Our History
As a leading presenter of live family entertainment and a not-fo-profit perfoming arts institution, our nation-wide performances and community programs havemade our 30-year history far-reaching and full.
It all began in Kent, England, in 1974, when American entertainers and Big Apple Circus co-founders Paul Binder and Michael Christensen became juggling partners and took to the street corners of Europe. Their comedic juggling act was a hit, and they soon found themselves on the stage of the presitigous Nouveau Cirque de Paris. They returned home to America in 1976 with a vision: to entertain and improve the lives of millions. One year later, they found a site for the first tent-raising in Battery Park, New York, and went on to create the award-winning, not-for-profit Big Apple Circus. To find out what's happened between then and now, select a year below.
…The Big Apple Circus is featured by Macy’s, in its Thanksgiving Day Parade as the Huesca Brothers perform on the red carpet in Herald Square, and in its Seventh Avenue windows displaying items from BAC community programs and shows.
…BAC community programs continue to expand. The specially–trained performers of Vaudeville Caravan SMprovide interactive, room–to–room entertainment for elders in nursing homes and long term care facilities, creating opportunities for them to participate and connect with each other and the facilities’ staff. Spearheaded by the Chicago–based Hulda B. and Maurice L. Rothschild Foundation, Vaudeville Caravan operates in eight facilities in Chicago and the Hudson Valley Veterans Administration Hospitals in Montrose and Castle Point, New York.
…Other community program news: A second Circus of the Senses®is added to the Lincoln Center engagement; its evening performance time allows families of children with hearing and vision disabilities to accompany them to the show. Also, Circus After School SM is the new name for the Beyond the Ring®program.
…Barry Lubin, the Big Apple Circus’s own lovable Grandma the Clown, performs by special invitation in the Monte Carlo Circus Festival in January, and on the television show “Magnificent Obsessions.” Another tv show, the hour–long “Dinner Impossible,” featuring the Big Apple Circus and shot at Lincoln Center, airs numerous times on the Food Network.
…Two Lincoln Center exhibits feature the BAC — one highlighting the work of composer Michael Valenti, at the Performing Arts Library branch of the NYPL, and the other at the Rose building, with a large–scale photo of the circus by Klaus Lucka.
…Big Apple Circus continues to be a fashion–leader, with photo shoots for CosmoGirl and Bridal Guide shot under the Big Top.
…Former associate artistic director Dominique Jando continues his affiliation with the circus, as interviewer and archivist for Circopedia, a web–based circus archive featuring video, still photos and interviews.
…Thirty celebrity guest ringmasters, including Barney the Dinosaur, support the BAC during its Lincoln Center engagement, and several City Council members also pitch in as guest ringmasters during the Cunningham Park, Queens, engagement.
…On January 5th, the Today Show devoted an unprecedented five-minute segment to Big Apple Circus Clown CareSM with host Meredith Vieira donning clown garb as “Dr. Ditsie” to go on clown rounds with Clown Care veteran Dikki Ellis (“Dr. Trikki”) at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Following her appearance, Ms. Vieira agreed to become national celebrity spokesperson for the program. As one of her first
efforts on behalf of Clown Care she recorded a Public Service Announcement with actor Chris Meloni (husband of board member Sherman Meloni) for television. Chris Meloni also played for Clown Care on Celebrity Jeopardy, winning $25,000 on behalf of the program.
…Paul Binder was given the Power Behind the Scenes Award by the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida.
…The Big Apple Circus is invited to continue its appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, for which it is refashioning Macy’s “Clown U”, and Columbus Day Parade.
…Bronx–Lebanon Hospital becomes the 19th facility, and eighth in the New York metropolitan area, in the Clown Care national network of host hospitals. Our professional clowns continue to spread joy to hospitalized children, and relief to their families and caregivers, across the country.
…Hilary Knight, renowned illustrator of the Eloise series of children’s books, invited Paul Binder to contribute an afterword to his picture book The Circus is Coming returning to print in June, 2007 as a Random House publication.
…Beyond the Ring®, the Circus After School program of the Big Apple Circus, expands to the Bronx with a for-credit high school course at Bronx Lab School.
…Barry Lubin (the Big Apple Circus’s beloved Grandma) appeared in the Winter Program at Circus Krone in Munich, Germany, only the second American clown to perform there in the circus’s 88 year history. Barry is also invited to return (after 31 years) to the prestigious international Circus Festival of Monte Carlo in January 2008.
…Big Apple Circus is invited to participate in the 80th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (its sixth appearance), and to help revamp the Macy’s Volunteer Clown Program.
…On October 9th Big Apple Circus Clown Care clowns celebrate a seventh consecutive appearance in the Columbus Day Parade up 5th Avenue.
…Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island became the 18th facility in the Clown CareSM national network of host hospitals. …On June 22, 2006, the Gross Family Foundation, in association with Condé Nast Media Group, honored the Big Apple Circus Clown CareSM on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary with a $100,000 donation. Big Apple Circus Clown CareSM was one of three distinguished organizations that benefit underprivileged children, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and City Parks Foundation.
…On June 8th, 2006 the Big Apple Circus Clown CareSMProgram celebrated its 20th Anniversary in our hospitals across the country. The big birthday celebration was held at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital to honor the 93 professional performers who conduct ‘clownical rounds’ one to five days a week in 18 hospitals nationwide. Clown CareSM is the oldest professional hospital clowning program in the world, founded by Michael Christensen, Big Apple Circus’s Creative Director, in 1986.
…On April 1st the Big Apple Circus was the first performing arts organization to perform at City Hall Plaza in Boston with Grandma Goes to Hollywood. Mayor Thomas M. Menino stated, “Bringing the Big Apple Circus to perform at City Hall Plaza will enhance the lives of Boston children and their families, help local community and cultural institutions and support the downtown economy.” Big Apple Circus also expanded its community programs to the Boston area with Beyond the Ring ® “Circus After School” an innovative program in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston by offering “children an opportunity to develop life-enhancing skills such as teamwork, commitment and responsible risk-taking through a structured program of learning and performing circus acts.
…In January, Barry Lubin aka Grandma the Clown performed in the 6th International Circus Festival of Budapest and was awarded two prizes, including a giant, ceramic juggling clown presented by Moscow State Circus’s General Director Leonid Kostuk.
…The Big Apple Circus was featured on the national television series The Apprentice: Martha Stewart and Martha Stewart Live.
…Banner year for television appearances including: Today Show, Good Day New York, The Morning Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, Late Night with David Letterman, Early Show, Today in New York, and CNN Español.
…Big Apple Circus appeared in Columbus, Ohio and New Haven, Connecticut
…On August 2nd, our tent master Michael Leclair was featured in the nationally broadcast, acclaimed Bravo series “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” In the show, five motivated young men changed Michael’s life by refreshing his look, his trailer and his whole life style. All in all, it was a splendid transformation and Michael is very happy about the change. Additionally, the Disney Channel presented “Bear in the Big Blue House” featuring Christopher Stoinev, younger brother of Christian.
…On February 18th, Christian Atayde Stoinev, a 13 year–old performer with the Big Apple Circus, won the Bronze Medal and coveted ‘Prince Rainier Cup’ at the international youth circus festival ‘Première Rampe’ in Monaco. Performing a hand–balancing act with his dog Scooby, Christian competed with other talented young performers from around the world. Because this act was his personal favorite in the competition, the late Prince Rainier of Monaco personally presented Christian with the special ‘Coupe de S.A.S. le Prince Rainier III.’ Fortunately, Christian will perform this breath–taking act in Grandma Goes to Hollywood.
…On February 1st, Big Apple Circus Beyond the Ring® began a new pilot program in Williamsburg in cooperation with St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation at the Grand Street Campus High School. The program offers children a unique opportunity to develop life–enhancing skills through the discipline of circus arts, including juggling, stilt-walking, hula hoops, clowning, and acrobatics. Thirty children participated in the pilot program and gave a fantastic performance at the end of the school year for their peers, teachers and parents — it was a great success!
…The Big Apple Circus welcomes Kathy Halenda, who debuts in Grandma Goes To Hollywood as the Big Apple Circus’s first singing hostess. She has been a professional actor and singer for the past 24 years and is the recipient of numerous awards. Deemed ‘a knockout... singer with a heart of gold’ by the Reno Gazette, the circus will definitively benefit from her great talent.
…The Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Programing: Single Program or Special, awarded by the New York Chapter of the National Television Academy, went to “A Night at the Big Apple Circus.” Joel W. Dein, Big Apple Circus Director of Communications, was honored as Big Apple Circus Executive In-Charge of Production. Other television channels shooting or airing specials during 2003–2004 include National Geographic, Discovery, The Learning Channel, and Discovery/Health.
…For the second straight year, a Big Apple Circus contingent marched in the Toys ‘R’ Us parade in Times Square; for the third year running, in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade; and for the fourth consecutive year, in the Columbus Day parade, when a performing group of Clown Doctors ambled up Fifth Avenue. Also, acts from the Big Top show were featured in the WABC-TV–televised Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Lincoln Center for the third year in a row.
…Michael Christensen was given the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences, and was honored by Exceptional Parent Magazine during Disability Awareness Night at a Baltimore Orioles game in Camden Yards.
…The Circus To Go!® program was expanded, to become a national provider of world–class family entertainment bringing the joy and delight of circus to special events and shows; revenues from the program support Big Apple Circus community outreach.
…Big Apple Circus Carnevale! performers Pedro Carrillo and Alesya Goulevich set Guinness World Records on April 26th in Boston, for (respectively) skipping rope on the high wire 1,323 times and twirling 99 hula hoops simultaneously.
…“A Night at the Big Apple Circus: A 25th Anniversary Special” hosted by Roz Abrams aired on WABC-TV on December 21st 2002. Taking almost a year to produce, the documentary takes viewers behind the scenes at the Slifka Family Creative Center in Walden, NY, backstage at Lincoln Center and even overseas to Denmark, to show how performers are chosen and a new show is created. The program also looks at the Big Apple Circus community programs.
…Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaims Friday, November 1, 2002 Big Apple Circus Day in New York City in recognition of the Big Apple Circus bringing joy and laughter to New Yorkers for 25 years.
…To celebrate 25 years of excellence under the Big Top, the Big Apple Circus publishes Big Apple Circus — 25 Years. Edited by former Associate Artistic Director Dominique Jando, the volume includes more than 200 full-color pages of photographs, a history of circus since its beginnings and the story of the Big Apple Circus from its founding to the present.
…The Big Apple Circus raised $1.1 million by hosting the Clown Fashion Show Benefit Dinner at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on May 13, 2003. Event honorees included Thomas M. Flexner, Vice Chairman of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and David L. Shedlarz, Executive Vice President and CFO of Pfizer Inc. Cocktails, clowning and circus fashions modeled by aerialists, clown musicians, stilt walkers and clowns were the evening’s festivities. Contributing to the fashion show were designers including Joseph Abboud, Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein, Liz Lange, William Ivey Long, David Rockwell, Cynthia Rowley, Richard Tyler and Ermenegildo Zegna.
…The Ringside Report, a new newsletter, eight colorful pages long, goes out to circus members three times a year to keep them up–to–date with news and stories from the Big Apple Circus.
…The Big Apple Circus presents its 25th Anniversary Season production Dreams of a City, a journey back to the golden days of the Victorian era to recreate in the sawdust ring the excitement, the unflappable optimism, and the wonderful energy of people from around the world, who bring to New York its unique spirit and vitality.
…For the first time ever, individual plastic molded seats replace bleachers at the Big Apple Circus! Made by Anceschi & Sons of Italy, the new system represents state–of–the–art touring circus seating, designed for maximum comfort and quick assembly.
…Barry “Grandma the Clown” Lubin is inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame.
…The Big Apple Circus honors the heroes of the September 11th attacks, inviting Pentagon military, police and fire department and emergency service personnel to special performances in Dulles Town Center and Lincoln Center.
…In its 15th anniversary year, the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit® (CCU) adds the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center to its national roster of pediatric facilities. The CCU program has more than 90 clown doctors making more than 200,000 one–on–one visits to pediatric patients annually.
…Circus of the Senses®, a unique performance for children with sensory impairments invites more than 9,000 visually and hearing–impaired children to experience the magic and joy of the circus. Sponsorship by Hasbro Children’s Foundation enables the Big Apple Circus to present Circus of the Senses in four venues: Washington, DC, Bridgewater, NJ, Atlanta, and Boston. New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs underwrites the Big Apple Circus’ first–ever presentation in Queens of this unique performance through its Cultural Challenge program. At Lincoln Center, JPMorgan Chase Manhattan Bank partners with the Big Apple Circus to present the JPMorgan Chase Circus of the Senses.
…After a three–year hiatus, during which she took a vacation — surfing in the Bahamas, knitting, and baking cookies — Grandma (Barry Lubin) returns to the ring in the Big Apple Circus’ 24th all–new show, Big Top Doo-Wop.
…Paul Binder and Michael Christensen honored as “Living Landmarks” by theNew York Landmarks Conservancy for their contribution to New York City as Founders of the Big Apple Circus.
…Michael Christensen is inducted into theAmbassador David M. Walters International Pediatric Hall of Fame at Miami Children’s Hospital for his work as the Founder and Creative Director of the Big Apple CircusClown Care Unit®.
…The CCU program expands to fourteen hospitals nationally adding Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, GA, and Miami Children’s Hospital, FL.
…Circus of the Senses® invites more than 6,400 visually and hearing–impaired children to experience the circus in Washington, DC, New York, Atlanta, and Boston.
…The CCU program expands to twelve hospitals nationally, opening its first program in the Midwest at The University of Chicago Children’s Hospital, and establishes a CCU at North Shore University Hospital of North Shore–Long Island Jewish Health System.
…The CCU program makes more than 180,000 pediatric visits to patients annually.
…T. J. Maxx sponsors Circus of the Senses® in Atlanta and Chicago. This marks the first time this program is presented outside New York City.
…20 Years breaks new records, grossing the highest revenue in the history of the Circus during its Lincoln Center engagement and the highest attendance ever during its Boston run.
…Bello Nock becomes the second of only two clowns in the history of the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo to receive the coveted Silver Clown Award.
…Seventh–generation circus performer and beloved clown, Bello Nock, makes his Big Apple Circus debut in the 20th Anniversary production, 20 Years.
…More than 1,700 physically challenged, visually and hearing–impaired children experience the magic and joy of the Circus under the Big Top Tent at Lincoln Center for Big Apple Circus’ Tenth Anniversary of Circus Of The Senses®.
…TheCCU continues its national expansion by opening a program at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA.
…The CCU makes more than 163,000 pediatric visits to patients annually.
…Paul Binder receives an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Rhode Island College.
…The Medicine Show generates the largest attendance in the history of the Circus, a record–breaking engagement, more than 170,000 attendees during a 114 performance run at Lincoln Center.
…The CCUcontinues to expand nationally with programs opening at Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC and at Yale–New Haven Children’s Hospital, New Haven, CT.
…The CCU at Children’s Hospital, Boston increases its schedule from three days a week to five days a week.
…The Slifka Family Creative Center officially opens in Walden, NY, with rehearsals for the 20th Anniversaryproduction, 20 Years.
…The Circus Arts In Education (now called Beyond the Ring®), launches “A Children’s Circus,” to bring the magic of circus to hundreds of elementary school children.
…The CCU opens its first program outside New York City at Children’s Hospital, Boston.
…The CCU celebrates ten years of bringing joy and magic to the bedsides of hospitalized children with a benefit birthday bash at the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom.
…Having raised nearly $4 million, the Big Apple Circus receives a $500,000, three–to–one challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation in support of the Creative Center Campaign.
…Patricia Rosenwald steps down as Chairperson, welcoming Peter T. Grauer as the third Big Apple Circus chairperson.
…The Circus joins forces with Chock Full o’Nuts in a first–time media and performance sponsorship.
…The establishment of a $6 million Creative Center Campaign is publicly announced. Monies raised for this capital campaign are used to build a permanent creative center, underwrite improvements to the performance unit’s facilities and establish a permanent cash reserve. In recognition of Chairman Emeritus Alan Slifka’s lead gift to the campaign, the creative center is named the Slifka Family Creative Center.
…Michael Christensen receives the Sullivan Trail Sertoma Club’s Service to Mankind Award for his work with the CCU.
…Gary Dunning joins the Big Apple Circus as executive director.
…A Strategic Plan is adopted to blueprint the future and continued growth of the Big Apple Circus, clarifying its mission to be America’s preeminent performing arts institution devoted to classical circus arts.
…Voilerie du Sud–Ouest in Bordeaux, France designs and builds the first self–suspended tent with a cupola, to be used for the Big Apple Circus Spring and Summer Tour.
…Michael Christensen receives the Parenting Achievement Award from Parenting magazine for his work with theCCU.
…Circus attendance tops 480,000.
…Alan Slifka, founding Chairman, steps down to pursue special areas of interest with the Circus, passing the mantle to former President Patricia Rosenwald, who becomes the second chairperson in the Circus’ history.
…The Circus receives a major challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the first circus ever to receive such a grant.
…Paul Binder is presented with the Presidential Medal of Achievement by his alma mater, Dartmouth College and an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute.
…The Panteleenkos, renowned aerialists, become the first Soviet act to perform with an American circus when they join the Big Apple Circus for the 1990–91 season.
…Acrobat Carlos Guity joins the Big Apple Circus company for the 1990–91 season, becoming the first graduate of the Circus Arts In Education program to perform with the Circus.
…With the addition of Harlem Hospital Center as its first public facility, the CCU program now sends its clown doctors on regular rounds in pre-eminent hospitals throughout New York City, visiting pediatric patients two or three times per week.
…Home Box Office produces and airs a special on the Big Apple Circus.
…Republic National Bank begins a five–year sponsorship of the Lincoln Center engagement.
…Michael Christensen receives the Red Skelton Award from Movement Theater International and the Golden Nose Award from the Northeast Clown Convention for his work with theCCU.
…The Spring and Summer Tour heads westward to include a debut engagement in Chicago, IL.
…Yearly attendance exceeds 400,000.
…The Big Apple Circus and its performers are featured in Woody Allen’s motion picture Alice.
…Michael Christensen receives the Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award for his work with the Big Apple Circus CCU.
…NYNEX (then New York Telephone) begins annual sponsorship of the New York metropolitan–area tour.
…The Expert Student Troupe performs before 35,000 spectators at the International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts.
…Paul Binder receives an Honorary Degree in Fine Arts from his alma mater, Dartmouth College.
…The Big Apple Circus creates a show in collaboration with the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe from China, the first collaboration of its kind in the United States.
…The Circus Arts In Education’s, Expert Student Troupe takes home trophies from the Premiere Rampe Festival, a circus school competition held in Monte Carlo.
…Dolly Jacobs, representing the Big Apple Circus, wins a Silver Clown Award at The International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo.
…The Big Apple Circus celebrates its 10th anniversary under a new Big Top Tent with an improved seating system, paid in part by Donald Trump.
…Recognized as the highest honor within the international circus community, Paul Binder is the first American circus producer ever invited to serve as a judge at the 12th Annual International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo.
…The Spring and Summer season develops into an annual tour of the Northeast, incorporating such cities as Boston and Washington, D.C.
…Michael Christensen establishes the CCU at Babies & Children’s Hospital of New York at Columbia–Presbyterian Medical Center. This hospital becomes the first facility staffed with clown doctors.
…The Circus, in collaboration with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, creates the PBS television special Pops Joins the Circus.
…The Harbor Junior High School for Performing Arts in East Harlem becomes the training base for the Circus Arts In Education program. …Nathalie Enterline, representing the Big Apple Circus, wins a Gold Medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris.
…The Circus receives an OBIE Award for Artistic Excellence.
…The annual Spring and Summer Tour expands to include several New England cities.
…Barry Lubin’s clown character, Grandma, makes her debut with the Big Apple Circus.
…The Back Street Flyers, a tumbling group trained at the New York School for Circus Arts win a Silver Medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris.
…The Big Apple Circus becomes the first circus to have a composer–in–residence writing original theme music.
…The Big Apple Circus is featured in the motion picture Annie.
…Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park becomes the annual holiday home for the Circus, under the first European–made Big Top Tent to host performances in the United States.
…A Spring and Summer Tour of the Big Apple Circus travels throughout New York City’s outer boroughs.
…Danish equestrienne Katja Schumann joins the Big Apple Circus.
…Cast members of the Tony® Award–winning musical Barnum are trained by the Big Apple Circus, then called, the New York School for Circus Arts
…Circus Arts In Education is introduced to provide New York’s inner–city youngsters with an in–school, circus arts training curriculum.
…The Circus’ Manhattan performing location moves from Battery Park City to Eighth Avenue and 50th Street, on the empty site of the old Madison Square Garden.
…The New York School for Circus Arts is established as a not–for–profit institution — the first training program in this country devoted to the development of a new generation of circus artists. Its first chairman is Alan B. Slifka. The first production of the Big Apple Circus is performed in New York City.
…Paul and Michael return to New York. Paul begins to develop the idea of reintroducing the classical, one–ring circus to American audiences and sets out to attract funding.
…Paul Binder and Michael Christensen join Annie Fratellini’s Nouveau Cirque de Paris, in France, performing their comedy juggling act.