Ringling Bros. announces animal-free comeback tour

“The Greatest Show on Earth” is making a comeback featuring extraordinary humans and no animal acts five years after shutting down its three-ring circus, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey announced Wednesday.

Talent teams have already conducted auditions in Argentina, Mongolia, Ethiopia, France and the U.S., with more than 1,000 performers applying to join a 50-city North American tour starting in September 2023, and international dates to follow, according to the historic circus’s owner, Feld Entertainment.

The company heard from many fans after ending its 146-year run five years ago following intense criticism over its use of animals, and has considered their comments while re-imagining how to “keep the franchise fresh and alive,” COO Juliette Feld Grossman said.

In the new production, audiences will become “co-collaborators” with the performers, bringing them closer to the action and creating a different experience with every show, she said.