Paul Binder

Paul Binder is the founder of the Big Apple Circus. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he graduated from Dartmouth College and earned an M.B.A. at Columbia University. Binder worked at WGBH-TV in Boston (stage-managing for Julia Child’s The French Chef) and as a talent coordinator for Merv Griffin, before heading West and learning juggling with the San Francisco Mime Troupe—where Binder met Michael Christensen. Together, Binder and Christensen traveled through Europe and earned their living by juggling on street corners. Their act landed them on the legendary stage of the Casino de Paris, on French television and, eventually, in the ring of Annie Fratellini’s Nouveau Cirque de Paris. Binder returned to New York with a dream—to create an American circus with the same dedication to theatrical excellence and artistic intimacy that he and Christensen had experienced in Europe. He found the people who would share his dream and implement his vision and, in 1977, the Big Apple Circus was born. Founder, Founding Artistic Director of the Big Apple Circus, and a gifted performer, Paul Binder was recently honored by ABC-TV World News with Charles Gibson as "Person of the Week". In July of 2009 Mr. Binder "stepped out of the ring" but continues to work with the Big Apple Circus as a senior advisor. He is currently in demand as a guest speaker, having spoken and led seminars at Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Virginia and Barnard College. Paul has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Fine Arts from his alma mater, Dartmouth, Pratt Institute, and Rhode Island College, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Long Island University. In 2001 he was given the honor of "NYC Living Landmark," by the New York Landmarks Conservancy. He is the proud father of Katherine, Max, Adam and Anais.

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Congratulations to the Spectacular Dolly Jacobs

Jun 162015

At the beginning of last week, the National Endowment for the Arts announced the recipients of the 2015 National Heritage Fellowships. Included in the list is none other than the spectacular Dolly Jacobs.

Dolly Jacobs performing an aerial act during a performance of the Summer Circus Spectacular 2014,
photo by Rachel S. O’Hara

Dolly is a long-time friend from past seasons of the Big Apple Circus.

I’m pictured in my ringmaster outfit beside the beautifully costumed Dolly Jacobs. The other Big Apple Circus performers on the left are Jeff Gordon, Michael Christensen, Barry Lubin, and Tady Wozniak and the Wozniak Troupe. Seated in the front row left to right are Jerome Robbins, Zubin Mehta, Beverley Sills, James Levine, Nat Leventhal, and Peter Martins.

Her father was the legendary clown Lou Jacobs, but Dolly is no clown in the ring. A world-renowned aerial artist, she certainly deserves her title “Queen of the Air.” Included in her awards is the coveted Silver Clown at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo and the title Dame du Cirque. Dolly and her husband Pedro Reis founded and operate the Circus Arts Conservatory of Sarasota. (Earlier this year I blogged about their Circus Sarasota show “Fearless.”) The conservatory has just begun performances of their Summer Circus Spectacular at the Historic Asolo Theater at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Dolly Jacobs - Circus Spectacular

Congratulations, Dolly! An incredible honor, well deserved!

See the video below for some words from Dolly on receiving the honor:

Original Big Apple Circus Proposal Book

May 182015

Every so often I’ll come across something special that I’ll refer to as “a treasure.” It so happens that in my files I came across just such a treasure not too long ago: the original proposal for the Big Apple Circus, which at the time we pitched as “a permanent circus and circus school for New York City.” The proposal book is filled with hand-drawn illustrations of circus performers drawn by my cousin, the artist Peter Leventhal, and at the center of the proposal is a fun full-page sketch of an imagined Big Apple Circus big top created by the wonderfully talented Mimi Gross.

The proposal book includes a detailed description of what would become the very first season of the Big Apple Circus in 1977, as well as a preliminary budget and letters of support from Wickham Boyle, the Director of Special Projects for the City of New York’s Department of Cultural Affairs; Philippe Petit, fresh from his World Trade Center wire walk; and Hovey Burgess, Master Teacher of circus techniques in the master’s acting program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

I’m including one of the pages of text from the proposal book below because of its important message. I think these words remain as true today as they were then.

Altoona Circus Bonanza

Apr 262015

A few months ago, David Orr contacted me about being a guest speaker at the Altoona Circus Bonanza hosted by the Adam Forepaugh – Barry Lubin “Grandma” Tent No. 2, the oldest active CFA (Circus Fans Association of America) “tent.”

Altoona is a city in central Pennsylvania, about an hour’s drive southwest of State College, so on my drive across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, I was able to listen to lots of good music.

There were two Circus Fans clubs, so-called “tents,” that were involved with the Circus Bonanza Weekend, so I got to go to dinner on two subsequent evenings. The first was hosted by the Emmett Kelly – Bello Nock Tent No. 41. The second was for the Forepaugh – Lubin Tent where I was guest speaker.

The emcee of both events was a gent named Mort Gamble, who is the Assistant to the President of Bethany College. Equally fun was a woman named Katie (I wish I could remember her last name) who was the ringmaster of the Bello Nock tent. She had read my book and tells the stories as well as I do, with some unique twists. What surprised me most was that someone told me after the event that she’s an FBI Agent–a delightful FBI agent, I must say. Circus fans come in all guises, as circus has the distinction of cutting across all social/political/economic boundaries.

Billy Martin

After the dinner on Saturday, we all headed over to the Royal Hanneford Circus, sponsored by Jaffa Shrine. For those of you who don’t know, the shriners have children’s hospitals all over the country and wear unusual hats (some might call them silly). For many years they have sponsored circuses that raise money for their hospitals.

Billy Martin, who is an old friend, has been the ringmaster at Hanneford for the past 20 years. I was also pleased to see Ian Garden, Jr. and his America’s Show Camels. One of my favorite acts was the Lopez Family High Wire. They were very good, very strong. But of course the highlight for me was seeing Grandma in the ring. Barry’s appearance in the program was billed as “Everyone’s Favorite Senior Citizen,” and the title certainly fits.

080213 - Stone Mountain, Ga., : (all cq) Barry Lubin, "Grandma" of the U.S.A., throws a bucket of popcorn at the open mouth of Frankie Ashby, of Dacula, during the Big Apple Circus performs an afternoon show during their stay Wednesday afternoon in Stone Mountain, Ga., February 13, 2008. After failed attempts at getting a piece of popcorn in Ashby's mouth Grandma dumped the whole bucket at Ashby. Ashby was there with his family. The Big Apple Circus is celebrating their 30th birthday under the big top. Jason Getz / AJC

Grandma throws a bucket of popcorn at the open mouth
of an audience member at the Big Apple Circus

I had the pleasure of visiting Barry between shows. It was the highlight of the day.

Sitting beside Grandma at the Royal Hanneford Circus
photo courtesy of the Forepaugh – Lubin Tent

A Full Evening with the Lotos Club, Shakespeare’s Birthday, and Yo-Yo Ma

Apr 242015

I recently got back from an exciting couple of days in Altoona, Pennsylvania, for the Circus Bonanza. But more on that in my next post.

Nicholas Day

First, I want to share with you all my exciting day of events this past Wednesday.

This year marks the 451st birthday of William Shakespeare. Similar to our celebration last year, we honored the Bard’s birthday at the Lotos Club Theatre Round Table by reading and talking about his work. Our wonderful leader Gail VanVoorhis arranged to have Nicholas Day join us for the meeting. Nick is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company currently appearing on Broadway as the Duke of Norfolk in the two-part play Wolf Hall. Having a professional Shakespearean actor certainly upped the game for all of us. We explored readings from Shakespeare’s early plays to his mature ones. This year I got to read the part of Marc Antony from the tragedy Antony and Cleopatra. Antony is a fearless general and rugged romantic lead–heh heh–typecast again.

Wednesday - Wolf Hall, photo by Johan Persson

The cast of Wolf Hall on Broadway
photo by Johan Persson

In addition to celebrating Shakespeare on Wednesday, we also celebrated the wedding anniversary of our Lotos Club recent past president Anne Russell and the birthday of our Theatre Round Table leader Gail VanVoorhis. On the way out of the Grill Room at the end of the evening, I was walking past a table and recognized the man who was seated there.

Yo-Yo Ma

It was none other than the world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Yo-Yo stood up to say hello, share a hug, and introduce the people at his table. It was great seeing him. Yo-Yo said some incredibly complimentary things about the Big Apple Circus and yours truly. We’ve had a lot of backstage celebrity visits and regulars at the B.A.C. over the years, but it’s not everyday that I run into one in the city who has so many wonderful things to say.

I’m sure you’ll agree, it was an exciting and eventful Wednesday in New York City.

Barry Lubin’s New Book and the Upcoming Altoona Circus Bonanza Banquet

Apr 032015

Barry’s recently published “memoirs”

Barry and I at the Circus Ring of Fame during Barry's induction ceremony

Barry and me at the Circus Ring of Fame

What can I say about Barry Lubin? Truthfully, quite a lot!

All together, Grandma appeared in 25 seasons of the Big Apple Circus. Grandma and I experienced many wonderful moments in the ring, and Barry and I have had many, many great (and some not so great) moments outside the ring. Through it all, I’m overjoyed that I can call him a friend.

In the past few months, Barry has accomplished an incredible feat: he’s published what he calls his “memoirs.” (And I know just how grueling it is to get a book published.)

Grandma and me in the ring
I’m inspecting Grandma’s admission ticket

In Tall Tales of a Short Clown, Barry writes about much more than his involvement with the circus over the past five decades. He speaks candidly about his life and personal struggles outside of the ring. I recently finished reading the book and had a hard time putting it down. I laughed out loud at the first line of the Foreword…. But then Barry could make me laugh almost anytime he wanted. There’s a moment in the PBS series CIRCUS where he cracked me up in the middle of a rehearsal. Funny man.

I’m pleased to say that in two weeks I will be seeing Barry in person at the 2015 Altoona Circus Bonanza. A few months ago, I accepted an offer from the Adam Forepaugh-Barry Lubin Tent No. 2 to be the Bonanza Speaker on April 18. As fun as the banquet will be, I’m particularly excited that I get to attend a performance of the Royal Hanneford Circus, featuring none other than Grandma the Clown. It will be great to see the little carpetbagger in action once again.

Saying goodbye to Grandma during her last show with the Big Apple Circus

BAC’s Circus of the Senses 2015 in Boston

Mar 282015

Of the Big Apple Circus’ wonderful award-winning community programs, I am most directly involved with the Circus of the Senses. I’ve posted before about the very first Circus of the Senses in 1988 with Marty Glickman and Dave Jennings, as well as the Circus of the Senses events in Dulles the last two years, so you may have some idea of how much I care about this program. Barring any unforeseeable circumstances, I want to be behind the microphone at our Circus of the Senses events far into the future so that I can share in the audience’s delightful reactions.

Each Circus of the Senses performance is unique because of the different audience members. Everyone can have their own experience. This week I partnered with Robb Preskins, a doctor of delight from our Boston Children’s Hospital Clown Care Unit.

Robb Preskins and I at the commentators’ booth during Circus of the Senses

The boys in action during the performance

Olga Smirnov, courtesy of Smirnov Duo
this may have been the blue dress the girl was talking about

This past Thursday and Friday March 26 and 27 at the most recent Circus of the Senses in Boston (we did two), I heard about one particular interaction between an audience member and performer that illustrates the incredible potential of the program. After the performance, audience members are invited into the ring for a Touch Session. Visually-impaired children literally touch different elements of the show in order to widen their experience of the performance they have just heard described in great detail. These include a pony, the rola bola (which they actually try), the flying trapeze bar, a rabbit, the clowns bells, etc. During the Touch Session on Thursday, one girl exclaimed that after hearing the description of the Smirnov Duo’s quick change routine she wanted so much to have Olga’s blue costume as a party dress.

We had press coverage by NECN (check out their video below), the Boston Globe, Boston.com, and Emerson College Television. It’s good to get the word out about this amazing program.

My Tribute to the Late John Herriott

Mar 132015

John Herriott at the 1996 Big E,
photo by Dave Roback

Two weeks ago the American circus lost equestrian and ringmaster John Herriott. John was an incredibly skilled equestrian, versatile animal trainer, and an all around extraordinarily pleasant man. I’m fortunate that I was able to get down to Sarasota at the last minute for his memorial service.

Years back, John worked at the Big Apple Circus. Here’s one anecdote about him that I wrote in Never Quote the Weather to a Sea Lion and quoted at the memorial. As a tribute to Johnny I share it here:

In the chapter I wrote:

John brought his high-school riding act to the Big Apple Circus one season. He rode the Appaloosa horse alongside a large high-stepping Harlequin Great Dane dog. They both were white with black spots.

The turnout in Queens that year was light and one afternoon he approached me with an urgent message: the Great Dane had been kidnapped. “We need to get the word out,” he said. “Call the newspapers and radio and TV stations.”

“Kidnapped?” I asked. “Who would kidnap your Great Dane?”

“Hey now, that’s one very valuable dog.” John Said, “We have got to get the word out.”

“Let’s wait an hour or two,” I advised.” Let’s see if he comes back on his own or somebody brings him.”

“You don’t want to call the newspapers, the TV stations?” he asked, incredulous.

“Not at this point,” I said.

John walked away, obviously disappointed, probably thinking, “Damned fool doesn’t know a good publicity stunt when he hears one.”

By the next show, the dog was back in the ring, high-stepping in the ring alongside John on his horse, none the worse for his alleged captivity.

Rob Libbon wrote in an note to me: “He had the visage of a trail cowboy and the heart of a poet.” Indeed he wrote poetry … some of which was read at the funeral service.

One more thing: for several years, when we wintered in Sarasota, at Kay Rosaire’s place, Johnny and I would play golf together. He was one of the few people I’ve played with over many years who was absolutely honest with his score.

John Herriott at the Hoxie Bros. Circus, 1975, photo courtesy of http://www.thecircusblog.com/

John Herriott at the Hoxie Bros. Circus, 1975, photo courtesy of thecircusblog

“Marry the Beast” Event with the New Not-for-Profit: thebetes.org

Mar 062015

Deborah Kaufmann as Cookie the Clown,
photo by Paul Gutheil

My friend and colleague Deborah Kaufman approached me a couple months ago about a project she called “Marry the Beast.” From the title, I had no idea what to expect but because Deborah and I go way back (Deborah is one of the founding members of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care unit), I said “Okay, I’ll bite. What’s this all about?”

“Marry the Beast” is a project of the Betes Organization, a new not-for-profit that uses performance to focus on the emotional and relational component of diabetes care emphasizing the message that healthcare is a human story. The “Betes” in the organization’s name is pronounced “Bee-Tees.” The term Betes is close to the French “les bêtes,” which means “beasts,” but in this context the term is derived primarily from “diabetes.”

Marina Tsaplina and her Betes,
photo courtesy of the Betes Organization

Deborah said they would be pleased to honor me at an event at the end of February.

Dr. Paul Wiseman told me that I had type 2 diabetes just over 18 years ago. I’ve spoken openly about living with type 2 before, and part of my story was published by Diabetes Forecast in their March 2014 issue. I was happy to be able to share more of my story with the Betes Organization. They suggested the format of me marrying my betes, my “Beast.”

Over time and several discussions with Deborah and Marina Tsaplina, the founder, executive and artistic director of the Betes Organization, the idea behind the “Marry the Beast” was (thankfully!) changed into a renewal of the vows that I’d made 18 years ago to seek a vital and healthy way to live with my type 2 diabetes. In the presence of some dear friends of mine and supporters of the Betes Organization, I would talk about my personal journey with diabetes and renew my vowed commitment to exercise, eat healthy, keep my weight down and deal with the emotional qualities of my condition.

Barbara Ann Michaels,
photo courtesy of Barbara Ann Michaels

The event took place this past Saturday evening at the historic firehouse at 87 Lafayette Street. Barbara Ann Michaels, an ordained minister … the “Jester of the Peace,” officiated the ceremony, which was complete with Deborah as a delightfully wacky flower girl, a processional to a recording of Stephane Grappelli playing “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” and a lovely tribute to my parents and grandmother. Then my sweetheart Shelley read a passage from The Smile at the Foot of the Ladder by Henry Miller in which he speaks of clowns being blessed with the ability to help us all rise above what Miller called “the common grief.” I read a chapter from the original manuscript of my book that talks about how the Zen Buddhist concept of “beginner’s mind” helped me overcome the initial shock of my diabetes diagnosis. That was followed by a community blessing and pledge of continuing support, the actual vows renewal, and a recessional complete with me wearing my top hat to the tune of the Mills Brothers singing “Bye Bye Blackbird.” Oh, and (ha, ha!) I was able to squeeze in a fun musical performance of “The Ugly Duckling” with the help of the brilliant accompanist Dennis Buck, who also played for me at the Lotos Got Talent event at the end of November.

The truth is that I love any chance I can get to perform and share some of my stories, and I’m grateful to the Betes Organization for honoring me and providing me with this thoroughly enjoyable opportunity.

One last thing I want to share … I received this short video in an e-mail a day after the event. I couldn’t resist sharing with all of you.

“Fearless” Show at Circus Sarasota

Feb 162015

Did you know that “the circus capital of the world” is in Florida? Truly. At least, that’s how many of us lovingly refer to the city of Sarasota. If you keep up with my blog posts, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I take a few trips annually down the east coast—and not just because this bird likes to fly south for the winter. I was just in Sarasota last week for the “Collecting Recollections” interview at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, and I was fortunate enough to get a chance to see Circus Sarasota for a dress rehearsal and, later in the week, a performance of their show “Fearless.”

Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs in front of the Circus Sarasota big top, photo courtesy of the Circus Arts Conservatory

The Circus Arts Conservatory in Sarasota is a not-for-profit training and performance organization dedicated to community outreach and service. And, they perform in an intimate one-ring, European-style tent … very much like another circus very near and dear to me. The company was founded by Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs. Dolly performed multiple times with the Big Apple Circus before she and Pedro (who also performed with the Big Apple Circus) began touring together with their pas de deux aerial act. Based in Sarasota, Circus Sarasota’s outreach programs (Humor Therapy Program, Education Program, and Sailor Circus Academy) serve the community year-round, in addition to their big top performances.

Their newest show is called “Fearless,” and with a featured act showcasing the extraordinary seven-person pyramid on the high wire, the show earns its name. The star turn is the Wallenda family, led by the audacious Nik Wallenda. In 2012 Nik became the first person to walk a wire across Niagara Falls, and a year later he outdid himself, walking a wire over the Grand Canyon. And under the big top at Circus Sarasota, the seven-person pyramid—first created by the legendary Karl Wallenda, Nik’s great-grandfather—is extraordinary and stunning to witness.

The Fabulous Wallendas’ seven-person pyramid at Circus Sarasota, photo by Rick Purdue

Another excellent act in the show is the hand balancing Duo Shcherbak & Popov. The Ukrainian performers began their training as international gymnasts, and their strength, balance, and control is a sight to behold. The duo has received a gold medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris and the Golden Clown at the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo (where I had the honor to serve on the jury with both Prince Rainier and Princess Stephanie).

Duo Shcherbak & Popov performing at the Monte Carlo Festival, photo courtesy of Spectacle Magazine

David Burlet and Anton Monastrysky also do wonderful solo acts, and the clown Renaldo (whose career started at the Big Apple Circus … as an usher) has a very funny audience volunteer entree.

The new show is scheduled to run through this next weekend, closing Sunday, February 22. If you can get to the show in Sarasota, do it.

Interview in the Historic Asolo Theater at the Ringling Museum for the “Collecting Recollections” Series

Feb 132015

I’m pleased to report that the “Collecting Recollections” interview event at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art exceeded my expectations. It was one hour of thoroughly enjoyable conversation.

With my daughter Katherine and granddaughter Sonya
after the “Collecting Recollections” interview

I was in and around Sarasota, FL, for several days prior to the event spending time with my daughter, Katherine, and Leo and Sonya, my grandchildren, who live there. We celebrated Leo’s 5th birthday. I was also invited to a dress rehearsal at Circus Sarasota and attended an excellent performance (more on this to come in the next blog post).

The interview series at the Ringling Museum is hosted in the Historic Asolo Theater, and while I knew how beautiful the theater was, and had even been honored on the stage before, I did not anticipate the pleasure of this particular interview. The theater’s house contains two balcony tiers of seating, and from the stage, both the orchestra and first tier of seats looked nearly full. I estimate that there were about three hundred people in attendance at 10:30am––I remarked during the interview, “Not a bad turnout for a Tuesday matinee.”

Aerialist Dolly Jacobs,
photo by Shane K. Smith

There have been moments as a performer where I have felt entirely (for lack of a better word) present. I’m familiar with this experience from many times in the ring: there’s a feeling in my body that’s fully aware of what’s happening, my mind active and engaged rather than drifting off, being in myself instead of watching myself in the situation. It can be an entirely liberating experience where I am “in the zone,” completely in the moment. And during “Collecting Recollections,” I was there. For an hour, I felt totally at ease, able to take pleasure in answering the interviewer’s questions.

Bello Nock walking the wire above Lincoln Center,
photo by Chris Brady

And I’m happy that there were some familiar faces in the crowd who got to be in attendance. Shelley Doctors, my wonderful partner and sweetheart, was in the audience. She sat with my daughter Katherine and granddaughter Sonya. Not far away were the great performers Bello Nock and Dolly Jacobs, both of whom I thanked from the stage with humorous anecdotes, and David Burlet and Anton Monastrysky of Circus Sarasota. It’s always flattering and humbling to have friends come out in support. It’s a testament to how dedicated and heartfelt the circus community is.

Of course there were plenty of unfamiliar faces as well, many of who I talked to in the Pavilion after the interview where I signed copies of my book. And wouldn’t you know it … the museum bookstore ran out of books! If anyone was in Sarasota and didn’t get a copy of Never Quote the Weather to a Sea Lion before they sold out, remember that you can always buy a copy through my website, and I’ll sign any book ordered through me.

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