Audiences will be puzzled and amazed by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s presentation of “Barnum’s FUNundrum!” coming to Arco Arena Sept. 9-12.

The event celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of legendary showman P.T. Barnum.

The 130 performers hail from 15 different countries. Acts include body benders, a two-level trapeze arrangement, stilt walkers, high-wire motorcycle balancing, trampoline acrobats and, of course, plenty of clowns.

A menagerie of exotic animals, including 100,000 pounds’ worth of elephants, will be incorporated into the various acts performed throughout the show. Ticket holders are allowed access to to an “Animal Open House” 90 minutes before show time, and can also step onto the arena floor to meet performers one hour before the show begins.

Exotic animal trainer Daniel Raffo is a crowd favorite when he and his 11 tigers share the spotlight.

“We have the opportunity to show people the beauty of these animals and the wonderful character that they have,” Raffo said.

Raffo is a fifth-generation circus performer who has also performed as an acrobat, juggler and high-wire artist in his own family’s circus. He and wife Andrea Ayala-Raffo, who is also a fifth-generation circus performer, are carrying on a performing legacy of their own. With their 5-year-old son on board, the Raffos’ lives seem anything but normal, yet for them this has always been the norm.

“It’s great to be married to someone that’s also in the same business,” Ayala-Raffo said. “When he performs, I watch his back, and when I perform, he does the same for me.”

“It’s great because it’s how my mom and dad grew up,” Ayala-Raffo said.

Ayala-Raffo, along with her two sisters, inherited their hair hanging act from their mother. In addition to being spun and rotated from her hair, Ayala-Raffo also juggles lit torches while being suspended more than 30 feet in the air.

The Raffo family commits 11 months out of the year to the Ringling Bros. circus. “FUNundrum!” will travel to 78 North American cities over the course of the next two years.

“I love what I do because I travel all the time. I learn different languages, different cultures,” Raffo said.

Raffo said the circus provides his son with experiences that most children will never have. “Many people live their whole life at home and just watch TV,” Raffo said.

Having both been raised in performing families, the Raffos said they cannot conceive of living any differently.

“When I’m home I get bored,” Ayala-Raffo said, “I want to travel.”

When all is said and done – the years of training and risking their lives for an act – the Raffo’s payoff comes when audiences awe over the end result: the performance.

“When I perform, it’s like my spirit comes out of my body,” Raffo said. Fear, excitement and disbelief spread across the audience faces. “It’s a joy for me to see people’s reaction to the show.”

Ayala-Raffo said the performers thoroughly enjoy what they do, and that’s what fuels them on.

“There’s always a risk, but that’s the joy of it,” she said, “that’s the ‘wow’ of it.”

Performance schedules for Sacramento can be viewed by clicking here.
Tickets start at $14 (Opening Night tickets available for 50 percent off) and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, the Arco Arena Box Office or by calling 800-745-3000. 

Photos courtesy of Feld Media.