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Fascination Issue 075 expanded
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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
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E X P A N D E D I S S U E
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=======================================================================
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 4 APRIL 2010 ISSUE #75e
=======================================================================
Bonjour et bienvenue!
We present to you a very exciting issue of Fascination! First, and
foremost, we're celebrating - it's our 75th issue! Who would have
thought that we'd reach seventy-five issues when our first issue
was published on September 1, 2001, but here we are! We're not sure
what the future holds for us, but we think reaching this milestone
is very exciting!
Second, and as equally exciting, on Thursday, April 8th, Cirque du
Soleil announced the title and details for its newest touring
production - TOTEM - and it looks great! See all of the details
currently available for TOTEM at press-time within and continue to
check with us as new details develop. We'll also be there for the
show's premiere so we'll be in the audience to deliver to you a
first-hand account of the show!
Besides TOTEM we have a couple of great articles for you this month.
Rodolfo Elizondo, Mexican fan extraordinaire, chimes in with a review
of Dralion's final Grand Chapiteau performances in Mexico City. And
to celebrate the eve of CirqueCon 2010: New York City + Montréal,
Ricky takes the opportunity to outline the previous CirqueCon
adventure - CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey!
Let's get started!
Join us on the web at:
< www.cirquefascination.com >
Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only):
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >
- Ricky "Richasi" Russo
===========
CONTENTS
===========
o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information
* Touring Shows -- Productions under the Big Top
* Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre
* Venue Shows -- Arena & Seasonal Productions
o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets
* Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub
* Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Flickr
o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain
* Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque
* Historia -- Cirque du Soleil's History
o) Fascination! Features
*) "Cirque du Soleil unveils TOTEM"
By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials
*) "DRALION final show in Mexico City: A magical night!"
By: Rodolfo Elizondo - Monterrey, NL (MEX)
{Issue Exclusive}
*) "Vive Apasionadamente! - CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey"
By: Richard Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA)
{Issue Exclusive}
*) "Elvis Sounds Good, and Heres Why"
By: Keith Johnson Seattle, Washington (USA)
{Issue Exclusive}
*) "Popmatters Reviews 'All Together Now' Documentary"
A Special Reprint from Pop Matters Online
{An EXPANDED Selection}
o) Subscription Information
o) Copyright & Disclaimer
=======================================================================
CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
New La Nouba Juggler Deals in Volume [EXPANDED]
{Mar.05.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
Dewayne Bevel, Theme Park Ranger for the Orlando Sentinel, had a
chance recently to sit down with Anthony Gatto, La Noubas
newest act.
# # #
Anthony Gatto has juggled his way around the world and into the
record books. But he's staying put for a while as the newest act
within La Nouba, the permanent Cirque du Soleil show at Downtown
Disney.
Gatto, 36, has decades of show-business experience. His
stepfather, an acrobat and juggler in the Vaudeville era, taught
him to juggle, and by the time he turned 10, he had turned
professional and was working Las Vegas shows.
"All the older casinos, I think I've played including the ones
that are no longer existing," he says. "I was an independent
contractor so I could bounce around to the various shows. I
would also play in Europe a lot and just travel around and find
work."
In La Nouba, he uses balls, clubs and rings lots of them. He's
known for volume.
"You can say that I'm a technical numbers juggler, which means I
just do a lot of stuff," he says. "I do routines with a lot of
things in the air. A typical juggling act might start with three
balls, and I start with five balls and a ball bouncing on my
head, and build up from there."
He simultaneously engages the audience, but that's another
challenge.
"Jugglers, we spend the entire act looking away from them. You
can only see our chin," he says.
"I work the entire stage. I'm right up with the people," Gatto
says. "Sometimes I'm talking to them, saying things, which is
kind of neat here that I have the freedom to make small comments
here and there, and I don't have to be so engulfed in this
character that I can't express myself in that way."
He holds 11 world records.
"One of my accomplishments is seven-club juggling, I did that
for 4 minutes and 20 seconds. I think my nearest competitor is
around a minute and a half," he says. "That was about six years
ago. I don't really try the records anymore. I wonder if I could
beat my own record.
Typically in athletics, you don't keep
peaking. You come to a plateau. I haven't really attempted to do
that because I don't know that I want to know."
Another key honor was winning the prestigious Golden Clown award
at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, which
features a competition among many kinds of circus acts. No
juggler ever took the the top prize until Gatto did it in
2000.
"For an act, it's the Academy Awards in our little circus
world," he says.
Before joining La Nouba in February, he was with Kooza, a
touring Cirque du Soleil show. With that gig, he portrayed a
delivery man and a Keystone Kop in addition to his juggling
duties.
"It was quite taxing on myself, you know, because there's a lot
of preparation that goes into my 10-minute show, warming up and
preparing," he says. "Here I'm basically just doing the
juggling. I also do the parade in the beginning.
I'm in my
super-juggling suit.' "
Relocating to Orlando was a chance to get off the road and he
jumped at the opportunity, he said.
"I was traveling with a dog, my baby and my wife, who was also
in the show at the time as my assistant," he says. "It was a lot
of work." He plans to stay "at least a year, and hopefully
longer."
He admires the talents of his new co-workers, particularly those
in the trampoline act.
"I often look at the guys, the acrobats, and think Wow, I wish
I could do that.' And I wonder if they could teach an old dog
new tricks," he says.
{SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel}
Banana Shpeel - Under New Management?
{Mar.11.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
BANANA SHPEEL PRODUCTION UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Producer gone bananas with revised performance schedule
New York, March 10, 2010 - Marty Schmelky, producer
extraordinaire of such box-offices smashes as The Phantom
of the Banana; Annie Get Your Banana; Fiddler on the Banana; The
Best Little Banana in Texas; Bring in da Noise, Bring in da
Banana; and Gentlemen Prefer Bananas, announced today that he
has closed the deal with Cirque du Soleil to allow Schmelky
Productions to produce the new show Banana Shpeel. Under his
management, Banana Shpeel will begin performances at the Beacon
Theatre (2124 Broadway) on April 29, 2010, instead of March 17.
"To the good people of New York and the entire tri-state area
who have so wonderfully supported my shows for all these
decades, my newest creation Banana Shpeel still needs more time
to ripen. The truth is, my friends, that the bananas are still a
little green," explains cigar-puffing Schmelky. "I am still
holding auditions because Banana Shpeel has to be like me: bold,
wacky and colorful."
In describing the new show, Schmelky is moving in a new
direction from his previous productions. "Im mixing together
different ingredients and we will showcase dance, comedy and
circus arts in the fancy schmancy Beacon Theatre on the Upper
West Side."
Those who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster for
performances through April 28 will automatically be credited the
ticket price and convenience charges. The credit should post to
the credit card account within 7 to 10 business days. A special
discount sent via e-mail will be offered to ticket holders of
cancelled dates, which will be valid for performances starting
April 29. For customer service inquiries, please go to
www.ticketmaster.com/h/asktm.html.
Banana Shpeel tickets for performances from April 29 through
August 29, 2010 can be purchased at www.schmelkyproductions.com
or www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-866-858-0008.
Performance Schedule
April 29 - May 16
Wednesday thru Saturday at 8pm
Sundays at 3pm
May 21 - August 29
Wednesday at 2pm & 8pm
Thursday & Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday at 2pm & 6pm
{SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil}
Cirques Social Media "Balancing Act" [EXPANDED]
{Mar.17.2010}
------------------------------------------------
Jennifer Leggio from ZDNet recently took a moment to speak with
Jessica Berlin, Cirque du Soleils social media manager, about
her role with the company and how she manages Cirque du Soleils
Facebook and Twitter accounts.
# # #
When one thinks of Cirque du Soleil, beautiful imagery and
athleticism come to mind long before the nitty gritty business
operations. The team at Cirque du Soleil works hard to maintain
these images and the mystique that go with every one of its
shows. However, just as many businesses are these days, the
company is using a mix of blogger relations and social network
outreach to help grow attendance for all of its home and
traveling shows.
Jessica Berlin, Cirque du Soleil's social media manager, first
came onto the social media radar after Chris Brogan sang her
praises 18 months ago for her keen view of blogger relations,
and how endearing bloggers to the Cirque brand eventually helped
publicity for the show. Previously a publicist for Cirque, she
had long been networking online and made a point of meeting as
many influencers in person as she could.
"I think one of the biggest mistakes companies make is trying to
just pitch bloggers," she said. "Social media doesn't work like
traditional public relations. You have to form a relationship
with someone first and foremost before they are interested in
blogging about you and your brand."
A bit of a pioneer for Cirque du Soleil, Berlin says that her
current position was created after she became an advocate for
giving bloggers the same access that Cirque would give to any
mainstream media outlet.
"I strongly believe that bloggers can tell the story of our
shows better than anyone else because its not as formal as a
magazine articles or as structured as something in the paper. It
is someone's first-person account of their experience and so
many readers will trust their opinion on the show," Berlin said.
More important, Berlin understands that the new influencers, or
those who serve niche interest groups, might be better at
driving awareness to the audience that Cirque wants versus some
of the mainstream press.
"Just because a blog may not have the same number of views or
readers as a magazine or newspaper, that doesn't make them any
less valuable," she said. "In fact, the smaller audience may
actually be a more targeted/relevant audience for Cirque and
potential ticket sales."
According to Berlin, this success did not come overnight. There
was a lot of internal education that was important, to ensure
that upper management saw the value in engaging with bloggers
along with traditional media. She also said that it took a bit
of trial and error to figure out the best way to leverage social
media followers and have them become evangelists for the brand.
"People don't usually understand the legwork that goes into
making a post about one of our shows happen. While I'm lucky to
work for a brand so many people have an emotional connection to,
that doesn't mean they will write about us. It took a while to
educate people internally on the process."
What Berlin is doing, from blogger relations to managing both
Twitter and Facebook channels for Cirque, is an extension of
what the company has been doing since its inception. Simply
stated: word of mouth marketing. Cirque du Soleil was started 25
years ago by a group of street performers who relied on word of
mouth to get attention for their performances. In a way, social
media allows Cirque to go back to its roots.
To this end, Cirque has made a concerted effort around touring
shows OVO and Kooza, which are on separate touring schedules.
Specific to OVO, Berlin said that word-of-mouth has been key in
creating demand for the show.
"The nice thing about OVO is that once people see the show, it
speaks for itself and word-of-mouth has been strong online since
it premiered," Berlin said. "This too also comes back to blogger
outreach and trying to get bloggers we already have
relationships with to see the show early in its run when it
comes to their town."
Berlin says that the traveling shows are only in one city for a
few weeks or days at a time, so social media efforts are focused
on in-market tactics.
"We work on targeting particular city blogs or people with
strong local followings. At the same time, were also looking
at the next city the show will be traveling to. With a permanent
production we look at more generic blogs (i.e. mom blogs, music,
travel, celebrity) that have larger reach as well as people with
a really large Twitter audience so we can spread the word to as
many people as possible," she said.
Word of mouth marketing and blogger relations has also been key
in drawing attention to its newest Vegas show, Viva ELVIS.
Berlin said that the premiere event drew top tier bloggers Perez
Hilton and @AdventureGirl, which helps keep the show top of mind
even for people who aren't intending to travel to Vegas in the
near future. Specifically for this show, Cirque du Soleil used
video of the performers traveling to Graceland gain inspiration
for their performances. The videos were hosted both on the
Cirque du Soleil site and on the show's Facebook fan page, which
according to Berlin drew great support.
More than blogger relations and social network outreach,
listening tools are key to fueling a successful social media
program. Cirque du Soleil uses Radian 6 to help monitor
converations, influence, tonality and reach.
"Through our monitoring we've been able to identify our
influencers and these are some of the people we regularly with
work but were always discovering new bloggers who are able to
help spread news about our brand," she said. "Internally, our
executives like seeing particular blog postings as well as the
week to week growth of our channels. Another thing we look at is
how conversations are growing month to month in blogs, comments,
etc. Are there more or fewer online conversations happening? We
want to know which shows are being mentioned the most/least and
for what reasons."
Berlin says that direct metrics include sales tracking. She
posts discounts that are exclusive to Twitter and Facebook fans,
which at zero cost to Cirque, helps to quickly spread the word
of the shows.
"We've had great success with this and pushing last-minute
ticket sales, yielding great ROI."
Berlin is quick to point out that a social media program such as
this cannot just be a hit here and there; it has to have
longevity and permanence to really be effective for Cirque du
Soleil's business. For example, Cirque needs to sell 120,000
tickets per week for Viva ELVIS alone.
"Just because a show has opened doesn't mean promos stop since
there are always tickets to sell," Berlin said. "I'm looking
forward to some really cool initiatives that we'll be launching
this year."
{SOURCE: ZDNet}
CDS and Reebok Continue to "Fit to Flex"
{Mar.17.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
Montreal, March 17, 2010 - Following the worldwide success of
JUKARI Fit to Fly Cirque du Soleil & Reebok today launch JUKARI
Fit to Flex, the second innovative workout to come out of the
ground-breaking partnership between the leading womens fitness
brand and the world renowned entertainment company. JUKARI Fit
to Flex is a dynamic and effective workout that uses the
musicality and vibrant colors of Cirque du Soleil to bring
fitness to life and create a visual spectacle of strong shapes
and flowing movements. JUKARI Fit to Flex launches first in
Montreal, Canada the home of Cirque du Soleil and will rollout
in gyms in the USA and Europe from April and in Asia and Latin
America later this year.
JUKARI Fit to Flex is a dynamic and effective workout that uses
the musicality and vibrant colors of Cirque du Soleil to bring
fitness to life and create a visual spectacle of strong shapes
and flowing movements. Women can explore and enhance their
flexibility, muscle tone and coordination in a fun, instructor-
led class with the help of the specially designed JUKARI Band.
The light-weight, elastic JUKARI Band offers gentle assistance
in each of the unique moves which allows for a lengthening and
sculpting full-body workout.
Says Katrin Ley, Head of Womens at Reebok: "JUKARI Fit to Flex
is the perfect complement to that workout - once again weve
merged Reeboks expertise in and passion for women fitness with
the stunning theatricality, excitement and innovation of our
partner Cirque du Soleil. There is, quite simply, nothing else
like it on offer at the gym."
Sara Haley, Reeboks Global Fitness Specialist for JUKARI Fit to
Flex, worked with Cirque du Soleil over the past year to create
the workout. She said: " As part of an integrated fitness
programme, women also want to improve and enhance their
flexibility.
As the creative inspiration behind the project, Cirque du Soleil
played a crucial role in creating the program. As Lyn Heward,
Creative Director of the Reebok-Cirque du Soleil program says:
"This is a true partnership in the sense that each move in the
JUKARI Fit to Flex workout has drawn its inspiration from the
graceful yet powerful moves that Cirque du Soleil artists create
with their bodies. With this goal in mind, we worked closely
with Reebok to ensure that each exercise is accessible for all
women."
Says Mario DAmico, CMO at Cirque du Soleil: "Our partnership
with Reebok continues to grow from strength to strength as we
merge the skills of both organisations - Cirques athleticism
and elegance of movement with Reebok's knowledge of women's
fitness trends and preferences." "Together, we have created
striking new gym workouts that women have responded to in a
phenomenal way which we are both proud to be a part of."
{SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil}
Cirque at Charlottetown Summerfest
{Mar.31.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
Over the next three years, the Special Events team at Cirque du
Soleil will oversee the creation and production of an outdoor
event designed especially for the new Charlottetown SummerFest.
This festival is set to take place from June 30 to July 4, 2010.
This exclusive event will be presented for the very first time
this year and will be back for two more consecutive summers.
This is also the first time that the Special Events team at
Cirque du Soleil takes part in a Maritimes festival. "We want to
add a little Cirque touch with a unique, customized production
that will be presented only in Charlottetown," explains Yasmine
Khalil, Special Events Director at Cirque du Soleil. "This
event, designed especially for the festival, will be nothing
like our usual shows." Maritimes audiences who have seen Cirque
du Soleil shows in arenas will discover a new expression of
creativity by the international artistic company.
For several years now, the Special Events team at Cirque du
Soleil has been producing original, custom-made artistic events
for the general public all over the world. Working in so many
different places, Cirque has shown its ability to adapt its
creativity to any context. Be it a one-time performance or an
event taking place over several weeks, the creative process is
based on a desire to produce a unique artistic display. Inspired
by the cultural, architectural or sometimes historical
particularities of each event, the team offers high-quality,
unifying experiences in a myriad of forms.
The repertoire of the Cirque du Soleil Special Events team,
which draws from a pool of multidisciplinary talents, includes
one-of-a-kind festive gatherings. In Zaragoza, Spain, the daily
Awakening of the Serpent parade amazed over 2 million visitors
on the site of the 2008 World Expo. In Toronto, the team turned
the sites of the 2009 edition of the Luminato festival into a
picturesque meeting place between two colourful communities as
more than 450,000 people watched on. In honour of the 400 th
anniversary of Quebec City, the team celebrated the city's
history with an original show event for over 90,000 people. In
just one summer, more than 1 million spectators saw the Les
Chemins Invisibles street event, which quickly became a cultural
attraction in Quebec City.
The special Cirque du Soleil event that will be part of
Charlottetown SummerFest will be revealed at the start of the
festival.
{SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil}
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
o) TOURING - Under the Big Top
{Corteo, Dralion, Koozå, OVO, Quidam & Varekai}
o) RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre
{Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE,
ZAIA, ZED, Believe & VIVA Elvis}
o) VENUE - Arena & Seasonal Productions
{Saltimbanco, Alegría | Wintuk, Banana Shpeel}
NOTE:
.) While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate
touring dates and locations available, the information in
this section is subject to change without notice. As such,
the Fascination! Newsletter does not accept responsibility
for the accuracy of these listings.
.) Dates so marked (*) are not official until released by Cirque
du Soleil.
For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts,
please visit our website < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >.
---------------------------------
TOURING - Under the Big Top
---------------------------------
Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=39 >
Corteo:
Fukuoka, Japan -- Feb 11, 2010 to Apr 4, 2010
Sendai, Japan -- Apr 21, 2010 to Jun 6, 2010
St. Petersburg, Russia -- Jun 26, 2010 to Aug 8, 2010
Kazan, Russia -- Aug 21, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010
Moscow, Russia -- Oct 9, 2010 to Dec 12, 2010
Dralion:
New Tour Coming Soon!
Koozå:
Portland, OR -- Apr 9, 2010 to May 23, 2010
Seattle, WA -- Jun 3, 2010 to Jul 11, 2010
Vancouver, BC -- Jul 22, 2010 to Sep 5, 2010 (*)
Houston, TX -- Sep 23, 2010 to Oct 31, 2010 (*)
Miami, FL -- Nov 18, 2010 to Dec 26, 2010 (*)
Ovo:
New York, NY -- Apr 9, 2010 to Jul 4, 2010
Hartford, CT -- Jul 15, 2010 to Aug 15, 2010 (*)
Boston, MA -- Aug 26, 2010 to Oct 3, 2010 (*)
Washington, DC -- Oct 14, 2010 to Nov 28, 2010 (*)
Atlanta, GA -- Dec 17, 2010 to Feb 13, 2011 (*)
Quidam:
São Paulo, BR -- Feb 26, 2010 to Apr 11, 2010
Porto Alegre, BR -- Apr 22, 2010 to May 16, 2010
Buenos Aiers, AR -- May 28, 2010 to Jun 27, 2010
Santiago, CL -- Jul 10, 2010 to Aug 15, 2010
Lime, PE -- Aug 29, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010
Bogota, CO -- Oct 9, 2010 to Nov 21, 2010
NOTE: Begins Arena Tour after Bogota!
Totem:
Montréal, QC -- Apr 22, 2010 to Jul 11, 2010
Québec City, QC -- Jul 22, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010
Amsterdam, NL -- Oct 8, 2010 to Dec 18, 2010 (*)
London, UK -- Jan 5, 2011 to Feb 13, 2011 (*)
Madris, ES -- Feb 24, 2011 to May 1, 2011 (*)
Barcelona, ES -- May 12, 2011 to Jul 17, 2011 (*)
Gijon, ES -- Jul 28, 2011 to Aug 28, 2011 (*)
Zurich, CH -- Sep 16, 2011 to Nov 6, 2011 (*)
Lausanne, CH -- Nov 17, 2011 to Dec 18, 2011 (*)
Varekai:
Munich, DE -- Apr 1, 2010 to May 2, 2010
Cologne, DE -- May 13, 2010 to Jun 6, 2010 (*)
Frankfurt, DE -- Jun 17, 2010 to Jul 18, 2010 (*)
Oostende, BE -- Jul 29, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010 (*)
Zurich, CH -- TBA
Paris, FR -- TBA
---------------------------------
RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre
---------------------------------
NOTE: (*) Prices are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise
noted.
(*) Ticket prices exclude the 10% Live Entertainment Tax, the
$7.50 per-ticket processing fee, and sales tax where
applicable.
Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=40 >
Mystère:
Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday
Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm
2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12):
o Category 1: $109.00 / $54.50
o Category 2: $99.00 / $49.50
o Category 3: $79.00 / $39.50
o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50
o Category 5: $60.00 / $30.00 (Limited View)
2010 Dark Dates:
o May 8 - 12
o July 7
o September 4 - 8
o November 3
"O":
Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday
Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm
2010 Ticket Prices:
o Orchestra: $150.00
o Loggia: $130.00
o Balcony: $99.00
o Limited View: $93.50
2010 Dark Dates:
o April 14 - 18
o June 13
o July 4
o August 11 - 15
o October 10
o December 8 - 21
La Nouba:
Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm
2010 Ticket Prices (adults) / (child 3-9):
o Category 0: $120.00 / $97.00
o Category 1: $105.00 / $85.00
o Category 2: $85.00 / $69.00
o Category 3: $69.00 / $56.00
o Category 4: $55.00 / $45.00
2010 Dark Dates:
o May 25 - 28
o June 1 - 4
o July 27
o September 21 - 24
o November 16
Zumanity:
Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday through Sunday
Dark: Monday & Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm
2010 Ticket Prices (18+ Only!):
o Duo Sofas: $135.00
o Orchestra Seats: $99.00
o Upper Orchestra Seats: $79.00
o Balcony Seats: $69.00
o Cabaret Stools: $69.00
2010 Dark Dates:
o April 6 - 11
o June 15 - 16
o July 13 - 14
o August 3 - 8
o September 14
o October 12 - 13
o November 30
o December 1 - 14
2010 Added Performances:
o June 17th
o July 15th
o September 16th
o October 14th
o November 29th
o December 30th
KÀ:
Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12):
o Category 1: $150.00 / $75.00
o Category 2: $125.00 / $62.50
o Category 3: $99.00 / $49.50
o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50
2010 Dark Dates
o June 1 - 8
o September 7 - 11
o November 16 - 17
LOVE:
Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2010 Ticket Prices:
o Lower Orchestra: $150.00
o Upper Orchestra: $130.00
o Lower Balcony: $99.00
o Middle Balcony: $93.50
2010 Dark Dates:
o April 8 - 12
o June 10
o August 5 - 9
o October 7
o December 3 - 13
ZAIA:
Location: Venetian, Macao (China)
Performs: Every Day, Dark: Wednesday
One to Two Shows Daily - Times Vary
2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 2-11):
o VIP Seating: MOP$ 1288 / MOP$ 1288
o Reserve A: MOP$ 788 / MOP$ 394
o Reserve B: MOP$ 588 / MOP$ 294
o Reserve C: MOP$ 388 / MOP$ 194
ZED:
Location: Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo (Japan)
Performs: Varies
One to Two Shows Daily - Showtimes vary
2010 Ticket Prices (Non-Peek / Peek Time):
o Category 1 ("Premium"): ¥15,000 / ¥16,000
o Category 2 ("Stage-Side"): ¥12,500 / ¥13,500
o Category 2 ("Center"): ¥12,500 / ¥13,500
o Category 3 ("Wide View"): ¥9,500 / ¥10,500
o Category 4 ("Value"): ¥7,500 / ¥7,800
BELIEVE:
Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm
NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by
an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted
into the theater.
2010 Ticket Prices (all):
o Category 1: $160.00
o Category 2: $125.00
o Category 3: $99.00
o Category 4: $79.00
o Category 5: $59.00
2010 Dark Dates:
o April 13 - 17
o May 25
o June 1
o July 6 - 10, 13 - 17
o October 12 - 16
VIVA ELVIS:
Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
Preview Performances: December 18th to January 28th
2010 Ticket Prices (Previews / Regular)
o Category 1: $149.38 / $175.00
o Category 2: $128.75 / $150.00
o Category 3: $108.13 / $125.00
o Category 4: $86.68 / $99.00
2010 Dark Dates:
o May 11 - 13
o July 14 - 29
o September 14 - 16
o November 17 - 25
--------------------------------------
VENUE - Arena & Seasonal Productions
--------------------------------------
Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=251 >
[Arena Shows]
Saltimbanco:
Stuttgart, DE -- Mar 31, 2010 to Apr 4, 2010
Bremen, DE -- Apr 7, 2010 to Apr 11, 2010
Valencia, ES -- Apr 14, 2010 to Apr 17, 2010
Santiago, ES -- Apr 21, 2010 to Apr 25, 2010
San Sebastian, ES -- Apr 28, 2010 to May 2, 2010
Sheffield, UK -- May 20, 2010 to May 23, 2010
Liverpool, UK -- May 26, 2010 to May 30, 2010
Glasgow, UK -- Jun 2, 2010 to Jun 6, 2010
Manchester, UK -- Jun 9, 2010 to Jun 13, 2010
Birmingham, UK -- Jun 17, 2010 to Jun 27, 2010
Newcastle, UK -- Jun 30, 2010 to Jul 4, 2010
Dublin, IE -- Jul 7, 2010 to Jul 18, 2010
Nottingham, UK -- Jul 21, 2010 to Jul 25, 2010
London, UK - Jul 28, 2010 to Aug 1, 2010
Hamburg, DE - Aug 19, 2010 to Aug 22, 2010
Dortmund, DE - Aug 25, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010
Berlin, DE - Sep 1, 2010 to Sep 4, 2010
Munich, DE - Sep 8, 2010 to Sep 12, 2010
Zaragoza, ES - Sep 22, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010
Granada, ES -- Sep 29, 2010 to Oct 3, 2010
Madrid, ES -- Oct 6, 2010 to Oct 10, 2010
Lisbon, PT -- Oct 13, 2010 to Oct 24, 2010
Prague, CZ -- Nov 12, 2010 to Nov 14, 2010
Alegría:
East Lansing, MI -- Mar 31, 2010 to Apr 4, 2010
Cleveland, OH -- Apr 7, 2010 to Apr 11, 2010
Highland Heights, KY -- Apr 29, 2010 to May 2, 2010
St, Louis, MO -- May 05, 2010 to May 9, 2010
Kansas City, MO -- May 12, 2010 to May 16, 2010
Salt Lake City, UT -- May 19, 2010 to May 23, 2010
Fresno, CA -- May 26, 2010 to May 30, 2010
Sacramento, CA -- Jun 2, 2010 to Jun 6, 2010
Rio Rancho, NM -- Jun 9, 2010 to Jun 13, 2010
Cypress, TX -- Jun 16, 2010 to Jun 20, 2010
St. Paul, MN -- Jun 23, 2010 to Jun 27, 2010
Toronto, ON -- Jun 30, 2010 to Jul 4, 2010
Winnipeg, MB -- Jul 22, 2010 to Jul 25, 2010
Regina, SK -- Jul 27, 2010 to Aug 1, 2010
Saskatoon, SK -- Aug 4, 2010 to Aug 8, 2010
Edmonton, AB -- Aug 11, 2010 to Aug 22, 2010
Kelowna, BC -- Aug 25, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010
Kamloops, BC -- Sep 1, 2010 to Sep 5, 2010
Victoria, BC -- Sep 8, 2010 to Sep 12, 2010
Tacoma, WA -- Sep 15, 2010 to Sep 19, 2010
Spokane, WA -- Sep 22, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010
Honolulu, HI -- Oct 15, 2010 to Oct 31, 2010
Boise, ID -- Nov 4, 2010 to Nov 7, 2010
Stockton, CA -- Nov 10, 2010 to Nov 14, 2010
Phoenix, AZ -- Nov 17, 2010 to Nov 21, 2010
Tucson, AZ -- Nov 24, 2010 to Nov 28, 2010
Portland, OR -- Dec 1, 2010 to Dec 5, 2010
Oklahoma City, OK -- Dec 23, 2010 to Dec 26, 2010
Quidam:
Kingson, ON -- TBA
Kelowna, BC -- TBA
Montreal, QC -- TBA
[Venue Shows]
Wintuk:
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City (USA)
Wintuk's 2009 Season has drawn to a close. See you next
winter!
Banana Shpeel:
Location: Beacon Theater, New York City (USA)
Schedule: Performances from April 29th through August 29;
Days of the week and times vary.
2010 Ticket Prices (Regular Performances):
[May 17th through August 29th]
o Premium: $199.00 single / $199 group
o P1: $110.00 single / $75.00 group
o P2: $85.00 single / $60.00 group
o P3: $65.00 single / $45.00 group
o P4: $45.00 single / $39.00 group
2010 Ticket Prices (Previews):
[April 29th through May 16th]
o Premium: n/a
o P1: $89.00 single / $55.00 group
o P2: $65.00 single / $55.00 group
o P3: $45.00 single / $45.00 group
NOTE: Prices include $4.50 facility fee.
There is no children's pricing.
Performance Schedule:
o) April 29 - May 16
Wednesday thru Saturday at 8pm
Sundays at 3pm
o) May 21 - August 29
Wednesday at 2pm & 8pm
Thursday & Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday at 2pm & 6pm
=======================================================================
OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE'S SOCIAL WIDGETS
=======================================================================
o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub
o) Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, Youtube & Flickr
---------------------------------------
CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub
---------------------------------------
Recently CirqueClub went through a dramatic transformation -
refocusing and rebranding their efforts through their web page.
Currently a "Beta Version" of the website is up to experience for a
short while, but upgrades and new features will be rolling out soon!
Stay tuned for new and exciting features!
---------------------------------------------------
NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Flickr
---------------------------------------------------
--- [ ALEGRIA ] ---
{Mar.09}
Meet the Cast!
FOTO [4] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=186878&id=38543815745&ref=mf >
{Mar.19}
After the Champaign IL premiere, a local reporter compared
Alegria to a Beethoven symphony and a Leonardo da Vinci
painting! We are very proud of our team who continue to "aww"
audiences all over the world!
{Mar.24}
Hello Omaha! We'll be premiering tonight... don't forget to get
your tickets! Check out one of your very own KETV anchor, John
Oakey, try out the fire-knife dance.
VIDEO [2:40] /// < http://www.ketv.com/video/22929169/
index.html> >
--- [ BANANA SHPEEL ] ---
{Mar.03}
What do the dancers of Banana Shpeel by Cirque du Soleil have to
say about "making music with their feet?" It's definitely a new
twist on dance! Check out the video!
LINK /// < http://video.msg.com/Videos/MSG-Networks/
Behind-the-Scenes-Cirque-du-Soleil-s-Banana-
Shpeel-New-Twist-on-Dance >
{Mar.10}
Its true, we need more time to let Banana Shpeel by Cirque du
Soleil ripen. And now Im in charge of the show. Im Marty
Schmelky and Ive produced lots of great shows in New
York...Phantom of the Banana, Fiddler on the Banana, The Best
Little Banana in Texas, and many others. Stay tuned!
{Mar.10}
At our Open House in February, I was feeling generous and gave
out complimentary tickets for Banana Shpeel shows on March 18,
19 and 20. OOPS! If you have complimentary tickets for one of
those shows, Ill happily exchange them for another Banana
Shpeel performance. With the new start date of April 29,
unfortunately some Banana Shpeel performances were cancelled.
Im sorry to cause any inconvenience, but, believe me, that
extra time will be worth it as we fine-tune the show. For those
who bought tickets for shows from March 17 to April 28, please
click below for information on your automatic refund and special
discount offer.
LINK /// < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/banana-
shpeel/tickets/new-york.aspx >
{Mar.11}
Oops. They're long gone. You really have to hand it to the
Cirque du Soleil. When faced with an intractable dilemma like
"Banana Shpeel," every other theatrical producer in the known
universe would have pulled the plug by now. Their investors
would have insisted.
But not those tenacious Canadians. Theyre still tinkering away.
Theyre still trying to fix the show. Theyre still refunding
tickets. Theyre still paying out cash. They dont give a darn
what anyone thinks.
On Wednesday, the Montreal-based Cirque announced that the New
York premiere of the Chicago-originating show at the Beacon
Theatre was hereby postponed yet again, this time until late
April.
Nothing new there. These postponements are becoming routine.
This time, though, the announcement had a catchy headline:
"Banana Shpeel Production Under New Management." When one read
on, it turned out that the "new management" was none other than
Marty Schmelky, the fictional vaudeville impresario of this
dazzlingly troubled affair. (So he must still be in the show;
wonder who else is still around). Schmelky, the missive went,
had "closed the deal" to take over the show from Cirque. Of
course, he needs a little more time.
Gallows humor from Montreal? Wishful thinking? Chutzpah, either
way.
{Mar.22}
We are in rehearsals six days a week and everyone is busy. But,
sometimes the cast has downtime on stage as musical adjustments
are made or new ideas are hammered out.
FOTO [2] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=4548&id=100000790378451&ref=mf >
{Mar.25}
Every once in a while I let the performers out of the theatre
for a quick dose of sunshine. Choreographer Jared Grimes is on
the left with a few of the dancers in Verdi Park right by the
Beacon Theatre.
FOTO [20] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?
oid=153330866799&view=all >
--- [ KÀ ] ---
{Mar.16}
Hello, KÀ fans! Sorry again for the lack of posts this past
week, we've been on the road a lot in the last month trying to
spread some Cirque du Soleil joy! Please enjoy this interview
with one of our artists, which includes a little peek at a
Battle rehearsal.
VIDEO [2:12] /// < http://vimeo.com/10167135 >
--- [ KOOZA ] ---
{Mar.19}
Press Coverage - San Diego
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=162888&id=34324811338&ref=mf >
--- [ LA NOUBA ] ---
{Mar.17}
Here, The Green Bird shows off her special skills!
VIDEO [0:16] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?
v=1412054504357&ref=mf >
--- [ LOVE ] ---
{Mar.08}
Check out this rad video of Robin turned "Walrus" from LOVE!
VIDEO [1:14] /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgWRAWY7tfU >
{Mar.30}
Thank you to all of our friends who voted LOVE "Best Show in Las
Vegas" for the 3rd year in a row! THANK YOU!!!
LINK /// < http://bestoflasvegas.com/2010/hotels/best-show/ >
--- [ MYSTERE ] ---
{Mar.16}
Hello, Mystère fans! Sorry for the lack of posts this past week.
We decided it wasn't hot enough in Las Vegas last week so we
took (a piece) of our show on the road. To Abu Dhabi! We had the
privilege to perform as part of this year's Laureus World Sports
Awards, which will be broadcast on TV in 178 countries in the
coming months, so keep an eye on your local listings! (We'll let
you know when we know too...)
VIDEO [1:07] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?
v=1240046648509&ref=mf >
{Mar.20}
Marco and Paulo Lorador performed the Hand-to-Hand act from
Mystère at the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi. It
was a quick visit - most of trip was spent in the air - but
here's a small glimpse of our two days in Abu Dhabi. Enjoy!
FOTO [63] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=194192&id=18155469918&ref=mf >
{Mar.24}
Mystère served as the backdrop for a wedding fashion spread in
the April issue of SoCal Scene Magazine. The magazine was
looking for an "Alice in Wonderland" theme, so we painted our
roses red and threw one mad tea party. Thankfully, no heads were
lost in the process!
FOTO [42] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=195256&id=18155469918&ref=mf >
--- [ "O" ] ---
{Mar.09}
Did you know that "O" is the first show in Cirque du Soleil
history to have a Columbian artist and a South Korean artist?
{Mar.19}
We had such a great time with the Canadian Olympic womens
bobsled team tonight! They brought their Gold Medals with them
and mentioned how they want a future Cirque show to involve
bobsledding so they can join in on the fun! You never know...!
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=3488297&id=26000574416 >
{Mar.22}
Cutie and "Star of Tomorrow" Alex Pettyfer talks about "O"!
LINK /// < http://www.teenhollywood.com/2010/03/18/
exclusive-interview-vanessa-hudgens-and-alex-petty >
{Mar.25}
Artists from "O" playing around at the 9th Annual Run Away with
Cirque du Soleil!
FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=3528644&id=26000574416 >
{Mar.30}
Read about our "Man on Fire" Ray Wold in the AARP Bulletin!
Ray Wold started out as a juggler, honing his skills in San
Diegos Balboa Park. But then he turned to working with fire and
is now a member of the Cirque du Soleil troupe. "I do all these
tricks with fire," he says, and considers himself meticulous
with his stunts. At 50, Wold is hot in other ways, too, running
a clown and entertainment business in Las Vegas during the day
and performing in Cirque du Soleils O five evenings a week.
LINK /// < http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/reinventing/
articles/older_performers_take_center_ring_at_
the_circus.html >
--- [ QUIDAM ] ---
{Mar.21}
Tickets are now available for our stop in Buenos Aires in May
FOTO [15] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=168955&id=35752277045&ref=mf >
--- [ SALTIMBANCO ] ---
{Mar.12}
Foto di corsi di formazione a Pesaro.
LINK /// < http://multimedia.quotidianonet.ilsole24ore.com/?
media=14702&tipo=photo&id=448001&cat_principale_page
=1&canale=0&canale_page=1 >
{Mar.21}
Some photos taken in training last Wednesday in Bologna.
LINK /// < http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2010/03/18/foto/
acrobazie_di_corpi_e_di_colori_in_citt_arriva_cirque
_du_soleil-2732322/1/ >
{Mar.26}
More than 22,000 tickets sold in Firenze !! We love you !!
--- [ VAREKAI ] ---
{Mar.26}
Cirque du Soleil is building up the Big Top inside of the Munich
Olympic Stadium. Take a look on the webcam of the Olympic
Stadium!
FOTO [4] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=166450&id=30414380348&ref=mf >
--- [ VIVA ELVIS ] ---
{Mar.04}
Here's an in depth look behind the scenes at the technology in
the show. There was so much content, it will be continued in
next month's issue!
LINK /// < http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1mza7/
TPiFebruary2010Issue/resources/index.htm >
{Mar.29}
Here is part 2 of the Total Production behind the scenes story.
Viva ELVIS is on page 40.
LINK /// < http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1n6iq/
TPiMarch2010Issue127/resources/index.htm >
--- [ ZAIA ] ---
{Mar.11}
Here's some behind-the-scene photos of our first ever Costume
Workshop outside Montreal! Look at the fabulous colors of
fabrics and threads they have!
FOTO [6] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=154840&id=34277887388&ref=mf >
{Mar.15}
The TV crew of High Life Dubai an the beautiful host Uma Gosh
Deshpande visited ZAIA last Saturday! Here see Uma doing her
stand-up at the foyer of ZAIA theatre!
VIDEO [0:17] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?
v=105727089448438&ref=mf >
{Mar.17}
Chippendales at ZAIA Theatre! The boys took some time out of
their busy schedule in Macau. Watched ZAIA and visited our
artists backstage!
FOTO [4] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=156545&id=34277887388&ref=mf >
--- [ ZED ] ---
{Mar.04}
ZED girls celebrated the doll festival and had fun wearing
kimonos!
FOTO [8] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=205395&id=41326571163&ref=mf>
{Mar.23}
The first of 3 special performances at Tokyo Disney Sea's Dock
Side stage with Banquine, Zed, the clowns, the satyres, the
Shaman and 3 lasso artists. It was great fun!
FOTO [15] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=212156&id=41326571163&ref=mf >
--- [ ZUMANITY ] ---
{Mar.18}
Congratulations to Edie (aka Christopher Kenney) who won Best
Local Theatre Director for CityLifes "Best of the Valley"
Awards.
{Mar.24}
Check out our latest review by 303 Magazine! | Losing my shirt
in a Vegas casino has never once appealed to me. Witnessing
acrobats and aerialists lose their shirts in a Cirque du Soleil
production is a completely different animal. Zumanity, the only
Cirque show with actual nudity, has been on my to-do list for
years. Even before I worked with a former cast member on a
performance for Denvers Suite 200, it was on my radar. I
finally lost my Zumanity virginity Sunday night.
And it was good. Very good. Read More!
LINK /// < http://www.blog.303magazine.com/?p=1795 >
{Mar.24}
SoCal Scene Magazine Photo Shoot
FOTO [5] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=160311&id=13931088846&ref=mf >
{Mar.31}
We're proud to be named one of Las Vegas' sexiest shows,
courtesy of Fox Vegas and John Katsilometes. Check the link
below to see what other shows made the cut!
LINK /// < http://www.fox5vegas.com/video/23014248/index.html >
=======================================================================
COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN
=======================================================================
o) DIDYAKNOW - Facts at a Glance about Cirque
o) HISTORIA - Cirque du Soleil History
---------------------------------
DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque
---------------------------------
o) The kitchen is the heart of the Corteo "village", serving over 300
meals per day, six days per week, and providing a meeting place for
cast and crew.
o) The Corteo kitchen comprises two containers, six tents and a dining
room with seating for 100 people, plus an open-air terrace that can
accommodate an additional 50 people.
o) Seventy specialists worked more than 35,000 hours to produce the
first full set of KÀ costumes at the Cirque du Soleil headquarters
in Montreal.
o) For the Wash-up on the Shore scene of KÀ, the beach is created
using 350 cubic feet of granular cork from Portugal.
o) Mystère first complete run-through took place on premiere night.
o) All the images projected onto the sky during performances of
Mystère are pictures taken of the original cast training in
Montreal before coming to Las Vegas.
o) Over 110 bounces on the trampoline and over 65 teeterboard jumps
are executed during a single performance of Mystère
o) If all the cable used on Mystère were laid end to end, it would
stretch from Treasure Island on Las Vegas Blvd. to the California
border.
o) Eighty percent of the fabric used in Cirque du Soleil costumes is
custom-dyed. Silk is the most-used fabric because it wears and dyes
well.
o) Roughly 60% of Cirque's artists come from a sports background
(gymnastics, acrosport, diving, synchronized swimming, among
others).
o) About 5% of Cirque's artists have competed in the Olympic Games.
o) Canadian artists represent about 25% of Cirque's artistic staff.
o) The 25'-diameter Sphere of ZAIA moves on three axes. It consists of
an exoskeleton and weighs 4,000 lbs. Its 6 projectors beam
integrated images in a full 360-degree radius
o) The ZAIA troupe includes 18 dancers and brings together very
disparate styles: Romanian gypsy dancing, tango, jigs, wave,
breakdancing and modern dance.
------------------------------------
HISTORIA: Cirque du Soleil History
------------------------------------
* Apr.01.2003 -- "Varekai: Cirque du Soleil" Book Published
* Apr.01.2008 -- Koozå opened Hartford, CT
* Apr.01.2010 -- Varekai opened Munich, DE
* Apr.02.1998 -- Alegría opened Barcelona
* Apr.02.2002 -- Name of "Cirque 2002" Announced - Varekai
* Apr.02.2003 -- BRAVO announced Cirque Variety Series ("Solstrom")
* Apr.02.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Mobile, AL
* Apr.04.2001 -- Dralion opened in New York
* Apr.04.2006 -- M.A.C. became Official Cosmetic Supplier
* Apr.04.2006 -- Cirque inked 3-year TV deal in UK
* Apr.05.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened in Amsterdam (again)
* Apr.05.2001 -- Quidam opened in Antwerp
* Apr.05.2005 -- Name of "Cirque 2005" Announced - Corteo
* Apr.06.2000 -- Dralion opened in San Jose, California
* Apr.06.2006 -- «O» selected "Favorite Production Show" by "Whats
On, The Las Vegas Guide"
* Apr.06.2006 -- Cirque outsourced IT Department to CGI Group
* Apr.07.2009 -- Name of "Cirque2009" Announced - "OVO"
* Apr.07.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Bremen, DE
* Apr.07.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Cleveland, OH
* Apr.08.1988 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened San Francisco
* Apr.08.1998 -- Quidam opened New York City
* Apr.08.2005 -- Saltimbanco opened Paris
* Apr.08.2010 -- Name of "Cirque2010" Announced - "TOTEM"
* Apr.09.2004 -- Varekai opened Pittsburg
* Apr.09.2009 -- Quidam opened Sheffield, UK (Temporarily Arena)
* Apr.09.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Nashville, TN
* Apr.09.2010 -- Koozå opened Portland, OR
* Apr.09.2010 -- OVO opened New York City
* Apr.10.2007 -- Cirque announced Saltimbanco Arena Tour
* Apr.10.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Des Moines, IA
* Apr.10.2009 -- Dralion opened Melbourne, Australia
* Apr.11.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened New York City
* Apr.11.2003 -- Dralion opened Baltimore
* Apr.11.2006 -- "The Spark" Book Published
* Apr.11.2007 -- Name of "Cirque 2007" Announced - Koozå
* Apr.13.1989 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Miami, Florida
* Apr.14.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Valencia, ES
* Apr.15.2008 -- APM Music Launches New Film Trailer
Library with Cirque du Soleil Composers
* Apr.15.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Moline, IL
* Apr.15.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Huntsville, AL
* Apr.16.2003 -- SOLSTROM began filming in Montréal
* Apr.16.2009 -- Quidam opened Glasgow, Scotland (Temporarily Arena)
* Apr.16.2009 -- Koozå opened New York City
* Apr.17.2008 -- Name of "Cirque Luxor" Announced -
"Criss Angel: BELIEVE"
* Apr.18.2002 -- Dralion opened San Diego
* Apr.18.2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Geneva
* Apr.18.2006 -- Ground is broken on Tokyo Permanent Production
* Apr.18.2009 -- «O» Celebrated 5,000th Performance [7:30pm]
* Apr.19.2006 -- Cirque announced "LOVE" at The Mirage
* Apr.19.2007 -- Varekai opened Melbourne, Australia
* Apr.19.2007 -- Koozå Premired in Montréal
* Apr.20.2001 -- Saltimbanco 2000 opened Nagoya, Japan
* Apr.20.2005 -- Alegría opened Nagoya, Japan
* Apr.20.2008 -- DELIRIUMs final curtain call [London, UK]
* Apr.20.2008 -- Quidam opened Lisbon, Portugal
* Apr.21.1994 -- Alegría premiered in Montréal
* Apr.21.2005 -- Corteo premiered in Montréal
* Apr.21.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Santiago, ES
* Apr.21.2010 -- Corteo opened Sendai, Japan
* Apr.22.1999 -- Dralion premiered in Montréal
* Apr.22.2003 -- Cirque announced "Zumanity" at NY-NY
* Apr.22.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened North Charleston, SC
* Apr.23.1992 -- Saltimbanco Premiered in Montréal
* Apr.23.1996 -- Quidam premiered in Montréal
* Apr.23.2005 -- La Nouba celebrated 3000th performance
[Saturday, 9:00pm]
* Apr.23.2008 -- Dralion opened Fukuoka, Japan
* Apr.23.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Cedar Rapids, IA
* Apr.23.2009 -- OVO premiered in Montréal
* Apr.23.2010 -- Quidam opened Porto Alegre
* Apr.24.1997 -- Quidam opened Santa Monica
* Apr.24.2002 -- Varekai premiered in Montréal
* Apr.24.2003 -- Alegría opened Austin
* Apr.24.2003 -- Varekai opened New York City
* Apr.24.2007 -- Name of "WinterTale" Released - Wintuk
* Apr.24.2008 -- Corteo opened Seattle, Washington
* Apr.24.2009 -- After 15 years, Alegrías Big Top Tour Ends
* Apr.26.2002 -- Saltimbanco opened Barcelona
* Apr.26.2008 -- Artisans de I'maginarie: The World of Cirque du
Soleil is staged in Omotesando Hills, Tokyo
* Apr.27.2000 -- Mystère celebrated 3000th Performance
[Thursday, 10:30pm]
* Apr.27.2006 -- Alegría opened Rome
* Apr.27.2006 -- Corteo opened New York
* Apr.28.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened San Sebastian
* Apr.29.1997 -- Quidam opened in Santa Monica (again)
* Apr.29.2004 -- Varekai opened Phoenix
* Apr.29.2004 -- Saltimbanco opened Milan
* Apr.29.2009 -- Cirque announces new shows in NYC
* Apr.29.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Lakeland, FL
* Apr.29.2010 -- Alegría arena opened Highland Heights
* Apr.29.2010 -- Banana Shpeel opened New York City
* Apr.30.1999 -- Alegría: Le Film premiered in Québec
* Apr.30.2003 -- Alegría celebrated 3000th Performance [8:00pm/Austin]
=======================================================================
FASCINATION! FEATURES
=======================================================================
Within...
o) "Cirque du Soleil unveils TOTEM"
By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials
o) "DRALION final show in Mexico City: A magical night!"
By: Rodolfo Elizondo - Monterrey, NL (MEX)
{Issue Exclusive}
o) "Vive Apasionadamente! - CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey"
By: Richard Russo Orlando, Florida (USA)
{Issue Exclusive}
o) "Elvis Sounds Good, and Heres Why"
By: Keith Johnson Seattle, Washington (USA)
{Issue Exclusive}
o) "Popmatters Reviews 'All Together Now' Documentary"
A Special Reprint from Pop Matters Online
{An EXPANDED Selection}
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"Cirque du Soleil unveils TOTEM"
By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials
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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - TOTEM
A FASCINATING JOURNEY INTO THE EVOLUTION OF MANKIND
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ROBERT LEPAGE
ABOUT THE SHOW
--------------
TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its
original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters
evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for any
ancient civilizations.
Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual
and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species.
Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind
Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.
SHOW NAME
---------
The word "totem" contains the idea of the order of species. We carry
in our bodies the potential of all species, all the way to our desire
to fly- like the thunderbird at the top of the totem pole.
CAST AND ACTS
-------------
The cast of TOTEM comprises 52 performing artists from 19 countries.
The theme of evolution extended into the acrobatic acts, which were
selected to reflect the evolution of human motor functions.
CREATORS
--------
Guy Laliberte -- Artistic Guide
Gilles Ste-Croix -- Artistic Guide
Robert Lepage -- Writer & Director
Neilson Vignola -- Director of Creation
CarlFillion -- Set & Props Designer
Kym Barrett -- Costume Designer
Bob & Bill -- Composers & Musical Directors
Jeff Hall -- Choreographer
Étienne Boucher -- Lighting Designer
Pedro Pires -- Image Content Designer
Jacques Boucher -- Sound Designer
Pierre Masse -- Acrobatic Equipment & Rigging Designer
Florence Pot -- Acrobatic Performance Designer
Nathalie J. Simard -- Makeup Designer
SET DESIGN & PROJECTIONS
------------------------
The Turtle - Support of the World ///
At the heart heart of many founding myths that live on in a variety of
legends and oral traditions, the turtle represents the earth and
carries the entire weight of the world on its shell. This totemic
animal is also omnipresent in the scenic environment of TOTEM.
The large oval framework on stage represents the skeletal substructure
of a huge turtle shell that serves both as a decorative set element
and as acrobatic equipment. At the start of the show it is covered
with a cloth printed with the shell markings of a forest turtle,
reproduced through macro photography. Depending on the artistic needs
of TOTEM, the skeleton is raised to the top of the tent or opened at
an angle like an enormous shell.
An organic world of multiple transformations ///
The visual environment of TOTEM is an organic world, a marsh lined
with reeds near an island (the stage), on which images are projected.
Set designer Carl Fillion gave it curves and non-linear forms to
reflect the natural world.
Tilted slightly forward, the image marsh acts both as a stage entrance
and as a projection surface. Through the magic of moving images it
becomes a virtual swamp, a river source, a marsh, a lake, an ocean,
a volcanic island, a pond and a starry sky.
The images in the TOTEM projections are drawn from nature and were
shot for the production in various parts of the world, including
Iceland, Hawaii and Guatemala. Even the images of boiling lava were
filmed by Image Content designer Pedro Pires.
The "scorpion bridge," which serves as a mobile platform connecting
the marsh to the scene features variable geometry allowing it to adapt
to each tableau. In one of the clown numbers, for example, it becomes
the prow of a boat, then rises to become a plane in flight, and
finally a rocket taking off. In another scene, the bridge is
configured to look like a vertical totem pole.
The concept of the scorpion bridge was loosely based on a retractable
pedestrian bridge in London. Built of steel and weighing 10,000 lbs,
its eight powerful mineral oil hydraulic motors allow it to rise,
descend, extend, retract and curl in on itself like a scorpions tail.
Its reflective surfaces, which shine like mirrors, are made of
stainless steel plates. The base of the bridge houses lighting
equipment, a laser, speakers and cameras. During the show, the bridge
is monitored by an operator using four infrared cameras.
Set and Projection Closeups ///
o) The border of the stage recalls the plastron (underside) of a
turtle. The motifs on the surface of the stage itself are a collage
of hand-drawn images inspired by the patterns on the plastrons of
several turtle species.
o) Bordering the marsh upstage, the reeds conceal the artists and some
set elements before they enter, as well as serving as a projection
surface. To save weight and facilitate storage on tour, the reeds
are inflatable.
o) During the rings trio number, the scorpion bridge turns into an
Indian carpet that unrolls on the beach in a reference to the
Bollywood aesthetic that inspired the overall look of this scene.
o) Some of the projections on the marsh interact with the movements of
the artists in real time. Infrared cameras positioned above the
stage and around the marsh detect the movement of the performers
and produce kinetic effects such as ripples, splashes and
reflections in the water and the flames.
o) Photographs taken by Guy Laliberté during his recent Poetic Social
Mission aboard the International Space Station are integrated with
the Russian bars number, when the cosmonauts are trying to break
free of the Earths gravity in the shows finale.
COSTUMES
--------
Kym Barretts initial approach to the TOTEM costume designs was rooted
in documentary-based reality. This process entailed research into real
animals, plants and birds as well as traditional cultural and tribal
designs to source her fanciful, inventive concoctions.
Kyms other major preoccupation was the shows theme of evolution,
which led her to emphasize the importance of the human body at every
opportunity. She points to the example of a forest populated by
butterflies and frogs, saying it was important to her to show the
human body as part of the overall visual mosaic of the scene.
The third show theme reflected in the costumes is the cycle of the
seasons, which underscores the importance of nature to the show. Neon-
bright colours, vivid, shiny fabrics and playful details lend a summer
atmosphere to the Bollywood-inspired beach scene. To suggest a time of
harvest and the abundance of fall, the unicyclists costumes feature
seed pods, flowers, trees and leaves. And the two roller-skaters are
dressed in white and silver to help create a winter tableau.
To recreate such a broad range of textures, colours and markings found
in nature, Kym concentrated on the treatment of fabrics rather than on
the fabrics themselves: Advanced printing techniques, fluorescent
pigments, mirror fragments and crystals allowed her to"paint" on
canvases as varied as Lycra and leather, with results that constantly
interact with and adapt to the shows ever-changing lighting.
Costume Closeups ///
o) The Crystal Man is a recurring character in the show who represents
the life force. His (literally) dazzling costume is entirely
covered in small mirrors and crystals to create a ball of energy
when he comes down from the sky in a beam of pure white light. The
glittering mobile mosaic is made up of about 4,500 reflective
components on a stretch velvet leotard.
o) The Hoop Dancers costume is inspired by the traditional ceremonial
clothing of a number of North American Indian tribes, rather than
an accurate portrayal of any one culture. It includes a Hopi cross
and a headdress, and features extensive use of leather.
o) In the opening scene of the show the marsh is populated by fish and
frogs. Their patterns and colours came from real fish and frogs -
including the most poisonous frog in the Amazon jungle - and are
replicated by the pixelation of the image in the screen printing
process. The textures of the fabrics are also a close match to the
skin of fish and frogs found in nature. The end result resembles a
community of human amphibians.
o) Each unicyclist has her own look, but together they form an
integrated unit. The base costumes are printed in earth tones, with
small details sewn onto them - including bolts and screws as well
as feathers and insects. The line of the costumes and the stylized
tutus create flirty ballerina silhouettes.
o) The costumes worn by the foot-juggling duo are based on Lycra body
stockings. Each is adorned with 3,500 crystals and the two
headdresses are each encrusted with a further 1,000.
o) The Businessman character looks like hes wearing an off-the-rack
black suit, but when hes pursued and tackled by a gang of monkeys
it has to break away at various points on his body when they tear
it off him. The monkeys are each wearing a custom-woven fur to
reflect their individual personalities.
o) The Cosmonauts are wearing two costumes in one: When they first
appear (under black light), their body-hugging Lycra suits glow
dramatically in the dark, but as soon as the stage lights kick in,
their look is completely transformed. Some of the printed motifs
recall Mayan drawings, and each artist is wearing an individual
variation on the theme.
FIND TOTEM ONLINE
-----------------
o) Totem's Official Website:
< http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/totem/default.aspx >
o) Trailer (You Tube):
< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOA6q88PssE >
o) Facebook Page:
< http://www.facebook.com/pages/TOTEM-Cirque-du-
Soleil/111798252174207 >
o) Tickets:
< http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/totem/tickets.aspx >
o) Videos, Photos & Wallpapers:
< http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/totem/videos-
extras.aspx >
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"DRALION final show in Mexico City: A magical night!"
By: Rodolfo Elizondo - Monterrey, NL (MEX)
{Issue Exclusive}
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I woke early on the morning of Sunday, January 17, 2010, ready to take
my early flight. I was flying with La Nouba silk artist Ana Cuellars
mother to visit her daughter in Mexico City and watch Dralion in its
last performance under the Grand Chapiteau. The rising of the sun
(the soleil) as we were flying over the mountains of Monterrey was
an image I wont soon forget.
After arriving in Mexico City I parted ways with Anas mother and had
lunch with some friends. When I arrived at the Grand Chapiteau in
Santa Fe I got a very special feeling my mind took me back to all
those great memories from CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey! This time the
atmosphere was also special, but for a different reason. I knew this
wasnt going to be a typical performance. It felt like I wasnt in
Mexico anymore since the grounds were full of the sounds of different
languages spoken by people from other countries. Then I started
recognizing several of them: Cirque du Soleil staff and artists from
all of the shows were there for the grand finale of Dralion! Then my
close friend Ana Cuellar (aerialist from La Nouba and from my home
town of Monterrey) arrived with other several artists and staff from
La Nouba.
When we walked into the Tapis Rouge tent there was another surprise,
several Cirque du Soleil directors and creators were already there:
Gilles Ste-Croix, (Dralion musical composer) Violaine Corradi,
(Dralion director) Guy Caron and of course Guy Laliberté to mention
just a few! It looked like almost half of tonights audience would be
people from Cirque du Soleil - all there, together as one, ready to
give all their energy, support and magic to their friends in the very
last performance of Dralion.
I cant describe the magic I felt; it permeated the Grand Chapiteau.
While I was walking to my seat (I was in Seat 1 of Row A in Sec. 103,
in the very center!) I saw Guy Laliberté sitting in the center of
Section 200 and I had the chance to say hola! to him. I was excited
and surprised when he recognized me (we had previously met in Montreal
during the 25th Anniversary Party). It was an amazing conversation
and I was a bit dazed when the lights suddenly went down.
Dralions last performance was about to begin.
But before the show started, the music that had been playing suddenly
stopped and Bruce Mather, the Artist Director of Dralion came to the
stage. He was very emotional and excited and spoke to the audience
(in Spanish and English) about how this was the last performance of
Dralion after 3,852 performances, 9 million spectators and 13
countries. At that moment the Grand Chapiteau rocked with cheers!
Bruce thanked all the people involved in Dralion throughout its
history, and then announced DRALION!
And the show began.
Never in the 116 times I have seen a Cirque Du Soleil show have I
witnessed anything like this performance - the energy, the sound, the
ovations from the audience were totally out of this world. It would
take pages and pages to describe the whole magical experience of this
performance of Dralion. What I can say is that the audience never
stopped expressing their support to the entire cast of the show.
Applause erupted several times in every act. Since I was close to the
stage I had the chance to see the emotions revealing themselves on the
faces of the artists. All too soon the moment arrived - the last
number of DRALION, skipping ropes. And after that the Finale when the
whole cast appeared on stage. How can I describe it? Well, it was as
if the Popocatepetl Volcano near Mexico City had exploded in a huge
eruption like never before. It was the longest explosion of love and
appreciation I have ever seen at a Cirque show! The artists, crew and
technicians were all so touched they were all crying. They all
received flowers and came back for many curtain calls. Then another
special moment as Guy Laliberte toasted all the cast and crew, and the
big success of Dralion.
Then the fun began.
After the show we travelled to a special hotel in Santa Fe where the
post-performance party for Dralion was held. The decorations were
totally amazing, with the focus on Dralion and China but with some
very traditional Mexican decorations. A grand entrance area welcomed
us, followed by an area where an artist was doing a special memento
painting. The bars and food were all impressive. There were also
several big banners documenting the milestones and records of Dralion.
Several projectors splashed hundreds of pictures of Dralions best
moments onto the ceiling. Later there was a Chinese dance performance
with Dralions and martial arts, followed by a delicious buffet of a
great selection of Asian Food.
And the party continued.
I had a terrific time with Ana and her friends from La Nouba. We were
at the party until very late; I believe it was about 5AM when we
finally left. But before we left the party we received a special
souvenir; a commemorative picture of us taken as we arrived at the
party!
The evening was incredible, unforgettable, and one of the most magical
experiences I have ever had with Cirque Du Soleil.
FOREVER DRALION!
(Muchas gracias Ana por todo..¡FUE MAGICO!)
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"Vive Apasionadamente! - CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey"
By: Richard Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA)
{Issue Exclusive}
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Hey, are you a member of the CirqueCon group, too?
Even before Continental Airlines flight #2277 from Houston, Texas
touched down in Monterrey, Mexico at 10:55am on September 24, 2009,
the magic of CirqueCon was already at work.
Why, yes. You as well?
As I was speaking to fellow Passionate and friend Gena Colton from
Ohio in mid-flight about the adventure ahead (which in itself was an
amazing coincidence she surprised me at the gate in Houston with an
excuse me, stranger and ended up seated next to me in 10-C), I
received a tap on the shoulder followed by the question. That tap
turned out to be from Nora Shappee, another Passionate hailing from
Michigan, seated directly behind us.
Whodathunk?
CirqueCon - the Unofficial Gatherings of Cirque du Soleil Passionates
- is a fan-organized assembly of like-minded individuals who share a
singular passion: that of the circus arts. Our humble story began in
2004 with fans proposing a small gathering during the Vancouver, BC
run of Quidam, which had just delighted audiences throughout Japan the
year prior. While the tale of our genesis is somewhat more complicated
than just a coming together, suffice it to say two individual groups
did decide to band together and make the trip as one. Add in a little
folly from Cirque du Soleil and viola CirqueCon came to be. Since
then weve made similar journeys in search of our favorite circus,
which have taken us to a number of cities over the years: Montreal
(2005), Las Vegas (2006), Orlando (2007), and Tokyo (2008). But like
all reflections to be made before, during and after a gathering of
this magnitude once you reach your destination and the curtain falls
on the event: whats next?
During the concept phase of CirqueCon 2008: Tokyo! we thought perhaps
after doing five straight events in as many years a break for rest and
recuperation was in order, which would in turn give us the answer to
that all important question. And although the very last page in our
CirqueCon 2008: Tokyo! programme book did mention our next confirmed
event would be CirqueCon 2010: Hollywood!, we never did say that we
werent gathering in 2009 (cheeky of us...). So when CirqueCon 2010:
Hollywood! became CirqueCon 2011: Hollywood! (due to a delay with the
show), and we received a passionate plea from our friend and Mexican
fan extraordinaire Rodolfo Elizondo about taking CirqueCon to Mexico
for Dralions farewell, we couldnt pass up his enthusiasm and thus
CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey! was born!
Monterrey (pronounced with a heavy 'rrrrr') is a very modern Mexican
city situated in the northeastern state of Nuevo León, approximately
150 miles south of the United States border near Texas. This state
capital boasts a populace that ranks it third behind the Greater
Mexico City and Greater Guadalajara metropolises and is home to many
businesses, industries, universities and families. Arts in all forms
are very prevalent here, as Monterrey is the unofficial art capital of
Mexico; and also rich in culture. Throughout the weekend we
experienced only a little of what Monterrey, and really all of Mexico,
had to offer by visiting its museums, conversing with its people, and
shopping on its streets. But what an amazingly fun weekend we had!
A fantastic number of 70 plus Passionates joined us, the first time
we have taken our event south of the border. And what an amazing mix
of people we had! Breaking it down numerically, 30% hailed from the
United States (representing the states of California, Colorado,
Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and
Washington) with the remaining 70% coming from within Mexico. Of those
70%, 45% were from the host city (Monterrey), while the remaining 55%
represented other parts of Mexico, such as Tijuana, Mexico City, Nuevo
Laredo, Saltillo, Guadalaja, Merida, Torreon, Apodaca and San Luis
Potosi. An amazing blend of peoples and cultures who truly lived the
CirqueCon motto: Vive Apasionadamente - Live Passionately!
Here is our story.
* * *
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th ///
Within moments of landing, I found Rodolfo and the three of us
(Rodolfo, Gena and I) were on our way to the Holiday Inn Parque
Fundidora, our headquarters hotel. We were in a bit of a rush because
within the hour Rodolfo and I were due at the tables set up in the
hotels lobby for our events opening registration time. We made it!
Dozens of Passionates from within Mexico dropped by to pick up their
programme packet (filled with brochures and maps from places all
around Monterrey), the Group Meal, City Tour, Cirque Activities, Group
Show and Bohemia Night tickets, their badges, and other CirqueCon
branded goodies (such as the T-Shirt, post-cards, and more!) Some just
dropped by to say Hola, including the real Patch Adams (who was also
staying at the hotel), but thats a horse of a different color.
Late in the afternoon we kicked off our celebration at Dralions white
Grand Chapiteau with a unique chance to see artists training on an act
added since the last time the show was in the country the Trampo
Wall. While we waited at the gates, Ana Cuellar, La Nouba silk artist,
met us there for an impromptu chat. As a native resident of Monterrey,
she spoke to us about Monterreys art scene, her travels within Mexico
and about her life here before Cirque. Ana also shared with us her
trials and tribulations performing night after night after night
including the development of her own silk act - at La Nouba, Cirque du
Soleil at Downtown Disneys West Side.
Before long we took our seats inside the Grand Chapiteau to watch an
amazing training session featuring Double Trapeze and Trampoline. One
of Anas friends (and Cirque alum) was there training for the
TrampoWall routine; picking up his role rather quickly I might add.
And why not, hes a trampoline artist from La Nouba! After receiving
numerous rounds of applaus from us for sticking a trampo-jump hand
stand he left the stage. The boys and girls of the Double Trapeze
routine took to the rafters off and on throughout our time, warming up
for their performance later tonight, no doubt, doing equally as well.
After training concluded Bruce Mather, Artistic Director for Dralion,
and a couple of trampoline artists (Dustin Hill, Alejandro Cuenca,
Oskana Pochynok, and Ulf Hampus Jansson) joined us for a question and
answer session. And although shy at first our Passionate fans eyes
were just round with admiration for them they began asking question
upon question. What is it like to tour with Cirque? What is your
favorite show? What about Dralion do you like? How do you like Mexico
fans? What will you do after Dralion closes?
Uhhh... What? Shh, they didnt know!
How could they not know? Although artists generally have a good beat
on what is happening on tour, they are not always the first to know
about business decisions regarding the show or tour they are on. And
considering how fast a decision could be changed or overturned, it
wasn't surprising the artists we spoke to didn't seem to be in the
know. Or, they knew but didn't want to say much in front of their
boss. Thankfully, though, the question didn't anger anyone.
In all we spent a good solid two hours with our friends at Cirque du
Soleil, but our time with Dralion that afternoon was drawing to a
close. Before they let us out of the Grand Chapiteau for the day,
however, Bruce had one final announcement for us we were to join
them again Saturday evening between shows for a back-stage group
photograph with a few of the artists in costume! WOW!
With the sun now setting beautifully in the sky, it was time to make
our way back across the park for our evening stroll around Parque
Fundidoras famous Blast Furnace (Horno 3) area and our cruise down
the Paseo Santa Lucía to the Macroplaza, our cultural answer to
CirqueCons traditional Meet & Greet activity.
One of the most interesting and best modes of transportation in
Monterrey is the boat on the Paseo Santa Lucia, an artificial water
canal that connects Parque Fundidora 2.5-kilometers to the east with
Museo de Historia/Plaza 400 (Museum of Mexican History) at the
Macroplaza. On the way you pass beyond the park, through beautiful
fountains and other waterworks displays, around a whirlpool maker and
finally into the water-filled Plaza 400 at the Macroplaza, entertained
not only by the city lights around you (how about those floats?) but
by the tour guide driving the boat.
Fantastico!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th ///
The morning got off to quite an early start. I was due at the open
registration tables bright and early 8:00am before we embarked on
our twelve-hour tour of Monterrey city and its environs, a unique and
customized tour created by Rodolfo exclusively for the members of
CirqueCon 2009, visiting museums, shopping plazas, natural places and
more! Although there were a few last-minute bumps in our plan (the
weather did not cooperate it started to rain and our bus was a few
minutes late), we took it all in stride and had a smashing day out and
about. Highlights include...
Puente de la Unidad -- A cable-style bridge that crosses the mostly
dry Santa Catarina River. It is one of Monterreys highest and most
artistically designed bridges.
Grutas de García (Garcia Caves) - 60 million year-old caverns
beautifully lining the inside of El Fraile, one of Monterreys famous
mountains, awaited us some 30 kilometers outside of the citys limits.
Featuring a rocky desert with a number of impressive rock formations
and chambers, the caves were a uniquely cool (pun intended) place to
visit. Some of the most spectacular features of Garcia Caves are La
Octavia Maravilla (the Eighth Miracle), a formation whereby a
stalagmite merged with a stalactite to form a column); the El Mirador
de la Mano, a stalagmite that formed in the shape of a human hand;
El Nacimiento, a formation known as The Nativity; El Teatro, a
huge rock formation nicknamed The Theater; and La Gorila, a
Gorilla shaped formation embedded in the cavern wall. To reach the
caverns entrance we had to ascend the mountain via an aerial tramway
which afforded us fantastic views of the surrounding peaks.
The Cañon de la Huasteca -- One of Monterreys most famous natural
wonders featuring beautiful 300 meter cliffs surrounded by woodlands
and jagged peaks, a stunningly beautiful mountain range.
The Macroplaza -- A 400,000 square meter court consisting of various
museums, monuments, gardens, fountains and various other green-space
accoutrements. It's anchored by the Palacio Municipal (Municipal
Palace) on the south end at Constitución Avenue and the Antiqua
Palacio Federal (Antique Federal Palace) on the north end at Cinco-de-
Mayo Avenue. The Macroplaza features a number of monuments and other
pedestrian zones including Fuente de Neptuno (the Fountain of
Neptune), a beautiful bronze fountain that represents Neptune, the
Roman god of the Sea (also formally known as Fuente de la Vida the
fountain of Life), the Capilla de los Dulces Nombres, a 19th century
roman catholic chapel; and the Faro del Comercio (Lighthouse of
Commerce), a 70 meter tall square lighthouse equipped with a green
laser that shoots its light out over the city at night.
Monterreys museums are also located nearby, such as MUNE (or Museum
of the North East), showcasing the history of this part of Mexico) and
the Museo de Historia Mexicana (Museum of Mexican History). Although
MUNE is fascinating I find the Museo de Historia Mexicana to be the
diamond in the ruff. This place is a treasure trove of exploration,
art and enlightenment for those interested in the history of this
land. At this museum youll find temporary and permanent exhibits
divided into five areas which represent important periods in Mexican
history: The initial creation of these lands ("Earth"), the Aztec and
Mayan civilizations ("Ancient Mexico"), the Spanish conquistadores and
the arrival of the Europeans ("The Viceroy Period"), the
Spanish/American wars ("19th Century") and modern democratic Mexico
("Modern Mexico").
Whew, thats a lot of walking about isnt it -- who said Margaritas!?
By the conclusion of our tour at the MacroPlaza and the nearby museums
we were all bushed, but our day was not yet over. After just a couple
of hours to rest, relax and recharge, for some of us it was back on
the bus for Bohemia Night, CirqueCons night on the town! It is said
that Monterrey doesnt come alive until after 1:00am and for the most
part I can say that is definitely true. Twenty-two of us braved the
early-morning call to descend upon Neuva Luna for a little food, a
little fun, and a little refreshment Mexican style.
While we rocked the night away to the bands repertoire of rock, pop,
salsa and traditional north Mexican beats, the staff of Nueva Luna
kept us filled with steak and chicken fajitas, tortillas, and various
accoutrements. And once the alcohol started flowing there was no
stopping us! Bus transportation to and from the Holiday Inn Parque
Fundidora to Nueva Luna Restaurant was included and return trips back
to the hotel occurred in three increments, in case anyone wished to
leave a little earlier at 1:00am, 2:00am or 3:00am.
I chose to leave a little early myself on the second bus but oh
man did I have a blast!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th ///
With the previous nights late return coupled with todays early
arrival, youd think many of us would be dragging but youd be
wrong! We were up and ready for our exploration of Horno 3 at Parque
Fundidora.
The Horno 3 blast furnace was once part of the now defunct Monterrey
Steel Foundry Company and was in use from 1900 until the companys
bankruptcy in 1986. Two years later the park was born. Horno 3 is a
museum these days; patrons can explore the Foundry History Gallery (a
look at the events which forged the steel industry in Mexico), the
Steel Gallery (a look at industrial processes), and the Blast Furnace
show (a multi-sensorial show complete with stunning effects simulating
the workings at No 3. Blast Furnace), you can also take a trip to the
top of this monstrosity for one spectacular view of the city. Its
130ft (40m) from ground-level and is on a slated platform - so not
only can you see all around but below you too; hold on! The incline
chair (that seats about eight) will take you up to the top for about
80 pesos (approx $8.00) and from there all of Monterrey opens up to
you.
Here you can take in the relative peace and quiet of the skies above
the park. You really get a fantastic view of your surroundings
including the fantastic M-shaped Cerro de la Silla, my hotel (the
Holiday Inn at Parque Fundidora) and the Grand Chapiteau itself
(sitting next to Plaza Sesamo, a Sesame Street theme park.)
Then we assembled in the lobby of our headquarters hotel for yet
another trip on the bus. This time we were off to Hacienda San Angel
for our group meal!
Afterwards we were off to Mirador del Obispado (Bishop's Lookout),
which is located atop Cerro del Obispado, the hill of the same name
for yet another fantastic view of the city. Rising about 775 meters
above sea level, this viewpoint is adorned with a fabulous 18th
century palace and a number of steps that make this one photogenic
spot. Besides a fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding city - you
can easily spot all of downtown Monterrey and its sprawling environs
from here, and Monterrey's namesake mountains: Cerro de las Mitras
(Miter Hill), Cerro del Topo Chico (Small Mole Hill), Cerro de la Loma
Larga (Long Slope Hill), La Huasteca, and, of course, Cerro de la
Silla (or Saddle Hill), which rises above 1800 meters (or 5900 feet)
you'll also find Mexico's biggest monument flag nearby, but due to
time constraints we had to make our way back to the Parque for
Dralion.
We assembled outside the gates of the Grand Chapiteau for our amazing
opportunity to take a group photograph with some of the artists
backstage; see Dralion, the extraordinary voyage through a futuristic
dimension - a place without time, ruled by magical laws - a fusion of
ancient Chinese circus tradition with the avant-garde approach of
Cirque du Soleil thrust into a plane of existence that is neither past
nor future; and then re-assemble after at the cast gates out back to
give the artists a grand CirqueCon send-off!
Who were those guys with the yellow bandanas?
Wait, what?
No, we weren't a band of desperados preparing to raid the Grand
Chapiteau (although I imagine that thought crossed the minds of a few
of us); Rodolfo had them for everyone to wave, twirl and otherwise use
to get noticed during and after the performance. And oh boy did the
artists notice us! We were so loud we brought the entire compliment of
spectators with us at first they didnt know what to do but they
soon got into the spirit. So much so the artists gave us one of the
best, most energetic and amazing performance of Dralion I have ever
been privileged to see. They were truly amazing and re-affirmed why I
enjoyed Cirque du Soleil so much.
Its sad we may never experience Dralion in this way ever again
but
at least we sent the cast and crew out in style in the CirqueCon
way!
* * *
If you didnt come to CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey! you really missed
something special. We had lots of fun with much laughter and kinship,
and by the end we all came away with a newfound appreciation for
Mexico and its history and culture. Not to mention a renewed sense of
wonder for Cirque du Soleils Dralion.
But if you missed out on CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey!, or any of our
previous events, we have two very exciting adventures coming in 2010
and 2011, which will take CirqueCon Coast-to-Coast!
CIRQUECON 2010: NEW YORK CITY + MONTREAL! THREE SHOWS. TWO CITIES.
ONE EVENT /// Join us from April 27th through May 2nd as we journey
north and east to The Big Apple for one of Cirque du Soleils latest
productions (Banana Shpeel), take in OVO under the Grand Chapiteau,
then travel to Montréal for Cirques latest touring production, TOTEM.
CIRQUECON 2011: HOLLYWOOD! LIGHTS, CAMERA, CIRQUE! /// Then were
back on the western frontier in 2011 as CirqueCon breaks into the
movies with another of Cirques newest productions: Cirque Kodak in
Hollywood, California!
Join us at www.CirqueCon.com today!
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Elvis Sounds Good, and Heres Why"
By: Keith Johnson Seattle, Washington (USA)
{Issue Exclusive}
--------------------------------------------------------------
An extensive article on the sound and lighting installation for the
VIVA ELVIS theater has appeared in the latest issue of Sound and
Communications magazine ( www.soundandcommunications.com ), a monthly
magazine focused on the sound and digital signage contractor industry.
It can be viewed online at < http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/
904da2bd#/904da2bd/1 >. Click on the article headline on the cover
page to go directly to the article (which starts on page 34). It also
can be printed as a PDF. (Its a nice viewer if a bit complicated.)
The article includes a rundown of most of the technical equipment
installed in the theater. Some items of note:
o) The heart of the audio and control interface is a fiber-optic line
that can hold up to 540 channels of input and has 776 outputs.
o) 92 microphones are used to cover the drum and percussion sets
alone!
o) 143 different wireless frequencies are used throughout the theater.
o) The Musical Director of the show is separated from the rest of the
musicians and calls the show from offstage. He controls 32 tracks
of additional playback audio through a keyboard at his station. He
can also control the settings of the electric guitar pedals.
o) During early runs of the show, guests in the first few rows
complained of being drowned out by stage fog. The creators had to
coordinate with the theaters environmental systems engineers to
come up with a solution.
o) The 8-panel LED wall (which can separate and move into sections
as needed) is made up of more than three-quarters of a million
LEDs. Surprisingly, the entire LED wall never gets warmer than 85
degrees Fahrenheit.
(Source: Sound and Communications Magazine)
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Popmatters Reviews 'All Together Now' Documentary"
A Special Reprint from Pop Matters Online
{An EXPANDED Selection}
--------------------------------------------------------------
The documentary film All Together Now traces the development of the
collaborative Love project from its inception through its 2006 debut.
What began as a conversation between George Harrison and Cirque du
Soleil founder Guy Laliberte expanded into a massive undertaking that
required years of preparation and unprecedented artistic partnerships
between Cirque, Apple Corps and the Mirage Hotel.
Harrison was a fan of the unique artistry of the Cirque du Soleil
performances and envisioned a bold and original rebirth of the
Beatles catalogue. His death in 2001 provided an additional sense of
purpose, although representatives for all four Beatles would need to
agree on concept and execution. Director Adrian Wills follows the
timeline and inserts the viewers into the process by letting them
observe activity and conversations between principals rather than rely
on first-person narrative. Its a wise choice for such voyeuristic
subject matter.
The pulse of the documentary is the immense amount of challenges faced
by everyone involved. For Cirque du Soleil, this presentation was much
more of a musical stage show than their previous productions, as well
as being the first time working without a live band. Not only would
the synchronization between acrobatics and music have to be exact, but
they would have to rely upon the engineers to loop the recorded music
if there was an accident or a technical glitch. Several of the
performers were stage actors or dancers working in a completely new
environment, admittedly working on blind faith until the rehearsals
were finally moved to the working stage in Las Vegas.
The theatre itself was a massive undertaking; besides the elaborate
stage and rigging there needed to be impeccable sound to truly envelop
and involve the audience. The final design incorporated over 6,300
speakers and construction ran over one $100 million.
Naturally, one of the biggest decisions revolved around how to utilize
the Beatles music in the show. There had been many Beatle-oriented
projects ranging from tribute bands to stage shows like Beatlemania,
but the creators wanted to create a new dynamic that would go far
beyond merely playing a set of Beatles songs in period costumes. When
the idea of deconstructing and reassembling recorded tracks came up,
the call went out to George Martin; as Ringo said he knows where all
the skeletons are buried.
George, in turn, enlisted his son Giles, a successful producer in his
own right but more importantly a pair of trusted ears to aid Georges
failing ones. In one of the introductory scenes, Giles talks about the
incredible responsibility of working with such hallowed material;
expecting any unwelcome changes to be received with derision.
Extrapolating that pressure, its fascinating to watch the Cirque du
Soleil directors assimilate the suggestions they are receiving while
delicately retaining artistic control over the visual performances.
Both Martin and the Cirque du Soleil producers were keenly aware that
despite the absence of two of the Beatles, their representatives would
be no less protective of their territory. Although the initial
selections showed an appropriate balance of songwriting (John and Paul
having the lions share, a few from George and one from Ringo), Olivia
and Yoko are shown questioning issues like the time period the songs
were selected from and the actions of the characters in the show.
Cautious and nervous, both are eventually happy with the outcome. By
contrast, Paul and Ringo are unabashedly enthusiastic and always
prompting the creators to go further and wilder.
Whats fascinating about the musical mix is that it works with or
without the visual, an exciting and refreshing reboot of some of the
most familiar pop music of the last half century. Even though we see
several variations of performance while watching the Cirque du Soleil
piece together the show from early warehouse drafts to full dress
rehearsals, the music never fails to synchronize with the activity
onstage. On one hand its odd to see another persons visual
interpretation of a song that originally gestated in your mind, but
unlike a promotional video, this is so abstract it is more of a
hallucinogenic dreamscape than a suggestive manipulation of the songs
intent.
Other short but effective segments follow individual contributors,
like the costume director, a prop master (the show features over two
thousand) and a special project engineer. This engineer who had the
enviable job of spending over a year sifting through the actual Beatle
studio rehearsal tapes to construct a montage of song construction and
band banter that would play as images and silhouettes were projected
on screens.
We also get a couple of short takes of Giles Martin and engineer Paul
Hicks discussing their own challenges to reinvent the music itself.
Although expanded upon in an additional feature, perhaps more time
could have been spent showing the trial and error of piecing together
the musical medley. How fascinating (and frightening) it must have
been to deconstruct this classic material and then reassemble the
various pieces together.
Some of the best scenes show George Martin simply listening to and
absorbing the music, which must have been a surreal experience for the
man who perhaps knows it better than the Beatles themselves. But when
input was required he was up to the challenge, recording new strings
to accompany a demo version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps and
making the same spot-on decisions that the Beatles trusted him to make
40 years earlier. McCartney remarks that the initial process was so
rushed and hectic that songs were merely scraps of paper that were
assembled in a few hours; now the phrase bigger than life would be
inadequate.
As time moved on, the production became more three dimensional as
props, lighting and set transitions were fulfilled; so complex was the
show that the dress rehearsal was a full seven weeks prior to the
opening night. After meticulous tweaking and tightening, the show is
finally ready and during the last third of the film we get to see
several excerpts from opening night. Even with brilliant camerawork
and surround sound, its impossible to capture the experience on DVD
as the attendees were literally immersed in the presentation, bathed
in light and music and occasionally physically engaged by billowing
curtains or falling rose petals. Yet even watching as a detached
observer, its a stunning presentation, sequences brilliantly edited
and sonically immaculate.
Naturally there are only excerpts from the production, not a full
program, but there are enough scenes to validate the extraordinary
complexity and precision of Love. Ones emotional heartstrings are
plucked as a ballerina soars above in Something, while the
infectious beat of Drive My Car or Back in the USSR is palpable.
Octopus Garden is a visual highlight, with black lights and screens
illuminating a sea of dancers emulating jellyfish and eels; the
simulation of an automobile shattering into pieces is the centerpiece
of A Day in the Life. The camera occasionally cuts away to show the
reactions of the Beatles camp as they watch from their seats and their
smiles cant help but bring one to yours.
Three short bonus features are included on the DVD along with a brief
trailer.
Changing the Music (22 minutes): Giles Martin and Tony Hicks follow
Guy Lalibertes challenge to avoid replication of past tributes by
stripping the original master tapes down to tracks, digitizing them,
and re-assembling them. A fascinating segment that I wish were longer,
it includes a great anecdote about why the original recording of
Strawberry Fields Forever faded out and then back in.
Music in the Theatre (nine minutes): Sound Designer Jonathan Deans
discusses the challenge of turning the theatre into a perfectly
balanced aural experience.
Making Love (ten minutes): Theatre and Set Designer Jean Rabasse
explains how the visual concepts came together and how and why
different choices were made.
Anyone watching the film will come away with a profound respect for
both the technical achievement and the loving care that all involved
had for the production. And while advertising the show was not the
purpose of the film, dont be surprised if you have an urgent need to
jet to Las Vegas on the very next plane.
=======================================================================
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=======================================================================
COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
=======================================================================
Fascination! Newsletter
Volume 10, Number 4 (Issue #75) - April 2010
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c)
2001-2010 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
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Newsletter." "Fascination! Newsletter" is not affiliated in any way
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Copyright (c) and are registered trademarks (TM) of Cirque du Soleil,
Inc., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright
infringement intended.
{ Apr.09.2010 }
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