Old-School Circus

No, Zoppé isn’t a new iced-coffee beverage at Starbucks. It’s the name of an Italian family that has presented one-ring circus shows since 1842, when a French clown met an equestrian ballerina in Hungary and they eloped to Venice. It was an omen of the family’s fortunes: The Zoppé clan has toured the world with its old-fashioned namesake circus, carting along one tent, six horses, 14 dogs and 22 performers. The Zoppé circus — featuring acrobatics, trapeze stunts, clowns, equestrian acts and canine capers — mounts shows at 4 and 8 p.m. today and at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (87th Street and Lackman Road in Lenexa). The European-style circus is part of the Johnson County Community College Performing Arts Series (call the Carlsen Center box office at 913-469-4445 for more information), and tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children; only cash is accepted at the park gate.

Fri., May 15, 4 & 8 p.m.; Sat., May 16, 11 a.m., 3 & 8 p.m., 2009