Feld Entertainment

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Feld Entertainment Inc.
Private corporation
Industry Entertainment
Genre live shows
Predecessor Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows Inc.
Founder
Headquarters Feld Entertainment Studio, Ellenton, Florida, USA
Number of locations
 4[1][2]
Area served
 International[1]
Key people
 Kenneth Feld (Chairman)
Mike Shannon (COO)[3]
Production output
 live arena shows[4]
Owner
  • Kenneth Feld (majority)
  • Nicole Feld
  • Alana Feld
  • Juliette Feld
[3]
Number of employees
 3,000[3]
Divisions Feld Consumer Products[5]
live productions[6]
Subsidiaries
Website feldentertainment.com

Feld Entertainment Inc. (FE) is a live show production company which owns the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and a number of other traveling shows.

History

In 1967, Irvin Feld and his brother Israel and Roy M. Hofheinz offered to purchased Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Broadway producers Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin sued in December 1967 to stop the sale.[8] Instead the purchase of the combine circuses from the Ringling and North families to the Feld group took place for $8 million. The company was taken public in 1969.[7] Kenneth Feld joined the business in 1970 after finishing college.[3]

Mattel purchased the company in 1971 for $50 million in Mattel stock while Feld continued managing the circus.[7] After Walt Disney World opened near Orlando, Florida in 1971, the circus company attempted to cash in on the resulting tourism surge by opening Circus World in nearby Haines City.[9] Irvin & Kenneth Feld Productions in 1979 purchased from Chicago-based William Wirtz the Holiday on Ice and Ice Follies for $12 million. The company soon approach Disney about doing a Disney show on Ice.[10] By 1980, the company produced 10 circus and ice show TV specials. An investment was also made in Barnum, the new Broadway musical.[9] In 1981, Ken Feld started the Beyond Belief show at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino.[11][4]

The Felds bought the company back in 1982 for $22.8 million by then the business had also Holiday on Ice, Ice Follies, Walt Disney's World on Ice and Beyond Belief Las Vegas nightclub act.[7] Circus World was sold to Arizona developer James Monaghan in 1984.[12] Ringlings' third touring company, Gold Unit, premiered on July 1, 1988 in Japan. In late 1988, Beyond Belief Las Vegas act went on an international tour.[4]

Feld Entertainment

In October 1996, Irvin & Kenneth Feld Productions, Inc. changed its name to Feld Entertainment, Inc.[13]

In 2001, Ken Feld began gifting shares of Feld Entertainment to his three daughters Nicole, Alana and Juliette Feld.[3] Nicole was hired into the family business in 2001 and became the first female producer of Ringling Circus in 2004. Alana also signed on in 2003.[6]

Due to an accident in October 2003, the Siegfried & Roy show was closed.[11] FE started producing Disney Live! shows in June 2004 with Winnie the Pooh in the United Kingdom.[14] Alana produced the first Doodlebops Live! in 2006.[6] In 2006, Nicole was a vice president in charge of the circus.[3] The company sold its Vienna, Virginia headquarters in May 2006 to America's Capital Partners then leased it back until 2018.[2] In 2007, Nicole and Alana were elevated to executive vice president of the company.[6]

The company signed a 10-year agreement with Disney Live Family Entertainment for Disney on Ice, Disney Live and other Disney productions in August 2008.[11] In September, Feld also acquired the motorsports division of Live Nation, including the properties of Monster Jam (and several associated monster trucks), Supercross, Arenacross, and the IHRA. The motor sport division was renamed Feld Entertainment Motor Sports.[1] Feld Motor Sports launched its first new arena-based freestyle motocross touring production, Nuclear Cowboyz, in 2010.[15]

In January 2012, the company purchased Palmetto Corporate Center, a former Siemens Corp. complex in Ellenton, Florida, and plans to move most of its various operations and its world headquarters there over a five-year period starting with its worldwide production center.[2] In March 2013, Feld agreed with Marvel Entertainment, which was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2009, to produce Marvel Universe Live!, a Marvel character-based live arena show.[16] FE agreed in October 2013 to occupy a to be build 241,457-square-foot warehouse in the Baltimore-Washington Industrial Park, Jessup, Maryland expected to be finished in November 2014 to consolidated two other warehouse else where in the industrial park used for merchandise.[17]

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Six months after taking over The Greatest Show on Earth, Irvin Feld announced that he was creating a second mammoth circus – the Blue Unit – to fill the demand of arenas coast-to-coast. The Feld decade of the seventies of Ringling Bros. has countless innovations, new look in costumes and daring productions from around the world.

               In November 1967, after all the papers were signed, Irvin Feld was well aware that he had acquired nothing less than an American institution. He also knew that the circus was living largely on past glories. The Feld organization plunged in and dared to do it. Irvin Feld and his late brother, Israel, quickly restored the show to its rightful place as the most celebrated circus in the world. While this was happening, Kenneth Feld was still a student at the Boston University, but was much involved. Whenever his schedule allowed, Kenneth would accompany his father on talent scouting trips to Europe and sit-in on production meetings. After he graduated in 1971, Kenneth joined the family company full-time with a comprehensive understanding of the circus and soon became a Big Show executive.

               Irvin Feld, Kenneth Feld and their associates overhauled and completely rejuvenated the circus with some key highlights:

  • Produced another railroad-transported circus unit (Blue Unit) with new talent from top-flight European acts that they discovered. The Felds also bought an entire circus – Germany’s Circus Williams – in order to acquire famous animal trainer, Gunther Gebel-Williams and his animals.
  • In need of more clowns for the two touring units, Irvin Feld created Clown College where 98% of Clown Alley in the shows were Clown College alumni.
  • The Felds entered the world of video and supervised two annual network specials – Highlights of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Monte Carlo Circus Spectacular – by Irvin Feld and Kenneth Feld as the Executive Producers along with popular shows as: Circus Superheroes, Gunther Gebel-Williams: Lord of the Rings and an hour special of Siegfried & Roy.

Because of the Felds’ vision, each of the two units of Ringling Bros. became three times larger than the one sole unit that existed before they became owners. The trains that transported the shows from coast-to-coast  doubled in size just to accommodate the expanded productions. In March 1979, Ringling Bros. acquired Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice, two extravagant ice shows that marked a bold entry for Irvin Feld and Kenneth Feld into the international world of ice skating spectacles.[18]

Brands[19]

Feld Entertainment produces live family entertainment across the globe with productions that bring more than 30 million people in 75 countries with as many as 5,000 shows each year.[20]

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

After 146 years, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey continues to provide something new and always astonishing. With three touring units, Ringling Bros. visits more than 120 U.S. cities, with more than 10 million people seeing each new edition of The Greatest Show On Earth. Combining long-standing circus tradition with leading-edge technology, every minute delivers suspenseful feats, animals and the very best entertainers from around the globe.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation

The state-of-the-art center is not only devoted to the well-being of endangered Asian elephants, but also to their reproduction, retirement and research. On 200 acres of pristine land in Central Florida, the center is home to the largest sustainable population of Asian elephants and the most successful breeding program in the Western Hemisphere, with 26 births to date. Having the pachyderms in one place gives scientists the ability to study the species and learn how to improve their health. The conservation center also shares this knowledge with scientists around the world—including a recent conservation partnership with the island nation of Sri Lanka.

Disney On Ice

Fans can watch their favorite Disney characters ice skate in different setting of wonderlands. Every show is filled with award-winning music, intricate costumes and advanced special effects. Combining the incredible talents of world-class professional figure skaters with Disney’s heartwarming stories and everyone’s favorite characters creates a magical experience.

Disney Live!

Theatrical artistry puts popular Disney characters on center stage with storytelling, choreography, costumes and musical flair — all of which create a theatrical experience for young fans. Disney friends rock out in these shows that bring the story to audiences across all theaters.

Marvel Universe LIVE!

Favorite Marvel superheroes including Spider-Man, The Avengers—Iron Man, Hulk, and more, and threatening villains come to life in action-packed arenas in cities around North America and Canada. With cutting-edge special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts, motorcycles and more, it’s being hailed as the most technically advanced live show. 

Feld Motor Sports

After acquiring Monster Jam, Supercross and Arenacross in 2008, Feld Entertaiment created the Feld Motor Sports division for brands in motor sports entertainment.

Monster Jam

The largest touring monster truck property in the world with over 350 events that span the globe, showcasing Monster Jam trucks that are household names including: Grave Digger, Max-D, El Toro Loco, ZOMBIE and many more. Featuring world famous 1,500 horse power monster trucks, Monster Jam electrifies crowds with stunts and jaw-dropping obstacles.

Monster Energy Supercross

The premier off-road motorcycle racing series on the planet featuring the world’s top professional riders. The sport of supercross propelled itself into a key-influencer of lifestyles, entertainment and even fashion. Monster Energy AMA Supercross features a high degree of star-power while maintaining its rugged roots and unparalleled athleticism.

AMSOIL Arenacross

What separates AMSOIL Arenacross from traditional motorsports is its intimate close-to-the-action setting, giving fans the on-track feel of horsepower and gravity.

Nuclear Cowboyz

In 2010 Feld Motor Sports launched Nuclear Cowboyz, a new era of freestyle motocross. Pairing competitive athletes’ skills with a compelling storyline filled with more than 1,000 adrenaline-infused stunts. Nuclear Cowboyz is the legend of two powerful freestyle motocross tribes whose survival in their futuristic world is told through freestyle aerial feats, gravity defying stunts, acrobatics and pyrotechnics.

Live show productions

  • Feld Consumer Products, concession and merchandising division in Jessup, Maryland[5]
  • Feld Motor Sports, Inc.[21]
  • Hagenbeck-Wallace, Inc. - a property, costume and scenic design company[5]
  • Ice Follies And Holiday on Ice, Inc.[4] produces:
    • Disney on Ice, original Walt Disney's World on Ice[7]
    • Classic Ice Spectaculars, classics on ice[5]
  • Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows Inc.[7]
  • Disney Live!
    • Winnie the Pooh (June 2004-2005) United Kingdom, Spain, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand (July 29, 2005-2006) USA (2006-) Japan[14]
    • Mickey’s Magic Show[5]
    • Playhouse Disney Live! (launched September 2007) focuses on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, Handy Manny and My Friends Tigger & Pooh characters of Playhouse Disney shows and produced by Ken and Alana Feld.[22]
    • Three Classic Fairy Tales opened May 2008 in China[5][23])
    • Sofia the First - directed and choreographed by Fred Tallaksen[24]
    • Mickey's Rockin' Road Show was created in early 2009 and is on its second tour starting in July 2010. The show has 15-minute interactive pre-show segment, Playhouse Disney Pre-Show Party, with video highlights.[25]
    • Mickey's Music Festival[26]
    • Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic (April 2015—2016) Brazil (Early 2016-) US — The show is directed and choreographed by Fred Tallaksen and produced by Alana Feld.[24]
  • Disney Junior Live
    • Pirate & Princess Adventure features Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates[27]
  • Doodlebops Live! (2006-[6])
  • High School Musical Summer Celebration (2009—[6]
  • Marvel Universe Live! (July 10, 2014—present)[16][28]
  • George Lucas’ Super Live Adventure premiere in Yokohama, Japan on April 27, 1993 with a 22 week tour there. "Willow," "American Graffiti," the Indiana Jones series, "Tucker" and the "Star Wars" movies were all included in the story.[29]
  • Goosebumps—Live on Stage
  • Theatrical productions (most on Broadway):
    • Big
    • Barnum
    • Largely New York
    • Fool Moon
    • MADhattan in Las Vegas[5]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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