Big Apple Circus Gala Press Release
By: Jenn Steinhardt and Sienna Mae Heath
This week the Big Apple Circus returns to its roots in the Battery where it pitched its Big Top 31 years ago and gave its first performance in July 1977. The occasion is a gala to honor Big Apple Circus founder Paul Binder, who is “stepping out of the ring” as the circus’s ringmaster and artistic director. Performers from the first season are planning to be on hand, and mayors past and present are also expected. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. with cocktails in the Century Tent, followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. in the Battery Conservatory Tent, and ceremonies and a show at 9:00 p.m. under the little Big Top.
The show will be performed under a little Big Top reminiscent of the one erected on the Battery Park City landfill in the shadows of the World Trade Center in the summer of 1977. Luciano Anastasini, the dog presenter in this year’s show Play On!, has offered his family circus’s tent for the ceremonies and the show.
The Big Apple Circus gala is to be held one day after a similar event by the Battery Conservancy and will use their tent for dinner. This is a rare example of two not-for-profits sharing resources to lower expenses in this turbulent economic climate. The Battery Conservancy’s Annual Spring Gala on June 9 will honor the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the Battery Medal for Cultural Heritage. The attendees will overlook the view of the river that welcomed Henry Hudson from the Netherlands in 1609, 400 years ago.
Paul Binder, recognized as a Living New York Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, founded the Big Apple Circus. What started as a juggling act on the street corners of Europe with co-founder Michael Christensen became a successful classical circus in the heart of New York City. The duo returned to America in 1976 with the dream of establishing a classical, community-based circus. One year later, they created the award-winning Big Apple Circus and pitched its first tent on barren landfill near the Battery. Paul Binder steps out of the ring and behind the scenes into the positions of Senior Advisor and Founding Artistic Director, where he will work to further the circus’s development. Guillaume Dufresnoy succeeds Mr. Binder as Artistic Director. Carrie Harvey, the current host of Play On!, succeeds Mr. Binder as Ringmaster.
For 31 years the Big Apple Circus, New York’s original one-ring circus, has been delighting audiences of all ages under its Big Top by presenting the finest in live family entertainment featuring world-class circus artistry. Experience the instant connection between audience and artist as your family sits less than 50 feet from the ring. The Big Apple Circus is a not-for-profit performing arts and outreach institution committed to invigorating the communities we serve with the joy and wonder of classical circus. Tax-deductible contributions made by corporations, foundations and individuals enable the Big Apple Circus to bring its special magic to diverse audiences through its outreach programs — Clown Care[SM], Vaudeville Caravan[SM], Circus After School[SM], Circus For All!® and Circus of the Senses® — as well as its critically acclaimed performances.
To learn more, visit us at www.bigapplecircus.org
