Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will close after a 146-year run. Several factors led to this difficult decision to close the circus, including low attendance, high production and operating costs and a long battle with animal-rights backlash.
In an effort to make the close more bearable for its roughly 500 employees, the company has plans to help them with job placement, housing relocation and more.
Get ready to see the exotic animals, flashy costumes, death-defying acrobats and jaw-dropping juggling one last time. With two touring circuses this season, that allows for 30 shows between now and May when the crew will take their final curtain call. Philadelphia is among the tour's major stops, as well as Brooklyn, Washington, Atlanta and Boston.
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