The comedy, dancing and live music are key features, but it’s the juggling of various objects that has labeled The Flying Karamazov Brothers as one of the most entertaining shows available.

The group will perform Friday, Jan. 29 at Stephens Auditorium in Ames.

Attendees of the show are encouraged to bring various items with them. These items are set on stage, and voted to be juggled by the brothers during a segment called “the gamble.”

Only three are picked to be juggled, but they’re juggled at the same time, which makes for amusing combinations. If the juggler lets the items hit the floor, he gets a pie in the face by the audience. If he wins, he takes a standing ovation.

Paul Magid, a founder and member of FKB, said there are stipulations to what items the audience can bring — heavier than an ounce and lighter than ten pounds, no bigger than a breadbox and no live animals.

“One time in New York, we got one of the best combinations of things,” Magid said. “We got a cream pie, a big silver Slinky and a bag of frogs for dissection, so frogs were flying out of the bag and chocolate pie was all over the air and this Slinky was sort of flying through all of it. It was very exciting.”

Another juggling act, where the four members http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVG8FBIW_iA“>juggle clubs between them, is completely improvisational. However, they have no idea what kind of pass will be thrown from one to another. Magid said that’s because it’s completely made up on the spot, it becomes very exciting.

Eric Doll, president of the ISU Juggling and Unicycling Club and senior in landscape architecture, said a juggling performance like this can usually only be done by someone with years of experience.

“That’s why their masters,” Doll said. “Throwing passes like that without knowing what you’re going to do, that’s so difficult. I would say it would take at least 10 years of strong practice to be that comfortable.”

The FKB was formed in 1973. Magid said he and the other members had an interest in theater and juggling, so they decided to put the two together. Right from the start, it became a successful living.

Over the years, Magid said, the group has slowly changed and has had nine different members throughout its life. It has played many shows, but Magid said opening for Frank Sinatra was one of his most memorable experiences.

The group has been on tour since September performing about 55 shows so far. It will finish its tour at locations like New York and Las Vegas.

The Flying Karamazov Brothers

http://center.iastate.edu/Newsite/Perform/S0910/Events/Karamazovs.asp“>When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29

Where: Stephens Auditorium

Cost: $20 for students, $25 for youth, $37 or $33 for adults