Enter a wildly eccentric cast of characters—all convinced they’ve got what it takes. The hopefuls include a French sad clown who specializes in bringing the mood down, a German sword swallower with little patience, a U.P. dog wrangler, a self-proclaimed elephant expert, the world’s largest baby, and the world’s tallest dwarf.
From topsy-turvy auditions and questionable talent to musical numbers, circus acts, and more personality than a lion tamer can tame, this laugh-out-loud show is packed with unforgettable characters, running gags, and just enough mayhem to keep things under control…maybe. As the Dingaling brothers try to save their circus, they quickly learn that finding talent is one thing, but surviving it is another.
Before the show began, Frank Hermans shared how the idea first came to him. After 27 years of creating original productions, I’m always curious about how another fresh concept pops into his head. He never seems at a loss for show ideas! According to Frank, while filming one of his “History Bluff” comedy videos for social media, Frank purposely mispronounced the name of a certain famous circus-brother duo. He recalled how this circus-brother duo used to vacation in Baraboo, WI. He kept the mispronunciation joke going and voilà—a show idea was born. You never know where inspiration will strike, but we’ve all benefitted from Frank and Pat’s show ideas over the years (they’re now up to 160+ all-original shows!).
As the troupe was gearing up for this new production, someone recently mentioned to me that they were surprised Frank and company had never created a circus-themed production. It seems so perfectly suited to them, right? Lively, supremely entertaining, colorful, and a little over-the-top in the best way possible? Yes. The story checks out.
When the curtain opens, the audience is greeted by an explosion of circus detail: a big-top backdrop, ticket booth, cotton-candy props, wingback chairs, colorful signs, and more. Then there are the costumes.
Wow.
Frank’s handlebar mustache, Pat’s classy top hat, Tom’s mahout-inspired look, Amy and Lisa’s showgirl headpieces, Blake’s jester costume—the visual details seem endless.
And Sarah. Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. Her makeup alone is reason enough to see the show, in my opinion. Sarah has a remarkable ability to take the basic idea of a character or costume and build it into something magnificent. I always look forward to seeing what she creates, and she certainly did not disappoint here. After the show I asked her how long it takes to do her makeup for this particular production and she said about a half an hour at this point, but she’s anticipating she’ll get faster as she gets used to it. If no one else says it to you, Sarah, take it from me that it’s well worth it!
Speaking of magnificent, the song selections stood out throughout the production. I wasn’t particularly familiar with many of the numbers, but it didn’t matter. They are simply great songs, and the cast kept the audience engaged, enthralled, and entertained from start to finish with the music. I found myself humming along even when I didn’t quite know what I was humming.
The score offers a strong mix of upbeat tunes, emotional ballads, and true showstoppers, with several moments that allow the women in the cast to showcase their considerable vocal power — as they should! It also feels like it has been a while since LMBF tackled a full show of 1960s music. The decade was due for another turn in the spotlight, and it was great to hear it represented so well.
Choreographed numbers also pop up throughout the production. I love seeing how the cast members—let’s be honest, the women—create dances and envision the movement for the songs they have been assigned, as though their many other skills weren’t already impressive enough. Each number was thoughtfully tailored to its song, with playful and whimsical touches that fit the circus setting beautifully.
Of course, I can’t ignore the “circus audition” portion of the show in the second act, which gives the cast an opportunity to display a wide assortment of alleged circus talents.
Frank has a knack for writing productions in which each performer gets an opportunity to shine beyond singing, and “The Dingaling Brothers Circus” is no exception. Frank on the “tightrope” is truly a sight to behold. Lisa Bark Bark, the dog wrangler, is every bit as adorable as you would expect. Who knew Sarah had so many tricks up her sleeve…err, dress? Amy makes spinning plates look better than I have ever seen it done. The next generation of Hermans brothers on the bongos? Sure, why not! And Tom’s elephant wrangling is simply chef’s kiss.
It is a delight to watch the circus come to life and to see how each character brings something completely different to the stage. For anyone looking for an evening of pure fun, incredible music, and an escape into a brighter world beneath the big red top, Let Me Be Frank’s latest production delivers. It is two hours of joy, laughter, and colorful chaos—and I don’t know about you, but I can always use more of that. Make sure your summer plans include a trip to the Meyer Theatre to catch the circus before it rolls away.
A few additional highlights:
- A pair of young performers takes center stage early in the show. Amy and Frank’s two youngest children, Jack and Vivian, play Siamese twins and share a delightful rendition of “Let’s Get Together.”
- Tom’s mahout character is incredibly fun. I sound like a broken record whenever I write one of these reviews because I’ve said it countless times, but Tom can play any character with ease. His performance of the show’s title song had me laughing and smiling throughout, and he did a fantastic job connecting with the crowd during a bit of audience participation.
- The accents! I would have absolutely butchered Amy’s German accent, Sarah’s French accent, and Blake’s Boston accent. Somehow, they make them seem effortless.
- Amy knocks “Greatest Show on Earth” out of the park. It sets the tone for the rest of the production and is truly a fabulous spectacle. She makes singing Michael Jackson seem effortless.
- Sarah’s rendition of “Tears of a Clown” is a first-act highlight. Her vocals, paired with the delightful choreography, make the number especially eye-catching and entertaining. Her performance of “Send in the Clowns” is beautiful in an entirely different way.
- Harrison Hermans goes from speaking like an old man who has smoked every day of his life to performing “Cry Like a Baby” with swagger, sass, and soul. I also loved Pat Hibbard’s bass feature during the number.
- Even in a jester hat, I was loving Blake Hermans. I simply adore his voice—along with what appeared to be most of the female audience—and it was wonderful to see him back onstage. His rendition of “My Girl” is swoon-worthy.
- Frank fits the role of circus ringmaster perfectly. I would not be surprised to discover he had been one in a previous life. His natural presence, charm, booming voice, and complete comfort onstage come through even more strongly in this production. Bravo!
- Tony Pilz’s solo in “It’s Carnival Time” deserves a special mention. He was certainly tickling those ivories.
- From the opening notes of Lisa’s “Try a Little Tenderness,” I knew we were in for a treat. I have been listening to Lisa sing for more than 15 years, and I remain just as blown away by her voice today as I was the first time I heard it.
- Pat closes the first act with a bang. His performance of “Nobody but Me” proves that nobody could have done it better, and John Singer’s guitar solo is the icing on the cake.
- I don’t want to reveal too much, but the opening of the second act is even better than I anticipated. The band’s featured number is electric. I have never heard “Baby Elephant Walk” performed quite like this. Pat in his shiny coat on bass, John carrying the melody on guitar, Andrew Klaus holding down the groove on drums, and Tony adding flavor on the keys—it doesn’t get much better.
- Would anyone like to join my petition for Pat Hibbard to sing a Paul Revere and the Raiders song whenever possible? It simply works.
- Kelly Klaus’s work on sound creates a wonderfully cohesive blend. The harmonies sit exactly where they should in the mix, adding richness and depth without overpowering the lead vocals.
- Ross Loining elevates the circus setting with spinning lights, bold colors, focused spotlights, and more. On a stage already bursting with color, his lighting design makes the visual kaleidoscope even more vibrant.
The show features:
Amy Riemer (German sword swallower and plate spinner)
Lisa Borley (dog wrangler from up north)
Sarah Galati (Clown Triste)
Pat Hibbard (Dingy Dingalingi)
Frank Hermans (Ringy Dingalingi)
Tom Verbrick (mahout)
Harrison Hermans (world’s largest baby)
Blake Hermans (world’s tallest dwarf)
Jack Hermans (Asiago of the Cheese Twins)
Vivian Hermans (Limberger of the Cheese Twins)
Band:
John Singer (guitar)
Pat Hibbard (bass)
Tony Pilz (keyboards)
Andrew Klaus (drums)
Lights: Ross Loining
Sound: Kelly Klaus
Performance Schedule:
- Thursday, July 23rd at 7:30pm
- Friday, July 24th at 7:30pm
- Saturday, July 25th at 7:30pm
- Thursday, July 30th at 7:30pm
- Friday, July 31st at 7:30pm
- Saturday, August 1st at 7:30pm
- Thursday, August 6th at 1:00pm and 7:30pm
- Friday, August 7th at 7:30pm
- Saturday, August 8th at 1:00pm and 7:30pm
- Sunday, August 9th at 1:00pm
Tickets are available at meyertheatre.org, ticketstaronline.com, or by calling Ticketstar at 920-494-3401. The Meyer Theatre box office opens one hour prior to each performance for day-of tickets.
Opening night on Thursday, July 23rd will be a benefit performance for Feed My Starving Children (FMSC): Green Bay MobilePack. FMSC has a global mission of feeding children, feeding spirits, fostering faith-based service. Five dollars from every opening night ticket will be donated to this organization.
