The "Biggest Present on Earth" is making a comeback — minus animals.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which ceased manufacturing in 2017 after a 146-year-run, will relaunch in September 2023, proprietor Feld Leisure stated on Wednesday. Tickets will go on sale in April of subsequent 12 months for a tour that may carry the revamped circus to greater than 50 North American cities.
As soon as a mainstay of leisure in small city and massive cities throughout the nation, the brand new Ringling Brothers circus is not going to have any of the lion, elephant or different animal acts lengthy related to the spectacle. As a substitute, it is going to characteristic human performers, in line with Feld Leisure, which additionally owns the Disney on Ice and Monster Jam franchises.
"The viewers will encompass the efficiency house, and join in a extra significant means," Juliette Feld Grossman, chief working officer of Feld Leisure, instructed CBS MoneyWatch. The performances will inform "tales of who our performers are," stated Grossman, noting the solid will come from across the globe.
Phrase of the animal-free comeback tour drew a optimistic assessment from one animal rights group.
"Ringling is returning with a bang, remodeling the saddest present on Earth into a stunning show of human ingenuity after 146 years of animal abuse," Rachel Mathews, PETA's basis director of captive animal legislation enforcement, stated in a press release to CBS MoneyWatch. "PETA is cheering on the animal-free revamp."
Ringling Brothers retired elephants from its reveals in 2016 after years of complaints from PETA and different activists, however ticket gross sales continued to say no, and the as soon as iconic circus placed on a last present the next 12 months.
On the time, Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld Leisure, stated the circus had misplaced its footing amongst an viewers accustomed to on-line video games and YouTube celebrities.
"It has been by way of world wars, and it has been by way of each sort of financial cycle and it has been by way of plenty of change," Feld stated in 2017. "Up to now decade there's been extra change on this planet than within the 50 or 75 years previous to that. And I feel it is not related to individuals in the identical means," added Feld, whose father and uncle purchased the circus in 1967.