'The Greatest Show on Earth' returns to Bay Area after 8 years with reimagined circus

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s “The Greatest Show on Earth” has returned to Oakland for the first time in eight years, but with a major change: live animals are no longer part of the performance due to public outcry from animal activists and allegations of abuse.

Despite the absence of animals, the show promises an array of exciting acts. ABC7 got a sneak peek of some of the highlights, including hoop diving, BMX stunts, and more.

“We’ve transformed the stage into what we call the ultimate playground,” said A.J. Anaya, a freestyle BMX rider. “The whole stage is ridable, featuring mountain bike trials, extreme unicycling, and a unique trample box, along with four BMX riders in our act.”

The reimagined show features 75 performers from 18 countries, showcasing a wide range of talents. 

“We have comedy acts, robotic dogs, aerial performances, and various specialized acts like hand-to-hand stunts,” said aerial captain Maximillian Bennett.

One of the standout attractions is Skyler Miser, known as the human rocket.

VIDEO: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is back, reimagined for a new era.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has been transformed into the "ultimate playground," featuring a range of breathtaking acts. One standout performer is Skyler Miser, who rockets out of the Ringling Rocket, describing the experience as "a giant roller coaster and a mini car crash all in one," reaching speeds of up to 65 miles per hour.

Jonatan Lopez, from the renowned multi-generation Lopez Troupe, showcased the low wire for ABC7. His wife, Maria Pontigo, performs alongside him.

“What you see now is the low wire we use for warm-ups,” Pontigo explained. “However, during the show, we’ll be balancing on a high wire. This is the first time ever that Ringling Bros. and the world will see a triangular high wire. The Lopez Troupe is proud to be the first to attempt this act. The low wire we practice on is 2 to 3 feet off the ground, but in the show, we’ll be performing 25 feet in the air.”

The reimagined circus will be at the Oakland Arena from August 30 to September 1, and at the SAP Center in San Jose from September 6 to 8.

In 2014, Feld Entertainment, the circus's parent company, settled a $25.2 million lawsuit with various animal-rights groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, concluding a 14-year legal battle over unproven claims of mistreatment of elephants. By 2015, Ringling officials decided to phase out elephants from their performances following allegations of animal abuse. 

The circus went on hiatus in 2017 but has now returned, continuing a tradition that dates back to the mid-1880s.