Big Apple Circus In 2001, the circus' best known performer, "Grandma" the clown (played by Barry Lubin), inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame. A new seating system was installed in the circus big top, and, after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the circus opened its "Dreams of a City" show, which was dedicated to the City of New York. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed November 1, 2002, as "Big Apple Circus Day". The circus celebrated its 25th anniversary with a documentary film about the creation and production of that year's show. In "Carnevale!", actors and circus performers Pedro Carrillo
Big Apple Circus while the 2011-2012 season show was themed "Dream Big" and was the farewell tour for the clown character "Grandma", played by Barry Lublin. In 2014, the "Big Apple Circus Metamorphosis" was released to video. In July 2016, it was announced that for the first time since 1981 the circus would not run for the 2016 holiday season. The Circus set a fundraising goal for $2 million in 2016 in an effort to maintain operations, but only half of the funds needed were raised. The circus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on November 11, 2016. It was announced on January