“There was no family attraction that reflected the Black experience,” he said. “We did a lot of gospel theater before the circus, and we had a series of plays that humorously dealt with social issues.

The UniverSoul Circus, which bills itself as nation’s only black-owned circus, runs at Hyde Park’s Washington Park through Oct. 14. A clown performs at UniverSoul Circus in Washington Park on Oct. 2, ...

For three decades, UniverSoul Circus has celebrated Black culture under the big top by combining various styles of Black music, performances and entertainment from across the globe. This year, the ...

BIG TENT BOP Co-ringmaster Donald “N.O.” Long mastered improv and comedy to become a fresh emcee for Universoul. (Photo courtesy of UniverSoul Circus) Those jonesing for the spectacular, death-defying ...