No circus animals as 'The Greatest Show on Earth' returns to Milwaukee

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- After a 25-year absence, a Milwaukee audience will get to see what's billed as "The Greatest Show on Earth." It's a circus with Wisconsin roots that dates back to 1882. Fiserv Forum is hosting Ringling Bros. big return. 

History buffs know them as the Ringling Bros. of Baraboo, but in what city did they perform their very first show? It wasn't Baraboo. It was actually Mazomanie, Wisconsin. Now, they're coming back and tickets are on sale. 

"We're super excited and thrilled to be able to host Ringling after so long," said Aurora Rodriguez, Fiserv Forum director of booking. 

When you think circus, it's the name that comes to mind. Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has been around longer than all of us have been alive, dazzling audiences through the years with amazing acrobats, comical clowns and captivating stunts. Decades of protests by animal rights activists culminated in major change. 

"When it still used animals, Ringling was the saddest show on earth and from the beginning PETA was outside protesting for decades, basically since PETA's inception in the 1980s," said Debbie Metzler, director of captive animal welfare with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

This fall, Milwaukee will see Ringling Bros. reimagined, with no more animal acts. 

"A new and improved animal free Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus sends a very clear message to circuses everywhere that audiences can be dazzled with only willing human performers where no animal is exploited in the process," said Metzler.

Fiserv will host the return this fall. 

"It's a 360-degree experience, meaning every seat of the house will have amazing views to the show," said Rodriguez.

What do circus fans think?

"I think it's a good thing...because I agree that there's a lot of mistreatment towards animals," said Kelly Krohn, circus fan.

"I think that'd be really cool. It'd be cool to see acrobats and other different stuff," said Sophie Radam, circus fan.

"I feel like the circuses I've seen without animals are more entertaining than circuses I've seen with animals because mostly it's like people doing flips in the air which is personally more entertaining for me than watching someone like walk on an elephant," said Selena Shippey, circus fan.

Tickets went on sale Tuesday, March 22 for the Oct.13, 14 and 15 shows at Fiserv Forum.