Before there was radio to provide entertainment, before movies and long before television and its 24-hour entertainment, there was the traveling circus.

It all began in 1841 when legendary showman P.T. Barnum purchased a museum of oddities in New York City. The array of displays included a flea circus, ventriloquists, historical items and "freaks of nature."

Thirty years later, Barnum took what he called his "Traveling Museum, Menagerie and Hippodrome" across the East River to Brooklyn, where it debuted under a canvas tent. In 1872, Barnum's circus, which he called "The Greatest Show on Earth," was hitting the rails and traveling across the continent.

Obviously, in the 135 years since, the ownership and the acts have changed but it's still known as "The Greatest Show on Earth."

Now called Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, it's coming to Rio Rancho, with its "Upside-Down World" appearing at Santa Ana Star Center April 26-29.

This all-new Ringling Bros. production is turning cities across America upside down with awe-inspiring daredevil feats, non-stop laughs and an all-access pre-show that's free to audiences one hour before show time.

This circus boils all of the circus action down to a single ring - providing an interactive and intimate Ringling Bros. experience. With this new production, Ringling Bros. is providing entertainment around the country, and a few members of the audience will find themselves in the spotlight when they are selected to participate.

Ringling Bros. "gold unit" coming here presents "An Upside-Down World" features co-hosts Liliana Escobar and Jon Weiss, known to millions of fans from his popular appearances on the hit CBS reality show "Amazing Race 4."

Escobar and Weiss guide families through the circus action, introducing each act and interacting with audience members from beginning to end.

Show highlights include:

The soaring Neves Troupe from Brazil, which awes audiences as they perform aerial maneuvers on the flying trapeze, including two triple somersaults;

Los Scolas' "death-defying" high-wire ballet, in which they walk high overhead performing such feats as riding bicycles across the 3/4-inch wire and balancing on chairs high above the arena floor;

A topsy-turvy twist on commonplace daily rituals like setting the table and sipping a glass of water, as the "Upside-Down Act" is intended to leave everyone questioning the forces of gravity;

Extreme contortionists, the Sankar Duo, who twist their pliable bodies into the most unbelievable shapes;

The Bulgarian Ikar Troupe, which gets everyone in the audience moving with a jubilant jump-rope routine and then launched into the air with their signature teeterboard act; and

Two of the world's craziest clowns, Tom Dougherty and Mitch Freddes, who end up in an array of comedic quandaries.

Ringling Bros. audiences will meet the world-famous animal family, including two lovable Asian elephants, witness the majestic bond between Sylvia Zerbini and her Arabian and Andalusian horses, and be awe-inspired by Gail Mirabella's high-flying canine companions and their freestyle acrobatics.

The free all-access pre-show allows audience members a chance to mingle with daredevils and acrobats, collect performers' autographs and get a glimpse of Ringling Bros. before the show. This year's pre-show highlights "CircusFit," a national youth fitness program that encourages America's youth to lead healthy, active lifestyles.