Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus showman Tabayara Antonio Maluenda de Campos (a.k.a. Taba) says taming tigers is easy: “You keep getting closer and closer. And then one day, she lets you kiss her.” Ah, sure. We’re just gonna have to take your word for it there, Taba, because we’re not going to be smooching any tigers any time soon.

Taba and his cats are the highlight of the circus, which features quite a few other renowned acts. There’s Bello, the daredevil clown who’s been scared so often, his hair stands straight up — all the time. (Bello was named “America’s Best Clown” by Time magazine in 2001.) There’s also Brian Miser, the self-taught human cannonball who does a double shot with his wife, meaning they both come shooting out of the cannon at the same time, a trick no one’s done for more than 30 years. And there’s Alberto and Mauricio Aguilar, brothers who walk the high wire. Like Taba, the brothers are sixth-generation circus performers.

The opening night fun starts today at 7:30 p.m. Daily performance times vary. Through July 27. Reliant Stadium, One Reliant Park. For a complete schedule and information, call 713-629-3700 or visit www.ringling.com. $15 to $125

July 16-27, 2008

This article appears in Jul 10-16, 2008.