Elephants on 34th Street: Must Be Circus Time

The circus is in town, as animals, clowns, acrobats, and other performers have arrived ahead of today's premiere of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Seven elephants and 11 horses emerged from the Queens Midtown Tunnel early yesterday and marched down 34th Street to Madison Square Garden, where the circus will hold performances until April 5. The show features about 90 animals and 120 performers.

"It's one of the most amazing productions we've ever put together," the show's producer, Nicole Feld, whose family has owned the Ringling Bros. Circus for three generations, said in an interview. "I go all over the world looking for the talent that's in the show." According to Ms. Feld, the show features such acts as Ukrainian acrobats bouncing on giant rubber tubes and Cossack riders performing stunts on horseback. The show also stars a Brooklyn native, Thomas Dougherty, as a clown who battles with the ringmaster for control of the circus throughout the performance.

The circus does have some detractors: Animal rights groups protested outside Madison Square Garden Tuesday, saying conditions for circus animals are inhumane. The rally's organizers are calling on the City Council to pass a bill banning the use of "wild and exotic animals" for "public amusement." The legislation has 22 sponsors.

"I think it's an entire misrepresentation of the truth," Ms. Feld said of the protests. "Our animals are absolutely precious to us and are part of the Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey family.