New Animal Trainer Starts Under Big Top

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus rang in its post-Gebel-Williams era Thursday with a new but less flashy star, animal trainer Flavio Togni from Italy.

The all-new 120th edition show for Ringling’s blue-unit premiered at Madison Square Garden, where it will run through April 29, and gave Togni his first chance to perform before a New York audience.

The show is on a two-year national tour, visiting cities that were on the circus’ red-unit tour last year.