Big Apple Circus 13, 2017 that they will auction off their assets. On February 14, 2017, Big Apple Circus announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court had approved the sale of their assets to Big Top Works, an affiliate of Compass Partners, for $1.3 million. As part of the sale, the circus will be renewed for its 40th anniversary season and some community programs will continue. On March 21, 2017, Big Apple Circus announced that renowned acrobat Nik Wallenda will be the headline act in the 40th anniversary season at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park in New York City from October 26, 2017 to January
Big Apple Circus 7, 2018. Additionally, the circus announced that following the New York performances, a national tour will take place. It was announced in May 2017 that "Grandma the Clown", played by Barry Lubin, would return for the 40th anniversary season and that the new ringmaster will be Tyron McFarlan. On January 23, 2018, Lubin announced that he would resign from the circus due to sexual misconduct with an underage teen from 2004. In September, 2018, Big Apple Circus announced that Bindlestiff Family Cirkus owner, Stephanie Monseu is the new Ringmistress for Big Apple Circus. Following the circus' emergence from bankruptcy in