Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Fascination Issue 080 expanded
=======================================================================
______ _ __ _ __
/ ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / /
/ /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ /
/ __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/
/_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_)
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
------------------------------------------------------------
E X P A N D E D I S S U E
------------------------------------------------------------
=======================================================================
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 9 September 2010 ISSUE #80e
=======================================================================
===========
CONTENTS
===========
o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information
* Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues
* BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau
* Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre
* Venue Shows -- Venue & 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
*) "Memory of the Circus: Inside the Cirque
du Soleil Library/Archives (Part 2 of 2)"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
*) "My Thoughts on VIVA ELVIS"
By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA)
o) Subscription Information
o) Copyright & Disclaimer
=======================================================================
CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
Varekai going to Taiwan [EXPANDED]
{Aug.04.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
On Jan. 20, 2011, the circus will be coming to Taipei. Cirque du
Soleil will be holding its "Varekai" show in a special tent near
Taipei's Nangang Exhibition Hall.
Following the success of "Alegria" in 2009, "Varekai" is the
second Cirque du Soleil show to be performed in Taipei. After
stopping in 12 different countries and 52 metropolitan cities,
"Varekai" has been performed over 2,500 shows in front of over
five million people. Still, this stop in Taipei holds more
meaning for the Taiwanese as the show's opening will coincide
with Chinese New Year.
To maximize the enjoyment of Varekai, Cirque due Soleil,
together with their promoter, the United Daily News Group (UDN),
will hold 45 shows in the troupe's specially designed tent. With
over 2,000 seats in their tent and seating for 320 in their VIP
section, Cirque du Soleil is expecting to host a variety of
parties during next year's holiday season. According to the
organizers, companies throughout Taiwan have already been
inquiring about how to purchase seating to Varekai for their
Chinese New Year parties. Varekai means wherever from the
Romany language of the gypsies. The mystical story follows
Icarus as he explores the mysterious forest world at the summit
of a volcano. Featuring mythical creatures, bizarre characters
and exotic fruits, the show illuminates unique costumes that
reveal the brilliance that Cirque du Soleil is known for. The
stunning bamboo forest set is intricately designed to include 3D
animations and movable trees for the performers to interact
with.
The costume and set design are not the only things that separate
Cirque du Soleil from other circuses in the world. The death-
defying stunts and harrowing performances are what leave
audiences speechless. Varekai is no different the show
spectacularly unveils a multitude of super-human acts from
graceful hand balancing to spine tingling body skating. Each act
is sure to leave audience members exclaiming, Wow, did I just
see that!?
{SOURCE: China Post}
Viva ELVIS: The Album in November
{Aug.05.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
VIVA ELVIS- THE ALBUM TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 2010
Legacy Recordings Celebrates Elvis' 75 th Birthday Year with a
New Studio Work Inspired by Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil
in Las Vegas
* * * * *
Legacy Recordings, in cooperation with Elvis Presley
Enterprises, Inc. and Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil at ARIA
Resort & Casino in Las Vegas , proudly announces the release of
Viva ELVIS - The Album , a 21st century celebration of Elvis and
his music, featuring the voice of the King in a whole new
context. Viva ELVIS - The Album will be available everywhere
this November. For more information, please visit
www.vivaelvis.com.
The undisputed King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley remains one
of the most iconic and powerful forces in popular culture.
"Before Elvis," said John Lennon, "there was nothing."
After Elvis, the world looked and sounded different. With a
swivel of his hips and the power of his voice, Elvis broke down
barriers and shattered the status quo, revolutionizing the
worlds of music, film and fashion while signaling a seismic
shift in gender, class, race, and generational relationships.
The Elvis revolution continues with Viva ELVIS - The Album .
The postmodern studio masterwork invokes the spirit and essence
of Elvis from a contemporary perspective while furthering the
revolutionary impulses of Elvis' sound. Viva ELVIS - The Album
re-imagines the king's own vocal performances in a broad variety
of new musical settings. This new sound echoes Elvis' own
versatility and ability to master all music genres, from Delta
blues to rockabilly, from raw soul to gospel, from Southern folk
to Vegas pop, while incorporating elements of garage rock, punk,
urban and hip-hop.
"Viva ELVIS is a tantalizing musical experience," said Adam
Block, Senior Vice President/General Manager, Legacy Recordings.
"It's so creative and so contemporary, it effortlessly places
Elvis in a current context that appeals to fans of all ages and
all kinds of music. There's a freshness, a newness to these
songs that grabs you and shakes you and ultimately testifies to
the remarkable artist Elvis remains to this very day."
"What would the songs of Elvis be like if he were doing them for
the first time today?," asks the album's producer and arranger
Erich van Tourneau, Musical Director and Arranger for Viva ELVIS
by Cirque du Soleil . "We set out to evoke the soul and spirit
of Elvis Presley while building a bridge between his music and
future generations of fans."
When working on the music for Viva ELVIS, van Tourneau - aided
by Hugo Bombardier, Assistant Producer and Assistant Arranger on
Viva ELVIS - The Album - spent more than 3,000 hours reviewing
countless albums, films, concert recordings, interviews and home
recordings of Elvis. More than 17,000 samples of Elvis' songs-
the raw material for the show- were made during the process.
Working with tens of thousands of samples of Elvis' voice, van
Tourneau and Bombardier often wove several sequences and sounds
into the same songs, sometimes changing details such as the key
and tempo. In creating Viva ELVIS - The Album , van Tourneau was
looking to accentuate and boost the emotional charge of the
songs with the incorporation of ragga, punk or hip-hop elements
into classic recordings. In all cases, however, the goal was to
respect and understand the essence of the original recordings.
In celebration of all eras of Elvis' musical genius, Viva ELVIS
- The Album includes songs from Elvis' rise to fame in the '50s,
his movie soundtracks, his triumphant return to the stage in the
"'68 Special," and his ground-breaking appearances in Las Vegas.
"Burning Love," "Suspicious Minds," "Blue Suede Shoes" and "It's
Now or Never" are among the songs that have been re-imagined and
transformed for Viva ELVIS - The Album .
The first opportunity to hear a sample from this ground-breaking
album will take place during Elvis Week in Memphis on Saturday,
August 14, during the event "Conversations on Elvis."
Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil , a harmonious fusion of dance,
acrobatics and live music, opened earlier this year in a
specially designed 1,800 seat theater at ARIA Resort & Casino in
Las Vegas . A tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley,
Viva ELVIS focuses on the essential humanity of the one
superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of
Las Vegas : Elvis Presley. Significant moments in his life-
intimate, playful and grandiose- blend with timeless songs that
remain as relevant today as when they first hit the top of the
charts.
Viva ELVIS - The Album is a 21st century venue for rock's first
and biggest superstar. The King's Music Lives!
{SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil}
Meet the Cirque Trend Forcasting Team
{Aug.12.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
"Inspiration doesn't just happen at your desk. It's a 24/7 job,"
says Melissa Thompson of the Cirque du Soleil in-house 'think
tank.'
And she should know. Because together with Zahra Peal and
Brigitte Mezzetta, she's part of the trend-forecasting team that
identifies new potential creators and inspirations for future
shows.
From their colourful corner of our Montreal head office-a light-
filled space where couches, comfort and creativity abound-these
dépisteurs créatifs are always on the lookout for inspiring
innovations that could influence a show and lead to new ideas.
"We see as much as we can," Zahra says, referring to the
theatre, dance festivals, eccentric events and exhibits that are
part of their regular scouting trips around town. And from blogs
and books to magazines and more, they read everything they can
get their hands on.
"Our job is to find the creative gems and tangents that might
otherwise be overlooked," Melissa explains. "Ideas that might be
way out in left field, but that are quite magical when
introduced into the context of a show."
"We're always building up our library of research," Melissa
adds, "and we're always looking for the element of surprise."
When the team gets a request to help develop a show, it spends
up to a month brainstorming and looking for ideas, tangents and
trends in design, art, architecture, fashion, food design,
sound, and the list goes on.
"The process is organic," Melissa explains. "And the parameters
of the project become clearer over time." Eventually, the team
presents its research in packages that feature tantalizing
images, quotes and questions intended to provoke a discussion.
With their complementary backgrounds in visual arts, industrial
and graphic design, the three creation scouts have an
unparalleled perspective on global culture. And although they're
humble about their contributions, they admit they have a
meaningful influence.
"Our goal is to support and inspire," Zahra says. "And the real
challenge is to keep surprising people. That's important,
because ultimately it's what Cirque is all about."
We invite you to get to know our family of talent scouts. Who
knows? You just may meet one of them in the near future.
Click here to get to know more about them:
< http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/jobs/casting/
team/talentscout.aspx >
Please note that Cirque du Soleil does not accept unsolicited
project proposals.
{SOURCE: CirqueClub}
Singing with Cirque - Interview with Nicola Dawn [EXPANDED]
{Aug.18.2010}
------------------------------------------------------------
Have you considered that vocal work can include Cirque du
Soleil? Nicola Dawn, currently on an Arena Tour of Saltimbanco,
shares with vocalists what it is like to sing in this unique
company...
Q. Did you ever think you might end up singing with Cirque du
Soleil?
I actually think it was inevitable for me to end up doing this.
When I first started my career I always loved to be involved in
new musicals so I had the opportunity to put my own stamp on the
performance and make it live in 'my way'. I was drawn to Cirque
because of their fresh and active approach to performance and
integration of the individual artist's abilities. Unfortunately,
this has become quite rare in Musical Theatre today.
Q. What are the disciplines that help you to stay on top of your
voice when touring?
I have lots of warm drinks and don't over-do it warming up. I
don't drink alcohol the night before a performance. But my main
goal is to be my best every show and give 150%. This gives me a
level of commitment that means I'm supporting properly when I
sing. The problems start when you don't support.
Q. You've worked extensively within film, television and stage
how has your Cirque work uniquely challenged you?
There is a freedom within my performance at Cirque that I
wouldn't be allowed to have in other genres of the
industry....unless you're a huge star. Cirque encourages artists
to experiment and bring something new to each and every
performance. But freedom can be a paradox: it's great to have
it, but it's a big challenge to control it as an individual. You
can feel very exposed and vulnerable if you don't make clear
decisions and choices in your work. It's learning to deal with
that level of vulnerability that is my personal challenge.
Q. Do Cirque's singers work with coaches? Just in rehearsal or
during the run?
Yes, we work with coaches when we are first introduced to a new
project or show. We can also request to see a coach to get their
input if we feel we need it during a long run. When a new singer
is integrated into a long running show the coach will teach her
the role at HQ and then accompany her/him for the first few
weeks on tour to make sure all is smooth and harmonious.
Q. What kind of microphone do you typically use: handheld,
headset, or lav or headworn?
We use a headset, which hooks over the ears and comes round the
cheek.
Q. How do you monitor your sound?
We use in ear monitors and we have a monitor engineer overseeing
our mix from song to song. No sound is directed at the stage.?
Q. When you rehearse are you able to listen to recordings of
what you've done to improve, or just feedback from people
listening?
We can request that a recording is done of the show either from
the sound board for the show mix or from the monitor board for
our in-ear mixes. They also film every show for reference for
all the artists, Artistic team and Stage Management team.
Q. As you look to the future, what avenues do you see for your
voice beyond Cirque du Soleil?
I've recently recorded an album with my husband who is a
producer; this is available on itunes and selling well. Further
down the line I think I might like to get involved in the
casting process at Cirque. It's a fascinating part of the
industry for me, working out how to get the most from your
"auditionees" and getting a glimpse of the amazing talent that
is out there around the globe.
Nicola Dawn began her career in Musical Theatre as an
actress/singer; she's performed lead roles in London's West End
in productions of Copacabana, Fame, The Sound of Music, Aspects
of Love, Taboo, When Harry met Barry and The Thing About Men.
She's worked for various Rep Theatres across the UK and has done
her fair share of commercials! She has also supplied vocals for
several films and TV series. In 2006,Nicola also made an
appearance on the ITV1 talent contest The X Factor as a member
of the close harmony group finalists, The Unconventionals, with
Louis Walsh as their mentor. She is currently a featured
vocalist with Cirque du Soleil in their production of
Saltimbanco.
{SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil}
Inspire a New Season of Creativity
{Aug.19.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
Join the live video chat with one of the Cirque du Soleil
creation directors who inspire - Sharpen your pencils. And mark
your calendar. Because here's your chance to chat live with one
of the Cirque du Soleil creation directors!
Simply submit your questions to our creation director now, and
you'll get the chance to have your questions answered*.
To join the discussion in either English or French, simply
register to this live-webcast event and you'll receive a
reminder with all the details:
On September 15, 2010
From 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ( EDT -Montreal/ New-York time)
From 9:00 am to 10 am ( Los Angeles / Vancouver time)
From 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm ( London , UK time)
From 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm ( Barcelona , ES time)
CHANTAL TREMBLAY, Creation Director
< http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ovo/show/
creators/chantal-tremblay.aspx >
From 1995 to 2001, Chantal acted as the Artistic Director of
Alegría, La Nouba and Mystère. Building on these early
achievements, she has been appointed Creation Director of the
2006 show The Beatles LOVE, the 2009 show OVO and of an upcoming
2011 project.
"My role as Creation Director is to reach out in every direction
to connect all the varied aspects of the production, to frame
the approach of the creators, to support them throughout the
process of creation and maintain the focus on the artistic
intention of the show." - Chantal Tremblay
Submit your questions to our creation director now!
REGISTER
< http://promo-www.cirquedusoleil.com/
back-to-school-2010/form-en.html >
* Of all the submissions we receive, we'll select the most
inspired and put them to our expert.
"O" Celebrates 10 Millionth Guest!
{Aug.23.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
"O" celebrated its 10 millionth audience member to be
transported into its dreamlike world. Before the opening curtain
on the night of the show's 5,626th performance on Wednesday,
August 4th, Kathy Smogowicz from Connecticut was brought on
stage by the show's two clowns and awarded the honour and
prizes.
The prize consisted of a roundtrip airfare for two to Las Vegas
from anywhere in the Continental U.S., two tickets to a Cirque
du Soleil Las Vegas production of the winner's choice, a two-
night stay at the Bellagio, a prix-fixe dinner for two at the
Bellagio and photos with the artists after the show.
See the original article with pictures at CirqueClub
(Must be a member of CirqueClub - it's free!)
{SOURCE: Cirque Club}
OVO Reaches the 500-show mark!
{Aug.25.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
The 8:00 p.m. performance of OVO in Boston on August 14 was a
very special event for the OVO team, as it marked their 500th
show. That day, the whole troupe celebrated this milestone
around a huge cake specially baked for the occasion!
Since April 23, 2009, OVO has reached some impressive numbers:
o) 8 cities
o) 10,470 km or 6,505 miles
o) 1,056 beds in 576 apartments
o) 682 plane tickets
o) Over 6,000 coffee pots
o) More than 50,000 meals
o) 350,000 gallons of diesel
o) 57,234 Tapis Rouge clients
o) 14,956 OVO shirts
o) 156,195 buckets of popcorn
o) 41,792 packs of M&Ms
o) 732 Cirquadors
o) 4 OVO babies. . . And 2 more on the way!
o) 2,300 taped-up ankles
o) 3,530 physiotherapy treatments
o) 4,250 pounds of confetti
o) And more than 1,000,000 spectators!
{SOURCE: CirqueClub}
SHPEEL in San Francisco
{Aug.25.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
According to Broadway Mania and San Francisco Broadway World,
Cirque du Soleil will present a special engagement of Banana
Shpeel at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre from Saturday,
October 16th through Sunday, November 14th. Tickets will go on
sale to the general public in September. Advance online tickets
will be available to Cirque Club members prior to the public
on-sale, with the exact date to be announced online soon.
{SOURCE: Broadway Mania; SanFran Broadway World}
Saltimbanco Announces Australian Tour
{Aug.26.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil announced today that it will return to
Australia in 2011 for a national tour of Saltimbanco. The
Saltimbanco tour will commence in Perth on April 21 2011 and
travel on to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide with
limited seasons of one to three weeks in each city. For the
first time, Cirque du Soleil will perform in Hobart, Newcastle
and Wollongong.
Tickets for Saltimbanco will go on sale nationally on Monday
October 18 2010 for all cities.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - SALTIMBANCO 2011 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Perth: From April 21 2011 - Challenge Stadium
Adelaide: From May 12 2011 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Melbourne: From May 25 2011 - Rod Laver Arena
Hobart: June 15 to 19 2011 - Derwent Entertainment Centre
Brisbane: From July 8 2011 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Newcastle: July 20 to 24 2011 - Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Sydney: From July 27 2011 - ACER Arena
Wollongong: August 17 to 21 2011 - WIN Entertainment Centre
{SOURCE: eTravel Blackboard.com}
LOVE in Liverpool? [EXPANDED]
{Aug.27.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
Well... almost.
Beatles fans are flocking to Liverpool's Hard Day's Night Hotel
to get snaps of the illustrious £1/4m Cirque du Soleil LOVE Show
costumes. Familiar costumes including Sgt Pepper, Lucy in the
Sky, Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, created by French
designer Phillipe Guillotel, are on show in the hotel shop's
windows for the Mathew Street Festival, which starts on
Saturday.
Sandra Fox, head of wardrobe for LOVE, said: "Cirque du Soleil
has the biggest costume workshop in the world so the scope for
creating characters and outfits for the LOVE show was
phenomenal. "Phillipe paid tribute to the creativity of The
Beatles with his designs, making sure that the character
costumes represent direct images from Beatles songs. As you will
see, the costumes are just out of this world - so imaginative
and inspired."
The costumes have been brought to Liverpool by Aigburth-born
Pamela Devine, who has worked for Cirque du Soleil as director
of sales for the last ten years. She said: "Growing up in
Liverpool I have always been extremely fond of The Beatles, so
to work with Cirque du Soleil on a show which celebrates their
musical legacy was fantastic. Bringing the costumes back to
Liverpool, the birthplace of The Beatles, seemed like a natural
choice and what better location than the worlds first and only
Beatles-inspired hotel?"
And Jonathan Davies, director of the Hard Days Night Hotel,
hopes that they will be a big hit with Beatles fans. Mr Davies
said: We feel very privileged to be able to host these costumes
in our hotel shop, and are both delighted and honoured that
Pamela chose to contact us about the opportunity. To be timed to
coincide with the Mathew Street Festival hopefully means that
fans of the Fab Four will really be able to enjoy and appreciate
the display.
One Beatles' enthusiast said: "The costumes are just amazing.
They are so extravagant. The Sgt Pepper suit has always been my
favourite. I wish I had something like that in my wardrobe."
Just around the corner from the world's most famous club 'The
Cavern', the characters of Beatles fame can be seen until
Monday.
{SOURCE: Click Liverpool}
Cirque at FIBA?
{Aug.30.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
According to WorldBulletin.net, Cirque du Soleil was in
attendance at the FIBA 2010 World Basketball Championships (the
largest basketball event of the planet) as part of the
inauguration ceremony.
The inaugural ceremony of the 2010 World Basketball Championship
was broadcast live simultaneously by TV stations of 172
countries.
During the ceremony, world-wide known dance and show group
Cirque du Soleil displayed a special performance, followed by
concerts by Turkish musicians Fatih Erkoc, Muslum Gurses and
Sezen Aksu, as well as Italian tenor Alessandro Safina and Greek
singer Haris Alexiou. Turkish dance group Fire of Anatolia also
staged its major production "Troia" as part of the ceremony.
{SOURCE: WorldBulletin.net}
PBS: Flowers in the Desert
{Aug.30.2010}
-----------------------------------------------
Carol Cling of the Las Vegas Review-Journal has an interesting
bit about Cirque du Soleil this morning, the company and its Las
Vegas productions are going to feature in a PBS special airing
this Dececmber.
# # #
Titled "Cirque du Soleil: Flowers in the Desert," the two-hour
show will focus on Cirque's permanent Las Vegas extravaganzas,
according to Jennifer Kowalczyk, director of communications for
Mountain Lake PBS of Plattsburgh, N.Y., which is producing the
show.
"Cirque hasn't been on PBS for years," she notes - but this
special, shot in high-definition digital video, will change all
that.
Most of the program's Cirque footage already has been taped,
Kowalczyk explains, but this week's shoot will concentrate on
behind-the-scenes footage at several Cirque shows - along with
pledge-break material.
Although specific shows to be featured hadn't been determined by
deadline (Bellagio's "O," MGM Grand's "Ka," Mirage's "Love" and
Aria's "Viva Elvis" are reported possibilities), this week's
shoot also is expected to feature background footage of the
Strip - including views shot from the top of the Trump hotel.
{SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal}
An Interview with LOVE's Melena Rounis [EXPANDED]
{Aug.31.2010}
-------------------------------------------------
Melena Rounis is a local BC dancer, who is the definition of
persistence. When she faced rejection at auditions, she pushed
harder. When she encountered success, she continued to strive.
This persistence has landed her a role in Cirque Du Soleil's
Grammy award winning production of "LOVE" in Las Vegas. Melena's
success is manifesting in multiple ways. In addition to
performing in the world's largest theatre that was custom-made
for "LOVE", she is making cameos on shows, such as "Dancing with
the Stars."
Melena also takes time to give back to her community. Over the
holidays, she taught dance workshops in Vancouver, Nanaimo and
Las Vegas. These workshops raised funds for foodbanks in each
location.
We caught up with Melena to discuss persistence, success, and
the reality of being a professional dancer in Las Vegas.
Q. Can you describe the reality of being a professional dancer?
The reality of being a professional dancer is that it can be a
very hard lifestyle. You have to be fully committed to it...
just like any other athlete or artist. You have to constantly
strive to improve. Dancers are performers, but performance work
is not always consistent. Many dancers will resort to working a
'normal' job on the side. There are many late night rehearsals
and/or early mornings. You have to deal with a lots of
rejection. You will hear "no" a hundred times before you hear
that one "yes".... but when you do hear that "yes", it is the
greatest feeling. When you work a steady performance job, the
struggle there is to not get bored with what you are doing and
to keep inspired. To the audience you should always appear as
though this is the most exciting performance you've ever done,
even if it's the 700th time you've done it!
Q. What has been your greatest point of struggle and your
greatest source of inspiration?
My greatest point of struggle was trying to get a work permit to
live and work in America! Not an easy feat!! Up until I booked
LOVE, I can't even tell you the amount of time and money I spent
traveling back and forth to Los Angeles and New York just to
train and network. Training around talented people from all over
the world was definitely the inspiration that kept me going. It
kept me hungry (literally at times, ha) but it just made me want
it so much more every time I went. Now that I am fortunate
enough to have a full time steady job with "Cirque du Soleil",
my source of inspiration is the audience and their appreciation
for what we do night after night. When I see people in the
audience at the end of our show hugging, smiling, crying, and
saying "thank you thank you so much", I feel inspired and
motivated to continue entertaining people.
Q. Over the holidays, you facilitated dance workshops that
raised money for the foodbank in Vancouver and Las Vegas.
What was the result of this? When raising money for charity,
do you think it is important to engage people with something
fun like dance?
Over the holidays I decided to create a charity fundraiser
called "STEP UP & DANCE!" It was quite successful, and I hope
that it will become more successful in the years to come. In Las
Vegas I raised the equivalent of about 2000 meals for the
homeless in Nevada. I believe it is important when raising
money for charity to engage people with something that is
beneficial to them, in addition to benefitting the cause. Why
not have fun and do something healthy and social for yourself
while helping out a good cause?
Q. You dance with Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas. What does an
average day with Cirque Du Soliel look like for you?
I dance in The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil and my
experience so far has been amazing. I work with some crazy
talented people...some of whom are ex-olympians. Everyone is so
dedicated and loves what they do, so it is enjoyable to go to
work everyday. An average day for me at LOVE usually consists of
a training or staging around 3 or 4pm as we are always improving
on the show. We do a half hour of pilates, a strength training
session with one of our personal trainers, or a 25 minute run on
the treadmill and physical therapy. It takes me about 50 minutes
to put on my make up, and then we do 2.5 hour shows. I will
usually stay after the shows are done at 11pm to stretch for a
bit or do preventative icing. I'm usually out of there by
midnight, five days a week just like any other job.
Q. As a resident in Las Vegas, you are exposed to elements of
culture that many tourists don't see. Do you notice a massive
gap between the glitzy rich and the poor?
Living and working in Las Vegas exposes me to more than what a
tourist can catch in a few days of vacation. Las Vegas has a
notable gap between the rich and the poor. This is one of the
reasons I decided to start my fundraiser. The Las Vegas strip is
now home to seven Cirque shows, 19 of the world's 25 largest
hotels by room count and has numerous restaurants, magicians,
show girls, musicals, shopping and more. There is an
overwhelming amount of people who make a living off of working
on the strip. There is also an overwhelming amount of people in
Las Vegas who cannot afford to pay their bills and feed a
family. Approximately 250 000 people out of the 2 million here
struggle with hunger and 48% of children in the Clark County
School District receive free and reduced-price meals. With
numbers like this, it seemed more than obvious to me that there
needed to be more people doing their part to help this
situation.
Q. Do you think that you will continue to engage people with
dance for other social causes?
I definitely think I will continue to engage people with dance
for other social causes. I hope to inspire more entertainers to
create their own events for social causes they feel strongly
about. It is such a rewarding feeling.
{ SOURCE: Vancouver Observer }
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
{Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Quidam, Totem & Varekai}
o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues
{Saltimbanco, Alegría, Quidam & Dralion}
o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre
{Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE,
ZAIA, ZED, Believe & VIVA Elvis}
o) VENUE - Venue & Seasonal productions
{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/ >.
------------------------------------
BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
------------------------------------
Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=39 >
Corteo:
Kazan, Russia -- Aug 21, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010
Moscow, Russia -- Oct 9, 2010 to Dec 12, 2010
Brussels, BE -- Jan 2, 2011 to TBA
Vienna, AT -- Feb 11, 2011 to TBA
Madrid, ES -- Apr 2, 2011 to TBA
Valencia, ES -- Jun 16, 2011 to TBA
Alicante, ES -- Jul 28, 2011 to TBA
Sevilla, ES -- Sep 8, 2011 to TBA
Paris, FR -- TBA
Koozå:
Vancouver, BC -- Jul 22, 2010 to Sep 5, 2010
Calgary, AB -- Sep 16, 2010 to Oct 24, 2010
Miami, FL -- Nov 12, 2010 to Dec 5, 2010
Tokyo, JPN -- Feb 2, 2011 to Apr 12, 2011
Ovo:
Boston, MA -- Jul 22, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010
Washington, DC -- Sep 9, 2010 to Oct 24, 2010
Atlanta, GA -- Nov 4, 2010 to Dec 31, 2010
Dallas, TX -- Jan 28, 2011 to TBA
Houston, TX -- Mar 10, 2011 to TBA
Cincinnati, OH -- Apr 22, 2011 to TBA
Chicago, IL -- Jun 30, 2011 to TBA
Seattle, WA -- Nov 17, 2011 to TBA
Quidam:
Santiago, CL -- Jul 11, 2010 to Aug 15, 2010
Lima, PE -- Sep 3, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010
Bogota, CO -- Oct 9, 2010 to Nov 21, 2010
NOTE: Begins Arena Tour after Bogota!
Totem:
Québec City, QC -- Jul 22, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010
Amsterdam, NL -- Oct 7, 2010 to Nov 21, 2010 (*)
London, UK -- Jan 5, 2011 to Jan 30, 2011 (*)
Charlotte, NC -- Mar 3, 2011 to TBA
Baltimore, MD -- Apr 7, 2011 to TBA
Pittsburgh, PA -- May 12, 2011 to TBA
Montreal, QC -- Jun 16, 2011 to TBA
Toronto, ON -- Aug 4, 2011 to TBA
San Francisco, CA -- Oct 21, 2011 to TBA
Varekai:
Oostende, BE -- Jul 29, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010
Zurich, CH -- Sep 17, 2010 to Oct 24, 2010
Barcelona, ES -- Nov 5, 2010 to Dec 5, 2010
Taipei, TW -- Jan 20, 2011 to TBA
------------------------------------
ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues
------------------------------------
Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=1831 >
Saltimbanco:
Berlin, DE -- Sep 1, 2010 to Sep 4, 2010
Munich, DE -- Sep 8, 2010 to Sep 12, 2010
Milan, IT -- Sep 15, 2010 to Sep 18, 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
Zagreb, HR -- Nov 17, 2010 to Nov 21, 2010
Basel, CH -- Dec 1, 2010 to Dec 5, 2010
Budapest, HU -- Dec 8, 2010 to Dec 12, 2010
Nurnberg, DE -- Dec 15, 2010 to Dec 19, 2010
Lille, FR -- Jan 5, 2011 to TBA
Paris, FR -- Jan 12, 2011 to TBA
Johannesburg, ZA -- Mar 9, 2011 to Mar 20, 2011
Cape Town, ZA -- Mar 23, 2011 to Apr 3, 2011
Antwerp, BE -- TBA
Perth, AU -- Apr 21, 2011 to TBA
Adelaide, AU -- May 12, 2011 to TBA
Melbourne, AU -- May 25, 2011 to TBA
Hobart, AU -- Jun 15, 2011 to Jun 19, 2011
Brisbane, AU -- Jul 8, 2011 to TBA
Newcastle, AU -- Jul 20, 2011 to Jul 24, 2011
Sydney, AU -- Jul 27, 2011 to TBA
Wollongong, AU -- Aug 17, 2011 to Aug 21, 2011
Auckland, NZ -- Aug 25, 2011 to TBA
Alegría:
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
Houston, TX -- 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
El Paso, TX -- Dec 1, 2010 to Dec 5, 2010
Oklahoma City, OK -- Dec 23, 2010 to Dec 26, 2010
Wichita, KS -- Dec 29, 2010 to Jan 2, 2011
Baton Rouge, LA -- Jan 5, 2011 to Jan 9, 2011
Colorado Springs, CO -- Jan 12, 2011 to Jan 16, 2011
Broomfield, CO -- Jan 19, 2011 to Jan 23, 2011
Loveland, CO -- Jan 26, 2011 to Jan 30, 2011
Laredo, TX -- Feb 2, 2011 to Feb 6, 2011
Hidalgo, TX -- Feb 9, 2011 to Feb 13, 2011
Corpus Christi, TX -- Feb 16, 2011 to Feb 20, 2011
Tulsa, OK -- Feb 23, 2011 to Feb 27, 2011
North Charleston, SC -- Mar 17, 2011 to TBA
Knoxville, TN -- Mar 23, 2011 to TBA
Charlotesville, VA -- Mar 30, 2011 to TBA
Atlantic City, NJ -- Apr 6, 2011 to TBA
Greensboro, NC -- Apr 13, 2011 to TBA
Biloxi, MS -- Apr 20, 2011 to TBA
Southaver, MS -- Apr 27, 2011 to TBA
Roanoke, VA -- May 4, 2011 to TBA
Columbia, SC -- May 11, 2011 to TBA
Louisville, KY -- Jun 9, 2011 to TBA
Nashville, TN -- Jun 15, 2011 to TBA
Tampa, FL -- Jun 22, 2011 to TBA
Jacksonville, FL -- Jun 29, 2011 to TBA
Raleigh, NC -- Jul 6, 2011 to TBA
Duluth, GA -- Jul 13, 2011 to TBA
Sunrise, FL -- Jul 20, 2011 to TBA
Charlotte, NC -- Aug 3, 2011 to TBA
Estero, FL -- Aug 10, 2011 to TBA
Quidam:
Kingson, ON -- Dec 11, 2010 to Dec 14, 2010
Montréal, QC -- Dec 18, 2010 to Dec 30, 2010
Quebec, QC -- Jan 4, 2011 to Jan 9, 2011
Chicoutimi, QC -- Jan 12, 2011 to Jan 16, 2011
Vancouver, BC -- Mar 9, 2011 to Mar 20, 2011
Everett, WA -- Mar 16, 2011 to Mar 20, 2011
San Jose, CA -- Mar 24, 2011 to Mar 27, 2011
San Diego, CA -- Mar 30, 2011 to Apr 3, 2011
San Francisco, CA -- Apr 6, 2011 to TBA
Long Beach, CA -- Apr 20, 2011 to Apr 24, 2011
Ontario, Ca -- Apr 27, 2011 to May 1, 2011
Reno, NV -- May 4, 2011 to TBA
Dralion:
Trenton, NJ -- Oct 20, 2010 to Oct 24, 2010
Buffalo, NY -- Oct 27, 2010 to Oct 31, 2010
Reading, PA -- Nov 2, 2010 to Nov 7, 2010
Youngstown, OH -- Nov 10, 2010 to Nov 14, 2010
Windsow, ON -- Nov 17, 2010 to NOv 21, 2010
Oshawa, ON -- Nov 24, 2010 to Nov 28, 2010
Worcester, MA -- Dec 16, 2010 to Dec 19, 2010
Philadelphia, PA -- Dec 21, 2010 to Jan 2, 2011
Boston, MA -- Jan 5, 2011 to Jan 9, 2011
St. Louis, MO -- Jan 19, 2011 to Jan 23, 2011
Peoria, IL -- Apr 22, 2011 to Apr 24, 2011
Cypress, TX -- Nov 17, 2011 to TBA
Beaumont, TX -- Nov 23, 2011 to 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 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 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 September 21 - 24
o November 16
Zumanity:
Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday
Dark: Wednesday & Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm
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 September 14
o October 12 - 13
o November 30
o December 1 - 14
2010 Added Performances:
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 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: $93.50
2010 Dark Dates:
o October 7
o December 3 - 13
ZAIA:
Location: Venetian, Macao (China)
Performs: Every Day, Dark: Wednesday
One to Two Shows Daily - Times Vary
2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 2-11):
o VIP Seating: MOP$ 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 October 12 - 16
VIVA ELVIS:
Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
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 September 14 - 16
o November 17 - 25
--------------------------------------
VENUE - Venue & Seasonal Productions
--------------------------------------
Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=251 >
Wintuk:
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City (USA)
Show Schedule:
Performances are held November 17, 2010 through January 2, 2011
from Wednesdays through Sundays.
There are no performances on Monday and Tuesday (with the
exception of December 21, 27 and 28, 2010).
Ticket prices range from from $30 to $220 based on category
and performance date. Please see the Cirque du Soleil
website for ticket details:
< http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/wintuk/tickets/schedule.aspx >
Banana Shpeel:
Banana Shpeel is going on tour! Check out the show at
these locations:
Toronto, ON -- Sep 14, 2010 to Oct 10, 2010
San Francisco, CA -- Oct 16, 2010 to Nov 14, 2010
Orange County, CA -- Dec 7, 2010 to Dec 26, 2010
=======================================================================
OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE'S SOCIAL WIDGETS
=======================================================================
--- [ "O" ] ---
{Aug.30}
On July 17th, 3 artists from "O" went to Napa, California to
help celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Far Niente winery.
This video gives a glimpse into the beautiful night and the
great Contortion performance!
VIDEO [7:53] /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FXczHd2JpQ >
{Aug.24}
We had a great time at The Grove in L.A. today! We'll have more
photos and video soon, but here's a look at what today's
performance looked like!
FOTO [15] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=202009&id=26000574416&ref=mf >
{Aug.12}
Ever wonder what happens in the theater during the dark? Here's
a glimpse into all the hard work that goes on - even when the
show doesn't perform! Just posted pictures of what the "O" stage
looks like during our week-long dark! 8 feet (of the 17-foot
pool) is drained during this time. This leads us to the age-old
question is the pool half empty or half full?
FOTO [3] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=199382&id=26000574416&ref=mf >
---[ ALEGRIA ]---
{Aug.31}
In Kamloops, BC, until Sunday, September 5! If you want to know
more about what the production is all about...
LINK /// < http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_thompson_nicola/
kamloopsthisweek/news/101594298.html >
{Aug.27}
Great behind the scene interviews with Tim Smith, Artistic
Director, and Alexandr Dobrynin, Artist/Flying man.
VIDEO [2:16] /// < http://www.chbcnews.ca/video/index.html?
releasePID=L_2JgwL16Ed2VEXPzK59_1SC7klhGX9s >
{Aug.13}
Curious to see more of what is going on @ Rexall Place
(Edmonton) until August 22? Take a look at this vibrant photo
gallery!
LINK /// < http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/
Gallery+Cirque+Soleil+Preparations/3387384/story.html >
{Aug.04}
Tonight, Wednesday August 4 @ 7:30PM! Premiere in Saskatoon at
the Credit Union Center!
LINK /// < http://www.thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/
Join+Cirque/3356541/story.html%20 >
---[ CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE ]---
{Aug.24}
Hey Believe fans! We had a fantastic time at The Grove today and
we hope if you came, that you did, too! If not, we'll have more
pictures and video for you soon, but here's a peek at the antics
are ushers got up to on the stage today!
FOTO [14] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=204182&id=18869703598&ref=mf >
{Aug.05}
Did you miss our MindFreak premiere party last night at
Liquidity at Luxor? Don't worry - see a full recap below
including exclusive photos from the event!
LINK /// < http://www.vegasdeluxe.com/blogs/luxe-
life/2010/aug/05/exclusive-photos-fans-
swarm-criss-angels-emmindfre/ >
{Aug.03}
Did you see Criss on last night's episode of The Tonight Show
with Jay Leno? If you missed it, see below!
VIDEO [7:59] /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2c_2zLRLoY >
---[ DRALION ]---
{Aug.20}
Did you know artists learn how to put their own make-up on?
Watch Hiroi, trampo wall athlete, in action!
VIDEO [0:39] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/
video.php?v=436848285352&ref=mf >
{Aug.18}
The cast just arrived in Montreal to rehearse for the upcoming
North America Arena Tour
FOTO [9] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=481610&id=39340140194&ref=mf >
---[ KA ]---
{Aug.24}
We had a great time performing at The Grove in L.A. today and
although we'll have more videos and photos for you soon, we
couldn't wait to post at least a glimpse of what went on today!
Here we are performing!
FOTO [11] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=245545&id=31527171928&ref=mf .
{Aug.21}
So we read somewhere this week that Las Vegas is the most
stressful city to live in in the U.S. 1. Boo! 2. BOOOOO!! Well,
we decided to try to help de-stress some of the hard-working Las
Vegas residents who sell tickets to KÀ by stopping by a few
call-centers here in town. Ever wonder what KÀ would look like
performed in a cubicle? Well wonder no more! KÀ Goes Corporate
Casual!
FOTO [45] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=245101&id=31527171928&ref=mf >
{Aug.14}
Hello KÀ fans! Please join us in bidding a fond KÀ-family
farewell to artist Nicolle Liquorish, who recently retired from
the show after performing with Cirque du Soleil for 17 years!
Nicolle started with the creation of Saltimbanco, then joined
Quidam and KÀ. Pictured with Nicolle are Cirque du Soleil CEO
Daniel Lamarre and KÀ Artistic Director Marie-Hélène Gagnon.
Thank you for sharing your talent with us, Nicolle!
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=6361587&fbid=473755756928&id=31527171928 >
{Aug.10}
Hopefully you all remember the fantastic behind-the-scenes
special G4 put together earlier this year, and as part of that
TV special one lucky viewer won a trip to Vegas to see KÀ and
meet a few of our artists! Here are the lucky winners! (Hope you
guys had fun!)
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=6327334&fbid=472298616928&id=31527171928 >
{Aug.07}
We absolutely have to share some fan art submitted by KÀ
superfan Kathy Tran. Enjoy! (Thank you, Kathy!!!)
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=6287985&fbid=471125191928&id=31527171928 >
---[ LA NOUBA ]---
{Aug.30}
Starting on Monday, August 30, La Nouba will be taking part in a
cutting edge marketing opportunity via Layar which is a free
mobile application. It provides real-time digital information
about a person's surroundings simply by pointing a mobile phone
in different directions. The Layar Augmented Reality Browser
uses the camera on a mobile phone, along with GPS and compass
technology to blend computer-generated information into real-
time images on the mobile display. La Nouba will be the first
Cirque production to use this technology to increase awareness
about its show. The technology will be used at two Orlando
malls, the Florida Mall and Premium Outlets. Guests will be
directed to download the application and point their smart
phones to designated areas within the mall and characters will
become visible on the screen. For example if the phone is
pointed toward the ceiling, the guest may see an aerial ballet
or trapeze artist. If they point it in between buildings, they
may see a tight rope walker or an acrobatic performer. The Layar
Reality Browser is available for iPhone 3GS and mobile devices
that use the Android operating system. The promotion with La
Nouba will run at the Florida Mall and Premium Outlets until
November 30, 2010.
{Aug.17}
The Florida resident discount starts today! To purchase the $50
tickets online, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com! (The boutique is
also offering a discount to Floridians, no ticket purchase
necessary.) See you soon!
{Aug.13}
Each summer Miami Children's Hospital holds a special week-long
sleep away camp for their young cancer patients. The kids enjoy
a wide range of activities including three days in Orlando and
for the past few years we have had the pleasure of meeting them
after a show. Their energy, enthusiasm and humor continue to
inspire us. Meet and Greet with Summer Campers from Miami
Children's Hospital!
FOTO [5] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=192475&id=16315569901&ref=mf >
---[ MYSTERE ]---
{Aug.24}
Well, our event at The Grove has wrapped and we had a fantastic
time! We'll have more photos and video for you soon, but here's
a look at what our performance looked like today!
FOTO [16] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?
aid=237813&id=18155469918&ref=mf >
{Aug.17}
Hey Mystère fans, check out what we saw at LEGOLAND's mini
Vegas! (Check right in the center of the picture if you can't
figure out why we'd be excited!)
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=6251923&fbid=453307779918&id=18155469918 >
{Aug.14}
Hello Mystère fans! Please join us in congratulating trapeze
artist Olga Poema, and her catcher Pedro Farfan, from our sister
show ZED in Tokyo for being the first female artist at Cirque du
Soleil to perform a triple somersault! Speaking of flying, stay
tuned here for some exciting changes coming to our Highbar act.
Have a fantastic day!
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=6216866&fbid=452119154918&id=18155469918 >
{Aug.10}
Recently we hosted some guests who had purchased their tickets
through our local public radio station, and as part of their
donation to the station had the chance to take a quick photo
with some Mystère characters before the show. Thanks for
supporting our friends at KNPR!
FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=6179663&fbid=450709169918&id=18155469918 >
{Aug.07}
Hi Mystère fans! It's Superfriend Saturday, and we need your
help! Mystère will perform its 8,000th show in October and we're
hoping to reach 8,000 Facebook fans by then. We just passed
7,000 so just a little ways to go! Tell your friends, co-workers
and complete strangers and help us get there! As they say across
the pond, you're ace!
FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
pid=6143792&fbid=449556604918&id=18155469918 >
---[ THE BEATLES LOVE ]---
{Aug.30}
Check out this video of the Beatles' performing in San Fran! |
Beatles' Last Concert Candlestick Park (VIDEO) 44 Years Ago
Today!
LINK /// < http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/
article_212320127.shtml >
{Aug.27}
Here's a little Friday treat for you, LOVE fans! Check out this
video LOVE dancer Cameron McKinlay made behind the scenes at the
NHL Awards! And just think, by the time you're done watching it,
you'll be that much closer to Friday NIGHT!
VIDEO [7:09] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php
?v=426546587675&ref=mf >
{Aug.27}
Behind-the-scenes at our 3D spot shoot!
FOTO [9] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php
?aid=192107&id=14653468665&ref=mf >
{Aug.23}
There was a lot of LOVE at The Grove today and we had a
fantastic time out there! We'll have more photos and videos of
the event soon, but here's a quick look at what we got up to in
L.A.!
FOTO [9] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php
?aid=190988&id=14653468665&ref=mf >
{Aug.20}
LOVE Skater Soars to Glory at European In-Line Skating
Championships! | LOVE skater Marco De Santi showed off his mad
skills on July 31, at this year's Red Bull European in-line
skating championships in Moscow. This competition was by
invitation only to twelve in-line skaters from around the world,
with six skaters making it to the final round.
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-beatles-love-by-
cirque-du-soleil/love-skater-soars-to-glory-at-
european-in-line-skating-championships/461460355179.
{Aug.20}
Tonight at 7 p.m. we celebrate our 2,000th performance of LOVE!
Thanks for all your great support and here's to many, many more!
{Aug.17}
We are shooting a new commerical for LOVE in 3D today and
Wednesday! A first for Cirque du Soleil, which is beyond
exciting. Before the end of this year, you'll see parts of acts
like "Help" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" like you've
never seen before...in 3D!!!
---[ VIVA ELVIS ]---
{Aug.27}
Viva ELVIS at Miss Universe 2010!
FOTO [15] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php
?aid=193248&id=167136344108&ref=mf >
{Aug.25}
For those of you who missed our performance on the Miss Universe
Pageant, here's a link to the video. Photos will be posted
shortly!
VIDEO [10:52] /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66fSS15gR7s >
{Aug.24}
Hey Viva ELVIS fans! We had a great time out at The Grove in
L.A. today and we'll have more photos and video for you soon,
but here's a quick look at how we looked performing out there
under the California sun!
FOTO [11] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php
?aid=191474&id=167136344108&ref=mf >
---[ WINTUK ]---
{Aug.31}
Check out the Wintuk Promotional Team photos from NYC Summer
Streets, August 21! Be sure to catch the team this weekend for a
chance to win cool Wintuk Prizes at the following locations:
Saturday & Sunday, September 4 & 5, at the NY Aquarium and on
Labor Day at the Riverdale Street Fair
FOTO [4] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php
?aid=475966&id=98244255320&ref=mf >
{Aug.11}
Here's a picture from the demo with our make up artist, Eleni
Uranis, for BlogHer over the weekend! We had a blast!
FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php
?pid=13796191&fbid=10150237168665321&id=98244255320 >
---[ ZAIA ]---
{Aug.24}
Watch how good Benji was in teaching his students to do make-up
VIDEO [0:51] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php
?v=147113608643119&ref=mf >
{Aug.24}
ZAIA artists share their tricks in make-up workshop with winners
from Young Post's Summer Gallergy Competition last Saturday !
FOTO [5] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php
?aid=200837&id=34277887388&ref=mf >
{Aug.16}
Roman Tamanov, our strap artist was on the cover page of Young
Post last week !
LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php
?pid=4746003&fbid=428135122388&id=34277887388 >
{Aug.06}
Watch our artist Romina performed at Dim Sum TV new programme
launch in Hong Kong .
VIDEO [2:56] /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21rsVxRAonM >
---[ ZED ]---
{Aug.02}
On August 2nd Olga Poema did a triple Somersault in the show,
being the first female artist at Cirque du Soleil to perform
this amazing trick!
FOTO [16] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php
?aid=257612&id=41326571163&ref=mf >
---[ ZUMANITY ]---
{Aug.20}
Our Fabulous Edie Hosts Instinct Magazine MAGIC Event!
FOTO [7] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php
?aid=202541&id=13931088846&ref=mf >
=======================================================================
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 practice of foot juggling was transformed in 1840, when Richard
R. Carlisle Risley got the idea of replacing objects propelled in
the air with ... a child!
o) More than 300 lbs. of dry ice are needed for each performance of
Dralion.
o) Five hundred stakes, each measuring five feet in length, are used
to set up the big top.
o) The pool speakers in "O" have a total capacity of 12,000 watts.
o) Roughly 250 pulleys are used in the Zumanity theatre
o) It takes six hours of work to make acrobatic shoes and forty-five
hours to make clown shoes.
o) The Studio, Cirque's International Headquarters in Montreal, was
inaugurated on February 20, 1997.
o) During an engagement, an additional 150 Cirquadors (local staff)
are hired.
o) More than 70 48-foot trucks with 1,000 tons of equipment are needed
to transport Corteo from one city to the next.
o) The Quidam big top and other infrastructures occupy an area of
16,000 square metres.
o) Over 60 technicians work behind the scenes during a performance of
Mystère.
o) Every seat in the KÀ Theatre has two speakers built into its
headrest which allows sound effects to be targeted, manipulated and
customized to any of 16 seating zones.
------------------------------------
HISTORIA: Cirque du Soleil History
------------------------------------
* Sep.01.2003 -- Tapis Rouge CD released (BMG/CDS Musique)
* Sep.01.2003 -- "Parade of Colors" Book Published
* Sep.01.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Berlin, DE
* Sep.01.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Kamloops, BC
* Sep.02.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Albany, NY
* Sep.03.1987 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Las Angeles
* Sep.03.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Boston
* Sep.03.2009 -- Ovo opened Toronto, ON
* Sep.03.2010 -- Quidam opened Lima, PE
* Sep.04.2002 -- Saltimbanco opened Brussels
* Sep.04.2008 -- Koozå opened Boston
* Sep.05.2005 -- Cirque held 5th Run Away with Cirque du Soleil 5k
Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk at Paseo Verde Park in Henderson
* Sep.06.2005 -- "O" CD released in US (CDS Musique)
* Sep.06.2005 -- La Nouba CD released in US (CDS Musique)
* Sep.06.2005 -- Mystère (Live) CD released in US (CDS Musique)
* Sep.08.1985 -- 1984 Tour opened Montréal
* Sep.08.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Santa Monica
* Sep.08.1995 -- Alegría opened Boston
* Sep.08.2005 -- Dralion opened Zurich
* Sep.08.2006 -- Corteo opened Boston
* Sep.08.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Munich, DE
* Sep.08.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Victoria, BC
* Sep.09.1988 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Washington DC
* Sep.09.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened in Boston
* Sep.09.1999 -- Saltimbanco opened in Perth
* Sep.09.2005 -- Quidam opened Singapore
* Sep.09.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Syracuse, NY
* Sep.09.2009 -- Name of CirqueVaudeville Released [Banana Shpeel]
* Sep.09.2010 -- OVO opened Washington, DC
* Sep.11.1990 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened San Jose
* Sep.11.2008 -- Quidam opened Barcelona, Spain
* Sep.12.1986 -- Le Magie Continue opened Toronto
* Sep.12.1997 -- Alegría opened Vienna
* Sep.12.2003 -- Varekai opened Los Angeles
* Sep.12.2005 -- Zumanity celebrated its 1000th performance
* Sep.13.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened Chicago
* Sep.13.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened Zurich
* Sep.14.2001 -- Quidam opened Zurich
* Sep.14.2007 -- Alegría opened Curitiba, Brazil
* Sep.14.2010 -- Banana Shpeel opened San Francisco, CA
* Sep.15.1995 -- Saltimbanco opened Düsseldorf
* Sep.15.2002 -- Fire Within premiered in Canada [7:00pm EST/Global TV]
* Sep.15.2005 -- Name of "Cirque MGM" released - KÀ
* Sep.15.2008 -- Mystère celebrated 7,000th performance [9:30pm]
* Sep.15.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Milan, IT
* Sep.15.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Tacoma, WA
* Sep.16.2004 -- Varekai opened Washington DC
* Sep.16.2008 -- Corteo opened Ottawa
* Sep.16.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Amherst, NY
* Sep.16.2010 -- Koozå opened Calgary, AB
* Sep.17.1998 -- Alegría opened Zurich
* Sep.17.1998 -- Quidam opened McLean
* Sep.17.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena Tour Begins in Europe
* Sep.17.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Stockholm, SE
* Sep.17.2009 -- Dralion opened Monterrey, Mexico
* Sep.17.2010 -- Varekai opened Zurich, CH
* Sep.18.2009 -- Quidam opened Brasilia, Brazil
* Sep.19.2002 -- Varekai opened Philadelphia
* Sep.19.2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Zurich
* Sep.20.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Santa Monica
* Sep.20.2001 -- Saltimbanco opened Yokohama
* Sep.20.2003 -- Zumanity Gala Premiere (Previews End)
* Sep.21.2001 -- Saltimbanco opened in Yokohama
* Sep.21.2001 -- Alegría celebrated 2,500th performance [Brisbane]
* Sep.21.2003 -- Cirque wins Outstanding Nonfiction Program award
* Sep.21.2004 -- "Le Best of..." CD Released (CDS Musique)
* Sep.22.2002 -- Cirque lost Emmys (nominated Jul.18.2002)
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy
Special - Alegría
Outstanding Choreography for 74th Academy
Awards - Debra Brown
* Sep.22.2005 -- Varekai opened Hartford
* Sep.22.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Zargoza, ES
* Sep.22.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Spokane, WA
* Sep.23.1999 -- Dralion opened in Santa Monica
* Sep.23.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Helsinki, FI
* Sep.23.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Rochester, NY
* Sep.24.2008 -- Cirque2009 tickets go on sale!
* Sep.25.2005 -- Corteo opened Minneapolis
* Sep.25.1996 -- Quidam opened in Santa Monica
* Sep.25.2002 -- Cirquedusoleil.com won four awards for its website:
"Best of Show", "Experience", "Content & Information",
"Experimental"
* Sep.25.2008 -- Varekai opened Vienna, Austria
* Sep.26.2002 -- Quidam opened Cleveland
* Sep.27.1994 -- Alegría CD released in Canada (RCA/Victor)
* Sep.27.2001 -- Dralion opened in Philadelphia
* Sep.27.2003 -- Cirque du Soleil HQ Open House
* Sep.28.2003 -- Cirque du Soleil HQ Open House
* Sep.28.2006 -- Quidam opened St. Louis
* Sep.29.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Granada, ES
* Sep.30.1997 -- Quidam opened Denver
* Sep.30.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Turku, FI
* Sep.30.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened State College, PA
* Sep.30.2009 -- Guy Laliberté, Cosmonaut!
=======================================================================
FASCINATION! FEATURES
=======================================================================
Within...
o) "Memory of the Circus: Inside the Cirque
du Soleil Library/Archives (Part 2 of 2)"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
o) "My Thoughts on VIVA ELVIS"
By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA)
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Memory of the Circus: Inside the Cirque
du Soleil Library/Archives (Part 2 of 2)"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
--------------------------------------------------------------
When we last left our intrepid adventurers, they were exploring the
Cirque du Soleil Centre for Research and Documentation (the "Library")
at the Cirque IHQ.
Join them now as their adventure continues...
Stéphane takes us back further, to a third, unoccupied room. The
quiet of the main Library fades to total silence here. These
are the archives, the historical documents collection.
Here is the reason we were denied admittance on our prior visits.
He goes over to a vertical file cabinet against a wall. "We have the
programs here," he says, opening one of the drawers. Inside are
multiple labeled hanging folders, each containing one or two copies.
This particular drawer has copies of the Dralion program, the various
editions creating an interesting case of visual multiplicity, each the
same yet different. There is one copy here from each edition of each
Cirque program ever produced, a total of 234 (so far).
He searches the drawers for one in particular. "For instance, this is
the program for 'La Fête Foraine'..." He pulls out a small program, in
nearly perfect condition. This is an artifact from the genesis of all
that Cirque du Soleil has become, the first Laliberté-managed local
arts festival from July, 1982. Careful handling reveals the content
reflects a small arts fair, with advertising taking up the left-hand
pages and festival information on the right-hand pages (all in French,
of course). One could perhaps describe the experience as similar to
holding the first draft of the very first Steven King novel, or
holding Bruce Springsteen's first guitar.
Another shelf houses thick binders. Slight slivers of paper
occasionally peek out from within, hints of what look to be a costume
drawing here, a diagram for a stage or prop design there. "These are
the bibles, the first drafts of each show is concentrated in these
binders." Some of them show their age and usage, but they all serve
as direct connections back to the initial spark of the directors and
creative teams' visions. Elsewhere in the room is their collection of
530 Cirque show posters.
In another section of the room are a series of fire-proof vertical
file cabinets. These house Cirque's collection of over 200,000
photographs (in slides, traditional photos and low and hi-res digital
photographs on CD/DVD). But not all the photographs are contained
here, as photos from the early 80's have been moved into a special
climate-controlled vault offsite for preservation, as they have done
with much of the archival material from Cirque's early years. He
opens one drawer and randomly pulls out an 8.5" x 11" page of slides.
Each slide looks to be about 1.5" square. This page is from
Saltimbanco; one crisp well-lit image shows a Baroque in performance
cavorting on the stage.
Interestingly, though they have photos dating back to 1982, they
aren't necessarily free to use them. "The older shows are more
problematic," Stéphane says. "The first one was problematic because
rights weren't so clear and a photographer just came and took
pictures." In some cases, getting rights is still an issue.
Dominating a third of this room are a set of high-density mobile
storage cabinets. Several tall wheeled carriages holding materials
run over tracks set in the floor. Turning a hand crank attached to
each cartridge creates an aisle just where needed, saving up to half
the space such shelving would take if you had an aisle between each
carriage. This is where they keep visual media - promotional
shooting, b-roll, promotional roll, "that kind of stuff."
The cabinets aren't totally full, and the shelves are spaced wide
apart horizontally to account for the different heights of the various
formats stored. "We have two different format sizes," he says, which
results in wasted space. "So we will probably go with a different
drawer structure."
But where is all the video material used to create the DVDs, and the
nightly recordings of shows? With 25 years of material these racks
should be filled to the brim!
It turns out this collection doesn't include the material used to
create show DVDs. "There is also part of Cirque du Soleil that is
called Cirque du Soleil Image (EE-maj). They are dedicated to the
production of films, and in fact they have their own archive. But
they are outside the building, for security purposes." The materials
here are used mostly by the company audio-visual department, which is
on the other side of the wall from the Library.
But where are the videos of the shows kept? Yes, every performance of
every show is taped, but not stored here. "They are stored outside
the circus but we keep an average of one per month here, for casting,
studio, training and insurance purposes." The rest of the show video
records are kept offsite for about 10 years and are recycled.
As Cirque has grown, so has the Library. It continues to acquire
historical material, but hasn't shed any. "From the beginning we
[have] never put anything in the garbage. Even though we have a
conservation calendar, in Excel, that gives us a snapshot of when we
[can] throw [something] away, we [haven't] because people want to keep
their stuff."
With 20 shows doing almost a billion dollars in sales each year, you
can imagine the amount of paperwork a company like Cirque amasses each
business year, including:
* Historical records - programs, posters, film
and video, pictures
* Business records - invoices, vouchers, checks, ticket
receipts, transportation records
* Financial records - balance sheets, profit and loss
statements, show budgeting and financial information
* Human Resource records - applications, employee and payroll
information
"There is a concern about money and space," explains Stéphane, "So we
have some big decisions to make. For historical records it's obvious,
but it's more problematic regarding business records. The [quantity
of] business records is so huge; a lot of boxes, a lot of things."
Not only is space a concern, so is protecting the assets the Library
already has. Referring to the photographic collection, Stéphane
comments, "At some point we'll have to digitize all of that stuff.
It's a lot, more than 200,000 [images]." The material consists mostly
of slides but also includes many photographs. "We know in less than
five years we [will] have to digitize everything, because the new
stuff is all digital. It's an obligation." Including the oldest
material, sitting outside the IHQ in that special vault.
"Our founder is really concerned about that. He understands that it
is important. Because he is getting older also (laughs) and he is
sensitive to the history aspect of the company. So there's a big
budget for it."
As we emerge from the historical documents section and re-enter the
main Library, it's easy to imagine - a creator looking for
inspiration, a costume designer or researcher searching for that
perfect graphic design, a prop designer seeking information on
cultural symbols, or an artist desiring to find the core of their
character - sitting in one of these plush chairs, or at the nearby
large dark-hued table pouring over one of the libraries volumes.
As our time with Stéphane draws to a close, we talk a bit more about
how the Library sees its mission in the company. From a purely
business standpoint it's a business library with a mission to serve
its clients, which include creation teams, production teams and the
costume studio/workshop, as well as the marketing, legal affairs,
finance and internal communication departments. "Any departments can
appeal for our services!" he says.
But being the creative endeavor it is, the Cirque du Soleil Centre for
Research and Documentation serves another, broader purpose. "Like I
said, they always start with images. And from that they create
storyboards. And from there they create different shows. It's the
images that give the first spark for every production."
Images and ideas that often starts right here.
My sincere thanks go to: Mr. Stéphane Zummo, for so graciously
spending time with us, The staff of the Cirque du Soleil Centre for
Research and Documentation, Chantal Côte, Corporate PR Manager, And
my wife LouAnna for putting up with my sometimes obsessive hobby.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"My Thoughts on VIVA ELVIA"
By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA)
--------------------------------------------------------------
It seems I may have to eat my own words.
A few weeks back I took it upon myself to spend a few moments
examining the evolution of Cirque du Soleil and relayed my thoughts to
anyone who would listen... okay, who am I kidding - I went on a brief
tirade... based on the reactions of some long-time fans who decided to
"turn their backs" on the company following the debut of TOTEM (yet
another touring show), of BANANA SHPEEL in New York City (and its
subsequent flop), and the announced collaboration with Michael Jackson
(another music-based show). The reason for the dissent was, of course,
because Cirque du Soleil had stepped outside their creative core and
was no longer the Cirque most remembered and enjoyed.
Although I spent a few moments then examining Cirque's evolution, came
to terms with the knowledge that every company, just like every
person, must continue to evolve to remain fresh and relevant, and that
while I may feel saddened by the fact that I may never again
experience the Cirque of old (a.k.a. the "Dragone Era"), I was not
going to turn my back on the company - not just then. Why? If TOTEM
and BANANA SHPEEL had taught me anything it was to expect the
unexpected; to enjoy the shows for what they were not for what I
wished them to be.
Sage advice from a long-time fan of Cirque du Soleil, wouldn't you
say?
A lot has changed since I've written those words. Back then I hadn't
seen VIVA ELVIS.
I have now.
Sorry Cirque, but after taking in the 7:00pm performance on Friday,
August 20th, I have to borrow a few of Elvis' lyrics... I'll try not
to be cruel but one night with you got me all shook up...
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog.
THE SHOW
==========
Viva ELVIS is billed as a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and
live music; a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley.
Nostalgia, modernity and raw emotion provide the backdrop for his
immortal voice and the exhilaration and beauty of his music.
Created in the image of The King of Rock 'n' Roll - powerful, sexy,
whimsical, truly unique and larger than life - the show highlights an
American icon who transformed popular music and whose image embodies
the freedom, excitement and turbulence of his era.
Significant moments in his life - intimate, playful and grandiose -
blend with the timeless songs that remain as relevant today as when
they first hit the top of the charts. Viva ELVIS focuses on the
essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be
linked with the history of Las Vegas and the entire world of
entertainment - Elvis Presley - through the following scenes:
BLUE SUEDE SHOES
One of the seminal songs that propelled Elvis to fame, Blue Suede
Shoes opens the show with raucous abandon, featuring a dynamic
ensemble of 30 dancers and 24 acrobats boogying, bouncing and flying
through the air. A giant jukebox adorns the stage until a giant blue
suede shoe rolls on. The eight-piece band and four female singers
energize a showcase filled with Elvis imagery, colorful graphics and
vintage footage of euphoric fans.
DON'T BE CRUEL
This number pays tribute to Elvis' fantastic recording career and the
sheer volume of his work. Twenty-four dancers take the stage for the
classic song, featuring glittering images of flying gold records on
eight LED panels, and six enormous RCA and Sun gold records lowered
from the rafters.
ONE NIGHT WITH YOU
An epic-sized guitar, a symbol of Elvis' love of music and his larger-
than-life persona, serves as an imaginary playground for Elvis and his
twin brother Jesse Garon, who died at birth. The song is a duet
between a female singer at a piano and Elvis himself.
ALL SHOOK UP
Gospel music was at the very core of Elvis' artistry. This powerful
rendition of an Elvis classic, performed by one of the singers in a
rich setting of colorful stained glass imagery, lends the dance number
a Southern revival feel.
SAVED
Elvis loved singing gospel more than any other musical genre. In fact,
each of his three Grammys was for a gospel recording. This euphoric
number combines dance with acrobatics.
GOT A LOT OF LIVIN' TO DO
Full of thrills and daring feats this is a trampoline number inspired
by street acrobatics and Elvis' fascination with comic books,
amusement parks and superheroes. Seven acrobats in stylized superhero
costumes defy gravity in a stunning cavalcade of synchronized jumps,
leaps and bounces.
HEARTBREAK HOTEL
A ballad of love, sorrow and separation, Heartbreak Hotel features
four dance couples - the men dressed as army officers and the women
wearing airmail envelope dresses. They are torn between loyalty to
country and their emotional ties to their loved ones.
LOVE ME TENDER
A duet sung by Elvis and a female singer is underscored by a montage
of still photographs and newsreel footage of Elvis' two years in the
army.
RETURN TO SENDER
Boot camp as performance art - a large ensemble cast of dancers,
acrobats and marching band musicians puts on a dizzying array of hip
hop moves, and high-bar calisthenics. Backed by a gigantic American
flag made of whimsical stars and stripes, the sharp, compelling
movements are emblematic of precision, pride and patriotism - all
highly distinctive characteristics of Elvis himself.
ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT
This aerial pas-de-deux features a soldier and his girlfriend in a
dreamy ode to their love and devotion - and their efforts to stay
together during his tour of duty by writing to each other.
WESTERN SCENE
Musicians gather around a campfire in a reference to the style and
camaraderie of the '68 Comeback Special, and perform a medley of songs
on acoustic instruments while two cowboys spin their guns and twirl
their lassos in a playful routine.
BURNING LOVE
A cascade of movie clips pays homage to Elvis' Hollywood career. The
live band rocks the house and punctuates classic dialogue delivered by
the King.
BOSSA NOVA
A young guy triumphantly shows off at a party by building a tower of
eight chairs and topping it off with a one-arm handstand.
KING CREOLE
New Orleans sets the tone for this lusty rendition of the title song
from one of Elvis' best-loved films. It's Reggae, it's Calypso, it's
Cajun, and above all it is fun as a female singer is accompanied by
Elvis in a visual feast of stop-action film clips and dance.
JAILHOUSE ROCK
Jailhouse Rock marked the pinnacle of Elvis' movie career. It's also
the centerpiece of Viva ELVIS. A dramatic, mysterious entrance gives
way to a high-octane dance and acrobatic fusion performed to the
pulsating beat of the familiar anthem. In a tribute to the original
film sequence, the iconic prison set is dramatically updated in a
number that flips the world upside down.
IT'S NOW OR NEVER
The sensuality of the tango and the sophistication of a lounge song
connect with the audacity of an innovative pole performance featuring
eight female performers and the four men they seduce.
CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE
Home movies of Elvis and Priscilla's courtship lead into footage of
their marriage ceremony. A singer performs a duet with Elvis atop a
replica of their wedding cake to accompany graceful ballet dancers and
roller-skaters.
LOVE ME/DON'T
Two seven-foot hoops - scale replicas of Elvis and Priscilla's
engagement rings - descend from the grid for two couples to perform a
sensual cerceaux act to a rocking arrangement of Love Me. A female
singer and guitarist join the party for Don't.
VIVA LAS VEGAS
Showgirls wearing colorful plumes parade down the central staircase of
a spectacular stage set framed by two gold Elvis statues. All the
other cast members are wearing shimmering reinterpretations of classic
Elvis jumpsuits as a medley of songs pays tribute to the glitz and
sparkle of Elvis' Vegas years.
SUSPICIOUS MINDS
Suspicious Minds opens with a soulful riff and builds to a thunderous
finish. A couple caught in a trap of passion and anger express their
feelings for each other in an energetic acrobatic dance. Once the duo
is reconciled, the set fills with performers emerging at the top of
the staircase in fringed jumpsuits, recreating Elvis' signature stage
moves.
HOUND DOG
The entire cast brings the show to an unforgettable finale with a
dynamic, modern celebration of the song that marked Elvis' rise to
fame.
THOUGHTS
==========
One of the disappointments I had regarding the show was the lack of
Elvis's music.
"But wait a minute," you say. "Isn't this Elvis's show?"
Well yes, and no.
What I was hoping for was something akin to THE BEATLES LOVE just down
the street at The Mirage: a complete integration of inspirational or
thought-provoking (a.k.a. psychedelic in the case of The Beatles)
scenes that cleverly tied the landscape shown to us together with the
band's (or Elvis himself in this case) iconic music.
I didn't think we'd be getting an entire live band...
In THE BEATLES LOVE, it's the Beatles' own music you hear piped across
the multitude of speakers, only remixed slightly; in VIVA ELVIS, a
live-band plays his music while a female singer (wait, not ELVIS?)
belts out his tunes. Occasionally a track of Elvis' vocals will
accompany the singer, but it's just not enough in our humble opinions.
We came to hear ELVIS!
Another "problem" I noticed was the show's scale.
Although blurring the lines between scenery elements, acrobatic
equipment and props in the show was a deliberate choice by designer
Mark Fisher, it's too much in our opinion.
The design of the Elvis Theater has a conventional proscenium layout
reminiscent of an opera house. The stage is wide and the backstage
area and wings are vast. They have to accommodate the large-scale set
elements and the need for speed in changing scenes imposed by the
rapid pace of the show. The sides and the rear of the stage are fixed
areas while the center is composed of 16 platforms, separated into 12
sections which can rise to a height of ten feet. Depending on the
scene, the platforms may at various times in the show support
performers, singers, dancers or set elements. The widest platform
measures 18 feet by 80 feet and is raised by four powerful motors 26
feet below the stage.
It's humongous; most of the time the performers, singers, and
musicians on it become lost in it or in what is going on around them.
A good example of this comes in the show's trampoline piece - GOT A
LOT OF LIVIN' TO DO - the trampoline/wall piece covers the entirety of
the stage and yet only 5 people perform on it (the press-release says
seven, but I only got five in my performance). It swallowed the
performers whole! There's also just not much to the number. After
numerous Fast-Tracks, Power-Tracks, and Trampoline-Walls presented in
other Cirque du Soleil shows, I expected much, much more than jumping
and diving between the sections.
It didn't deliver.
In fact, I was instantly reminded of OVO's Trampo-Wall routine - epic
in scale (for a touring show) just grossly under skilled.
Another strong example occurred during the show's chair-balancing skit
- BOSSA NOVA. Here a young man builds a tower of eight chairs then
does a hand-stand when he's done. Trouble was: I didn't even know the
act was progressing until about half-way through! The visuals on the
ever-moving LCD screens kept my attention firmly affixed on them
rather than on what was actually occurring on stage.
This is a huge mistake, in my opinion. The screens should help enhance
the mood (like they do in THE BEATLES LOVE) not become the main
attractions themselves.
Furthermore, although I enjoyed the way the number was presented (the
song married quite nicely to the action on stage), having seen
balancing-on-chairs in a variety of forms (notably in Nouvelle
Experience, La Nouba and Koozå), was it necessary to present another
iteration of the number? And if so, wouldn't it have been more prudent
to increase the skill set? It was a plain old chair balancing
routine...
Talk about a heartbreak hotel...
And don't get me started on JAILHOUSE ROCK - who thought it would be a
good idea to fill the entire stage with a jailhouse set piece then
just march back and forth across it for minutes on end? Sure, the
upside-down bit was interesting but in the end just showed there
wasn't much to do. Or ONE NIGHT WITH YOU - where a huge guitar piece
descends from the rafters and two performers... climb over and around
it? What? Where's the performance? Where's the Cirque? So wasteful. Or
WESTERN SCENE - gun twirling and lassos... seriously? If I hadn't seen
lassos in ZED I would have laughed this number right off the stage -
wait, I did... in ZED there was actually some presentation and
mystique to it.
And what's with the force-perspective statues of Elvis?
Be that as it may there was one bright-spot in the show for me -
RETURN TO SENDER - a skillful gymnastics routine performed on high-
bars set against an American Flag of boxer shorts. It had the skill,
the whimsy and best of all, ELVIS himself singing his own song.
It just wasn't enough to save the show.
* * *
In conclusion, I have nothing but the utmost respect for all the
performers, musicians, stage personnel and creators that poured their
heart and soul into bringing VIVA ELVIS to fruition.
The talent is there; unfortunately it's just underutilized.
In the end VIVA ELVIS is not my cup of tea.
And much like ZUMANITY, it's another side of Cirque du Soleil that I
just can't quite appreciate. No, I take that back. I can appreciate
ZUMANITY for what it is (it's just not the highlight of any trip to
Las Vegas), and TOTEM and BANANA SHPEEL for what they try to be. I'm
just not sure I can extend that thought to VIVA ELVIS.
I didn't enjoy it. I couldn't even take my own advice and enjoy it for
what it was trying to be.
For the first time in a long time I was bored.
(KÀ's performance the previous night notwithstanding - but that's a
story for another time)
I'm returning this one to sender; I have no plans to see VIVA ELVIS
again.
So I'll eat my words now and be on my way.
I am still curious about Hollywood 2011, Radio City 2011, and Dubai if
that show ever sees the light of day; and, of course, what new touring
productions may come out of Montreal in the near future. But my
thoughts now can be summed up by the immortal words of Marlin the
Fish:
"Good feelings gone."
I am much more skeptical now. I have a suspicious mind.
I guess for now I'll just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
=======================================================================
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
=======================================================================
Fascination! is a monthly publication, available through subscription
via Yahoo! Groups or on the World Wide Web in text format at the
newsletter's website: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. To
subscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To unsubscribe, please send an email to:
< CirqueFascination-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To Subscribe
via Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News) use the following:
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >. To view back
issues, or other online Newsletter content, please visit us at:
< http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >.
Join us on the web at:
< www.cirquefascination.com >
Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only):
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >
Have a comment, question or concern? Email the Fascination!
Newsletter staff at: < CirqueFasincation-owner@yahoogroups.com >.
We are anxious to hear any and all comments!
=======================================================================
COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
=======================================================================
Fascination! Newsletter
Volume 10, Number 9 (Issue #80) - September 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
remuneration. All submissions become the property of the "Fascination!
Newsletter." "Fascination! Newsletter" is not affiliated in any way
with Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil and all its creations are
Copyright (c) and are registered trademarks (TM) of Cirque du Soleil,
Inc., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright
infringement intended.
{ Sep.08.2010 }
=======================================================================
