The New Pickle Circus has a noble legacy. Originally the Pickle Family Circus, it was established in 1974 as the first nouveau circus, well before the days of its more famous sister, Cirque du Soleil. Integrating acrobats, aerial work, juggling, and wire walking (no animals, of course) with original music, dance, and themes or stories to frame the action, the Pickles redefined the concept of circus for a generation of Americans and spawned such clownish talents as Larry Pisoni, Geoff Hoyle, and Bill Irwin. But it's the same old story: The beloved little circus fell on hard times and a few years back declared bankruptcy. Thanks to some creative fund-raising efforts, dealmaking, and major structural reorganizing, some of the core company members were able to regroup as the stripped-down New Pickle Circus and carry on bravely--and triumphantly. Thus performers Jeff Raz, the lumbering, juggling giant, and his partner, the diminutive sprite Diane Wasnak, with dancer/choreographer Tandy Beal as artistic director, have brought the Pickle tradition into a new era. Raz and Wasnak no longer perform with the 14-member company but are still affiliated with it; instead they perform as a duo as well as solo. In fact, Wasnak has created her own little spin-off, Miracle Theatre Company, to perform full-length solo pieces based on her clown persona, Pino. The company per se tours and puts on a spectacular annual Christmas show at home at the Cowell Theatre. A holiday circus store at Embarcadero Center, operated by company members, provides new sources of income.