Cirque du Soleil will bringthe U.S. premiere of its latest big-top touring production, “Kooza,” to the Bay Area this fall.

The show opens in San Francisco on Nov. 16 and in San Jose on Jan. 31, 2008. The limited engagements will happen under the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) at AT&T Park in San Francisco (at Third Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard) and at the Taylor Street Bridge in San Jose (at Taylor Street and Highway 87).

The show returns to the origins of Cirque du Soleil with its combined themes of acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. It tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 4 and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays.

Advance tickets ($38.50 to $90) go on sale at 8 a.m. Thursday at cirquedusoleil.com to Cirque Club members; membership is free.