Ringling’s ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ is back after 6 years — with big change for circus
A reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, The Greatest Show On Earth, hits the road this month for the first time since 2017.
It’s been a long road back for the show, which no longer includes the word “circus” in its name or animals in its shows.
Ringling owner Feld Entertainment shut down the show in 2017, citing declining ticket sales, high operating costs, the public’s changing tastes in entertainment and costly fights with animal rights groups.
Feld Entertainment, which is based near Bradenton on Florida’s Gulf Coast, runs several other touring shows, including Disney on Ice, Marvel Universe Live, Jurassic World Live Tour, Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Monster Jam.
“As we began envisioning the reimagined Ringling, it was important to balance evolving the show for today’s consumers, while staying true to who we are as a brand,” Kenneth Feld, chair and chief executive officer of Feld Entertainment, said in a statement.
“Over the past two years, we have innovated and reimagined what audiences can expect from live family entertainment. We are delivering powerful moments of connection between the performers and the audience,” he said.
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On tour with Florida dates
The Greatest Show On Earth officially started a 52-city, coast-to-coast tour on Friday, Sept. 29, in Bossier City, La.
Florida dates have been announced. They include:
▪ Tampa’s Amalie Arena, Jan. 5-7
▪ Orlando’s Amway Center Jan. 12-15
▪ Jacksonville’s Veterans Memorial Arena, Jan. 19-21
▪ Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena, Jan. 27-28.
▪ Go to Ringling.com for a full listing of dates and ticket sales.
Background on shutdown
The Greatest Show on Earth, dating to 1871, was Feld Entertainment’s longest running show until it was shut down in 2017. The circus came to Miami each year, first playing at the Miami Beach Convention Center, then the old Miami Arena, and finally the Heat’s current bayfront area.
Among those who believed that the circus might return was high-wire artist Nik Wallenda. In 2017, he told the Bradenton Herald he didn’t think we had heard the last of it.
“Why wouldn’t [Feld] choose to sell it unless he has something in his back pocket that none of us know about?” Wallenda said. “My gut tells me they’re going to sell the name eventually, or I think he will regroup and bring back the brand in a different fashion.”
VenuesNow first reported the news in 2021 that Ringling would be making a comeback after interviewing Kenneth Feld and his daughter, Juliette Feld Grossman, in Seattle.
In response, animal rights group PETA issued a statement praising the reemergence of an animal-free circus:
“Ringling is back, but this time, PETA may just be in attendance, because the company has abandoned the chains, cages, and whips in favor of hiring only human performers — who are allowed to go home to their families at night.”
In May 2022, Feld Entertainment offered more details, including that rehearsals would begin in June 2023 and that the U.S. tour would officially launch in September 2023.
“It’s something great for the community in the Bradenton-Sarasota area. We will produce a lot more jobs,” Feld said in a 2022 interview with the Bradenton Herald.
Details on new show
A Feld news release this week describes the new show as a music-filled journey bursting with catchy rhythms, beats, songs and laughter that will have audiences clapping, tapping, singing, and laughing.
Promised are never-before-seen stunts, acrobatic displays and comedic acts. The cast includes 75 performers from 18 countries, including Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Ethiopia, Italy, Mongolia, Spain, Ukraine and the United States.
“The one thing that has always defined a Ringling show is the sense of wonder, awe, and authenticity,” said Juliette Feld Grossman, chief operating officer of Feld Entertainment and producer of The Greatest Show On Earth.
