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Fascination Issue 115 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 13, NUMBER 08 August 2013 ISSUE #115e
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Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque
du Soleil Newsletter.
It's funny - no sooner did we finish up our overview of Cirque's
musique catalog that the company announced a new addition: ZARKANA's
official studio CD! As they say... no good deed goes unpunished! So
if you are so inclined, you can purchase the music CD through Amazon,
FYE, and, of course, Cirque's own online botique. It's not the only
product available online - Gravitas Ventures has struck a deal to
become the exclusive VOD distributor of a variety of Cirque du Soleil
programs that include performance specials featuring the live shows as
well as behind-the-scenes documentaries that highlight the creative
process of a Cirque du Soleil show. The titles are available for the
first time to a North American audience on VOD, Video on Demand. The
first programs, Kooza and A Thrilling Ride Through Kooza, will be
available on Aug. 6. Additional programs that will continue into
September as part of a Season of Cirque du Soleil, which will include
four other specials: Delirium; Hatching, a documentary about the
creation of Ovo; Flow: A Tribute to the Artists of O; and The Mystery
of Mystere. While many of these have already been released, the OVO
one is new and it appears there might even be new recordings of
shows coming soon!
You'll also find that the second issue of Cirque du Soleil's KÀmic
book was released last month, just ahead of San Diego Comic Con - it
continues the story laid down in issue #1 with more to come! Although
not generally available for sale, you can find copies of the comic on
eBay should you be interested. Check out the cover art on our website
here: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=4034 >. And speaking of
Cirque du Soleil-based graphic novels, have you heard of the "Cirque
Du Soleil: ZED - The unofficial graphic novel"? If you haven't you're
really missing out! Released JUST before we went to press, this
fan-endeavour tells the tale of Cirque du Soleil's ZED in 45 pages of
glorious color. Check it out here: < http://goo.gl/oWjKzW >.
Zumanity, the sensual side of Cirque du Soleil, celebrated its 10th
anniversary at the end of last month. To that end we swing our
continuing "looking back" series toward Zumanity in honor of this
great achievement! You'll find that within as well as an expanded
look at Polstar's ranks and numbers in terms of gross sales, number
of tickets sold, average ticket price, and more.
Winner! We Have a Winner!
Millions read it. Thousands entered. And we have one winner! We
are happy to announce the winner of our Trivia Contest was Adam
Sutton of Tampa, Florida.
Our trivia question --Which artist (other than Cirque du Soleil
itself), was signed to Cirque du Soleil Musique, and what was the
name of the CD that resulted?
The correct answer? Alain Vinet, current Musical Director of Cirque
du Soleil, whose 2-CD set, Mouvement, was released in 2005. To quote
from our first interview with Mr. Vinet, "Following [Delirium] Cirque
[wanted] to produce new musical artists for the [CDS Musique] record
label and I was signed as an artist. I was the only one [whose 2-CD
set "Mouvement" was released in 2005], because after that the company
decided to regroup into what they know best, which is Cirque shows."
Congratulations Adam!
And, as always, we have the latest news items posted to Fascination's
website, tour schedule updates, and the most interesting posts to the
many Facebook pages Cirque maintains.
It's all inside!
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
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CONTENTS
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o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information
* BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau
* Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues
* Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre
o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets
* Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub
* Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube
o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain
* Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque
* Historia -- Cirque Company History
* Odyssea -- Cirque Tour History
o) Fascination! Features
* "Cirques Tours Make The Grade
again and again and..."
By: Ricky Russo & Keith Johnson
* "ZUMANITY: 10 Years of Sensuality"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
o) Subscription Information
o) Copyright & Disclaimer
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CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
Zarkana CD Coming July 23rd
{Jul.01.2013}
----------------------------------------------
Fans will recognize Paul Bisson (formerly of Corteo) on lead
vocals with Cassiopée and Briana Shaw Rossi also featured as
lead vocalists on the album. This is the first Cirque du Soleil
soundtrack written and produced by Nick Littlemore. Littlemore
is well-known as the front man of the acclaimed Sydneybased
electronic act PNAU, and as one half of the electro-pop duo
Empire of the Sun. As a producer Littlemore has worked with Sir
Elton John, Groove Armada, Ellie Goulding, Robbie Williams, and
many others. He won his first Australian Record Industry
Association Award (ARIA) in 1999 for Best Dance Release with PNAU,
and four more ARIAs in 2009 for Empire of the Suns album Walking
on a Dream. After touring, New York, Madrid and Moscow, the live
show Zarkana is now in Las Vegas at the Aria Hotel and Casino,
its new permanent location. Zarkana marks the first album release
from a Cirque du Soleil permanent show in Las Vegas since the
best-selling soundtrack of KÀ.
01. ANTLIA (2:34)
02. ZAWRAQ (3:41)
03. ERIDANUS (4:43)
04. CAPH (4:58)
05. CRYSOCOCCA (3:35)
06. KUMA (3:16)
07. TARIENTAR / THE ARCHER (4:22)
08. GIENAH (4:48)
09. RAE (4:56)
10. TOURAGO / GUIRAM (4:25)
11. JARSEATE (4:35)
12. ASTERAW (4:11)
Get your copy today!
$18.50 USD via Cirque du Soleils Online Boutique
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yYRtt > OR
$15.38 USD via Amazon.com.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/JixfC >
{SOURCE: Amazon, Cirque du Soleil}
Cirques hardest balancing act:
Safety vs. spectacle
{Jul.02.2013}
----------------------------------------------
A small number of details are beginning to emerge regarding the
horrifying accident that took the life of Sarah Guillot-Guyard
on Saturday, June 30th.
We know that Sarah Guillot-Guyard was suspended from a safety
harness clipped to a cable as she moved up and down KAs 50-foot
vertical stage, along with 16 other performers, during the
shows battle scene climax just as she had been countless
times during her seven years on the show.
She was being hoisted up the side of the stage and then just
plummeted down, spectator Dan Mosqueda told The Las Vegas Sun.
Initially, a lot of people in the audience thought it was part
of the choreographed fight. But you could hear screaming, then
groaning, and we could hear a female artist crying from the
stage.
As the stunned audience was dismissed from the theater, Guillot-
Guyard was rushed to the University Medical Center. The Clark
County coronor pronounced her dead. Press reports say Guyard-
Guillot died in an ambulance and was pronounced dead at 11:43
p.m.
Shockwaves continue to reverberate. KÀ was immediately shut down
until at least next Tuesday pending investigations by the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the coroners
office and Cirque du Soleil. The closure does not affect the 18
other Cirque shows across the country.
Speculation about what could have caused the accident has just
begun: Was it a mechanical malfunction or human error? A Cirque
representative, Renee-Claude Menard, would not discuss the open
investigation. At this point in time, I cant confirm exactly
what happened. But I can confirm that she did not slip out of
her harness, she said. We are fully collaborating with the
proper authorities to determine the events that led to this
tragic accident.
John Fudenberg of the Clark County Coroners office told
Variety: Were going to be working with OSHA and investigating
this tragic accident. There is certainly safety apparatus that
is used during any Cirque du Soleil show, and I know that
company is very safety-conscious. We have to make sure we
inspect the safety harnesses and well work with OSHA to do some
of that. Our priority is to find out how this happened. We have
to know exactly what failed so we and OSHA can make
recommendations on what should be done and how to prevent this
from happening again.
Erica Linz, who starred in Cirque du Soleils 2012 3-D movie,
Worlds Away, was an aerial performer in KÀ for six years. In an
interview in October at the MGM Grand theater, during prolonged
but regular safety checks, she talked about the extensive
training each performer receives, perfecting every maneuver on
the ground before slowly moving to higher altitudes. Each night,
all performers are in constant radio contact with safety
personnel.
Theres multiple rescue plans for everything. Well do rescue
training and go through every potential scenario, said Linz,
who added that she never had to resort to one of these measures.
If there are issues with the airbags below the stage, performers
are told no jumps into their ear monitors, and lightning
flashes onstage as a second signal.
A Nevada OSHA spokeswoman and an official with Cirque du Soleil
said Monday that they would not predict when the investigation
would be completed. The show is dark at least through July 9.
{SOURCES: Las Vegas Sun, USA Today, Variety, LV Review-Journal}
Coroner releases details into Cirque death
{Jul.03.2013}
----------------------------------------------
An official autopsy report released late Tuesday offers new
details into the death of veteran acrobat Sarah Guillot-Guyard
who fell to her death Saturday night during a performance of
Cirque du Soleils Ka at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The 31-year old French-born mother of two young children, 8 and
5, died of multiple blunt force trauma after falling about 90
feet from the shows vertical stage, the Clark County Coroners
Office said, KLAS Las Vegas reported.
This updates earlier estimates that she fell 50 feet.
Dan Kulin, a county spokesman, told the Las Vegas Sun that the
Coroners Office determined Guyard-Guillots death was
accidental.
Determining how the accident happened could take up to six
months, the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration
said after launching an investigation into the fatal fall, The
Associated Press writes.
A candlelight vigil to remember Guillot-Guyard is scheduled for
7 p.m. Wednesday evening at Studio 222 on West Flamingo in Las
Vegas.
{SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun}
Final KÀ battle scene likely to be cut
{Jul.08.2013}
----------------------------------------------
A representative of Cirque du Soleil says Ka plans to remove
its final battle scene, the same scene during which a performer
died on June 29 after falling roughly 90 feet in front of a live
audience at the MGM Grand.
Cirque representative Renee-Claude Menard said in an email, It
is very likely that (the) Battle Scene will be removed during
the OSHA investigation period, which can last up to six months.
Menard also said Cirque is continuing its initial investigation
into the death of 31-year-old Sarah Guillot-Guyard and should
announce by next week when Ka performances will resume. It is
unlikely that Ka will be back onstage before July 16, she
said.
The final scene involves performers suspended by wires
rappelling along a vertical wall as the audience watches the
battle unfold from a birds-eye view.
Guillot-Guyards death was the first onstage fatality in
Cirques 29-year history.
{SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal | http://goo.gl/l3hox }
Performers death adds to Cirques troubles
{Jul.09.2013}
----------------------------------------------
Before this tragic accident, the Canadian circus company had
already suffered setbacks including layoffs of 400 staff and a
string of poorly performing shows
Saturday 29 June was supposed to be the day that Cirque du
Soleil turned the page on recent financial and artistic
setbacks, and sent a message that it was still the most powerful
player in live entertainment in Las Vegas. Instead, it ended
with the worst tragedy in the French-Canadian circus companys
history the first fatal on-stage accident in the 29 years of
its existence.
During a performance of the Cirque du Soleil extravaganza Kà,
audience members gasped in amazement as one of the aerialists
plummeted an estimated 27 metres into a pit below the stage. But
the fall was no act: Sarah Guyard-Guillot, 31, a mother of two
known as Sasoun to friends and colleagues, died of her
injuries before she reached hospital.
The timing of the incident, as well as being a tragedy for
Guyard-Guillots friends, colleagues and family, was doubly
cruel for Cirque which has been trying to get its momentum
back after it had to lay off 400 employees this winter owing to
a string of under-performing shows.
Earlier the same day, the troupe had held the premiere of
Michael Jackson ONE, its much-anticipated news how at the
Mandalay Bay resort and casino just two blocks down from the
MGM Grand, which has housed Kà since 2006. Celebrities from
Justin Bieber to Spike Lee were on hand for the opening of a
spectacle that mixes circus tricks with the music of the late
King of Pop a pairing that has already proved lucrative for
Cirque on the road with the arena show, Michael Jackson: The
Immortal World Tour.
Concerns that the company has over-saturated the Las Vegas
market have escalated over the past year, since its acrobatic
tribute to another musical king, Viva Elvis, closed early. The
glitzy opening of ONE was no doubt designed to demonstrate that
the company was, in fact, not in retreat in Vegas, where it
first opened Mystère in 1993 and now operates eight shows.
By 11.43pm that evening, however, Guyard-Guillot had been
pronounced dead, and soon after the news spread across social
media instead of red-carpet pictures of ONE.
Directed by Robert Lepage, Quebecs second most-famous
theatrical export after Cirque, Kà is known for two things: its
record-breaking budget, an estimated $165 million (more than
twice that of Broadways budget-smashing, accident-prone
musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark); and its gravity-defying
battle scenes, one called The Wheel of Death, and another in
which the massive stage flips up 90 degrees and performers fly
out towards the audience.
When all goes well, the latter looks like a live-action version
of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But something its still
unclear what went wrong during the sequence on June 29 and
Guyard-Guillot, who had been a member of Kàs cast since its
creation, fell.
The show has been closed since, and Cirque du Soleil has been
cooperating fully with an investigation by the Nevada
Occupational Safety and Health Administration that may take up
to six months to conclude. Meanwhile, the companys founder Guy
Laliberté the stilt walker who in 2009 became a billionaire
space tourist has said he is heartbroken by the traumatic
accident. On the online memorial site forsasoun.com, another
circus colleague wrote: I cant believe Ill never again see
your smiling face behind that mask of warrior paint
You were,
and always in my heart will be, among the most badass of
badasses.
Around the world, Cirque du Soleil is known for its thrilling
animal-free acts. Its colourful aesthetic forged in the
bilingual city of Montreal has proved easy to export. Within the
industry, however, the company is equally well known for the
steps it takes to protect the performers that help it pull in an
estimated $1bn (£674m) annually from ticket and merchandising
sales.
Safety protocols and detailed risk analyses are a part of every
routines creation and there are a host of trainers,
physiotherapists and even performance psychologists on staff to
keep artists healthy. In a 2009 study published in the American
Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers from six Canadian and
American universities examined five years of data for Cirque,
and found the companys injury rates less than those for college
gymnastics.
But just as Cirque du Soleils box-office success is no longer
certain the company has suffered a string of disappointments
in Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles and in Asia over the past
five years, as it tried to expand too quickly amid a recession
its safety record will now be subject to greater scrutiny.
This is not actually the first death on Cirques watch. In 2009,
the Ukrainian acrobat Oleksandr Zhurov, 24, died during a
rehearsal at the companys Montreal headquarters. Quebecs
occupational health and safety commission investigated and
eventually imposed a CA$1,915 (£1,221) fine on the company,
according to the Montreal Gazette. More recently, just days
before the death at Kà, an acrobat was reportedly taken away
from a preview performance of Michael Jackson ONE in a
wheelchair after a fall.
In a statement released after Guyard-Guillots death, Laliberté
said: Our focus now is to support each other as a family. But
the past year has already been trying for the Cirque family in
other ways and families of Cirque performers. In April, news
broke that the company would be discontinuing family support for
its touring shows. This means no more family housing, and most
critically, no more schooling, wrote the wife of one performer
on her blog Running Away with the Circus. Everything is slated
to close down at the end of our North American tour June
2014.
Attempts to trim costs have filtered down to the permanent shows
running in Las Vegas as well, even as Cirque has gone ahead with
the opening of new projects such as Michael Jackson ONE. This
spring, singer Dina Emerson started an online fundraiser for
seven employees who had unexpectedly lost their jobs in
Mystère.
Kà has been subject to budget cuts too, with two performers from
that troupe let go over the winter. Theres nothing to suggest
that any of the companys cost-saving measures have trickled
down to safety measures, however. The layoffs have absolutely
no incidence on this accident [sic], spokesperson Renée-Claude
Ménard told me in an email.
Still, halfway through 2013, with its 30th anniversary swiftly
approaching, Cirque du Soleil now finds itself nursing two blows
to a reputation that for the first quarter century of its
existence was iron-clad.
{SOURCE: The Guardian | http://goo.gl/k2WGLt }
Guillot-Guyard benefit show scheduled;
KÀ resumes 7/16
{Jul.12.2013}
----------------------------------------------
The first show benefiting the late Ka artist Sarah Guillot-
Guyards family is set for midnight July 18 at Baobab Stage at
Town Square. The event is a cabaret-style performance featuring
several Cirque performers. Tickets are $20 and available at the
Baobab Stage website or by calling (702) 369-7749.
The director of Baobab Stage is Wassa Coulibaly, also performer
in Cirques Zumanity at New York-New York (characteristic of
Cirques worldwide reach, Coulibaly is from Dakar, Senegal). All
money raised at the event will be sent to Guillot-Guyards
family.
Meantime, the return of performances of Ka appears to be
Tuesday. At least that is the preliminary indication if you are
confident in the process of ordering tickets to production
shows. The MGM box office is taking ticket orders to Tuesday
nights shows, marking the first performances since June 29,
when Guillot-Guyard fell from the vertical stage to her death
during the shows Final Battle scene.
That act is not expected to return, though Cirque spokeswoman
Renee-Claude Menard has stopped short of saying the scene has
formally been cut from the production. Highly unlikely is the
term shes been using to address that probability. If the Final
Battle scene is ever to return, it would be in the far-off
future. In the interim, OSHAs investigation into the incident
will take months to complete (the government safety agency has
up to six months to issue citations, if any are merited, in such
investigations). Cirque shut down the show, not OSHA, and can
bring it back without having to clear its decision with the
occupational safety inspectors.
We are pursuing our ongoing collaboration with OSHA, and their
findings will not be available for a few months down the line.
We completely respect their process and will offer our continued
collaboration all through the process, Menard said in an email.
What Cirque du Soleil is doing this week is our own evaluation
of when the performances will resume and making the necessary
artistic adjustments for when the performances will resume.
{SOURCE: Las Vegas Weekly | http://goo.gl/jmt399 }
Cirque du Soleils KÀ Performances Resume
{Jul.14.2013}
----------------------------------------------
Montreal (July 14, 2013) Cirque du Soleil announces that
performances of KÀ, presented at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, will
resume on Tuesday, July 16th at 7:00 p.m.
The decision was made after a two-week evaluation and in
agreement and consultation with the artists and staff of the
production.
KÀ will be presented without the Battle Scene act. This act
has been replaced with a transition artistic scene, The
Dressing-Ritual, that will maintain both the storyline of
production and its 90-minute running time.
This scene will not involve acrobatics. Instead it will involve
a soft approach to the combat that makes it clear who has won.
Although the shows director, Robert Lepage, has been kept
abreast of everything happening in the last 12 days, according
to Cirque du Soleil spokesperson Renée-Claude Ménard, We have
not called on him for this short-term solution. We will,
however, appeal to Roberts artistic wisdom for the mid-to-long-
term changes over six months to a year.
The Tuesday July 16th 7:00 P.M. performance will be dedicated to
the memory of Sarah Guillot-Guyard (Sasoun).
Cirque du Soleil has modified the schedule of performances of KÀ
until July 23rd. The revised schedule is as follows:
KÀ will begin performances again on Tuesday, July 16th (7pm),
Wednesday, July 17th (7pm), Thursday, July 18th (7pm) and
Friday, July 19th (7pm). Please note that Saturday, July 20th
was a scheduled dark day. We will cancel late show performances
for Tuesday, July 16th (9:30pm), Wednesday, July 17th (9:30pm),
Thursday July 18th (9:30pm) and Friday, July 19th (9:30pm).
KÀ will resume the regular performance schedule beginning on
Tuesday, July 23rd.
All other ticketing info will remain the same.
The details surrounding the accident of June 29th are still
under review by OSHA and their report on this matter may take up
to 6 months before it is released.
Cirque du Soleil wishes to thank the audience and the media for
their kind wishes, respect and on-going support during this
difficult time.
{SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil}
Michael Jackson ONE: Cirque re-finds its way
{Jul.15.2013}
----------------------------------------------
On June 29, the top executives of the Montreal-based Cirque du
Soleil were here at the theater inside the Mandalay Bay Resort &
Casino, sitting alongside the likes of Justin Bieber, Spike Lee
& Neil Patrick Harris, celebrating the opening of Michael
Jackson ONE, the latest Cirque creation, designed as an
evocation of the music & spirit of the late King of Pop.
Those executives were in dire need of a favorable night. The
annus horribilis of an entertainment colossus in that once
seemed infallible began last August with the demise of Viva
Elvis, a Cirque show reflecting its newfound interest in
working with the estates of iconic celebrities. Not only was
Elvis a uncharacteristically bland & unimaginative show a
whitewash of its subject to the point of rendering the guy
unrecognizable yet audiences at the high-end Aria Hotel &
Casino responded with a yawn. Cirque had wanted to do a
retooling, yet the hotels owner, MGM Resorts, which found the
box-office reports depressing reading, told them to close it
down instead. Shows shutter all the time, yet not Cirque shows
in Vegas. None of its desert extravaganzas, which typically cost
tens of millions to produce & take years of time to recoup, had
ever closed. Performers grow old within them. The masterpiece
Mystere has-been playing nearly 20 years.
After the Elvis debacle came the layoffs of 400 Cirque
employees, some 9 % of the staff, formally announced in January.
That led to an uncomfortable headline in the large Canadian
newspaper The Globe & Mail: Massive layoffs & mediocrity: Has
Cirque du Soleil lost its way?
Mandalay Bay has a fake beach & wave pool, & in that was the
site of the opening-night party for ONE. Cirque is famous for
its extravagant parties, which typically go on for several
hours. But on this occasion, attendees state news filtered in
that there had been, in that very Saturday night, a serious
accident just up the Strip at the MGM Grand, at Ka, one of
Cirques most massive & artful creations. The show had been
canceled midperformance. Although most of the Mandalay Bay
celebrants did not know it straightaway, an accident inside one
of the shows thrilling battle scenes had led to the death of a
performer, Sarah Guyard-Guillot, a 31-year-old mother of two.
Although all circus shows involve risk, & minor accidents are
not unknown, no one had ever died while performing a Cirque
show.
The word here is in that the Cirque leadership & staffers, who
remain close-knit despite all of the above, were devastated
beyond measure by the death of Guyard-Guillot. Creative or
financial struggles are one thing; this was another. This, they
felt, had nothing to do with any narrative trajectory of a
company, despite the sudden interest of the media in connecting
those dots. The accident led to the temporary suspension of
Ka. As of Thursday, the show still was very slowly easing back
in to rehearsals with the intent of removing the scene in that
contained the accident. The reopening date, likely to be quiet,
has yet to be set. Cirque wants the artists themselves to decide
when they are ready.
All of in that might explain why Michael Jackson ONE opened
here with attention very much focused elsewhere. Thats a shame.
It is a strikingly attractive & emotional show. Indeed, ONE,
which was created by Jamie King, who once danced alongside
Jackson on his Dangerous world tour in 1992-93, is the 1st
Cirque show in a acceptable long while to feel like it actually
has a heart. That crucial collective drive of vulnerability,
wonder & striving for rebirth informed all the amazing early
Cirque shows, especially those created by its early auteur,
Franco Dragone, the creator of O. The return of an emotional
personal vision is long overdue.
Michael Jackson ONE actually is being widely confused with
Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, a separate, arena-
based Cirque show, moreover based on the life & works of Jackson
& in that has-been playing arenas around the world (including
the United Center in Chicago last summer). Although a hit at the
box office, The Immortal is a massive, cool-to-the-touch
hagiography in that captures Jacksons thirst for the kinetic &
the spectacular yet seems to crush his gentle spirit & confusing
legacy with video, volume, freneticism & fireworks. It evidences
a fear of intimacy, which is not surprising given the
complexities of its subject, yet still, thats no excuse for not
seeming to reveal much of the man.
Kings far superior & infinitely more personal piece at Mandalay
Bay is a whole different beast.
Indeed, it contains a beast at its center: a roving man-and-
machine with arms made up of cameras, headlines, flashbulbs &
probing tentacles. When you add the projected tabloid images on
the walls of the theater in that greet the audience as it
enters, you grasp the show has an antagonist not unlike the one
in that pursued Jackson himself. By contrast, the
representations of Jackson are fleeting, flickering & fragile.
The notion of Jackson rendered in twinkling lights & inhabiting
the Milky Way will sound cloying to the arguable late stars
detractors, of course, yet then such people are not the target
audience. And to Kings amazing credit, he doesnt deify so much
as evoke with arresting fullness in that familiar Jacksonian
worldview in that instantly recognizable, inherently
unworkable blend of softness, horror, urbanity & escape. The
Jackson of ONE captures in that wildly singular fusion of
childhood innocence & pulp stardom & makes clear in that
when Jackson died, the world of Neverland disappeared with him,
for acceptable or ill.
It is a show in that makes you miss the guy & his art. In its
best moments, it makes you wonder what aspects of him ever
really touched the earth.
ONE, as seen Wednesday, is a remarkable sonic experience.
There are a whopping 5,800 speakers installed in the theater, in
addition to at least three in every seat, creating an experience
in that certainly cant be re-created in arenas. The mixes of
the Jackson hits are, of course, based on the original
recordings, yet they have been infused by music director Kevin
Antunes with theatricality. There are unexpected pauses,
mashups, stutters, reaches.
The take on Bad, performed against a backdrop of a graffiti-
clad moving subway car with original Jackson video playing off
to the side, is especially resonant in in that it contextualizes
Jacksons music against a stark, bad picture of the huge U.S.
cities of the 1980s, before mayors started cleaning them up &
the yuppies moved back. Its arresting little meditation on what
the weird guy was up against back then with all his talk of
reconciliation & wonder.
King uses a frame a quartet of initially cynical youthful
explorers in street clothes breaking in to Neverland, it seems,
& slowly being immersed & empowered by Jacksons world. Its not
a wildly original device (the chaotic 1st version of Spider-
Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway tried something similar with
disastrous results), yet it is executed very well by King, & it
allows for an eye-popping final moment when 50 or so dancers
weve watched do Bad, Thriller & Beat It disappear en
masse in to the floor, even as their guiding Jackson sprit heads
for the rafters. The fan characters, who remind you of the crew
from Scooby Doo, until they start to dance themselves, then just
get on with their lives. Mostly by not fearing a few notes of
ambiguity, King pulls off what surely read in description as
hokey devices.
Theres one such moment, which will be what most people carry
home from their costly 90 minutes, when Jackson, who is never
impersonated in the show directly, appears in holographic form,
dancing alongside the company, only to suddenly transform in to
his younger self from Gary, Ind., only then to disappear without
warning in to a puff of digitized smoke, leaving the other
dancers sad & confused.
Its an eye-popping trick, worth the price of admission. Aside
from wondering how on earth they did in that with such realism,
you get an existential shiver or two. Its certainly a moment in
that plays with an icons immortality which is what a lot of
Jackson fans want yet its just removed enough in that it
does not so much feel like Jackson has-been reborn so much as
taken the form of a ghost dancing, not so different from the
visions in that both ennobled & terrified Scrooge. Peoples
mouths fall open.
The sensation is, as anything sensational about Jackson always
should be, complex. And complexity coupled with heart is the
only way to bring a grieving Cirque back.
{SOURCE: Chris Jones, Las Vegas NV Blog | http://goo.gl/gGgNBw }
LV Sun: KÀ marks a triumphant,
and poignant, return
{Jul.17.2013}
----------------------------------------------
On the night the circus returned to MGM Grand, a man and his two
daughters were spotted standing, hugging, near the theater exit
at the end of the show.
They were crying, the father and the two girls. The sisters
looked to be about 10 and 8 years old, if that. The man wrapped
his arms around the girls and was asked if he wanted to say
anything about the performance he just saw.
We were good friends, and she taught my daughters, said the
man, who declined to give his name as tears streaked his face.
We just had to be here, and we loved her. Thats all I can say
right now.
The woman of whom he spoke was the late Sarah Guillot-Guyard,
who died after falling from the stage in a performance of Ka
on June 29. Tuesdays show is the first performance of the
production since Guillot-Guyard fell 90 feet from the shows
moveable stage, which had been hoisted in its vertical position
for the shows Final Battle scene. OSHA inspectors have been
investigating the accident, the first death from an onstage
incident ever in Cirques 29 years.
The occupational safety findings could take as long as six
months to be made public, though OSHA did not forge the
cancellation of Ka performances over the past 2 ½ weeks. That
was Cirques decision, as was the move to sideline the Final
Battle act, the shows climactic scene, at least until OSHA
issues its findings. In its place is a far more sedate act
titled the Dressing Ritual, in which the shows twin characters
are dressed in formal attire as they reunite at shows end.
Tuesdays show was a sellout in the 1,950-seat Ka Theater. The
show was dedicated to Guillot-Guyard, and a female voiceover
told the audience that the show was dedicated to an exceptional
artist. At that, the crowd rose, and many sobs could be heard
across the audience.
The performance itself was classic Cirque. Aside from
eliminating the Final Battle and adding the new act, which kept
the shows running time at 90 minutes, Ka was
characteristically daring and powerful. During the performance,
about 20 artists dove or fell into the 25-foot open pit at the
center of the stage. This including the audience member who is
thrown into the open space after his cell phone blares just
before the show starts.
All of the other wildly, and dangerously, inventive acts remain:
the fistfights on the swaying sea vessel, the artists plunging
down the vertical stage as archers fire arrows across the
theater, aerialists bounding dozens of feet above the stage
while hooked to bungee chords, and the winter scene in which
performers are locked into the same types of harnesses and wire
cables used in the Final Battle and scale that towering,
vertical stage.
The show ended with a loud, lengthy standing ovation. Many
performers sighed heavily and pumped their fists at the crowd.
Cirque has not yet decided how, or even if, another public
tribute will be made in honor of Guillot-Guyard. She has been
memorialized privately twice, in Paris and Las Vegas. Thursday
at 11:59 p.m., performers from shows across Las Vegas, including
many Cirque artists, are staging a cabaret show at Baobob Stage
at Town Square.
Some fans in the audience were caught unaware that the
performance held such importance. Visiting couple Gerd and
Traudel Lange of Washington, D.C., had known of the Guillot-
Guyard tragedy, but hadnt known the show they had just watched
was Kas return to the stage.
They are such incredible athletes and acrobats, world class,
said Traudel Lange, a real-estate agent in Las Vegas for a
conference. They are remarkable.
Added Gerg Lange, a retired forest and technical engineer who
once worked in theater staging: What I just saw Ive never
seen anything like it. To know someone lost their life doing
this is very, very sad.
{SOURCE: John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Sun | http://goo.gl/CRKaMv }
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
{Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem & Varekai}
o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues
{Alegría, Quidam, Dralion & MJ Immortal}
o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre
{Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE,
Believe, Zarkana & Michael Jackson ONE}
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.
For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts,
please visit Cirque's website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ >.
------------------------------------
BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
------------------------------------
Amaluna:
Denver, CO -- Jul 18, 2013 to Aug 25, 2013
Minneapolis, MN -- Sep 26, 2013 to Oct 20, 2013
San Francisco, CA -- Nov 15, 2013 to Dec 29, 2913
San Jose, CA -- Jan 22, 2014 to Feb 9, 2014
New York, NY -- Mar 20, 2014 to May 18, 2014
Corteo:
Brasilia, BR -- Aug 2, 2013 to Sep 8, 2013
Belo Horizonte, BR -- Sep 19, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013
Curitiba, BR -- Nov 8, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013
Rio de Janeiro -- Dec 26, 2013 to Feb 23, 2014
Porto Alegre, BR -- Mar 7, 2014 to Apr 13, 2014
Koozå:
Knokke, BE -- Jul 18, 2013 to Aug 18, 2013
Moscow, RU -- Sep 7, 2013 to TBA
Paris, FR -- Nov 23, 2013 to Dec 23, 2013
Ovo:
Taipei, TW -- Nov 19, 2013 to Jan 5, 2014
Tokyo, JP -- Feb 12, 2014 to TBA
Sendai, JP -- Apr 23, 2014 to TBA
Osaka, JP -- Jul, 17, 2014 to TBA
Nagoya, JP -- Nov 20, 2014 to TBA
Fukuoka, JP -- Feb 21, 2015 to TBA
Totem:
Ottawa, ON -- Jul 11, 2013 to Aug 4, 2013
Columbus, OH -- Aug 22, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013
Long Beach, CA -- Oct 11, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013
Irvine, CA -- Nov 21, 2013 to Dec 29, 2013
Santa Monica, CA -- Jan 17, 2014 to Feb 9, 2014
Portland, OR -- Mar 27, 2014 to May 4, 2014
Vancouver, BC -- May 15, 2014 to Jun 6, 2014
Varekai:
Guadalajara, MX -- Aug 14, 2013 to Aug 28, 2013
Mexico City, mX -- Sep 19, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013
(Going Arena: December 2013)
------------------------------------
ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues
------------------------------------
Alegría:
Gdansk, PO -- Jul 31, 2013 to Aug 04, 2013
Palma de Mallorca, ES -- Aug 22, 2013 to Aug 30, 2013
Bucharest, RO -- Sep 5, 2013 to Sep 8, 2013
Bratislava, SK -- Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013
Sofia, BG -- Sep 20, 2013 to Sep 22, 2013
Minsk, BY -- Sep 26, 2013 to Sep 28, 2013
Newcastle, UK -- Oct 17, 2013 to Oct 20, 2013
Leeds, UK -- Oct 23, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013
Liverpool, UK -- Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013
Nottingham, UK -- Nov 6, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013
Lille, FR -- Nov 13, 2013 to Nov 17, 2013
Bordeaux, FR -- Nov 20, 2013 to Nov 24, 2013
Valencia, ES -- Nov 28, 2013 to Dec 1, 2013
Gijon, ES -- Dec 4, 2013 to Dec 8, 2013
Santander, ES -- Dec 11, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013
Madrid, ES -- Dec 18, 2013 to Dec 22, 2013
(Closing in Madrid, Dec 22, 2013)
Quidam:
Sunrise, FL -- Jul 31, 2013 to Aug 4, 2013
Estero, FL -- Aug 7, 2013 to Aug 11, 2013
Graz, AT -- Sep 5, 2013 to Sep 8, 2013
Vienna, AT -- Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013
Leipzig, DE -- Sep 18, 2013 to Sep 22, 2013
Stuttgart, DE -- Sep 25, 2013 to Sep 29, 2013
Innsbruck, AT -- Oct 2, 2013 to Oct 6, 2013
Salzburg, AT -- Oct 9, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013
Munich, DE -- Oct 16, 2013 to Oct 20, 2013
Cologne, DE -- Oct 23, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013
Frankfurt, DE -- Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013
Dortmund, DE -- Nov 6, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013
Mannheim, DE -- Nov 13, 2013 to Nov 17, 2013
Malaga, ES -- Dec 5, 2013 to Dec 8, 2013
Zaragoza, ES -- Dec 11, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013
Sevilla, ES -- Dec 18, 2013 to Dec 22, 2013
A Coruña, ES -- Dec 25, 2013 to Dec 29, 2013
London, UK -- Jan 4, 2014 to Feb 2, 2014
Toulouse, FR -- Mar 5, 2014 to Mar 9, 2014
Strasbourg, FR -- Mar 12, 2014 to Mar 16, 2014
Toulon, FR -- Mar 19, 2014 to Mar 23, 2014
Lyon, FR -- Apr 2, 2014 to Apr 6, 2014
Dralion:
Nantes, FR -- Jul 31, 2013 to Aug 4, 2013
Doha, QA -- Sep 19, 2013 to Sep 21, 2013
Beirut, LB -- Oct 10, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013
Athens, GR -- Oct 29, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013
Rome, IT -- Nov 8, 2013 to Nov 17, 2013
Turin, IT -- Nov 21, 2013 to Nov 24, 2013
Milan, IT -- Nov 28, 2013 to Dec 1, 2013
Geneva, CH -- Dec 4, 2013 to Dec 8, 2013
Basel, CH -- Dec 11, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013
Barcelona, ES -- Dec 18, 2013 to Dec 29, 2013
Lisbon, PT -- Jan 1, 2014 to Jan 12, 2014
Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour:
Beijing, CN -- Aug 9, 2013 to Aug 11, 2013
Shanghai, CN -- Aug 16, 2013 to Aug 18, 2013
Hong Kong, CN -- Aug 22, 2013 to Aug 25, 2013
Perth, AU -- Sep 18, 2013 to Sep 22, 2013
Sydney, AU -- Sep 26, 2013 to Sep 29, 2013
Brisbane, AU -- Oct 2, 2013 to Oct 6, 2013
Melbourne, AU -- Oct 9, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013
Adelaide, SA -- Oct 15, 2013 to Oct 17, 2013
Auclkand, NZ -- Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013
Varekai:
Montreal, QC -- Dec 20, 2013 to Dec 30, 2013
---------------------------------
RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre
---------------------------------
Mystère:
Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday
Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm
2013 Dark Dates:
o September 5 - 13
o November 6
2013 Added Performances:
o December 27
"O":
Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday
Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm
2013 Dark Dates:
o August 7 - 11
o October 6
o December 3 - 17
2013 Added Performances:
o December 24
o December 31
La Nouba:
Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm
2013 Dark Dates:
o September 17-21
o November 5-6
Zumanity:
Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm
2013 Dark Dates:
o TBA
KÀ:
Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2013 Dark Dates:
o September 22 -30
2013 Added Performances:
o December 30
LOVE:
Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2013 Dark Dates:
o August 21-7
o October 10
o December 11-26
2013 Added Performances:
o December 10
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.
2013 Dark Dates:
o September 3 - 7
o November 26 - 30
o December 17 - 24
2013 Added Performances:
o August 1
o August 7 & 8
o August 14 & 15
o August 21 & 22
o December 25 & 26
ZARKANA:
Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2013 Dark Dates:
o August 21 - September 5
o November 5
2013 Added Performances:
o December 26
MICHAEL JACKSON ONE:
Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday
Two Shows Nightly: 7:00pm and 10:00pm
2013 Dark Dates:
o August 22 - 30
o October 9
o December 5 20
=======================================================================
OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS
=======================================================================
o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub
o) Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube
---------------------------------------
CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub
---------------------------------------
Artists in Training Episode 2
{Jul.11.2013}
----------------------------------------------
We continue the presentation of Artists in Training: an original
documentary webseries introducing new artists visiting the
Montreal Head Office.
Get an insiders look at all the challenges and thrills they
face as they take a new turn.
In this second Episode, Barry Lowin is slowly getting into his
character.
See it first on Cirque Club!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/QE70aT >
Les Chemins Invisibles | The Harbor of Lost Souls
{Jul.29.2013}
----------------------------------------------
From June 23 to September 1, don't miss The Harbor of Lost
Souls the fifth chapter of the Les Chemins invisibles. This
free event combines circus arts and the tradition of storytelling
in the signature Cirque du Soleil style. In order to help him
find purpose to his life again, the employees of an old customs
officer have decided to offer him, for his birthday, a most
unforgettable night. In this mysterious realm, the jolly schemers
awaken a strange world in which the old man will relive some of
the pivotal moments of his long life. In a stream of festive
tableaux, the liberating power of memories whisks the old man
away on a journey during which he will discover long forgotten
parts of his inner self.
---------------------------------------------------
NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter
---------------------------------------------------
{Compiled by Keith Johnson}
---[ ALEGRIA ]---
{Jul.05}
Learn more about the true meaning behind Alegria with this
extract from our In the Wings documentary. Tell us what Alegria
means to you!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/cqwyCM >
{Jul.25}
This is just one of the drawers of our giant make-up road case.
Did you know that we travel with over 150 different colors of
lip pencils, creams, blushes, powders and lipsticks and have
inventory to last us approximately 1 year? It takes up to 6
strong men to move the entire cabinet!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/MmoXfY >
---[ AMALUNA ]---
{Jul.21}
Behind the Scenes at Amaluna: The Band Pit, where our all
female band and the band leader make great music happen!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ycwMm8 >
{Jul.22}
How do Circus folk get to work? Bikes, Bikes and more Bikes!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/hF5a4m >
---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]---
{Jul.23}
Whether juggling torches, balls or rings, slithering,
leaping or bounding in the air, our artists must show
extreme agility. (Ed. Note: There are 8 short videos in
this series.)
LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgU5hOSqBcw >
{Jul.29}
Meet Danielle and Kendrick, tap dancers, currently training
at our International Headquarters in Montreal.
LINK /// < http://instagram.com/p/cXLXz1xIz1/ >
---[ CORTEO ]---
{Jul.17}
By our 3,000th performance, 513 cast & crew and over 6200
temporary staff have contributed their talents to the
success of Corteo!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/uZ7Q6N >
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/18LZnJ >
---[ DRALION ]---
{Jul.04}
We made it to the Souk Waqif! Our performers will come out for
photos at 9:00 pm. Stay tuned!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0V7gRd >
{Jul.05}
Our performers are applying their make up for the today's
sneak peak previews in Doha at 3:30 pm at City Center, 6:30 pm
at the Villagio Mall and at 8:30 pm at Landmark. Come see us!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Szas54 >
{Jul.06}
Bonjour la France! Le montage au Galaxie Mega Hall d'Amneville
va bon train. On a hâte de vous voir à compter du 9 juillet!
Crédit photo: M. Newnum
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZI4GnL >
{Jul.09}
Congratulations to Vladimir who did his first performance
tonight in Amnéville! It was a hit! Have you ever seen the
juggling act in Dralion?
LINK /// < http://instagram.com/p/bEeQF_xI4w/# >
{Jul.11}
Fine tuning the choreographies for the show (3 photos) -
Performers are perfecting their choreography with Dralion's
choreographer Julie Lachance.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kVIdcl >
{Jul.17}
Parade in Nice, FR (5 photos) - Dralion characters visited
the Galeries Lafayette/Cap 3000 and Place Masséna.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0NGQ7c >
{Jul.24}
Did you know this performer invented the Crossed wheel (unique
in the world) six years ago from an idea he had.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5bySpF >
{Jul.26}
Last night, we introduced our new Âme Force (singer) in the
show. Listen to his debut in the Handbalancing act.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4FFmvY >
---[ KOOZA ]---
{Jul.24}
What do you think about our new poster for Moscow? KOOZA
will open in Moscow on September 7!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/iuT7Ra >
---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]---
{Jul.14}
Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil
is heading to New Zealand! Get a behind the scenes look at
what to expect plus a peek into Michael Jackson ONE!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/RmDvb6 >
{Jul.19}
Three of the most talented performers from the Michael Jackson
Immortal World Tour, Josh Rasile (Acrobat),Khalid Freeman
(Dancer, Fanatic Character), and Pom Arnold (Dancer) stopped by
AFN Daegu to tell Area IV about themselves and their
experiences working on such an amazing show.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IsLkfv >
{Jul.20}
Every arena we visit is different and sometimes we need to get
creative with how we set up the backstage area. For example,
here at EXCO in Daegu several of the offices and backstage
rooms have been created under our own little Big Tops!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/TqlzL8 >
{Jul.23}
Guitarist Jon Myron Clark talks to the New Zealand Herald
about working with Michael Jackson and bringing IMMORTAL
to Auckland.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/LTIYqm >
---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]---
{Jul.12}
Check out the Rolling Stone review of Michael Jackson ONE
for a look at what Tito, Jackie, and Marlon Jackson think
of the show:
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vFifGc >
---[ MYSTERE ]---
{Jul.19}
Today we performed at Hudson Booksellers in Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport (Sea-Tac)!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Gfl9g1 >
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/SntDFi >
---[ "O" ]---
{Jul.22}
Do you remember this act from the last time you saw "O"?
(ED: Dont get too excited, its only :30)
LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txju4TDx9cg >
---[ OVO ]---
{Jul.15}
Want to learn more about the inspiration behind the music
of OVO? Watch this video where Berna Ceppas, the show's
composer, reveals the different music genres that inspired
him.
LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v_7R6a9B8Q >
---[ QUIDAM ]---
{Jul.05}
Did you see us in the street of Charlotte with the Quidam
Street Team?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/wVWfJM >
---[ THE BEATLES LOVE ]---
{Jul.12}
The new LOVE display in the lobby at The Mirage Hotel and
Casino is coming along check back soon as we make it even
more colorful!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3ssPqa >
{Jul.18}
The Beatles LOVE Lobby Display at The Mirage Hotel and Casino
(4 photos) - Don't miss the lobby display for The Beatles
LOVE at The Mirage Hotel and Casino!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/oZeERK >
{Jul.30}
One of our artists saw this scene and couldn't resist taking
a photo we thought you might like it, too!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/amlHD0 >
---[ TOTEM ]---
{Jul.10}
Marina & Svetlana Tsodikova rehearsing under the big top
at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa!!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yEETZ8 >
{Jul.10}
Shandien Larance, Hoop Dancer, rehearsing her routine!
TOTEM opens tomorrow in Ottawa!!! (Video)
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/9cDK0I >
{Jul.12}
We are now opened in Ottawa!!! See Pavel Saprykin's training
session before the show yesterday at the Canadian Tire Centre!!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/B5EDtz >
{Jul.17}
Eric Hernandez performing live on CTV! Coming up, Ottawa
Rogers Daytime!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/705WlU >
{Jul.18}
Have you missed the performance of our Native American Hoop
Dancer Eric Hernandez on CTV Ottawa on Tuesday? Watch it here!
LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN481PCM3pk >
{Jul.24}
Ottawa!! Watch CTV Morning tomorrow to see Melissa in action
on the Trapeze!!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0JruzL >
{Jul.27}
Did you know? To reduce the amount of plastic and paper we
use, the artists all have their own cup with their nickname
written on it to drink water after their performance! Here
is Sarah "little bird" Tessier from the Love Birds Trapeze Act!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OJXKhr >
{Jul.30}
Meet James Mack our percussionist!! Did you know he plays 13
different instruments during the show including a djembe he
created himself!!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/elh2rg >
---[ ZARKANA ]---
{Jul.09}
A Jovian was recently unveiled at Jean Philippe Patisserie
in ARIA Resort & Casino, made up of more than 99 lbs. of
chocolate.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CDD9HZ >
{Jul.16}
Go behind the scenes of the making of the chocolate Zarkana
sculptures now on display at Jean Philippe Patisserie in
ARIA Resort & Casino:
LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULiNZFxAtAg >
---[ ZUMANITY ]---
{Jul.09}
Let's all agree to make today Waterbowl Wednesday!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ELsVaJ >
=======================================================================
COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN
=======================================================================
o) DIDYAKNOW - Facts at a Glance about Cirque
o) HISTORIA - Cirque Company History
---------------------------------
DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque
---------------------------------
o) Did you know that approximately 150,000,000 pieces of snow were
thrown in Alegria since May 2009?
o) Did you know that Alegria's snow machine is operated by a technician
backstage and he manually feeds the 'snowflakes' that fall from the
ceiling?
o) Did you know the PowerTrack act in Alegria counts 14 performers?
o) Since its premiere in 2005, Corteo has produced 63.36 tons of
popcorn, using 19,600 liters of oil and 2.1 tons of salt!
o) Since its premiere in 2005, more than 25,000 hours were required
for pressing and steaming Corteo's costumes.
o) By the 2999th performance, Corteo's technical crew will have pushed
the automation Go button 695,768 times!!
o) In Dralion's BambooPoles act, six men balance long decorative
poles symbolizing fire. Did you know that each poles weighs 7.5 kg
and are close to 5M long.
o) Did you know the Mad Max movies inspired the wigs used in Kooza?
o) Did you know there are 254 pairs of shoes worn in MJ: The Immortal?
o) Did you know that there are more than 300 headpieces in Mystère?
Some of them only last three weeks with use!
o) Did you know that OVO's Egg, which is inflatable, measures 28 ft
wide by 22 ft tall?
o) Did you know that the initial cricket costumes in OVO required 75
hours of work? It takes that long because of their complexity and
the need to give them rigidity while maintaining the flexibility
and expandability of the material?
o) Did you know that the wall in OVO measures 60ft wide by 20ft tall?
It is supported only on the sides to allow a floor with built-in
trampolines to slide in and out like an enormous drawer.
------------------------------------
HISTORIA: Cirque Company History
------------------------------------
* Aug.03.2004 -- Alegría CD Released US (CDS Musique)
* Aug.05.1996 - Cirque Announced Show at WDW
* Aug 06.2006 - Mystère celebrated 6000th performance [Sunday, 7:30pm]
* Aug.06.2008 - Nakeel of Dubai purchases 20% Stake in Cirque
* Aug.06.2010 - Varekai celebrated 3000th performance in Oostende, Belgium
* Aug.08.2008 - Koozå celebrated 500th Performance [Fri, 4:00pm/Chicago]
* Aug.09.1990 -- Nouvelle Expérience CD Released (Nâga)
* Aug.10.2006 - La Nouba Celebrates 5,000,000th guest!
* Aug.13.2006 - Corteo celebrated 500th performance [Sun, 5:00pm/Chicago]
* Aug.14.1996 -- Mystère Live CD Released in Canada (RCA/Victor)
* Aug.16.2001 -- Cirque wins 3 Emmys for Dralion on Bravo
* Aug.16.2005 -- «O» CD released in Canada (CDS Musique)
* Aug.16.2005 -- La Nouba CD released in Canada (CDS Musique)
* Aug.16.2005 -- Mystère (Live) CD released in Canada (CDS Musique)
* Aug.18.2000 -- Alegría: Le Film premiered in Italy
* Aug.20.2008 - DELIRIUM premieres on Digital Theater Screens
* Aug.30.2004 - Zumanity celebrated its 500th performance
* Aug.xx.2001 - Dralion celebrated 500th Show [Minneapolis, Minnesota]
=======================================================================
FASCINATION! FEATURES
=======================================================================
o) "Cirques Tours Make The Grade
again and again and..."
By: Ricky Russo & Keith Johnson
o) "ZUMANITY: 10 Years of Sensuality"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
----------------------------------------------------------
"Cirques Tours Make The Grade again and again and..."
By: Ricky Russo & Keith Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------
During early July Pollstars state-of-the-art UNIBLAB computer was
spewing smoke, grinding gears and chewing up punch cards to determine
the state of the world, concert-wise. January through June 2013
resulted in the Top 50 Worldwide Tours selling nearly $1.85 billion in
tickets, a 23 percent rise from the same period one year ago.
Total tickets sold during the first six months also jumped when
compared to last year. In 2013 the figure rose 10.5 percent to 21
million even though the average ticket price increased by $9.09, up
11.5 percent to $88.03. Bon Jovi was the clear winner on the Worldwide
Tours chart, grossing $142.1 million. Another New Jersey act captured
second place. With an average ticket price of $107.19, Bruce
Springsteen & The E Street Bands total tickets sold was 969,504 for
31 shows in 21 cities, half of what Bon Jovi played. The Rolling
Stones came in third, playing half as many times as Springsteen but
with an average ticket price of a whopping $350.00, three times as
much as the other two.
So where does Cirque du Soleil sit on the world-wide charts? 4th,
14th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 49th and 58th! Heres how it
breaks down...
o) Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL grossed $79.6 million for 4th
place. With an average ticket price of $116.53, the
production played 88 shows in 20 cities, sold a total of
683,196 tickets and achieved an average gross of $3,980,577
per show.
o) OVO grossed $45.3 million for 14th place. With an average
ticket price of $132.24, the production played 166 shows in 3
cities, sold a total of 342,315 tickets and achieved an
average gross of $272,706 per show.
o) Corteo grossed $44.2 million for 15th place. With an average
ticket price of $107.87, the production played 238 shows in 1
city, sold a total of 415,233 tickets and achieved an average
gross of $188,193 per show.
o) Kooza grossed $33.3 million for 18th place. With an average
ticket price of $97.19, the production played 163 shows in 3
cities, sold a total of 342,678 tickets and achieved an
average gross of $204,324 per show.
o) Varekai grossed $31.1 million for 19th place. With an average
ticket price of $65.84, the production played 195 shows in 3
cities, sold a total of 473,099 tickets and achieved an
average gross of $159,733 per show.
o) Dralion grossed $28.0 million for 26th place. With an average
ticket price of $87.71, the production played 92 shows in 6
cities, sold a total of 319,701 tickets and achieved an
average gross of $304,784 per show.
o) Totem grossed $27.7 million for 27th place. With an average
ticket price of $91.33, the production played 152 shows in 3
cities, sold a total 303,487 tickets and achieved an average
gross of $182,351 per show.
o) Amaluna grossed $26.0 million for 28th place. With an average
ticket price of $88.48, the production played 136 shows in 4
cities, sold a total of 294,230 tickets and achieved an
average gross of $191,432 per show.
o) Quidam grossed $15.2 million for 49th place. With an average
ticket price of $59.01, the production played 134 shows in 22
cities, sold a total of 267,748 tickets and achieved an
average gross of $718,124 per show.
o) Alegria grossed $14.3 million for 58th place. WIth an average
ticket price of $82.83, the production played 66 shows in 9
cities, sold a total of 172,556 tickets and achieved an
average gross of $216,552 per show.
A summary article can be found here:
< http://goo.gl/tvo5FV >.
The Worldwide Top 100 midyear chart is here:
< http://goo.gl/cfWw9c >
And the North American Top 100 midyear chart is here:
< http://goo.gl/aQQX4G >
If you strip out MJ Immortals nearly 80 million dollars in tickets
grosses (since Cirque must share revenue with the Michael Jackson
estate), the total gross of Cirques other nine units on the chart
total $266.3 million, almost double that of first-place finisher Bon
Jovi. But Bon Jovi is just one act, they would have to clone
themselves several times to come close to Cirques total.
The chart also shows, once again, that Cirque obtains its standing
through the sheer hard work of repetition. Attendance figures range
from 1,997 to 3,475 seats sold per show (Immortal, with its full-arena
configuration, totals an average of 34,160 seats sold). Cirque plays
to the least amount of people per show of all acts on the Top 100
chart except Michael Flatleys Lord of the Dance.
Ticket costs for the Cirque shows in the chart range from the mid
$80s to low $90s. However, there are two outliers; Corteo at $108
and Ovo at a way-out-of-norm $132! This is a reflection of their
touring locations OVO was in Australia for the first six months of
the year, while CORTEO was in Hamburg Germany for a month, then in Sao
Paulo from April-July.
The average gross revenue figures per unit are also much lower than
other acts, with Cirque having the lowest per show gross per unit of
any act in the Top 50.
Since the number of seats sold is below the norm, along with the
ticket price, why do the shows continue to place highly? The clue is
in number of shows Cirque averages 150 per unit, something no one
else in the Top 100 even comes close to.
Michael Jackson Immortal placed at #4 also due to determination. It
played for 88 shows in 20 cities, an amount youd have to go all the
way to OVO at #14 to approach. In fact, it is second in quantity of
performances only to the average of the other Cirque shows, Michael
Flatleys Lord of the Dance and Walking with Dinosaurs. It also
has the advantage of using a full-arena configuration which allows it
to play to much larger houses. Its 34,000 average attendance is
matched only by #2 Bruce Springsteen, #7 Depeche Mode, #16 Paul
McCartney, #35 Robbie Williams, and #40 Vasco Rossi, all veteran
legacy rock acts. That it sold so well during the first half of the
year is due to its being in Europe, where it plays in larger halls
than in North America and where Michael Jackson is more popular.
The charts again show that Cirque makes its money through multiple
units touring simultaneously with a high number of performances per
unit. Otherwise known as sheer hard work.
----------------------------------------------------------
"ZUMANITY: 10 Years of Sensuality"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
----------------------------------------------------------
In 1993, Cirque du Soleil planted what it called a Flower in the
Desert with Mystère and watched its newly-formed garden bloom when it
launched O in 1998 to enormous success. When their partner Mirage
Resorts merged with MGM Grand in May 2000 and their Mirage, Treasure
Island, and Bellagio resorts joined with MGM Grand Inc.s New York-New
York and MGM Grand, speculation ran rampant that Cirque du Soleil
would extend its resident show empire in Las Vegas to the showrooms in
these casino-hotels. When and where, however, was a mystery, but by
March 2002 those rumors became a little more persistent.
Cirque fans considered that Mystère might fold at Treasure Island and
another Cirque show Alegría would take its place, but other gossip
suggested that Mystère would be staying indefinitely and a third,
different show would make an appearance on the Las Vegas Strip. During
March 2002 the Las Vegas Review-Journal suggested the second option
was the more plausible possibility and reported that the management of
the New York-New York casino-hotel had been actively courting Cirque
du Soleil founder and President Guy Laliberté to set up something at
their property.
Indeed, in an article published December 4, 2001, Alan Feldman (Vice
President of Public Affairs for MGM Mirage) confirmed that the New
York-New York casino hotel would be the number one choice for the next
Cirque show on the Las Vegas Strip. But where would it go? According
to the article Cirque could set up a big top on property (think
Nouvelle Experience in 1993 at The Mirage) until a suitable theater
could be built for the show. Or, a show might move in to the Broadway
Theater, which was then occupied by Michael Flatleys Lord of the
Dance. Options were open and all bets were on the table. Would it
happen?
RUMOURS CONTINUED
-----------------
Speculation regarding a new Las Vegas production would not abate. In
fact when Cirque posted a casting call the following month (April
2002) for a new project, it only stoked the rumor mills fire. In
their words, "Cirque du Soleil is now developing a new form of
Cabaret-style show" and they were looking for a variety of talents to
help bring this project into reality. They wanted artists that "wish
to perform in a provocative, sensual, exotic and cutting-edge
environment." The only thing that Cirque du Soleil would say regarding
where this new show would be was that it would be staged at a
permanent venue within the North American continent but fell short of
suggesting it would be in Las Vegas... so the rumor mill kept turning.
By June 2002 rumors flooded the fandom that Las Vegas would not
receive just one new show, but possibly two! And then in July 2002
Cirque du Soleil made an announcement...
FOUR FLOWERS, ONE DESERT
------------------------
Using the words "a partnership based on creativity and innovation,"
Cirque du Soleil in their June 13th press release, confirmed earlier
rumors that they were not only developing one, but two new shows for
Las Vegas, in partnership with MGM-Mirage. The "Fascination!
Newsletter" had touched on these rumors at the time; they were rumored
to be working on a "Cabaret" style show, which we believed would be
housed at the New York-New York Hotel-Casino. Exciting new official
details were released about this project - confirming the Cabaret
show, as well as another new show to set up shop at the MGM Grand in
the following joint press release between Cirque and MGM-Mirage:
"This partnership is built on the mutual success achieved by our two
businesses throughout the past decade," said J. Terrence Lanni,
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of MGM MIRAGE.
"Cirque du Soleil proved that it had an excellent understanding of Las
Vegas by fundamentally changing the form of entertainment here with
their groundbreaking artistic vision first with Mystère and then with
'O'. Now we want to work together to explore new areas in which they
can continue to cultivate their unique creativity not only in Las
Vegas but throughout our projects in the U.S. and around the world."
Guy Laliberté, President, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of
Cirque du Soleil, added that, "MGM MIRAGE has an excellent grasp of
the creative strengths and energy that drive Cirque du Soleil. We have
always held fast to our dream of reinventing other forms of
entertainment. Terry Lanni and his team have confidence in us and are
assisting us to do so."
"We have set out to stimulate the imagination, fire the senses and
touch the emotions of spectators around the world," says Laliberté.
"The potential of Las Vegas is still vast. Some 36 million people
visit the city each year and we believe there is room for continued
growth to encourage them to take the opportunity to see shows as part
of their Las Vegas experience."
The new productions that Cirque du Soleil is preparing could be
described as "hybrid" in the sense that they draw on a number of
disciplines. "Whatever the creative niche we're developing may be, we
are committed to maintaining the level of quality and creativity
associated with the Cirque du Soleil brand," says Lyn Heward,
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Creative Content
Division.
Cirque du Soleil has always put creativity at the heart of all its
production and management activities. Creativity is the very essence
of Cirque. "We have worked with creators from all over the world to
design, produce and stage our shows," explained Guy Laliberté. "We
will continue to promote the developing talent of new creators by
undertaking new collaborative projects."
The first project, at New York-New York was set to open in 2003 under
the direction of Philippe Decouflé, with Andrew Watson serving as
Director of Creation. While the theme and disciplines therein were
still in development, the show was said to be "sensual, exotic and
provocative;" containing elements of dance, acrobatics and, of course,
humor. This show would take the place of "Michael Flatley's Lord of
the Dance".
The Second project, for the MGM Grand, would replace "EFX Alive!"
starring Rick Springfield, and would reopen in 2004 - Cirque du
Soleil's 20th Anniversary year. Robert Lepage was set as director with
Guy Caron (Le Magie Continue, Dralion) serving as Director of
Creation. The show was set to "shake the spectator's perception of
space, conception of the law of gravity, and comprehension of the
world in three dimensions."
These projects built upon the relationship between Cirque du Soleil
and MGM-Mirage, which started back in 1992 with a special presentation
of "Nouvelle Experience" on the grounds of the Mirage. Other projects
with this Las Vegas-based company included: Mystère in 1993 (at
Treasure Island), "O" in 1998 (at Bellagio), and a special engagement
of Alegría from 1999-2000 (at Beau Rivage, in Biloxi, Mississippi).
"MGM Mirage has an excellent grasp of the creative strengths and
energy that drive Cirque du Soleil," said Guy Laliberté, CEO and
Founder of Cirque du Soleil in a press release. "We have always held
fast our dream of reinventing other forms of entertainment." And it
certainly looks as if Cirque du Soleil will continue to "Re-invent the
Circus" in the desert of Las Vegas, and worldwide, as their expanded
partnership with MGM Mirage will globalize their efforts even more.
The race was on...
By the end of 2002 speculation ran wild regarding just what Cirque du
Soleil had up its sleeve; casting calls became rare windows into just
what the company had in mind. Some small details began to emerge about
the performances/acts. Slated to debut in July 2003, the New York-New
York show was casting Rhythmic Gymnasts (to perform in a duo act), a
Contortionist / Hand-balancer (for a specialty act - solo, duo, trio
or quartet), a Middle Eastern dancer (for an exotic dance act), and
"virile" male and "voluptuous" female dancers.
AN INTIMATE EXPRESSION
----------------------
On Sunday, July 28, 2002, "Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance" ended
its successful four-year run at the Broadway Theater in the New York-
New York Hotel and Casino, which paved the way for the new Cirque du
Soleil show to move in.
Throughout the summer Cirque fans had been having heated debates over
the direction the new "cabaret-style" show would be taking
(Fascination maintained that while most felt that "cabaret" must mean
topless, that was not necessarily the case). By September 2002,
several signs posted around and inside the hotel gave more of a clue.
The largest by far was attached to a parking structure on Tropicana
Avenue, measuring a whopping 50 X 60 feet! All of the signs said the
same thing:
"Opening / July 2003 / a more / INTIMATE expression of / Cirque du
Soleil / at New York-New York" (The word "intimate" in larger type
than the rest of that line, showing emphasis.)
What made these signs interesting wasn't just the "more intimate
expression" tagline. The image in the center of the picture was
somewhat hazy and mysterious, but further inspection revealed it to be
a nude woman's torso, turned slightly to her left. The camera angle
was based below the right hip, aiming upwards. Her left breast was
visible, though the nipple had been airbrushed out. The right breast
had been airbrushed entirely and was further obscured by the word
"Opening." Her navel was clearly visible in the lower right. The
bottom of the shot was cropped several inches below that on her body
any further down and you'd be in trouble!
What this means, of course, is any fans guess, Fascination said at
the time. Publicists are notorious for promising the sky, especially
when the show is only in the planning stages. But it seems to lend
credence to the idea that there will be more exposed than in
previous Cirque productions.
CHANGE IN DIRECTION
-------------------
Just two months later, however on August 14, 2002 an abrupt change
was announced: René Richard Cyr would direct the show at the New York-
New York rather than Philippe Decouflé. Cirque released a statement to
the press accordingly:
With an eye to redefining the music hall genre, this intimate, exotic
and provocative show will serve up an original mix of dance, humour
and acrobatics. "Each act promises to be a sensual, artistic
experience of the highest calibre," says Lyn Heward, President & COO
of Cirque du Soleil's Creative Content Division. The New York-New York
Hotel theatre is currently being renovated to house the production in
2003.
Creator, artist and communicator René Richard Cyr has been an active
player in Quebec's cultural scene for over 20 years. He's an
accomplished theatre director who has created over 100 shows. He has
put his talents to work as an actor, director, author, creator and
producer of variety shows aired on Quebec's major networks. In
addition, he has garnered a number of awards, most notably for his
work on Les Parapluies de Cherbourg. His most recent production,
L'homme de la Mancha (Man of La Mancha), is currently a major success.
"I'm really up for this new professional challenge! It's an honour to
be able to work on a Cirque du Soleil production, and I'm thrilled to
create a show that will strive to redefine the music hall genre," says
Cyr. "I'm joining an organization that has the utmost respect for the
creative process, and showcases the talent of numerous Quebec artists
on the international stage."
"René Richard will bring a fascinating artistic perspective to this
creative project. We are all the more proud to be working with a
Quebec director who wants to embark on Cirque du Soleil's
international adventure," adds Heward.
O, THE ZUMANITY!
----------------
For months fans had been speculating about the new production. Soon at
least some of the speculation would be over - what to call it?
"Zumanity!"
The fervor began on the evening of March 17th when an article appeared
in USA Today featuring the title of the show, amongst a list of the
gifts that would be handed out to presenters at the Academy Awards.
The gift was an "invitation for two to the international gala premiere
of Zumanity ... on Sept. 20 and a two-night stay at the [New York-New
York Hotel Casino]."
Zumanity [zü'man-i-tee] was described as "an intense visit to a world
where human inhibitions are both unveiled and discarded, where style
and intense sensual passion share an uncommon stage." Cirque recently
offered this definition of the word: "n. n. Neologism dating from
2003, contraction of the words "zoo" and "humanity." 1. A human zoo.
2. A new form of eroticism which blends dance movement, acrobatics and
beautiful bodies with the sensual caress of the human voice and the
pulse of exotic rhythms. 3. An exploration that awakens the most
primal urges in human beings."
On February 27th, Cirque du Soleil registered the domain <
http://www.zumanity.com/ > and placed a dual English/French language
teaser site online. You could sign up to be on a mailing list to
receive updates about the show in either HTML or Text format, however
you needed to be 18 years old to participate (or you were directed
back to the CDS website). The 18-year age limit caused quite a stir
within Cirque fandom, dividing the age groups for the first time since
Cirque's debut.
So, what could we expect out of Zumanity? Fascination discovered:
Rhythmic Gymnasts (to perform in a duo act), a Middle Eastern dancer
(for an exotic dance act), a Drag Queen (transvestite), a Body Builder
(strong man) and "virile" male and "voluptuous" female dancers - with
clowns, singers, and a sensuous atmosphere. One of the acts, we
believe, will be a solo-contortion act performed in water. The artist,
Natalia Vasyliuk, recently performed at the Festival du Cirque de
Demain in 2002. Nicolai Tchelnokov (Adagio Trio, Saltimbanco) is the
artistic counselor of this act.
Spymonkey, the Brighton(UK)-based theater group, may be providing
their talents to place their writer/director Cal McCrystal in the
directors' seat for the show's clown acts. McCrystal recently worked
with Cirque du Soleil on Varekai, producing and creating the clown
acts seen in the show. Four Spymonkey regulars will provide the
storyline for the acts: Aitor Basauri, Stephan Kreiss, Petra Massey
and Toby Park, with the assistance of Andrew Watson (Director of
Creation for "Zumanity") and René Richard Cyr (Writer/Director).
Word comes from Chartattack, a Canadian musical website/magazine, that
Cirque du Soleil has chosen homegrown Kinnie Starr to vocalize
Zumanity. Starr is described as a "hip-hop slam poet/freaky beatnik
dance rocker" and seems rather perfect for this production.
The costumes for Zumanity remained a mystery until fans received their
first look at sketches on April 4th. Zumanity's mailing list emailed
two items: a definition and a link. That link produced four
interesting and provocative sketches of what costumes may look like
when the shows premiere. There is a strong man, bare-chested wearing a
fuzzy-pink stole; a Drag Queen, which resembles Erik Karol (the ex-
singer from Dralion) in a way; a leggy young woman in a trench coat;
and Cher.
Cirque du Soleil took over a theater at the New York-New York Hotel
Casino previously built for Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance
production (that had since moved to the Venetian). For months Cirque
has been working on re-creating the theater in their image. "We took
over the theatre 18 months ago," explains Ménard as quoted in the
Toronto Star, "and tore everything out to rebuild it in cabaret style.
The theatre is always a key element in our resident shows, almost a
character. And this one will be much more intimate." And they mean it.
Seating for Zumanity will include a wide variety of options from "love
seats to barstools". "We want to offer people options," said Ménard.
You can sit way back high up a stool and be a voyeur, or you can be a
participator right down in front. Maybe you want to lounge in the
middle with your partner, letting it inspire you. Very warm, very
cozy."
Zumanity, a provocative exhibition of human sensuality, arousal and
eroticism, opens July 31st at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in
Las Vegas. An official announcement by Cirque du Soleil is scheduled
for April 22nd.
"We're here to evoke, invoke and provoke," says Cirque du Soleil, and
that's exactly what they're doing.
A TWO HEADED COW?
-----------------
By January 2003 it was apparent from another abrupt change in
direction Dominic Champagne (as co-director) came on board - and the
constant rumors of delay that Zumanity, which Cirque had named the
show, was not coming along as planned. Fascination touched on these in
its June 2003 issue:
The fiery creative process we first saw documented in "Fire Within"
seems to have taken hold of Zumanity. Earlier this month we reported
that the "soft open" date of Zumanity had been pushed back two weeks
from Thursday, July 31st to Thursday, August 14th to "address
technical demands associated with the production of the new show." Now
we have word that Varekai's Dominic Champagne has come in to co-direct
with Rene Richard Cyr.
What's going on -- a meltdown? Not exactly. Here's what we found out
from our sources...
The two-week delay, we understand, was caused by the contractor hired
to construct the theater at the New York-New York Hotel-Casino in Las
Vegas. Apparently, the contractor thought he had more time to complete
the project than he actually had, due to a misreading of the schedule.
Suddenly he could not meet the deadline of completion for Cirque's
needs, which delayed the installation of special equipment needed to
run the show, which in turn pushed back the rehearsal schedule. The
theater has now been completed but we've seen what this problem has
caused - the first time Cirque has had to announce a delay in the
opening of one of its shows.
But the second issue, well, that's a bit more touchy, and sketchy.
Zumanity is now suggested as being a "two-headed cow", with Rene
Richard Cyr and Dominic Champagne making up those heads. But this
pairing leads to a question, why bring in Champagne at all? Was
management not happy with Cyr's direction and staging of the show?
It seems so. "Guy [Laliberte] said that he was confused after having
seen what [Cyr] showed him," Andrew Watson, Director of Creation for
Zumanity, admitted to Canadian newspaper La Presse. We've seen how Mr.
Laliberte can make it clear if he doesn't like something (remember the
apparatus from Varekai he got rid of?), but what does this mean for
Zumanity?
It seems that this "human zoo", a show that is set to debut in two
months, is going back to the drawing board of a sort. "This morning,
we start at zero," said Director Cyr, indicating they plan to go back
to the spark of the original idea and start again, albeit with the
same performers, talents and performance space as before.
This is a shocking revelation that could have major repercussions for
those seeing Zumanity in its first few weeks. Thankfully the upheaval
at Zumanity has spared, for the time being, composer Simon Carpenter,
who was rumored to had been let go, a suggested cause of the delay in
the first place.
Either way, on May 22nd the general public will be allowed to buy
tickets for performances from August 15th forward, up to 90 days in
advance. The "official" star-studded Oscar presenter/nominee gala
opening will still be Thursday, September 20th.
THE OTHER SIDE...
-----------------
Despite those challenges, Zumanity would open to the public on August
15, 2003 - and fall with a thud.
Original singer Kinnie Star left the show early on, and the way we
heard it she wasnt satisfied with the direction the music of the show
was taking, so she and Cirque came to an amicable parting. (One might
speculate that she was expecting more of a featured role in the show
music, and the music's evolution didn't meet her expectations.) We
also heard that, at Guy Lalibertés insistence, the fire performers
also left. Evidently Guy did not want any fire in this show; they were
replaced with an aerial hoops act. And then there was the CD: it had
been delayed while Cirque re-thought the entire endeavor, as the
original album didnt reflect the current state of the show after
numerous changes Cirque had implemented. And when finally released (on
March 22, 2005) the new version the Inspired by soundtrack
didnt win over fans either. There was very little music from the
actual show, English lyrics, poems and narration that did not exist
before. We speculate that this might have been done to inspire
romance where a straight soundtrack would not do, but the drastic
departure left the Zumanity album to become the weakest soundtrack in
Cirque Musiques canon.
Even so, by the time Zumanity had its gala premiere on October 19,
2003 the show came together a little more. And it would take quite a
while and even more changes before the show would find its place
in Las Vegas. Through the years Zumanity has endured, which shows us
that even if a show premieres as a dud it can be salvaged given the
right attention. Sometimes that requires just a tweak and sometimes
that requires more drastic action such as re-arranging the flow of
the show and putting out a new visual and advertising campaign, which
is exactly what Cirque du Soleil did on November 24, 2006:
The Resident Shows Divisions Marketing Department brought in the
SpotCo agency from New York City to develop the new campaign. Many
months ago the SpotCo creative team came to Las Vegas and viewed
ZUMANITY over and over and over. They discussed the show with the
artistic team and the marketing team and pinpointed their mandate: To
create a visual identity for ZUMANITY that combines sexuality, humor
and playful surprise to create the sensual side of Cirque du Soleil.
In order to avoid turning-off the less adventurous Cirque du Soleil
patrons it became apparent that we needed to communicate the element
of humor and playfulness along with the element of sexuality.
Adding a creative new twist to Cirques saucy cabaret, the new ads
contrast the sexuality and humor of ZUMANITY against the mundane
nature of everyday life. Commonplace items such as fishbowls, water
faucets, light bulbs and bathtubs seamlessly contrast with the sensual
and sexy images of ZUMANITY.
Along with the new look, the show also moved away from the Another
Side of Cirque du Soleil billing in favor of a brand new tagline,
emphasizing that ZUMANITY really is The Sensual Side of Cirque du
Soleil.
Thanks to Cirque du Soleils more drastic tactics, Zumanity has been
able to celebrate a number of wet and quivering orgasms, including:
Hard; we mean Soft opening - Aug.14.2003
The first time (Premiere) - Sep.20.2003
500th (yeah baby, it feels good!) - Aug.30.2004
1000th (...mmmm, even better!) - Sep.12.2005
2000th (Ooooo!) - Oct.20.2007
And here's to many more earth-shattering, mind-altering, body-tingling
cries in the darkness!
=======================================================================
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COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
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Fascination! Newsletter
Volume 13, Number 08 (Issue #115) - August 2013
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c)
2001-2013 Ricky Russo, published by Vortex/RGR Productions, a
subsidiary of Communicore Enterprises. No portion of this newsletter
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infringement intended.
{ Aug.07.2013 }
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