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T h e U n o f f i c i a l
C i r q u e d u S o l e i l N e w s l e t t e r
=======================================================================
Issue #34 "Is Anybody Reading This?" June 2004
=======================================================================
We're off and running again!
Wow, it's been an exciting and busy month since last we spoke, and
we're just now catching our collective breaths here at Fascination! We
had such fun at CirqueCon Vancouver 2004 that it's been hard to get
back to work and focus on what we should be doing -- reporting on it!
For those who missed it, CirqueCon Vancouver 2004 was the first ever
(that we're aware) organized Cirque du Soleil fan meeting, and it was
held over Victoria Day weekend. Over 30 fans from all across the North
American continent showed up to not only revel in our friendship, but
also take in the magnificent production Quidam. This month Keith takes
a stab at the first half of our story by describing what it took to
put this gathering together. And we'd love to hear other point-of-
views!
In other recent news: Magdelena VandenBerg, public relations manager
for "Mystere", will soon be leaving her post for Amsterdam, where she
will serve as Cirque's European Marketing manager. She'll be replaced
by John McCoy, who is relocating from the PR firm KirvinDoak
Communications.
Also, I want to make you aware of a new forum dedicated to Cirque du
Soleil -- Cirque Tribune! It's not fully online yet, but you can see a
teaser at < http://www.cirquetribune.com/ >. It's run by Jeff Tolotti
and will be a fine addition to the online fandom. Those of you who are
fed up with the message posting problems on the Yahoo Group can soon
rejoice!
Last, but certainly not least, it's almost time for the debut of
Cirque Magic, the "online chapiteau featuring the best" of Cirque du
Soleil music. Check out this new streaming radio project at
< http://www.live365.com/stations/dnmoriarty >.
We hope you enjoy this issue of Fascination! If you have any questions
or comments please feel free to email them to us using the following
address: < CirqueFascination-owner@yahoogroups.com >.
- Ricky
===========
CONTENTS
===========
* Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
* CRQ-TV -- Cirque on Television
* CRQ.NET -- Cirque du Soleil Online
* Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information
* Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque
* La Presse:
Recent Cirque du Soleil Press Releases
1) "Soleil de Minuit: A Celebration"
2) "Cirque Sought by Television Broadcasters Worldwide"
3) "Zumanity's New Sinful Pleasures"
* Télémajik:
"La Nouba Under the Lens"
By: Wayne Leung - Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
* At the Boutique:
"Behind the Mask"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
* Special Engagement:
"CirqueCon Vancouver 2004: Before the Adventure Began"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
* Parting Quote
* Subscription Information
* Copyright & Disclaimer
=======================================================================
CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
Cirque Appeals Trademark Decision
---------------------------------
In December 1999, the Dream Merchant Co., (aka Cirque du
Soleil), sued Florida based Cirque Inc. in federal court
accusing the company of trademark infringement, trademark
dilution and unfair competition practices. Cirque du Soleil's
claim was that Cirque Inc.'s productions were too similar and
confused patrons by using the moniker "Cirque." Cirque Inc.
disagreed with this view, arguing that "Cirque", which means
"circus" in French, was a generic term and therefore not subject
to trademark.
The motion brought by the Dream Merchant Co. was denied and the
court therefore ruled that Cirque du Soleil could not lay claim
to the term "Cirque", which the company felt had become
synonymous with its brand and a protectable trademark. According
to the Las Vegas Sun, on April 30th Cirque du Soleil appealed
that decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San
Francisco. [Source: Las Vegas Sun; Ricky Russo]
Cirque Celebrates 5 Years at WDW
--------------------------------
On June 2, Cirque du Soleil celebrated the fifth anniversary of
the debut of La Nouba, a show created for Walt Disney World's
Downtown Disney West Side and performed in a theater built
expressly for the show. The show conveys the French phrase
"faire la nouba," which roughly translates to "live it up."
After over 2,500 performances and 3.5 million spectators, what
does a show like this do to celebrate? Festivities occur
over the next six months and include:
July - A photo gallery situated inside the theater showcases
images from behind the curtain and captivating moments with
Cirque du Soleil performers. This display was
created by accomplished photographers Yuri Maiorov, better known
as La Nouba's flying man, and Jean-Francios Bedard, a musician
in the show.
August - La Nouba recognizes its own performers who have
competed at world-championship levels, as well as aspiring young
performers. Cirque du Soleil coaches will invite Central Florida
children to a special workshop training session.
September - The sounds of La Nouba take center stage. The
talented musicians who set the mood for the show with
provocative music will stage a jam session at Downtown Disney.
November - The team shares its artistry with guests attending
the annual Festival of the Masters art show November 12-14 at
Downtown Disney. [Source: MousePlanet.com]
Cirque du Submarine
--------------------
Perhaps we live in a Yellow Submarine after all.
Over the past year Fascination! has eluded to a possible new
production that would bring together the talents of Cirque du
Soleil with that of The Beatles, by turning the psychedelic
animated film "Yellow Submarine" into a stage musical. The
production, which was originally scheduled to debut in London's
West End, has now been green-lit and will now have its premiere
in the vacant Sigfried & Roy Theater at the Mirage Casino/Resort
in Las Vegas!
The "Yellow Submarine" production will take the Cirque strip
tally to five, but don't expect the show until at least 2005!
[Source: Las Vegas Review Journal; Ricky Russo]
Cusick Case, Part 27
--------------------
We saw another article that had some new tidbits about the
fallout from the Matthew Cusick settlement. A recent article in
the Las Vegas Business Press had the following to add.
Cirque reportedly offered Cusick four different show jobs after
the ruling by the U.S. EEOC that his discrimination claims had
validity. "For him, it was too little too late," said corporate
spokeswoman Marie-Claude Menard.
To help it comply with the settlement (detailed last issue),
Cirque "hired Rejean Thomas, a leading expert on HIV and blood
pathologies, to travel to the company's various sites to give
cast, crew and management two-hour courses about the nature of
HIV and other blood diseases, such as Hepatitis C. Thomas has
visited the three Las Vegas shows and made two-hour
presentations at each."
"For Cirque, the feeling is more remorseful over a human tragedy
it caused, one that showed the potentially dire consequences of
ignorance in this day and age. "It is the first time Cirque was
hit with a controversial management decision," Menard says.
"That hurt, and I mean it hurt people's impressions. I think
most people have understood. It is a trust factor and I believe
it will come back. We don't have a pattern or history or
culture of being that kind of company. We have to remember not
to forget. People won't let us forget it." [Source: Las Vegas
Business Press; Keith Johnson]
20 Years Under the Sun
----------------------
We now have more complete details on the Cirque 20th Anniversary
Book. Thanks to our kind source at Abrams books, we were faxed
a copy of the page of their Fall 2004 catalog in which the book
is described.
"Cirque du Soleil: 20 Years Under The Sun - An Authorized
History" by Tony Babinski, Designed by Kristian Manchester.
More than 300 illustrations in full color, 352 pages, 9-1/4" X 11-
1/4". ISBN 0-8109-4636-X, EAN 978081094636-1.
The catalog page says Mr. Babinski "is a writer, filmmaker, and
musician based in Montreal. From 1994 to 2000 he co-produced,
co-wrote, and scored a series of award-winning experimental
films." Mr. Manchester, "also based in Montreal, is an art
director with the Diesel design firm." (Diesel is the company
that handled Cirque's latest website design.)
To quote the page: "Cirque du Soleil has become an international
theatrical sensation, having thrilled the imaginations of more
than 40 million people with its innovative circus experience.
In 20 years, Cirque du Soleil skyrocketed from a troupe on the
streets of Montreal known as "The High Heels Club" to a circus
extravaganza involving 2,400 employee worldwide and some 500
artists performing in more than 130 cities around the globe in
active productions that are both on tour and permanently on view
in Las Vegas and Orlando."
"With unprecedented access to Cirque du Soleil members in the
telling of their story - including its founder, Guy Laliberté -
Cirque du Soleil: 20 Years Under The Sun is the first
retrospective to chart the history of this extraordinary
cultural phenomenon from its humble origins to its remarkable
international success. With 300-plus full-color illustrations
that feature all of the company's dazzling productions - among
them Saltimbanco, Mystère, Varekai, and "O" - this exceptional
volume captures Cirque's magic on the printed page with the
visual brio for which the company is widely renowned. The
release of this book is set to coincide with Cirque du Soleil's
20th anniversary."
"Exceptional" is right! The book will be released in November,
with a hefty price tag of $50.00 USD ($75.00 CDN)! [Source:
Harry N. Abrams Books, Keith Johnson]
CIRQUECON 2005 - Get Ready!
---------------------------
Even before the beginning of the wild weekend that became
CirqueCon Vancouver 2004, fans were asking us, "What are you
going to do *next* year?" Now that Vancouver is under our belts
(and thanks to Cirque du Soleil was so successful), we've
started to think about another gathering. And we can say that,
YES there will be another CirqueCon.
We've talked with Cirque du Soleil, they've talked with us, and
we've agreed to look into possibilities on our respective "sides
of the aisle." So we are happy to be able to say -- CirqueCon
Montreal 2005, "The Second Unofficial Gathering of Cirque du
Soleil Passionates" is on! But before you go buying your
airplane tickets, please keep this in mind.
The new show will debut in Montreal, Quebec, Canada about the
same time of the year Varekai did, mid-late April, 2005
(sometime around April 20). No official date has been set -
heck, they haven't even come up with a name yet! Tickets for
the debut Montreal run will go on sale sometime in the next
three months.
We'd also like to continue some of the "traditions," -- the
Programme, A CD, the "Cocktail Hour", full-color name badge,
research and phone calls -- though they may take different forms
or be more or less than what we did in Vancouver. While our
attendees expected none of these things, they were fun to create
as a "Surprise." We had a lot of fun doing the planning,
research, and producing the items, but the costs were borne
solely by Ricky, Jeff, LouAnna and Keith.
In talking with our attendees afterward, we found there were
some who felt the "extras" (especially research) weren't what
they needed or wanted from us. Others suggested it might be more
fair to spread the financial burden amongst our members who are
the beneficiaries of our efforts, while keeping a close eye on
costs. We've listened! And we've created a two-tier
"membership" structure that we think will please both groups.
STANDARD MEMBERSHIP - For our "Full Meal Deal" membership we are
asking for a nominal "Membership Fee" of $10.00 per
member/address to help us cover planning, research, expenses and
"extras." Any leftover amount will be rebated back to the
members after the weekend. Additionally, if a member has to
cancel prior to the weekend, their membership fee will be
refunded on a pro-rated basis. (We're not in this to make a
profit, folks, just cover our costs!)
What will the $10.00 "buy" you? Basically, what folks got for
Vancouver: Planning and help with hotel rooms, one program
packet per membership, periodic emails and status reports, help
with attractions, questions, and research. If you have any
questions or concerns about memberships, please contact us at
the email at the end of this article.
BASIC MEMBERSHIP - Is absolutely free! We'll just need some
basic information from you to start. After that, we'll advise
you of any plans Cirque has for us, and that's it! You're as
much a "member" as anyone else, but you won't owe a thing, and
we won't be bugging you with emails. You're free
to make whatever plans suit you.
Our plan for Montreal will be about the same as our "model" for
Vancouver: A Friday through Sunday timeframe, a modest bed and
breakfast(s) or hotel for our Standard members to serve as our
"headquarters", at least one group meal (most likely Saturday
afternoon), and one "official" show (The evening show on
Saturday) that everyone in the group would buy their own tickets
for. The level of interest we get may determine what we can do,
and not necessarily in a beneficial way. We may have to limit
things to "the first XX people to sign up" for example.
We won't be able to promise anything from the Cirque Du Soleil
side (a tour of the International Headquarters has been a
popular request) until much later in the planning process. It's
also possible that, for whatever reason, we may not be able to
do anything with them at all, though currently they are
receptive. If we schedule something for which we can only offer
limited spaces, preference will be given to the order in which
members signed up, regardless of whether they are Standard or
Basis Members.
So that's what we can say right now - we're going to do it! We
don't have "official" first-show or ticket on-sale dates yet -
as soon as we know something for certain, we'll let our members
know first. Stay tuned and stay interested, but don't get your
hopes up *too* high. I think that private Q&A session with Guy
Laliberte idea will be out of the question.
If you would like to become a Member of CirqueCon Montreal 2005,
please send an email to tourdemondo@yahoo.com. We'll be glad to
forward you details!
=======================================================================
CRQ-TV -- CIRQUE ON TELEVISION!
=======================================================================
* CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: SOLSTROM
--------------------------
Network: Bravo - United States
-- Sunday's at 7:00pm
-- < http://www.bravotv.com/Cirque_du_Soleil:_Solstrom/ >
* Episode 4: "Rock-n-Roll" * Episode 9: "Childhood"
May 02 at 7:00pm Jun 06 at 7:00pm
May 03 at 1:00pm Jun 07 at 12:30am
May 05 at 3:30pm
* Episode 10: "Construction"
* Episode 5: Jun 13 at 7:00pm
May 09 at 7:00pm Jun 14 at 12:30am
May 10 at 1:00am Jun 20 at 11:00am
May 12 at 3:30pm
* Episode 11: "Puppets"
* Episode 6: Jun 20 at 7:00pm
May 16 at 7:00pm Jun 21 at 2:00am
May 17 at 1:00pm Jun 27 at 11:00am
May 19 at 3:30pm
May 23 at 11:30pm * Episode 12: "The Games"
Jun 27 at 7:00pm
* Episode 7: "Disguises" Jun 28 at 1:00am
May 23 at 7:00pm Jul 04 at 11:00am
May 24 at 1:00am
May 26 at 3:30pm * Episode 13: "Cosmic"
May 30 at 11:00am Jul 04 at 7:00pm
Jul 05 at 12:30am
* Episode 8: "Traveling" Jul 11 at 11:30am
May 30 at 7:00pm
May 31 at 1:00am
Jun 02 at 3:30pm
Jun 06 at 11:30am
* CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FIRE WITHIN
-----------------------------
Network: Vitaya - Belgium (Europe)
-- Thursday's at 9:00pm
Network: Odyssey Television - Australia
-- Wednesday's at 9:30pm
Network: Bravo - United States
* Episode 1: * Episode 8:
Jun 23 at 5:30am Jun 05 at 6:30am
Jul 27 at 5:30am Jul 14 at 5:30am
* Episode 2: * Episode 9:
Jun 30 at 5:30am Jun 06 at 6:30am
Jul 28 at 5:30am Jul 19 at 5:30am
* Episode 3: * Episode 10:
Aug 01 at 5:30am Jun 10 at 5:30am
Jul 21 at 5:30am
* Episode 4:
Jul 05 at 5:30am * Episode 11:
Jun 12 at 6:30am
* Episode 5: Jul 23 at 5:30am
Jul 05 at 5:30am
* Episode 12:
* Episode 6: Jun 14 at 6:30am
Jul 09 at 5:30am Jul 24 at 5:30am
* Episode 7: * Episode 13:
Jun 03 at 5:30am Jun 16 at 5:30am
Jul 13 at 5:30am Jul 25 at 6:30am
* NOTE: Check your local listings for complete information. Schedule
is subject to change.
=======================================================================
CRQ.NET -- CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ONLINE
=======================================================================
This Month in Cirque Club
(By: Keith Johnson)
-------------------------
There's a contest going on! Cirque Club members (in Australia,
anyway) can enter to win a Grand Prize of six tickets to the Sydney
Quidam premiere on August 12, as well as passes to the Premiere party!
There are also 30 Quidam CD's available as additional prizes.
Cirque Club has also started a "20th Anniversary history" series of
articles, with two installments tracing their history up to 1997
There are also featured articles on the New York premiere of Alegría,
Saltimbanco's arrival in Milan, and a look at the history of
contortion with a spotlight on two contortionists from "O".
The Press Room has sprung to life after several months of inactivity.
This month alone they've put out Press Releases on the new
Cirque/Celebrity Cruises alliance, and two others we reprint below.
In Cirque Club marketing messages:
Anne-Josee wrote about Saltimbanco's premiere in Milan: --
"Saltimbanco's cast and crew enjoyed a dazzling opening night in
Italy! Just last week, Saltimbanco celebrated its first-ever Italian
premiere in Milan. More than 2,000 guests from the international
entertainment, fashion and sports world took their seats under the
white Grand Chapiteau to discover the magic of Cirque du Soleil.
Several famous figures were spotted mingling on the red carpet,
including Franco Dragone (Saltimbanco's director), F1 star David
Coulthard and fashion celebrity Naomi Campbell, some of the biggest
Italian soccer players, and designers Roberto Cavalli and Giorgio
Armani. Several Italian television celebrities were also on hand,
smiling for the paparazzi that arrived in flocks to snap pictures of
the event. The cast and crew were excited to perform in Milan, and
enjoyed the enthusiastic applause from the Italian audience."
Varekai cast member Karina wrote about their impending departure from
Phoenix: -- "...Although our visit has been short, my colleagues and I
have had the chance to explore the local hot spots, sightsee, and
above all, soak up Phoenix's endless supply of sunshine. I don't think
it has rained even once! Unfortunately the time has come for us to
start packing up for the trek towards our next destination: Denver! I
will never forget the smiling faces and welcoming smiles of our new
friends in Phoenix. Thank you for making our stay such a special one."
Dralion crewmember Maria-Eve talked about leaving Amsterdam: -- "Over
our three-month stay in Amsterdam we have experienced almost three
seasons: the freezing wind of winter, the green leaves of spring and
the long days of summer. Perhaps three months doesn't sound like a
very long time for some, but for nomads like us, it's a rare occasion
to live life at a regular pace. But in addition to the change of
seasons, we have also been witnesses to life unfolding. Let me
explain! The Dralion site is surrounded by canals. And where there
are canals, there are ducks! On our way to and from the Grand
Chapiteau, we were able to watch the parents gather twigs to make
their nests, lay their eggs and then care for their newborns. But
there's one duck family in particular that comes and visits a few
times a day for a quick snack. This mallard mommy and her seven babies
were adopted by Dralion. The family quickly understood our
operations, and took care to use the employee entrance. We did have a
dog that regularly visited us during our stay in Mexico, but a duck
family? That was a first! We all have many stories to tell about our
stay in Amsterdam and many reasons to return. I can't help but wonder
if there will be seven grown ducks waiting for us next time the circus
comes to town! And how many more ducklings?"
Finally, Anne-Josee wrote about Alegria's leaving Vancouver -- "...the
Quidam cast and crew are looking forward to a well-deserved break
before we begin the trek to our next tour stop: Calgary! From the
moment we first set up our blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau in downtown
Vancouver at Concord Pacific Place, local fans warmly embraced Cirque
du Soleil. Among them, we cannot forget a special group of 30 "Cirque
Passionates" who traveled from several different corners of North
America to meet in Vancouver and attend Quidam. There are so many
stories to tell and so many reasons to return to Vancouver! We would
like to take this opportunity to thank you for a five-week whirlwind
adventure filled with cheers, tears and applause. As our adventures
with Quidam continue, a little piece of Vancouver will remain with us
always."
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
Note that any information in brackets [] is UN-official information
and subject to change.
[Touring Shows]
Alegría:
* New York City, New York -- Randall's Island Park
Dates: May 6, 2003 to June 27, 2004
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Avenue of the Arts
Dates: July 8, 2004 to Aug 8, 2004
* Toronto, Ontario -- Ontario Place
Dates: Aug 19, 2004 to Sep 26, 2004
* Tokyo, Japan:
Dates: Oct 29, 2004 to Jan 23, 2005
* Fukuoka, Japan:
Dates: Feb 9, 2005 to Apr 3, 2005
* Nagoya, Japan:
Dates: Apr 20, 2005 to Jun 12, 2005
* Osaka, Japan:
Dates: Jun 25, 2005 to Aug 10, 2005
Dralion:
* Vienna, Austria -- Prater - Rotundenplatz
Dates: Jun 3, 2004 to Jul 16, 2004
* Antwerp, Belgium -- Gedempte Zuiderdokken
Dates: Aug 12, 2004, to Sep 19, 2004
* Madrid, Spain -- TBA
Dates: Oct 15, 2004 to Nov 21, 2004
* London, England -- Royal Albert Hall
Dates: Jan 6, 2005 to Jan 30, 2005
Quidam:
* Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- Currie Barracks
Dates: June 24, 2004 to July 25, 2004
[May extend to August 1, 2004]
* Sydney, Australia -- The Showring, Fox Studios
Dates: Aug 12, 2004 to OPEN
* Brisbane, Australia -- Kingsford Smith Drive
Dates: Nov 4, 2004 to TBA
* Auckland, New Zealand -- TBA
Dates: Dec 31, 2004 to OPEN
* Melbourne, Australia -- TBA
Dates: Mar 4, 2005 to OPEN
* Adelaide, Australia -- TBA
Dates: May 12, 2005 to OPEN
* Perth, Australia -- TBA
Dates: June 30, 2005 to OPEN
Saltimbanco:
* Gijon, Spain -- Puerto de Musel / Muelle de la Osa
Dates: June 25, 2004 to TBA
* Frankfurt, Germany -- Next to the Jahrhunderthalle
Dates: Aug 20, 2004 to Sep 5, 2004
* Rome, Italy -- Viale Cristoforo Colombo
Dates: Oct 7, 2004 to Oct 24, 2004
* Lille, France -- TBA
* Manchester, UK -- TBA
* Birmingham, UK -- TBA
Varekai:
* Denver, Colorado -- Pepsi Center
Dates: Jun 3, 2004 to Jul 22, 2004
* Boston, Massachusetts -- Suffolk Downs
Dates: Jul 27, 2004 to Aug 22, 2004
[May extend to Sep 5, 2004]
* Washington, DC -- Grounds of RFK Stadium
Dates: Sep 16, 2004 to Oct 10, 2004
[May extend to Oct 24, 2004]
* Dallas, Texas -- Fair Park
Dates: Nov 4, 2004 to Dec 5, 2004
[May Extend to Dec 19, 2004]
* Houston, Texas -- TBA
* Austin, Texas -- TBA
* Pittsburg, Pennsylvania -- TBA
* Baltimore, Maryland -- TBA
* Hartford, Connecticut -- TBA
* Columbus, Ohio -- TBA
* Detroit, Michigan -- TBA
* Miami, Florida -- TBA
[Resident Shows]
La Nouba:
* Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm
* Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday
* Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando (USA)
* 2004 Dark Dates:
-- March 14th - 17th -- August 22nd - 25th
-- May 2nd - 5th -- October 17th - 20th
-- June 20th - July 5th -- December 5th - 13th
Mystère:
* Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm
Beginning June 13th: Except Sundays; 4:30pm and 7:30pm
* Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday
Beginning June 9th: Wednesday - Sunday, Dark Monday/Tuesday
* Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA)
* 2004 Dark Dates:
-- April 6th, 9th -- October 3rd, 6th
-- May 31st - June 8th -- November 28th
-- August 23rd - 31st
"O":
* Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm
* Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark Monday/Tuesday
* Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA)
* 2004 Dark Dates:
-- April 19th - 27th -- October 11th - 13th
-- June 21st - 23rd -- December 6th - 21st
-- August 9th - 17th
Zumanity:
* Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm
* Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
* Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA)
* 2004 Dark Dates:
-- April 18th - 21st -- October 10th - 13th
-- June 6th - 12th -- November 28th - 30th
-- August 15th - 18th -- December 1st - 20th
=======================================================================
DIDYAKNOW? -- FACTS ABOUT CIRQUE
=======================================================================
* According to Cirque du Soleil, the new MGM Grand show (who's name
has yet to be officially announced, but many rumors abound) is said to
be the costliest entertainment production to date, with construction
and stating costs of more than $180 million! "O", Cirque du Soleil's
second resident Las Vegas show, cost only $90 million.
* As reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal: Cirque's chief
executive Guy Laliberte sent Guy Caron, director of creation, to Los
Angeles to meet with Pixar, the company that produced the highly
successful computer-animated feature films "Toy Story" and "Finding
Nemo." The magnitude of the technical challenge lies in this one
statistic: The MGM Grand show has about 275 automation axes, compared
to 85 in "O."
* Did you know that Cirque du Soleil won the Golden Sheaf Award at the
2000 Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival in Saskatchewan, Canada?
Cirque was nominated in the Music Video category for the video "Love
Leaves Someone Behind," produced by Lyn Charlebois.
=======================================================================
LA PRESSE:
Recent Cirque du Soleil Press Releases
"Soleil de Minuit: A Celebration," "Cirque Sought by Television
Broadcasters Worldwide," and "Zumanitiy's New Sinful Pleasures"
=======================================================================
Soleil de Minuit: A Celebration
-------------------------------
Two homegrown cultural institutions, the Festival International de
Jazz de Montréal and Cirque du Soleil, are joining forces to celebrate
their anniversaries and show their thanks to the people of Quebec, to
whom they owe so much of their success.
Next July 11, as part of the Grand Evénement General Motors at the
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the streets of Montreal
will be transformed into a place of music and art, a celebration
paying tribute to the 20 years of Cirque du Soleil and the 25 years of
the Jazz Festival. The free show will get underway at 9:00 p.m. and be
aired on both CBC Television and Radio-Canada's French-language
television starting at 9:30 p.m.
"Our ties with L'Equipe Spectra go back to our beginnings," said Guy
Laliberté, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cirque du Soleil.
"The Jazz Festival had already existed for five years when Cirque was
born. The festival's international profile, its mixing of cultures and
the way in which it takes over the streets have always impressed me.
Alain Simard and André Ménard have succeeded in making it one of the
most popular events in the world. We share the same passion:
developing two of Quebec's greatest natural resources, creativity and
culture. I liked the idea of this free show right away because it will
take place in the very heart of the city, right in the street! It will
also be an excellent showcase for the music we have created over the
last 20 years."
Alain Simard, President of L'Equipe Spectra and Founder of the
festival International de Jazz de Montréal, is just as delighted with
the anniversary show: "It is a little like a coming-together of the
sun, which symbolizes Cirque du Soleil, and the moon, which represents
jazz. This once-in-a-lifetime event will take place here, in Montreal,
on July 11. Soleil de minuit will be a major milestone in both of our
histories. We conceived of this celebration as a gift to the public
and a token of our affection for the people of Quebec, as well as a
tip of the hat to the tribute we paid to Cirque du Soleil's music
in 1995-without a doubt the most memorable event in the Festival's
history. Cirque du Soleil has always been an inspiration for us, and
we are proud to be able to share its magic with festival-goers. We
also wanted to honour Cirque du Soleil for its remarkable success on
the international stage, and especially for its limitless creativity
which continues to dazzle spectators all around the world."
Soleil de minuit - Created by Victor Pilon and Michel Lemieux, Soleil
de minuit is the story of an idealistic and visionary dreamer who
lives alone with his old-style gramophone and, at times, has
premonitory dreams.
Eager to celebrate the conjunction of the sun and the moon, he sends
out thousands of invitations to the four corners of the globe, and
tribes of musicians and circus performers answer the call. Soleil de
minuit is a poetic eclipse, a joyous gathering, a tribute, and a
celebration where musicians, circus artists and the public are all
guests of honour.
A live performance and a television program - In order to let as many
people as possible join in the celebration, Soleil de minuit will also
be aired on CBC and SRC television on July 11. Vincent Gagné, Cirque du
Soleil's Vice-President of Multimedia, and Luc Châtelain, Vice-
President of the film and television division at L'Equipe Spectra, are
the program's executive producers.
"It is a big challenge, but a very exciting one! This will be our
first live shoot. We are expecting a record audience and over 130
circus artists, entertainers and street performers on stage, as well
as 60 musicians. We hope to be able to capture all the emotion and
excitement of this magical celebration," explained Vincent Gagné.
"We started working on this project a year ago, and Radio-Canada and
CBC showed an immediate interest. As a partner of the Festival
International de Jazz de Montréal and Cirque du Soleil, SRC/CBC wanted
to be a part of this major cultural happening and to celebrate this
historical moment with us," declared Luc Châtelain.
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal - Now getting ready for
its 25th edition (from June 30 to July 11, 2004), the Festival
International de Jazz de Montréal presents approximately 500 concerts
each year, three-quarters of which are free of charge. More than 2,000
musicians from close to twenty countries are warmly welcomed by nearly
two million enthusiastic festival-goers from around the planet. Over
the years, the Festival has become the international rendezvous for
the world's jazz community and has helped launch a number of careers.
Not only have its founders' dreams been widely surpassed, but all
signs point to continued success for the Festival for years to come.
Cirque Sought By Broadcasters Worldwide
---------------------------------------
More than ever, Cirque du Soleil's television presence is having an
impact on the organization's worldwide activities. Whether it is the
demand for productions by Cirque du Soleil Images, Cirque du Soleil's
multimedia division, or partner and media interest in Cirque du Soleil
content, television is playing a key role in the organization's
growing visibility.
In 2004 alone, Cirque du Soleil-related television programs will air
on eight networks (Bravo, CBC's French network SRC, Rai, TF1, A2, BBC,
NBC, Channel 9) in more than ten countries (including France, Italy,
Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Australia,
Malaysia, Singapore, Belgium and Switzerland). An estimated 40 million
viewers will see these programs, which total almost 65 hours of
content.
"Our presence on television networks around the world hasn't stopped
growing, and it's leading to other requests. The widespread
accessibility of the Cirque du Soleil brand has allowed us to make
substantial inroads in developing new markets for our shows. It has
also helped us to pursue our wish to introduce as many people as
possible to 'the Cirque du Soleil experience' and to showcase our
expertise internationally," declared Daniel Lamarre, Cirque du
Soleil's President and Chief Operating Officer.
The T.V. series "Solstrom," currently shown on the U.S. network Bravo,
is a major ratings success for Cirque du Soleil's partner and
broadcaster of choice. The series can also be seen on the SBS network
in Australia. "Solstrom" has been sold in other countries as well, and
will air in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia, Finland and
Romania, among others. Passengers on airlines including Thai Airways,
Malaysia Airlines, Lanchile Airlines, Aero Mexico and Air Canada will
be able to enjoy the series during their flights.
In December 2003, BBC1 aired a 90-minute special called "Dale's
Adventures with Cirque du Soleil," which was seen by almost 5 million
viewers. It was the first time that a Cirque du Soleil resident show
(La Nouba) had been featured in such a high-profile television
program. La Nouba has now been filmed, and will be aired on the SRC
network on May 30. Other countries will also have the chance to see La
Nouba on television, since a number of foreign broadcasters have
purchased distribution rights for the program.
In 2004, variety shows from around the world have been clamouring for
Cirque du Soleil. In January, the appearance of Varekai artists on
NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" was so popular with viewers
that an encore performance was a must. During the week of May 10, the
famous host of the program taped a show in Las Vegas and once again
asked Cirque du Soleil to be a part of it. Viewers were treated to
excerpts from Mystère and ZUMANITY on May 13 and 14.
In Australia, a six-minute Cirque du Soleil act was presented at the
Logies, an awards gala honouring the Australian television industry
and its stars, on Channel 9.
In Italy, it was Saltimbanco's turn to take the spotlight at the
opening of the San Remo Festival, broadcast on Rai 1 last March.
France also aired acts from Saltimbanco on television: first on the
program "Vivement Dimanche," hosted by Michel Drucker on TF1 (in
February), and then on Patrick Sébastien's program entitled "Le plus
grand cabaret du monde" on France 2 (in March). Patrick Sébastien was
so dazzled by the artists' performance that he rebroadcast the segment
on his show in April.
Finally, on May 2, Rai 3 presented a half-hour documentary featuring a
behind-the-scenes look at Cirque du Soleil and its show Saltimbanco,
attracting 600,000 viewers.
In the works: a team from CNN's documentary unit is currently
preparing a 30-minute special report on the Cirque du Soleil
phenomenon. It will be aired this summer and again this fall on the
entire CNN world network, as part of the program "People in the News."
Cirque du Soleil has thrilled over 42 million spectators in almost 100
cities on four continents. With its International Headquarters in
Montreal, the organization will be presenting 10 different shows
around the world in 2004. Cirque du Soleil has been the recipient of
such prestigious awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gemini,
Félix, and the Rose d'or de Montreux.
Zumanity's New Seven Sinful Pleasures
-------------------------------------
For those who like to misbehave on the right side of the velvet rope,
ZUMANITY will now be offering the chance to indulge in seven guilty
pleaZures through one premiere seating package. ZUMANITY, ANOTHER SIDE
OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, offers guests a new way to see the show with the
introduction of Z PleaZure Package, an unparalleled seating experience
featuring plush sofa accommodations and VIP treatment.
Reinventing the art of seduction, Z PleaZure Package offers guests
premium seating, exclusive VIP benefits, unlimited food and
beverage...and "Z" experience of a lifetime. Tickets for Z PleaZure
Package are priced at $195 and sold in pairs.
The guilty pleaZures will include:
Intimacy... Share "Z" experience in divine comfort by sitting in our
sumptuous plush sofas for two.
Foreplay... Get excited! You'll score privileged access to the
theatre lobby one hour prior to show time and lose yourself in the
following treats:
Indulgence... Be pampered to your heart's content with
personalized pre-show beverage service at your sofa.
We'll feed your insatiable desire at our open bar
featuring the delightfully sinful Zumanitini.
Decadence... Spoil your taste buds with our succulent
selection of aphrodisiac hors d'oeuvres, served in the
lobby and at your sofa before the show.
Extravagance... As a token of our affection, you'll
receive a souvenir photo and an exclusive ZUMANITY
memento.
Desire... Yearning for some time with the gorgeous cast?
You'll have the chance to get up close and personal with
some of the outrageous ZUMANITY performers.
ZUMANITY, ANOTHER SIDE OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL can currently be seen
Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30PM and 10:30PM at the ZUMANITY Theatre in
New York-New York Hotel & Casino. As of June 18, the show will be
running Friday - Tuesday at 7PM and 10PM.
For more information on the Z PleaZure Package, or to reserve yours
now, visit www.zumanity.com, www.nynyhotelcasino.com or contact the
ZUMANITY box office at 1-866-606-7111 or (702) 740 6815. Z PleaZure
Package can also be purchased by visiting any of the MGM MIRAGE box
offices.
=======================================================================
TÉLÉMAGIK:
"La Nouba Under the Lens"
By: Wayne Leung - Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
=======================================================================
With Cirque du Soleil's rapid expansion into the world of audio/visual
media, its partnership with Bravo and the ambitious marketing of its
media division to overseas outlets, it seems that the supply of Cirque
television programming cannot keep up with demand. Every one of
Cirque's current touring productions has been filmed for television
and now, for the first time ever, one of its resident shows goes under
the lens. The decision to film La Nouba, the resident show at Walt
Disney World in Orlando, Florida is a bit of a surprise. Until
recently the company had publicly stated that it would not film any of
its resident productions while they were still playing, presumably due
to contract stipulations with host companies and fear of lost revenue
from lower ticket sales. But against the odds, Cirque du Soleil
Presents La Nouba was broadcast on Sunday, May 30, 2004 on the Société
Radio-Canada (the French language CBC in Canada).
Before I proceed to review the program I have an admission to make.
La Nouba is the only current Cirque production I have not seen live.
I know, for shame! And I call myself a Cirque fan. My meager student
budget, the three-in-one-Cirque City value of Las Vegas and my general
aversion to all-things Disney has meant that I have never gotten
around to seeing La Nouba, most of my comparisons will be made to the
bits of La Nouba I have seen from the "Inside La Nouba: From
Conception to Perception" documentary/infomercial video release of
2000.
With the generally mediocre quality in the filming and editing of many
other Cirque shows it comes as no real surprise that the quality of
the La Nouba television special is hit-and-miss.
The La Nouba video is produced by the same Cirque du Soleil Images
team that produced the previous specials; Executive Producers Martin
Bolduc, Vincent Gagné and Rocky Oldham and Producers Yolande Riccioli
and Dorthy Dickie. It is directed by David Mallet (who also directed
the videos for Quidam and Dralion) and co-edited by Nick Morris (who
directed the videos for Alegría and Varekai). Consequently, the style
of the filming and the editing is very familiar, which is not
necessarily a good thing.
It is often said that you have not seen a Cirque du Soleil show until
you have seen it live on stage. The video productions are no
substitute for the real thing. However, I understand that the videos
are intentionally created as separate entities from the live shows and
I am willing to give the directors some room for artistic exploration.
Many fans have observed that the editing of the past few filmed Cirque
shows is reminiscent of a music video. This is also the case with La
Nouba; the editing is fast and the focus of the video shifts rapidly.
However, given the fact that the stage is always alive and full of
characters (more so in La Nouba than in most other Cirque shows) and
that La Nouba is very much inspired by and created for the MTV
generation, the music video-style editing seemed an appropriate
stylistic choice for this film as well as being a necessary technique
to keep up with the frenetic pace of the live show.
As with previous videos the director sometimes makes use of trick-
camera work in an attempt to put the spectator "in" the show; a
flipping camera follows a tumbler down the power track, the German
Wheel rolls over the camera and trapeze artists fly toward the camera
with arms outreached as if the viewer were the catcher. Most of the
gimmick camera angles provide a unique perspective of the acts and the
director takes care not to overuse them. However, the same cannot be
said of the instant-replay slow motion which is used profusely
throughout the video. The editors also have an annoying habit of
frequently cutting away from the main action; the opening parade scene
is substituted by a montage of clips from the show the viewer is about
to see, the Power Track and Trampoline finale is chopped up to include
"flashbacks" of tricks the viewer has just seen. Slow motion is even
used during some interstitial sequences for no apparent reason;
slowing the ballet dancers down does nothing to improve the
presentation of the show, and once an acrobat completes a trick it is
replayed again up to three times in slow motion. I found this editing
to be unnecessary and very distracting since cutting away from the
live action disrupts the flow of the scene.
Another gripe I have about the filming (and this is not exclusive to
the La Nouba video) is the redesign of the show's lighting. From what
I've seen of La Nouba the show has always appeared very dark; for the
filming large arrays of extra lighting were used and the result is an
overly bright, washed-out scene for most of the show. The dramatic
contrasts between light and dark in the original lighting design are
ruined and everything looks too bright. It also doesn't help that on
several upward-looking angles spotlights shine directly into the
camera.
Despite the film's shortcomings there are definitely some positive
aspects. La Nouba, being a resident show, is already a television-
friendly 90-minutes in length, therefore the show is presented
virtually in its entirety on the video.
The performance itself is superb. Highlights include a new 3-person
version of the high wire act, BMX bicycles and Aerial Cradle (two acts
not featured in the "Inside La Nouba" video), an alternate version of
the Diabolos act featuring three performers instead of the usual four
(possibly an attempt to differentiate it from the very similar act
already featured in the Quidam video) and a Power Track and Trampoline
finale that is among the most spectacular acts ever created by Cirque
du Soleil.
The live arrangements of the music are spectacular and the score has
never sounded better. I especially enjoyed Sisandra Lewis, the
featured female singer, who possesses a voice as powerful as
Zumanity's Lonnie Gordon and with the beautiful tonality of Varekai's
Zara Tellander.
But overall I feel that the video is lackluster and doesn't provide a
good representation of the live show. It lacks the cinematic flair of
the Quidam video and I honestly think that the filming of clips from
the show for the Inside La Nouba documentary (directed by Eamon
Harrington) were more evocative and effective at conveying the style,
spirit and energy of the show.
However hope is not lost! Some fans may recall that the original
broadcast release of Varekai also had many rough edges that were
thankfully smoothed over for the DVD release. Because La Nouba has a
shorter running time than the touring shows there should be ample room
on the upcoming DVD to include many extra features. Many scenes in La
Nouba would benefit from the ability to view them from multiple
angles. And more importantly, the original video for Varekai was re-
edited for its DVD release greatly improving the flow and
presentation. I'm hoping the same will be done for La Nouba and that
what I have seen so far is merely a work-in-progress.
=======================================================================
AT THE BOUTIQUE:
"Behind the Mask"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
=======================================================================
You might remember two issues back when we told you about the mask
Cirque makeup artist Nathalie Gagne painted for sale at an Internet
fundraising auction for The Hospice of Metro Denver. And the high bid?
The mask ended up selling for more than $1,000.00 USD, easily in the
"Top 5" of all the masks offered, according to the folks we spoke with.
But what surprised us most was the man who purchased it and his plans
for the mask, as he revealed in a talk with us.
Don Wollenzien and his wife Marie have lived in the Denver area since
1960 and have a 34-year old son. Back in May, 2003 Marie was diagnosed
with cancer. Unfortunately, several hospital stays involving radiation
and chemotherapy treatments failed to set the cancer into remission.
It soon became obvious that she was in the last stages of her illness
and needed a facility for her final days. The facility they chose was
the The Hospice of Metro Denver. Sadly, Marie passed away in October,
2003.
Marie always had a fondness for clowns. "My front bathroom is
wallpapered in clowns," says Don. But neither of them was aware of
Cirque du Soleil. When The Mask Project to benefit the hospice was
announced, Don visited the website and looked through the offerings.
Seeing the Nathalie Gagne mask, with its multi-colored hues and
peaceful closed-eyes expression, Don thought, "Wow, that's something I
think I want."
According to Gagne (as discussed in the original Cirque Club article),
the mask is imbued with inspirational bits from several Cirque shows:
"From its bluish mouth, you will hear the colours of Quidam. Through
its eyes, you will taste the blue of "O". With its long black
eyelashes, you will be tickled by the soft caresses of Zumanity. Its
yellowish and red colours will transport you into the kaleidoscopic
world of Varekai and Mystère. Its bright red nose will recall the
tenderness of Yuri, the Alegría clown. A small tear of joy is shed for
memories of La Nouba, and the piece is set off with a few multi-colored
feathers plucked from a future show, now growing within a fertile
womb." You can see a picture of the mask at the following address:
< http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/clubcirque/
news/news71.htm >
It seemed to Don to be the perfect way to honor the memory of his late
wife, while at the same time making a donation to a worthy
organization. "As well as they treated her, it's well worth it." He
started bidding in the mid $500.00 range, but wavered when the price
began to escalate. But toward the end of the auction he decided to "go
for it" and placed the high bid of $1,010.00.
He has had it framed in a shadow box with mattes of red and blue. (The
framing bill alone came to more than $350.00.) In a fitting tribute,
the mask will hang on the wall of their family room next to the chair
where Marie often sat. He has been gracious enough to photograph the
finished framing work, you can view a couple of shots at the Photo
section of the Fascination Yahoo Group page:
< http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CirqueFascination/ >. Login and select
Photos, then Issue #34.
What a story, and we're grateful to Mr. Wollenzien for taking the time
to talk with us. One would not normally think that Cirque Du Soleil
could provide the impetis for such a beautiful tribute. But it goes to
show how the beauty and power of Cirque can bring peace and solice to a
saddened household.
=======================================================================
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT:
"CirqueCon Vancouver 2004: Before the Adventure Began"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
=======================================================================
Part of the magic of Cirque du Soleil is how the artists make it look
so easy. The audience sees only the final product - the act - not the
years of practice leading up to it. But it's those years of practice
that make the act work. It takes not only the artist, but coaches,
teachers, parents, judges, physiotherapists - an entire team. And so
it is with group excursions, like CirqueCon Vancouver 2004. It took
more than one person to make it happen.
It took a team. And that team has a story.
Which starts in Summer 2003. Here at Fascination! a kind source had
just supplied us with tour dates much further into the future than had
yet been made public. This confirmed what we had already heard by
rumor - that Quidam would bypass Asia after its year-long tour of
Japan, and make stops in Vancouver and Calgary, Canada over late
Spring 2004 before embarking on its year-long tour of Australia. This
was quite significant for us, as it meant Quidam would be on the North
American continent for only a short time before being overseas again,
perhaps for years.
Back in Newport News, VA, Jeff Tolotti was a frequent contributor to
the Cirque du Soleil Yahoogroup. Soon after we had made the tour info
public, Jeff posted an idea on the message board. What would people
think about a group trip to see Quidam when it came to Vancouver?
Several people soon responded that, indeed, they would be interested.
The discussion then centered on which weekend would be best. A
consensus started to gather around May 14-16, 2004, two weeks prior to
the Memorial Day Holiday.
But before we go further, a little background. My wife LouAnna (also
known as "Lucy") and I have been involved in literary (non media-
centered) science fiction convention planning for 20 years. We work
on Convention Committees that meet throughout the year. We call our
convention Norwescon and it occurs every year over Easter weekend,
attracting 2,500 science fiction fans to Seattle. It's by no means
the largest SF convention in America, but we're proud of it. Tons of
research, phone calls, messages and meetings are the norm. There are
myriad small details that need to be decided or acted upon. You can't
just snap your fingers and make it happen. If you do your job well,
all the time and effort spent beforehand are invisible to your
attendees, who see only the finished product.
On occasion, I've taken my experience in working on conventions and
applied them to organizing group trips. I've done several including
groups of SF fans going to world science fiction conventions, also
known as "WorldCon," in Orlando, FL in 1988 and Anaheim, CA in 1992,
with more than 20 participants for each trip. My job as Trip
Coordinator was to do the research and planning, make the calls and
photocopies, and provide a basic framework for the members. I learned
that, as with conventions, no matter how hard you try you can't please
everyone. Knowing that not everybody will be happy you try to please
the largest number you can.
After our trip to see Alegria in Vancouver in July of 2003, LouAnna
and I knew the fun of a romantic weekend in a beautiful city. So we
instantly knew we would have to do it again for Quidam. We also
decided, since we had "enlightened" several of our relatives and
friends to Cirque du Soleil that it might be fun if we enlarged our
group a bit and invited them along.
LouAnna's father ("Dad") was instantly enthusiastic. LouAnna also
asked her Aunt Barb and Cousin Shelly, whom Dad would travel from his
home base of Spokane, WA to Missoula, MT to pick up and bring to
Seattle so we could spend the weekend together. In addition, my Best
Man and his wife decided to join us. Erstwhile editor Ricky Russo
also decided to fly from Orlando, FL to join us for the weekend. So
from a small party of two we were quickly a party of eight.
With a party that big, housing became an issue. For Alegria in
Vancouver we stayed for the first time in a Bed and Breakfast. The
B&B we chose was close to the Cirque tent site, a Victorian-style
house in a quiet neighborhood. Though it was hot the weekend we went
and the room had no air conditioning it was cozy, quiet and, yes,
romantic. What fun it would be, we thought, if everyone stayed in
rooms at one B&B. It would be fun, affordable, and homey. The rest
of our party was amenable, but before we could make our reservation,
Jeff posted his idea about a group trip on the YahooGroups Cirque
discussion list.
Without consulting my wife (a fact she now frequently reminds me of
<g>), I posted privately to Jeff to tell him of our group, and that
the weekend we were considering was one week hence, May 21-23. (Up to
this point, I'll bet both groups thought they were the only ones!) I
also told him of our plans to book rooms in a Bed and Breakfast.
Would his group be interested in booking rooms together with mine if I
could block them all for our use? It would, however, require them
changing their weekend. He consulted with the group, who took to the
idea.
With the weekend decided upon, it became my responsibility to book the
bed and breakfasts. Owners Paul Findlay and Leslie Lewington
(www.dougwin.com) seemed receptive to the idea, but not at our
original choice, Windsor House. They suggested their two other
properties, Douglas House and Cambie Lodge, which it so happened were
right next to each other on the same street! They would be happy to
block out all the rooms in both houses for that weekend if we agreed
to use those two properties.
The plan was simple. I would have a hold on all the rooms, so no one
would be able to contact the B&B directly. I would take reservations
and keep track of them. At a point just after the first of the year,
I would relay the information to Paul and Leslie, and inform the room
holders to put the rooms in their names by getting in direct contact
with the B&B. At some point in late March I would release my hold on
the rest of the rooms, allowing the B&B to fill rooms not used by our
members.
Now that we had suddenly grown from a group of 8 to 16 or so, we were
no longer just Jeff or my friends. We were a larger group, and with
numbers come organizational issues. We decided to open our "group" up
to others who might like to join. But what should we name ourselves?
I had organized my other SF fan tours under the moniker "Tour De
Mondo," but thatdidn't seem to fit. I also suggested "CirqueCon," an
offshoot of the "-con" naming of SF conventions (Norwescon, Worldcon,
etc.). That seemed to fit better. In order to convey the idea that
this might be one in a series of events (if we might be so lucky as to
survive our first attempt and actually want to have a second) we added
the location and year to the name, making it "CirqueCon Vancouver
2004." Some time later, an emailer referred to our group as
"Passionates." It sounded so much better than "Fans" or "Cirquies."
We liked the word so much we subtitled the weekend, "The First
Unofficial Gathering of Cirque du Soleil Passionates."
So we had a weekend, a name, and a place to stay, but how would we get
the word out? We needed a forum to describe our plan to anyone that
wanted to see it at any time. Jeff had a solution for that; creating
a webpage with the basic information! We came up with text concerning
the trip and Bed and Breakfasts, with complete room descriptions,
pricing (in American dollars including all taxes), and the procedure
for booking a room. Jeff was also "on the ball" removing room
listings as rooms filled. By the time we got the website up tickets
had gone on sale to Cirque Club members.
In addition to the webpage we felt we needed an outlet for "progress
reports". So we asked Editor Ricky if he would add the Newsletter's
sponsorship to the endeavor. He agreed, so CirqueCon Vancouver 2004
became "Sponsored by the Fascination! Newsletter."
I proposed a simple agenda for the weekend, so that people could have
the maximum amount of time to see the sites of Vancouver (several, it
turned out, used the time to take in multiple viewings of Quidam, some
as many as four!). I felt a group meal was a must, and had originally
proposed it for Friday evening. In talking with our attendees and
finding out when they would arrive in Vancouver, I found that several
members wouldn't be arriving until very late on Friday or early
Saturday. So the dinner got moved to Saturday afternoon at 4pm, prior
to that evenings show. I looked for a place that could accommodate a
group our size, while still allowing the option of separate checks,
space to sit together, and a menu that was varied enough for different
diets. We finally settled on the Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown,
(http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/location_vancouver.html) the
original restaurant in the franchise. They seemed willing to work
with a group with our quirks and could get us fed in a reasonable
amount of time.
The question then became whether to schedule anything Friday evening.
LouAnna and I worked on an idea of having a combination "Cocktail
Hour" and "Show and Tell" session. Friday would probably be the only
opportunity for us to share our finest Cirque collectibles with each
other. LouAnna, ever the social hostess, wanted to put out a spread
of meats, cheeses, candies (Aplets and Cotlets of course!) as well as
some of the "Cirque du Rose" wine we had found. So she started
planning the food spread, while I informed everyone to bring their
collectibles. The Bed and Breakfast folks graciously allowed us to
use the kitchen area of Douglas House for the gathering.
Rooms started to fill. We eventually reached capacity at Douglas
House (the "main" house) bolstered by mine and Jeffs folks renting six
of the buildings eight rooms (three others technically attached to the
house were actually in a commercial building next door). As they came
on board, I spoke to each of our members by phone to bring them up to
speed (and from what I heard later raised some of them (who worked
swing or graveyard) out of their sleep, for which I apologize). They
had various questions involving the rooms, payment, attractions and
getting over the border. But the most often asked question was
whether we might be able to do any "special Cirque things" during the
weekend, such as a backstage tour or meeting a performer.
Most questions were easy to answer. I started an e-mail mailing list
and sent information on weather, traffic, how to cross the border and
what kind of identification would be needed. Interestingly several
members of the group, spurred on by Jeff, planned to fly into Seattle
where they would rent vehicles and drive up. They did this because
rates to fly directly into Vancouver seemed to be much higher than
Seattle.
As people started to commit, and our numbers quickly grew to 25, I
started to think about aspects of my SF convention running experience
that might apply. While it wasn't my intent to act as "activities
director" I wanted to provide an outlet for people to express their
interests for things to see in Vancouver. I've found that people in
group tour situations tend to give in to the "will" of the most
dominant people in the group and subjugate their own desires.
Besides, it wasn't just one or two groups of friends, it was them plus
several others unattached to the main "cliques." So I started a
running list of attractions people were interested in, sending it back
to the members on a regular basis.
We also discussed how it might be nice to have some sort of permanent
"souvenir" of the gathering. For SF conventions that comes in two
forms. One is a "badge" worn to indicate that you're a member, or
"part" of the convention. Since many of us had never seen each other
before I thought it would be a good way to "break the ice." The other
is a "Program Book" that serves as a "guide" to the weekend as well as
a keepsake, with a schedule, articles and pictures.
Ricky and Jeff responded positively to the Program Book idea. The
badge was a different thing, as they both felt it a bit "geeky" for
our group. They felt folks would not necessarily want to be visually
identified as Cirque du Soleil fans. I got an even stronger reaction
when I suggested we get lanyards so folks could wear the badges around
their necks! We compromised on the badges, with Jeff providing a
beautiful design with each persons name and state on them, and making
the lanyards an option. As it turned out many members loved the
badges, wearing them proudly around their necks with the lanyard!
In addition to these items, Jeff had the idea to create a self-
compiled CD that he would hand out to members. He wanted to share
tracks from his collection of CDs by Cirque musicians outside of
Cirque. He had tracks from Francesca Gagnon, Rene Dupere and Elise
Velle, Joey Arias, and others that he planned to use.
Unbeknownst to him, I had contemplated the same idea! My concept was
to consolidate a number of pieces of "rare" Cirque du Soleil music
that I had collected onto one CD. I wanted to share the first Cirque
du Soleil vinyl 45 recorded by their first band La Fanfafonie, and
tracks from a first version of the debut "Cirque Du Soleil" CD that
didn't make it onto the second re-recording. I wanted to "fill in"
missing music from Saltimbanco and Alegria using the limited-edition
"Live!" CDs. And I wanted to share other "source" music and tunes
influenced by Cirque, such as Josh Groban's version of "Let Me Fall."
Upon finding out we both had the same idea, we decided to collaborate
and create a two-CD set produced especially for CirqueCon Vancouver.
In a mass CD exchange he provided me with better copies of some of the
things I wanted, and I sent him several CDs that he had not aquired
yet. We worked independently to compile, sequence, and master our
respective CD's, with Jeff doing the final duplication and coming up
with nice artwork for the covers and CD labels.
The Program Book also began to take shape. With Jeff taking the lead
as our Publications Coordinator, material started to be written.
Ricky supplied a medley of articles about Quidam that had previously
been printed in Fascination! Jeff provided another great effort in
our color cover and wrote liner notes for his CD. He also handled the
copying, collating and purchasing needed to make 40 copies of the
Program Book a reality. (Though we thought we would only need 30
copies, we decided on a print run of 40 to be able to give away sets
to interested parties we might meet. As it was, we ended up giving
them all away!) I wrote up liner notes for my CD and "track facts"
for both, as well as the "title" page (a bit of pseudo-Cirque program
book channeling), an itinerary, and tour history and credits.
(Unfortunately, in the last-minute rush to get things done I
completely forgot to include our contact information as well as a
copyright statement. Oh well...)
Meanwhile, our costs began to mount. CD's, paper, copying, and phone
calls cost money! We agreed that since we were doing these things for
free for our new "friends" we wouldn't ask them to contribute to the
costs. We kept track of them during the process and promised to
somehow split the costs after the weekend was over.
The question of "special Cirque things" was still elusive. We had
made no promises in anything we had written or said, but through
Fascination!, Ricky knew of some people we might be able to contact.
We started making enquiries but didn't think we would be able to do
much more than perhaps meet our Quidam drummer friend, BJ, after the
show for a drink.
That was before one fateful morning back in mid-April when, completely
out of the blue, we received a message from Mr. Andre Belanger from
Cirque du Soleil in Montreal. The message stated that he had heard
about our efforts and wanted to see if there was a way Cirque du
Soleil could work with us. This was totally unexpected, but could be
the key to making the weekend special for our members. (In retrospect
I think it was our numbers and high profile that caught Cirque's eye.
If we hadn't had more than 25 enthusiastic attendees, or hadn't made
our efforts public, I wonder if they would have been interested.)
We decided Ricky would be the contact point between us and Mr.
Belanger. Ricky responded that we would indeed be interested, and
kept in contact while Mr. Belanger worked behind-the-scenes at Cirque.
We had to keep it confidential until everything was confirmed and
ready to announce, but the potential was exciting.
After some time Mr. Belanger came back with some exciting news. He
offered us a pre-show behind-the-scenes tour of the Quidam site and an
after-show meet and greet/Q&A with some performers. In addition, he
wanted a smaller segment of our group involved in a discussion about
Cirque merchandising with Genevieve Bastien, a fellow Cirque employee
who would be flying in from Montreal IHQ with Mr. Belanger for our
weekend. As if the initial contact wasn't exciting enough, these
proposed plans were even more so!
As the final week before the vacation came into view, things started
flying at a faster pace. We grew in number from 25 to 30 with some
last-minute additions. Since I had released the rest of the Bed and
Breakfast's rooms weeks before, and they had all been filled, new
members had to make their own room arrangements. Jeff came up with
the final designs for the badge and program covers. Final text made
its way to Jeff for inclusion in the Program Book. Mr. Belanger
confirmed the schedule of events for Saturday, which we excitedly
released to our group that Monday.
Wednesday evening, LouAnna's dad Cal arrived with Aunt Barb and Cousin
Shelly. We had a bar-b-que and invited LouAnna's kids and our
grandkids to a get-together. We planned to use the next day to tour
Seattle with our relatives. Everyone was excited about the coming
weekend.
In another unexpected occurrence, Thursday morning I received an email
from Gillian Morris at Dunn Mitchell Communications in Vancouver.
They are Cirque's Vancouver PR firm and wanted to talk about our group
and activities. For what reason I didn't know, but (since I wouldn't
be near my computer that day) I left a phone message for her before
leaving for our days activities.
Just after reaching Pike Place Market (Seattle's farmers market) my
cell phone rang. Ms. Morris? No, it was Ricky! Mr. Belanger had
just contacted him, asking for the names of everyone in our group. It
might be possible to "upgrade our tickets" but no promises. What
could *that* mean? I had maintained a master contact list of all of
our members but hadn't sent Ricky or Jeff the final version. So
instead of enjoying Pike Place with LouAnna and our relatives, I was
reading and spelling our members names to Ricky over the phone from my
copy.
Soon after that my cell phone rang again. This time it was indeed Ms.
Morris, who had been made aware of our trip and wanted some basic
information for a "Media Advisory" she would be creating. This
"advisory" is sent out to media outlets as a "heads up," letting them
know about coverage-worthy events. Unfortunately, when she called, we
were right in the middle of ordering lunch at a Chinese restaurant in
the Market! My being distracted from our group while chatting on the
phone was not what LouAnna was looking for from me. <g> I could also
feel the costs mount as I talked, as the phones LouAnna and I use are
on a per-minute plan (though with very reasonable rates through my
work) since we only use them in emergencies.
I gave Ms. Morris the information she needed to create the advisory.
At the end of the conversation I asked, "Do you really think the media
will come out to see little old us? We're just a bunch of Cirque du
Soleil fans." Her voice had that tone of experience I should have
heeded. "Oh Yeah," she said matter-of-factly. (I found out later
that the "headline" of the Media Advisory she wrote was, "The Cirquies
Come To Town!" This would be a bone of contention with many of our
members, who reject the term as being too much like "Trekkies." Ms.
Morris needed a quick and concise attention-grabbing headline and had
created that title on her own. But it would become the basis for much
of the coverage we would later get.)
Friday morning came all too soon. With all of the party supplies,
Cirque collectibles, and baggage for five people, both our cars'
trunks were quite full. LouAnna, Dad, Barb and Shelly made their way
north in one car, while I went to Sea-Tac Airport to pick up Ricky.
There I was able to meet up with Jeff, who had arrived a bit earlier
that morning and was waiting while the rest of his party flew in from
other areas of the country. He had brought all the Program Books and
finished CDs with him, and I would take them in my car to have them
ready for the Cocktail Hour. While I was admiring the finished
Program Book and complimenting Jeff, Ricky arrived. We all proceeded
to my car and loaded the books and CDs into the back seat (which I
would later come to regret). Ricky had packed lightly, only bringing
a rolling backpack. As Jeff went back to wait for his other folks,
Ricky and I proceeded to make our way northward, to enjoy what we knew
was going to be an unforgettable weekend.
Our fun started long before we caught sight of the Cirque tent.
But that's another tale.
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PARTING QUOTE
=======================================================================
"To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in
darkness and in light, brining magic to life, we bow most humbly."
-- "O" Programme
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SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
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Have a comment, question or concern? Email the Fascination!
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We are anxious to hear any and all comments!
=======================================================================
COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
=======================================================================
"Fascination!" is Ricky Russo, Keith Johnson, Paul Roberts, and
Wayne Leung.
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c)
2001-2004 Ricky Russo, published by Vortex/RGR Productions, a
subsidiary of Communicore Enterprises. No portion of this newsletter
can be reproduced, published in any form or forum, quoted or
translated without the consent of the "Fascination!
Newsletter." By sending us correspondence, you give us permission
(unless otherwise noted) to use the submission as we see fit, without
remuneration. All submissions become the property of the "Fascination!
Newsletter." "Fascination! Newsletter" is not affiliated in any way
with Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil and all its creations are
Copyright (c) and are registered trademarks (TM) of Cirque du Soleil,
Inc., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright
infringement intended.
=======================================================================
