Lots of people say they will – but few ever do. Run away and join the circus, that is. But those who actually do end up under the big top say they couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

At least, that’s what the stars of the Big Apple Circus told us. Now in its 24th year, the one-ring circus has attracted performers from all over – Texas, Russia, Canada, Chile, Sweden, France, Mexico and Bulgaria.

Its newest show, “Big Top Doo-Wop” – a tribute to the America of the Elvis and “Leave it to Beaver” days, the 1950s – features acrobats, animal trainers, jugglers, cyclists and clowns.

Here’s a look at some of the Big Apple’s star players and how they got where they are today: performing in the tent at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park.

TIFFANY RILEY

Slappy the Clown

Age: 37

Hometown: Irving, Texas

Pedigree: A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts

Debut: starred in “Curly McDimple,” a musical spoof of Shirley Temple, at age 5

Shtick: plays a mean concertina

Claim to fame: the first female clown in the Big Apple Circus

Family life: Married to fellow clown Dick Monday, they have a 1-year-old son, who may or may not grow up in greasepaint.

EMILE CAREY

Juggler

Age: 19

Hometown: Montreal

What jogged him to juggle: He liked to throw things.

Training: took out a book on juggling at age 11

Greatest coup: keeping seven balls in the air at one time

Hobby: playing guitar – mostly Metallica

What he’d be if he weren’t in the circus: a scientist

CHRISTIAN ATAYDE STOINEV

Acrobat

Age: 9

Hometown: Sarasota, Fla.

Shtick: Tumbling, dancing – and the table slide.

Favorite subject in school: science

Favorite computer games: Triple Play 2001, NBA Live 2000

How he made his debut: balancing on his dad’s shoulders while his dad stood on a ladder (his father’s in the circus, too!)

What he wants to be when he grows up: a baseball player

JUSTIN CASE

(Yes, he says it’s his real name)

Bicylist

Age: 36

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Shtick: riding on despite disasters – flat tires, wayward pedals and so on

Training: taught himself to ride at age 3

Other training: went to art school

Hobby: mountain biking

Why he loves the circus: It’s like “telling stories around the campfire, with people sitting shoulder to shoulder.”

RICHARD OLATE

Leader of the pack

Age: 45

Hometown: Santiago, Chile

Family tree: He’s the 21st of 22 children born to a former tightrope-walker.

Number of dogs in act: eight

Years in the circus: 33

Least-welcome surprise: One of the dogs finished a back flip, landed and [had an accident] right there. We just rolled with it.

What he’d do if he weren’t in the circus: “I never think about that. I never want to go out of the circus.”