Connecticut has been a part of American circus history ever since Bethel native P.T. Barnum started promoting outrageous museum exhibits like “the Fiji mermaid” and setting up tours for General Tom Thumb and the singing sensation Jenny Lind in the 1840s.
This led to Barnum starting his a traveling circus troupe in 1870, during the time when he was serving in the Connecticut General Assembly as a representative from Fairfield. Barnum’s name lives on in the title of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which returns to Connecticut April 16-19 at Bridgeport’s Total Mortgage Arena and April 23-26 at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford.
When the circus last played Bridgeport and Hartford in 2024, it was the first time Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey had been in Connecticut in seven years. The Feld Entertainment organization that had produced the show since the 1950s and had been responsible for moving it from outdoor tents to indoor arenas shut down the circus completely in 2017. The company hoped to bring Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey back, but a major rethinking was required. Among the issues were a generational shift in how audiences reacted to animal acts and heavily made up clowns. When Feld Entertainment unveiled a new edition of the circus with much fanfare in 2023, the only animal in it was a mechanical robot dog and while there was some comedy, traditional circus clowns were not a part of it.
Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Hype Crew performer Zeke Pranis-Ricci performs with a German wheel during a performance at Breakthrough Magnet School-North Campus in Hartford on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The crew visited the school to promote the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show at PeoplesBank Arena from April 23-26. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey tour coming to Connecticut this month is very similar to that initial tour of 2023-24. Rather than rings and spotlights that keep all the attention in the middle of the arena, crowd reactions, audience participation and an immersive feel are now part of the show.
Ashley Budinick, the performance director for this tour, said the circus’ longtime motto has been modified so that instead of being known as “The Greatest Show on Earth” it is now “The Greatest Party on Earth.”
The tour boasts 65 performers, from aerialists to acrobats to trick cyclists to people who dive through hoops. Some of the acts do double duty: the Troupe Brothers troupe from Mongolia performs both an “Acrobatic Thrill Act” and an “Extreme Jump Rope” bit.
Budinick’s job is to maintain the overall quality of the circus while it’s on the road. “It’s a huge legacy, a huge name, a huge property,” she said. “We’re coming back reimagined with fresh party vibe. This tour began in December.
Feld Entertainment
DJ Lucky is a new “guide” character in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. (Feld Entertainment)
Budinick said one of the big changes in this new edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is DJ Lucky, a live DJ who provides musical accompaniment before, between and even during the circus acts. One of DJ Lucky’s sets is a mash-up of 1990s pop hits. He also spins hits of today such as Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia.”
DJ Lucky is one of the main “Guides” in the current tour. The “Guides” are essentially the equivalent of circus ringmasters from the old days, only more affable and accessible and able to do tricks themselves. One of the other guides, singer Lauren Irving who is called Aria in the show, was with the circus on the 2023-24 tour. Other familiar faces from last time are the Vermont-based clown Nick Nack (Jan Damm) and unicyclist Wesley Williams.
Also returning is the robotic dog known as Bailey Circuit, who does tricks and makes funny noises.
Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Hype Crew host Juanita Olivo takes the stage with Bailey, a robo-pup, during a performance at Breakthrough Magnet School-North Campus in Hartford on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The crew visited the school to promote the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show at PeoplesBank Arena from April 23-26. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Some big acts have been rotated out of the circus since it last played Connecticut, and whole new acts have joined the lineup. There is no BMX bicycle crew this time, but there is a “Bike-Robatics” routine performed by Henan Acrobatic Group.
One of the returning acts is “Double Wheel of Destiny,” in which members of the Navas Troupe run around giant wheels which in turn are part of an even larger revolving structure.
The daredevil, acrobatic and aerial routines are enhanced by large projections, similar to those at large sporting events, which can provide close-ups of the acts while they are happening.
Feld Entertainment
The revamped Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which debuted in 2023 and has been revised for this new tour, features multiple acrobatic and aerialist acts as well as massive displays like the Double Wheel of Destiny and more nuanced acts like a robot dog and a live singer. The circus is framed by giant projection screens and lighting effects. (Feld Entertainment)
Though there are some familiar elements and performers from the previous go-round of the revived and revamped Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey of a couple of years ago, Budinick said she considers this year’s edition “brand new” in that it has been extensively rethought based on audience reactions from the 2023-24 tour and has also been updated to keep it fresh for returning circus-goers.
Budinick said that audiences add a lot to the experience and touring itself is a big deal. “Every day is an interesting adventure,” she said. She declares that Connecticut audiences are “excellent. I love coming to Connecticut. They’re such great audiences. They help the show and they help morale. We want audiences to enjoy and embrace these incredible performers.”
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has two stops upcoming in Connecticut, April 16-19 at Total Mortgage Arena, 600 Main St., Bridgeport ($26.10-$72.50; totalmortgagearena.com) and April 23-26 at PeoplesBank Arena, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Hartford. peoplesbankarena.com). For both locations, performances are Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at noon and 4 p.m. General information about the tour is at ringling.com.