Last year, Cirque Italia spooked Austin with contorted torsos and creaking floorboards. This year, the traveling show is hoping for something even more breathtaking. The entertainment company is adopting an aquatic theme for its newest spectacular, Water Circus.

The traveling show will visit five Texas cities, starting with Austin from January 4-15. From there, the tour makes its way to Katy before traveling to a few unexpected spots: Corpus Christi suburb Robstown, Valley Town Mercedes, and Laredo.

Though the outfit does not promise any particular act at their shows, guests can expect plenty of acrobatics, including aerial hoops, nets, and straps. A promotional video also shows the audience gasping at the wheel of death, an ominously named rotating apparatus for balancing bits of derring do.

If the cirque's most recent Texas visit gives any hints, it's that this is an immersive experience. While many are familiar with the avant-garde elegance of Cirque du Soleil, this other European troupe seems to lean more toward the audience, with greater theatrics, punk posturing, and fourth-wall breaking. It is a circus after all; Formality is not really a requirement.

Circus fans will also be glad to see some Jerry Lewis-style clowning, so participation-averse onlookers might want to purchase a back seat. Any perch in the tent should give onlookers a bird’s eye view of the flying mermaids and various scallywags.

Acts aside, the most enjoyable part of show might be the set itself. Flexing on James Cameron, the company is hauling tanks for 35,000 gallons of water across Texas. Jets of water burst around the performers, Bellagio-style, and pirates clash épées in the aisles.

Tickets ($15-$55, with discounts available for children ages 2-12) are available at cirqueitalia.com. Though the stage’s watery theatrics are unlikely to make their way to the seats, customers should be advised to dress appropriately for the big tent show.