Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, a famous American circus, will broadcast its final performance on Facebook Live.Earlier this year, Feld Entertainment, the company that owns the famous circus, said that the show would end in May.

The plan is to stream the last show on social media and on the circus's website. The final show will be May 21st, in New York.Kristen Michelle Wilson, Ringling's first female ringmaster, will host the event.

The history of the circus in America
A circus is a traveling show that is often performed in a tent. These shows include trained animals, clowns and acrobats.The circus has been a popular form of entertainment in the United States since the mid-1800s.At that time, Phineas Taylor Barnum made a travelling show with animals and human oddities popular. The five Ringling brothers performed juggling acts and skits in the American state of Wisconsin.Eventually, Barnum's group joined with the Ringling Brothers to form what has been called the first modern circus.

Reasons for the decline of the circus
The circus's decline had many reasons. They include changing public tastes, high operating costs, and public battles with animal rights groups.Sam Gomez is the circus's vice president of digital and relationship marketing. He says that organizers of the final show believe many people will watch it on phones and tablet computers."It's basically a TV shoot and we're certainly thinking about lighting and sound," Gomez said. "We've had lots of conversations about tight shots so you can see the performer's skill and expressions and their artistry."

Gomez said Ringling would leave the video online for a short time, but not forever.The live show allows people to "witness the end of an era." Gomez said, "We wanted to give families around the world one last chance to experience 'the greatest show on earth' together."
I'm John Russell.