Recognizing and honoring the UniverSoul Circus for 24 years of outstanding productions on a local and national level.

WHEREAS, The UniverSoul Circus was founded 24 years ago in Atlanta, Georgia by concert and theatre promoter, Cedric Walker. Walker

had a vision of creating a circus with a large percentage of people of color performing

; and

WHEREAS, The UniverSoul Circus is a highly interactive combination of circus arts, theater, and music that spans genres including Pop, Classic R&B, Latin, Hip Hop, Jazz and Gospel. The show embraces and celebrates the unique and familiar aspects of global cultures and ethnicities in one stellar production; and

WHEREAS, Since its debut, the UniverSoul Circus has successfully turned the traditional circus world upside down. By 1997, the production had grown from a single show in Atlanta to a ten city tour, which further expanded to 19 cities by 1999, and 25 cities by 2012. The UniverSoul Circus even presented an international engagement in South Africa Tour 2001; and

WHEREAS, The UniverSoul Circus has presented more than 11,000 performances to live audiences, exceeding 20 million patrons, and has been seen in more than 60 million households on both local and national television networks. The television production was an Emmy nominated HBO Special which remained in rotation for more than six years; and

WHEREAS, Recently, the UniverSoul Circus was the most prominently featured attraction at the Global Winter Wonderland, an international pop up theme park in Atlanta, owned by one of the largest entertainment companies in the world; and

WHEREAS, Alongside Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey and Cirque du Soleil, UniverSoul has been rated one of the top three circuses in America. UniverSoul’s fresh, cool and hip approach to live family entertainment has earned it a coveted spot as one of the top ten most requested family attractions across the country; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors the UniverSoul Circus for 24 years of outstanding productions on a local and national level.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the UniverSoul Circus as further evidence of the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

End