After honing their craft as street performers across Europe, Paul Binder and Michael Christensen brought their passion back to New York City, where they launched the Big Apple Circus in 1977. Designed as a more personal and artistic alternative to the flashy American three-ring format, the Big Apple Circus embraced the charm and intimacy of the European one-ring tradition. Over the years, the Big Top has welcomed some of the world’s most renowned circus performers. Each season, audiences are treated to an all-new production, featuring fresh themes and visionary contributions from top creative talents in the industry.