Inspired by both European traditions and the contemporary circus movement, it was the first Ringling show to be held under a tent since 1956 and also its first one-ring presentation in more than a century.
[6] The show had no ringmaster, instead having its star attraction clown David Larible (an auguste) and his foil Pipo (a whiteface) introduce acts and perform interludes between them.
In the opening act, the entire cast helped a makeup-less Larible put on his costume and make-up, in the process assuming his clown persona.
Similarly, Big Apple Circus founder and artistic director Paul Binder told the Times, "the economics of a one-ring tent are tight and very nasty.
"[6] The acts included: Trevor LaBonte~Guitar, July 1999-December 2000 Ishibashi and Colwell first met when hired for the show and subsequently formed the band Jupiter One.
Previews were to start February 26, 1999; shows in Sarasota were cancelled and the visit to Austin as a warm-up was postponed when rehearsals took longer than expected and tornado warnings further disrupted the schedule.
[5] A Feld Entertainment press release noted the New York performances marked the first time in its 130-year history that a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus tent was raised in Manhattan.
[15] Feld, in analyzing the initial year of the tour, opined that it was "a new brand that has expanded the family entertainment market ... [It has] blown away our projections by 50%.
"[15] In the aftermath of its successful Chicago run, Feld enthusiastically stated, "When we premiered Barnum's Kaleidoscape last year in Los Angeles I believed that audiences would respond to this unique blend of the circus arts with the luxury and comfort of a theatre.
One observer noted, "Barnum’s Kaleidoscape could not overcome the high costs of moving and operating the show under a tent in large markets".
[6] Replacing Kaledioscape was Ringling's Gold Tour, a less costly truck-based tented show to serve smaller markets begun in 2004.