Wichita State University’s School of Performing Arts will present the musical “Carnival” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4-Saturday, Nov. 6, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, in Wilner Auditorium on the WSU campus.

The setting is the Grand Imperial Cirque de Paris, to which the French orphan Lili has run away to embrace the exhilarating illusions of circus life. The carnival folks escape their tattered lives in the bright and warm refuge under the canvas, in a show filled with eye-catching acrobatics, energetic dance, engaging magic tricks and delightful puppets that project personality and generate laughter.

Initially intrigued by the seductive charms of Marco the Magician, Lili unexpectedly finds true love in quite another direction.

“Carnival” won two Tony Awards and the NY Drama Critics Circle award in 1961 and ran for 719 performances.

In addition to Bryan as director, the WSU production includes Amy Baker Schwiethale as choreographer and graduate student Nicholas Gilmore as music director. The set has been designed by David Neville, costumes by Betty Monroe, lights by student Lisa Hendrix and props by Maddie Nevins. Amanda Bowman and Jordan Pohlman are stage managers, and Ed Baker is the technical director.

The student cast includes Matt Elliott as Paul, Christina Hink as Lili, Ross McCorkell as Marco, Alex Johnson as Rosalie, Curtis Proctor as Schlegel, Jacob January as Jacquot, Luke Walker as Grobert, Zoe Johnson as Greta and a large ensemble of circus performers.

For ticket information, contact the WSU College of Fine Arts Box Office, located this year in Wilner Auditorium, at (316) 978-3233 or fastickets@wichita.edu. Ticket prices are $16, $14 for senior citizens, military, WSU faculty and staff, and $6 for students. Group rates are also available.