Big Apple Circus Sets 2004 Tour Dates and Corporate Sponsorship Program; the Big Apple Circus Has Announced Its 26th Anniversary Tour Schedule for Carnevale!

Business/Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 2003

Founded in 1977 by Paul Binder and Michael Christensen, the Big Apple Circus is a not-for-profit performing arts institution committed to children and their families. Since its inception, the Big Apple Circus has produced over twenty-five annual tours, each created around a specific theme that integrates traditional theater elements with classical circus artistry such as clowning, juggling, acrobatics and equestrianism. This year's tour will take for its theme CARNEVALE! Designed in the spirit of the international festivals of Venice, Rio de Janeiro, Trinidad, Cuba, New Orleans and Jamaica, this year's tour mixes together all the exciting elements of traditional "Carnevale" with World-Class circus acts to bring you a show you won't soon forget.

2004 Tour Season

The 26th Annual Tour begins performing in late September, 2003 in the Washington, DC area and continues through July 2004 touching 10 major venues along the way. Audiences throughout the eastern United States will have the opportunity to come out and see a world class circus event at more than 335 performances in Atlanta, Boston, New York, Washington and surrounding areas.

Sponsorship and Co-Marketing Opportunities

The Big Apple Circus is seeking sponsorship and marketing partners for its 26th Anniversary Tour. To this end, the Big Apple Circus has designed multiple corporate sponsorship packages that include name and logo identification, extensive media exposure, on-site visibility, unique promotional opportunities and corporate hospitality initiatives. Each of these sponsorship packages enables the corporation to leverage the Big Apple Circus's unique and unforgettable connection to the consumer seeking family friendly live entertainment. Depending on level of investment, corporate sponsors can utilize the many unique aspects of the Big Apple Circus to realize value from this partnership.

Concurrent with the 2004 tour, the Big Apple Circus will place over $3.5 million in media covering 5 major DMAs in the eastern United States. The Big Apple Circus media campaign will target highly educated, mid- to high-income, family oriented consumers and will be distributed across all media including television, radio, print, direct, and outdoor.

In the past, such Fortune 100 corporations as American Express, Chase Manhattan Bank, Northwest Air, Cigna, Fidelity Investments, FleetBoston Financial, Honda and Toyota have participated in the Big Apple Circus sponsorship program. "Fleet sponsored the Big Apple Circus in 2003 in various New York venues and it was extremely successful. The visibility and hospitality opportunities associated with the presenting sponsorship were top notch and the added bonus of developing a customer discount component was key to the relationship. I consider Big Apple to be a great partner and look forward to working with them again in 2004," said Connie Verducci, Sponsorship Manager, FleetBoston Financial, Metro New York.

According to Bruce Ginsberg, Director of Corporate Sponsorship at Big Apple Circus, "The Big Apple Circus offers the concerned corporation the best combination of an effective marketing and promotional venue and positive feedback in the press and community." He also said, "We believe the 2003-2004 Big Apple Circus tour is the perfect opportunity for companies to reach their target audience through an exciting and impactful entertainment experience."

Community Relations

Through its four community outreach programs, the Big Apple Circus brings joy and delight to the lives of over 250,000 disadvantaged, handicapped and hospitalized children throughout the United States. Frequently the subject of news stories, detailed profiles and special programming, the Big Apple Circus and its programs enjoy a great relationship with the press and media throughout each of its tour cities. This positive media exposure is an extra added benefit to a partnership with the Big Apple Circus for the community-focused corporation.

About Big Apple Circus:

Founded in 1977, the Big Apple Circus is a not-for-profit performing arts institution and leading presenter of live family entertainment committed to children and their families. Headquartered in New York City, the Big Apple Circus plans and executes an all-new 10 month, 335 performance tour each year that visits 10 cities throughout the eastern United States. In addition, the Big Apple Circus administers 4 community outreach programs -- Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit(R), Circus of the Senses(R), Circus for All!(R), Beyond the Ring(R) -- unique to the entertainment industry, that annually touch the lives of over 250,000 underprivileged, handicapped and hospitalized children and their families. For more information on sponsorship and marketing opportunities with the Big Apple Circus, please contact Bruce Ginsberg at 212-268-2500, ext. 112 or through e-mail at [e-mail].