Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Fascination Issue 188
=======================================================================
______ _ __ _ __
/ ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / /
/ /_ / __ '/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ '/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ /
/ __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/
/_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_)
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
------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.CirqueFascination.com
------------------------------------------------------------
=======================================================================
VOLUME 19, NUMBER 9 September 2019 ISSUE #188
=======================================================================
Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque
du Soleil Newsletter.
* * * WDW 2020 SHOW DISCUSSED AT D23 * * *
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Disney Parks, Experiences and
Products have announced tickets are on sale for the highly anticipated
new show coming to the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista,
Fla. The yet-to-be-named production, a collaboration between Cirque du
Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering
will open for previews March 20, 2020, and officially premiere April
17, 2020. The show will take residency at Disney Springs.
This original creation coming to Disney Springs celebrates the art of
Disney animation in Cirque du Soleils signature way, with a tribute
to the craftsmanship that makes Disney so extraordinary. It will
transport the audience into the world of Disney animation with new
original acrobatic sequences, dazzling choreography, musical
masterpieces and whimsical characters.
Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment
Group, stated We have joined forces with Walt Disney Imagineering and
Walt Disney Animation Studios to create a show that combines Disney
animation and heart with the unique artistry and theatrical
sensibility of Cirque du Soleil. We are honored to be the first
company trusted to work and create around these classic Disney
characters in this unique way.
The story, which centers on a young girl whose father is a Disney
animator who finds a way to send his daughter on a magical journey of
self-discovery through a world of animation.
For more than 60 years, weve been bringing Disney stories and
characters to life in our theme parks around the world, said Bob
Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Now our
teams at Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios
have joined with Cirque du Soleil to create an entirely new experience
that will wow Walt Disney World guests and bring timeless, enchanting
Disney stories to life in an unforgettable new way.
Cirque du Soleil and Disney first teamed up to bring La Nouba to the
stage at Disney Springs (then Downtown Disney) in 1998. Twenty years
later, the two organizations are excited to be working together on a
new project. This new show is the 50th original production of Cirque
du Soleil.
o) CHECK OUT SOME NEW RENDERINGS HERE:
http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=12989
o) WATCH THE PRESENTATION HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdDF0TzxLaE
o) BUY TICKETS HERE:
https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/at-walt-disney-world
* * * CIRQUE EN CINEMA PRESENTS: LUZIA! * * *
For one night last year, Cirque du Soleil in Cinema transported its
internationally acclaimed show KURIOS Cabinet of Curiosities to the
big screen. This year it's brining LUZIA on October 29, 2019 (in the
United States). Through a series of grand visual surprises and
breathtaking acrobatic performances, it invites audiences to escape on
a surrealistic journey through a sumptuous and vibrant world suspended
somewhere between dreams and reality. LUZIA cleverly brings to the
stage multiple places, faces and sounds of Mexico taken from both
tradition and modernity. Experience a one-of-a-kind cinematic event
including a not-to-be missed Cirque du Soleil special program: a
collection of portraits highlighting the unique stories, passion and
dedication of some LUZIA artists.
IN THEATERS OCTOBER 29, 2019 TICKETS ON SALE SEPTEMBER 14, 2019
https://www.fathomevents.com/events/luzia-cirque-du-soleil
* * * CIRQUE HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE FOR AXEL * * *
On September 4th, Cirque du Soleil gave the media access to AXEL, its
upcoming second ice show. The concept behind AXEL is that it will feel
like a big arena rock show. The idea, said Fernand Rainville, the
shows stage director and writer, is to make it feel like a rock
opera, make it feel like a musical concert and/or a sports outing. To
create that energy. So to create effects that we usually see in
concert shows and bring them to the theatrics of Cirque and ice
skating.
o) WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE:
https://youtu.be/Nz2Hqxz65S4
o) MEET THE CHARACTERS:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2636727566594067
o) MEDIA DAY VIDEO:
https://www.facebook.com/CirqueduSoleil/videos/470636136819547/
Check out the article from the Montreal Gazette, who covered the
Media Day, within.
* * * CIRQUE RETURNS TO LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL * * *
On September 20th and 21st, Cirque du Soleil will return to Las Vegas
favorite music festival, Life is Beautiful, debuting exclusive
performances. On Friday evening, 11 aerialists and dancers from Cirque
du Soleil resident productions will dazzle audience members alongside
award-winning rock band WALK THE MOON, as they perform their hit
single One Foot. Additionally, Blue Man Group will electrify the
downtown festival when they take the stage for a colorful culmination
of their most loved creative pieces. The Blue Men will fully immerse
themselves among the crowd throughout the 11-minute set, featuring
Electronic Drumbone and Drum Finale Throwdown, with the groups world-
famous paint drumming. Festival goers can also anticipate Blue Man
Group disturbances throughout the festival on Saturday. Cirque du
Soleil and WALK THE MOON will perform on the main Downtown Stage at
7:35 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20. Blue Man Group will perform in the
crowd in front of the main Downtown Stage, at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday,
Sept. 21.
* * * AN UPDATE ON "THE PARKS" * * *
Hey, remember the Cirque du Soleil Theme Park project with Grupo
Vidanta for Nuevo Vallarta? Well... there've been a couple of updates
regarding "The Parks" recently as chronicled by ThemeParkX. The first,
in a new interview with Daniel Chavez Moran (Vidanta's founder) for
Expansion MX, he describes "The Parks" now as follows:
The Parks project is of enormous magnitude. In total, there are
four parks, which occupy an area three times larger than The Magic
Kingdom. Something we have learned is that a park alone does not
generate the synergy that several parks can have together to
develop the entire market. We have hired the best park developers
in the world, from China, from Serbia, from the United States. The
parks are not developed for a hotel, they are made for the
destination, as we did with Joyà together with the Cirque du
Soleil, to enrich the Riviera Maya. During the first three years of
opening of the four parks, we estimate to attract between four and
five million visitors to the destination.
And second, in a statement from Vidanta given to Aimfair.com back in
June regarding Cirque du Soleil's involvement and the overall status
of "The Parks":
Cirque du Soleil has always beenand remainsa very important part
of The Parks. Since we first announced this project, we have
decided to greatly expand its size and scale in order to include
other mesmerizing, first-of-their-kind developments and immersive
experiences to complement the Cirque du Soleil zone. We pride
ourselves on delivering far beyond expectations on every new
project and initiative we announce, and The Parks is certainly no
exception.
The Parks now spans over 830 acres and includes a vast array of
100% original concepts. The goal is to transform Vidanta Nuevo
Vallarta into a new kind of destination where guests can experience
every possible variation of the perfect vacationfrom high-end
tropical relaxation to gravity-defying attractions and everything
in betweenin one extraordinary location. Many of these new
experiences are already under construction at the resort. In one
section of The Parks, 25 acres of underground tunnels are currently
being installed to ensure impeccable park operations and almost 1.3
million square feet of concrete foundations and structures have
already been built, including portions of the new resort hotels.
Two enormous lakes at the center of The Parks, totaling over 150
acres in size, have already been created with more on the way. And
thus far, 1,500 trees have been planted, though once the project is
complete, the total is estimated to be over 50,000.
The wonder-filled region of The Parks dedicated to the creative
genius of Cirque du Soleil will include a first-of-its-kind
thrilling new productiona dazzling, large-scale extravaganza
involving acrobatics, theatrics, water performances, music, and
even a spectacular dining experience. This monumental new show will
be housed in a gorgeous custom theater that will be an awe-
inspiring sight in and of itself. Next door, there will be a Cirque
Training Studio where guests will get the chance to grab the
spotlight, learning tumbling, aerial arts, clowning, and so much
more from the modern masters of the circus arts. While in the
Cirque du Soleil plaza surrounding the theater and studio, guests
should keep an eye open for spontaneous performances as they
explore. Were proud to continue our amazing partnership with
Cirque du Soleil and work together on this highly anticipated
collaboration so that we can give the world a breathtaking new type
of experience unlike anything seen before.
So... there you have it. Check out some new renderings here:
http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=13023
* * * LAST, BUT NOT LEAST... * * *
And last, but certainly not least, we have a couple of important
milestones for two of Cirque du Soleil's greatest shows to
highlight:
- Kooza celebrated its 4,000th performance on August 15, 2019
- "O" celebrated its 10,000th performance on September 1, 2019
- Amaluna received their new Blue and White Big Top September 4th!
More? Keep reading!
/----------------------------------------------------\
| |
| Join us on the web at: |
| < www.cirquefascination.com > |
| |
| Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): |
| < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > |
| |
\----------------------------------------------------/
- Ricky "Richasi" Russo
===========
CONTENTS
===========
o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
* La Presse -- General News & Highlights
* Q&A -- Quick Chats & Press Interviews
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
* Webseries -- Official Online Featurettes
* Videos -- Official Peeks & Noted Fan Finds
o) Fascination! Features
* "The Show Must Go On! Inside Guy Laliberté's Plan To
Create Another Entertainment Phenomenon"
By: Madeline Berg, for FORBES Magazine
* Jean David's Quel Cirque, Part 9: "A Little Farther West"
A Special Series Celebrating Cirque's 35th Anniversary
o) Copyright & Disclaimer
=======================================================================
CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
***************************************************************
LA PRESSE -- General News & Highlights
***************************************************************
----------------------------------------------------------
ICYMI - Cirque du Soleil: The Great Chinese Seduction
{Aug.08.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
{Article was translated from the original French via Google Translate}
It's tomorrow night that Cirque du Soleil will officially launch its
first permanent show in Hangzhou, China, in a brand-new 1,500-seat
theater built on the site of a former railroad yard. With X: The Land
of Fantasy , Cirque hopes to finally break through this coveted
market.
The arrival of the Circus in China inspired Quebec director Hugo
Bélanger ( Harold and Maude , Around the World in 80 Days ) the theme
of the meeting between East and West. Even the cast of X: The Land of
Fantasy , of which half of the 50 circus performers are Chinese,
reflects this "encounter".
"It's a huge project," says Hugo Bélanger, who has been designing the
show for three and a half years.
"Just to give you an idea, Robert Lepage's show Kà [presented in Las
Vegas since 2006] comes back four times here! It is very impressive. "
Since the sale of Cirque to the consortium led by the US investment
firm TPG Capital (in 2015), the deployment of the multinational
entertainment company in Asia, and in particular in China, has become
THE priority, despite the challenges (and collapses) encountered by
many foreign companies.
In the spring of 2017, Cirque's former creative guide, Jean-François
Bouchard (now at Lune Rouge), unveiled at C2 Montreal the models of
this new theater built in Hangzhou, a "small" city of 15 million
people. residents located 200 km from Shanghai - a real estate project
made by Chinese co-producer XTD and valued at 200 million US.
The scenic device of X: The Land of Fantasy is probably the most
sophisticated ever created by the Circus: 2 mobile islands of 750
seats each which rotate 360 ??degrees and move laterally. Four
distinct scenes, therefore, the longest of which is 100 meters long!
"This is a breakthrough for us, but I remain cautious because we are
still at the beginning of the wave of all that is live entertainment
in China", told us the CEO of Circus, Daniel Lamarre.
"I hope we are not too far ahead of the wave and that we will find an
abundant public to see it. One day there will be a market and that day
we will be there." - Daniel Lamarre, CEO of Cirque du Soleil
During the first show of the series of previews, last Saturday, the
Chinese public has responded, said Hugo Bélanger, who was chosen for
his ability to "tell a story." "The magic of the theater operated,
there were people of all ages, a lot of oh! and ah! a lot of applause.
They really reacted well. "
It must be said that the Cirque put the package, creating acrobatic
numbers of high aerobatics. Icarian games, acrobatic bungee, aerial
straps, tumbling, trampomur, Chinese mast: all the acrobatic arsenal
has been deployed. Luc Langevin even participated in the creation of
illusions numbers presented in X: The Land of Fantasy .
The role of the "faceless" narrator has been entrusted to Acadian
artist Mathieu Chouinard, one of only 10 Canadian artists involved in
the adventure.
A HERO FOR EVERY STEP
Contrary to the habits of the circus, which develops its concepts of
shows before building its theaters (this is the case of all the shows
presented in Las Vegas, for example), it was necessary for Hugo
Bélanger to write a scenario according to the concept. of the room.
"Each of the stands follows his own hero," he explains. In the yellow
tier, which represents the East and is directed by an empress, one
follows a boy, while in the red tier, representing the West, one
follows a girl. So, there is 20% of the story that is different from
one side to the other. "
The stands then move according to the story before facing each other
or standing side by side.
Hugo Bélanger, who has been in Hangzhou since February, was inspired
by Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima ,
which tell the same story during the Second World War - the first from
American view, the other on the Japanese side.
"I favored a fantasy world where two worlds [Aria and Petra],
represented by a dragon and a phoenix, were separated following an
earthquake and have been in dispute ever since. I invented a story
where a royal seal was broken in two and lost. With this prophecy that
once the two halves together, peace between the two worlds would
return. These are two children who are at the heart of this adventure
and this reconciliation. Hence the X of the title which symbolizes the
meeting of the two diagonals. "
NOT A "CHINESE" SHOW
Cirque wanted to avoid a "Chinese" show despite the fact that in this
city that seduced the European explorer Marco Polo at the end of XIII
th century, over 80% of tourists are Chinese.
"Young Chinese people are eager for things that come from elsewhere.
They do not want to hear more about legends and Peking Opera, they
want to open up to the world. " - Hugo Bélanger
Despite the pitfalls related to the political nature of the Chinese
empire, Daniel Lamarre looks forward to the future.
"I hope this show will then help us to establish the brand and Cirque
du Soleil, when I put my pink glasses, I think it may have the
potential to do for us in China show that the O 's made for us in Las
Vegas. If there is a big show that can work in China, that's it. If it
does not work, I do not understand anything anymore ... "
Have recent tensions between China and Canada had a negative impact on
Circus? Daniel Lamarre weighs his words well.
"Historically, it was an extremely important advantage to be Canadian,
we were welcomed as friends and it was fantastic. Today, we no longer
have that aura, but we are not treated like villains either, so I
would say we do not have too many disadvantages. "
What works for the Circus is that it will create jobs in China, says
Daniel Lamarre, who talks about at least 125 jobs, including a team of
Chinese technicians trained by the circus. "Circus brings a lot of
positive things to China, and that contribution, I believe, is
beginning to be recognized."
{ SOURCE: La Presse }
----------------------------------------------------------
Guy Laliberté's Island Goes For $1 Million A Week
{Aug.15.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
Some people will put their one-bedroom apartment up on Airbnb. Others
will use the service to rent out their own private island. Thats the
case for Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil, whos using
the rental site to offer up Nukutepipi, his luxury island abode in
French Polynesia. The five-star home, which is listed for more than
$190,000 per night, can accommodate up to 52 people in its 21 rooms.
Guests will be served by a private staff that includes a chef, a
captain, activity coordinators, a doctor, and a massage therapist.
The 2.3 kilometre-squared island features several pools, private spas,
shared spas, bars, patios, a gym, a yoga room, a conference room, a
recording studio, a tennis court, a volleyball court, a mini-golf
course, a home movie theatre, hot tubs, a raised lookout, a telescope,
and, of course, a long white-sand beach with a ton of boats and other
nautical toys. And even though its in the middle of nowhere, theres
a wi-fi connection.
Staying there will set you back $190,573 per night, or $1,334,011 for
a week. That doesnt include your transportation fees, like the plane
ride to Tahiti and then the boat that will get you the 700 km from the
Tahitian coast to the island.
According to the Journal de Montréal, the spot took Laliberté 10 years
and $150 million to set up. The renovations were completed last June.
Nukutepipi hasnt yet found a renter on Airbnb, but there are
several potential clients, according to Anne Dongois, the
communications director for Lalibertés entertainment company Lune
Rouge. There are three weeks in November where the island wont be
available to rent, though.
Check out a few images from the island here:
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/guy-laliberte-private-island-
airbnb_ca_5d518e74e4b0c63bcbeb5dc5
{ SOURCE: Huffington Post }
----------------------------------------------------------
X Performs in Hangzhou, Drawing in a Large Crowd
{Aug.20.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
Hangzhou, China August 20th, 2019 Cirque du Soleil X The Land of
Fantasy, produced by Hangzhou Suntiandy Group and Cirque du Soleil,
has successfully premiered in Hangzhou Suntiandy Theatre. Liu Wendong,
Chairman of Hangzhou Suntiandy Group, and Cirque du Soleil
Entertainment Group President and CEO Daniel Lamarre attended the
premiere, delivered speeches and extended their ardent blessings to
the show. The creation team of the show was invited to shared their
thoughts with the audience as well.
As a milestone production that succeeds the numerous iconic Cirque du
Soleil shows presented around the world, such as KÀ and O both
offered in Las Vegas, USA, Cirque du Soleil X The Land of Fantasy
offers a truly unique experience to the audience. Inviting spectators
to embark on a spellbinding tale of two kingdoms reuniting through
heart-pumping acrobatics and astonishing staging, Cirque du Soleil X
The Land of Fantasy takes traditional circus arts to a whole new
level.
Cirque du Soleil X The Land of Fantasy is an epic and thrilling
quest to reunite two ancient kingdoms, Petra and Aria, torn apart
centuries ago. The captivating legend is guided by The Watcher, a wise
elder whose mechanical box unleashes the story. One that begins with
two innocent infants, each left on the doorstep of the opposing
kingdoms palace.
Inspired by a rich storyline, multi-dimensional characters, and
surreal universes, Cirque du Soleil X The Land of Fantasy creates an
incredible immersive experience. Driven by high-energy action and
acrobatics, rich symbolism, beautiful poetry and artistry, history is
told through two perspectives: Petra and Aria, through the Hero and
Heroine. Two sides of the story, two cultures discovering each other.
In Cirque du Soleil X The Land of Fantasy, the acclaimed world
leader in Live Entertainment did not spare any details to immerse the
audience deeper inside the story and create a surge of adventure for
the whole family, each scene more powerful than the next. Great
efforts were dedicated into innovating set designs. When seated, one
will soon notice the tremendous 100m-wide stage right in front of you
that will transform into various shapes as the story unfolds.
The unique combination of 3D visual props, video projections, and
fancy trap doors, enable the artists to vanish into thin air and
return when you least expect it. The 360-degree-rotating revolving
seats also allow the audience to fully embrace this visually stunning
performance. Meanwhile, with the validation of a Feng Shui master, the
cultural significance of colors, animals, symbols, scenography and
clothing were explored to make this brand-new immersive experience
more meaningful and mesmerizing.
Inspired by ancient Chinese creatures, Bulong and Naga, two magical
beings that are carved in the seal, share the same trace as phoenix
and dragon. The stage Chinese traditional color, red and gold, as its
dominant hue. One of the characters choreography is even based on
Monkey King.
Traditional circus acts are reinvented with the help of revolutionary
props, costumes and stage effects to ensure its thrilling experience.
The theatre is also equipped with cutting-edge sound system to accord
with visual interaction. A total of 1500 seats were installed with
high-quality loudspeakers to guarantee your full immersion into this
unforgettable live experience.
Cirque du Soleil X The Land of Fantasy is the 45th original
production of Cirque du Soleil, part of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment
Group.
{ SOURCE: Digital Journal Press Release }
----------------------------------------------------------
Guy Laliberte launching show on Las Vegas Strip
{Aug.22.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
The visionary behind the Las Vegas Strips predominant production
company is creating once more. Cirque du Soleil co-founder Guy
Laliberte is premiering Candy World, his new entertainment concept,
Saturday night at Light Nightclub at Mandalay Bay.
The event also marks Lalibertes 60th birthday, remarkable because the
former street performer is always a kid at heart. Hes even taking the
DJ booth, along with such accomplished DJs as Nico Stojan, Laurence
Matte and Isaiah Martin.
Candy Land is a tease to what might be a resident production at
Light by the end of the year.
For now, Laliberte is promising a delicious night of technology and
EDM sounds. The production feels like a mix of a Cirque production and
Electric Daisy Carnival effects. Lalibertes team says: An immersive,
sensory overload, Candy World is a hyper explosion of art,
technology and music encompassing escapism and inclusivity as guests
are transported into other worlds while their participation completes
the experience.
Hey, its legal. The event is open to the public, with doors at 10
p.m. and the party at 11. Click thelightvegas.com for details.
The production is the first Las Vegas outpost for PY1, which produces
events in unique nightclub venues around the world (Laliberte
currently is producing a PY1 show in Montreal). Laliberte chose Light
for Candy World because he helped design the club himself in the
days when Cirque was invested in Strip nightclubs.
Laliberte has not been active in artistic development on the Strip
since he sold Cirque to an investment consortium headed up by TPG
Capital in the spring of 2015. The reported price was $1.5 billion,
making Laliberte a very rich man who still knows how to have a good
time.
{ SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal }
----------------------------------------------------------
AXEL Holds Press Conference
{Sep.04.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
The idea behind Axel, said Fernand Rainville, the shows stage
director and writer, is to make it feel like a rock opera, make it
feel like a musical concert and/or a sports outing. To create that
energy. So to create effects that we usually see in concert shows and
bring them to the theatrics of Cirque and ice skating.
Rainville was giving this explanation after a preview of three numbers
from Axel at an ice rink in a studio in the east end of Montreal on
Wednesday morning. The opening number of Axel is built around the 1982
Tears for Fears hit Mad World, which is sung live by Jayden Sierra,
the 22-year-old musician from Sydney, Australia who plays the title
character in the show, and he is accompanied by a live band.
There are five well-known songs in Axel, including Radioheads Creep,
Rihannas Diamonds, The Bee Gees You Should Be Dancing and House of
Pains Jump. The songs are all arranged and adapted by prolific
Québécois musician, composer and producer Philippe Brault. He also
composed the original score for Axel.
This is the second Cirque ice show following Crystal, which had its
première at the Bell Centre in December 2017 and is still touring the
world, with shows coming up in Mexico, Russia, Latvia and Poland. In
the past, most of the Cirque shows only relied on original music and
didnt feature pop hits, with the exception of the Las Vegas Cirque
shows devoted to specific artists like The Beatles and Michael
Jackson.
But Crystal showcased new versions of popular tunes, notably U2s
Beautiful Day, Beyoncés Halo and Sias Chandelier. Rainville said it
made sense to include some pop hits in Axel.
Well, its something of a tradition in all of the ice-skating
events, Rainville said. Skaters work with popular songs. So you can
see any type of ice-skating show, youll hear greatest hits, from the
Eurythmics to Sting to whatever. So we want people to be familiar with
some of our songs
its like a hook, to bring people in to something
thats familiar and then take them someplace else. We created new
songs that are catchy and we also created moody, very spiritual
musical events during the show. So it still feels like a Cirque du
Soleil show.
Axel will have its official première at the Bell Centre Dec. 19 and
runs at the rink through Dec. 29. Prior to that, it plays in Syracuse,
N.Y.; Pensacola, Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla.; Roanoke, Va.;
Worcester, Mass.; and at the Centre Vidéotron in Quebec City. It will
then tour arenas across North America in 2020, with stops in Detroit,
Tulsa, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Nashville.
{ SOURCE: The Montreal Gazette }
----------------------------------------------------------
American Dream Mall Sets Opening Day Without Cirque
{Sep.05.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
It may be The American Dream Mall for a scant few, but for many
others it has become a Canadian nightmare; with construction delays,
traffic problems and few brands signing up for this 3.6 million sq.
ft. of potential calamity in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Things have
gotten so bad that even Cirque du Soleil, who started out with a
purported contract to have a dedicated year-round live show on stage
there, moved the project to just rumor and then finished up with a
position of pure speculation. Suffice to say that Cirque du Soleil
is now out and so is the planned dedicated theatre for them at the
American Dream, which was maybe just a dream to some, and a
nightmare to others (all credit to Dir John Boorman)
DESPITE PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENTS, NO THEATER AT AMERICAN DREAM
What is left at this Canadian conceived/funded/built (that is now a)
mall/amusement/ice-rink/waterpark development in New Jerseys
Meadowlands, is a crazy melange of pretty much anything that would
bring people through its doors. What is a surprise is that they just
dont pay people to come visit the mall itself, as that could be far
cheaper, as the first phase of this project has already cost over $5
billion just to open its doors to the public. The potential white
elephant in New Jersey, that has scant few shops and restaurants, has
now set an opening day of October 25, 2019, and also intends to open
the non-shopping attractions, that includes a water park, amusement
park, an indoor ski slope and an ice rink sans the Cirque du Soleil
theatre.
DREAM, SHOP, PLAY AND DONE IS MISSING WATCH
The development has already weathered three developers, four designs,
a rough recession and one angry NJ governor Chris Christie. The
Governor famously called the building the ugliest building in America
due to its terrible paintwork on the exterior of the building that
abuts the Western Spur of the NJ Turnpike. This project was first
conceived in 1994 when the retail landscape was far healthier and
shopping malls still made sense. With internet shopping now being the
most common way to purchase goods, shopping malls have lost all the
momentum that they had back in the 1980s and early 1990s, but the
American Dream project just steamed ahead. Given the amount of space
that the mall was to provide, it seemed only fitting that the Canadian
developers would try to get their fellow Canadian companys into the
mix, which is where Cirque du Soleil came in with plans for their
first permanent show in the NYC area to be located in the American
Dream Theatre.
LAST DITCH EFFORT TO REINVENT THE SHOPPING MALL
The American Dream mall, is in fact a last-ditch effort by developers
to see if they can save the American mall idea, by bringing in flashy
non-shopping activities that make the location a destination, rather
than a chore. Thus the idea to bring a live performance theatre to the
mall provides a cultural aspect never seen before in a shopping mall
that has often played to the dingy crowd than than the cultural
elites. The complex claims to have partnerships with some big names in
the industry like DreamWorks, Coca-Cola, Nickelodeon, Lego and Vice
Media, but given its inability to deliver Cirque du Soleil, these are
dubious relationships at best. Transportation to the mall could prove
to be troublesome as public transport is far from ready and the
already crammed New Jersey Turnpike is not going to be able to deliver
any more cars due to its overcrowding, especially bad at rush hour.
The mall will run private shuttle buses, which will pick up visitors
at sites in Manhattan and from local airports, but this may be its
Achilles heel in that people may want to go there, but cannot actually
get there. There may be better examples of the new-age mall strategy,
with a new shining example opening at TSX Broadway, in the heart of
Times Square.
DOES CIRQUE MISS AN OPPORTUNITY OR DODGE A BULLET?
It is no secret that the Cirque du Soleil (CDS) shows struggle to
perform in the NYC area. The franchise is incredibly strong in Las
Vegas NV, but they cannot seem to break into the NYC market,
notwithstanding the many valiant attempts they have already made at
various locations around the city over the last few years. The most
successful CDS show was at the big top in Battery Park way back in
1995 . Since then Cirque du Soleil has been bounced around to
Randalls Island, Liberty State Park, Roosevelt Island, Madison Square
Garden, The Beacon Theatre, Radio City Music Hall and finally the
Lyric Theatre, just prior to Harry Potter landing there. If Cirque du
Soleil had been able to pull the trigger at the American Dream, it
would have been the first time that they have set down a sit-down
permanent show in the NYC area and while it would have been a huge
financial risk to be there, they really do not have much to lose
except maybe some cash, well large amounts of it, because the American
Dream financials are no dream, despite their protestations.
{ SOURCE: New York Show Tickets }
----------------------------------------------------------
At NY Fashion Week, This Hi-Tech Experience Steals Show
{Sep.05.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
In the dynamic world of fashion, technology is increasing its
footprint every day. Brands like Rent the Runway, Moda Operandi and
Amazon are integrating new tools into their platforms to make customer
experiences seamless and enjoyable.
Enterprise software provider SAP is also expanding its presence in the
fashion industry, as its technology hits the runway for the third time
in September, showcasing tech-enabled designs and a newly enhanced
interactive runway app at New York Fashion Week (NYFW).
This year SAP partnered with Cirque du Soleil, the world leader in art
and entertainment, and Fashion-Tech designer and innovator Anouk
Wipprecht, to create the first-ever tech-enhanced designs. The designs
utilize SAP Qualtrics to capture participants inputs and delivers
custom-made beverages cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks and
fragrances to the individual.
WATCH A VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: https://youtu.be/BHkUiq9m4Rs
Also, the Runway by SAP app will again be incorporated in top-designer
Badgley Mischkas runway show to create new ways for viewers to
interact and provide real-time feedback during the shows.
With these innovative technology advances and utilizing participant
input to drive personalization, SAP is turning big data into a moment
of joy in fashion.
CIRQUE UNVEILS TECH-ENABLED DESIGNS BASED ON PARTICIPANTS INPUT
These original tech-enabled designs will come to life at NYFW.
Together, SAP, Cirque du Soleil and designer Anouk created Elixir
and Fragrance two designs, each including a dress and a suit, that
are centered around audience interactions to create the ultimate
customer experience. Heres how it works:
The experience begins when the participant first engages with the
design. The participant interacts with the model and design through a
tablet on their arm that takes them through a series of questions
using the SAP Qualtrics Experience Management (XM) platform. Feedback
from the interaction is analyzed and feeds the exact experiential and
operational data it needs to pick one of many expertly crafted
beverages or fragrances for each guest.
After the questions are answered, the design starts to work. All
fashionably hidden, through conveyor belts, pumps and capsules secured
by 3D-printed harnesses and accessories, the beverage design blends
different alcohols, fruit juices and flavors to craft the perfect
drink. While the fragrance design combines different scents creating a
personalized fragrance with a custom label delivering a world-class
product and brand experience for users.
The designs not only make the beverages and fragrances quickly, but
they are specifically catered to you. The designs know exactly what
you need a lavender-infused drink for when you are stressed, ginger-
infused for more energy, or even the perfect fragrance you did not
even know existed.
Hows that for the ultimate personalized experience?
SHOP WITH RUNWAY BY SAP
This year, whether you are at the show or watching, you can
participate in the runway experience by engaging in real-time with the
looks from the Badgley Mischka show on the Runway by SAP app. Simply
point your iPhone at the model and the app will identify what they are
wearing. You can then dive deeper into the look and like or love
the items, and add them to your wish list. You can share your wish
list with BM, and theyll alert you when items are ready for purchase.
The app uses the beacon technology and machine learning algorithms
that instantly recognize the looks as they walk the runway. BM has
incorporated the app into its show, giving the audience the chance to
engage and react to what they like and love, showing the designers the
feedback and influencing future designs and buying decisions. Its a
personalized experience for each user.
FUTURE OF FASHION AND TECHNOLOGY
On the last day of NYFW, SAP will contribute to an In Conversation
panel, led by Emma Rosenblum, Editor-in-Chief of Bustle Digital Group
with guests, Alicia Tillman, Global CMO of SAP, Marcus Wainwright,
founder of rag & bone, Diane Quinn, Chief Creative Officer at Cirque
du Soleil, and Aaron Duffy, CEO of Specialguest. These thought leaders
will discuss the impact of technology and experience in the fashion
industry across a wide variety of topics.
We are excited to return to our third New York Fashion Week with a
focus on creating more personalized and unique consumer experiences at
the intersection of technology and fashion, said Alicia Tillman,
Global CMO of SAP. Through our tech-enabled fashion designs, created
in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, and our enhanced Runway by SAP
app, we wanted to demonstrate how our technology can translate direct
feedback and inputs to give designers the feedback they need to create
designs that are the most relevant to consumers today.
{ SOURCE: Forbes }
***************************************************************
Q&A -- Quick Chats & Press Interviews
***************************************************************
----------------------------------------------------------
Talking Makeup With Kazuha Ikeda, Klara the Telegraph
{Aug.01.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
The circus is in town, folks. Cirque du Soleil is back with a spanking
new show and cast, Kurios Cabinet of Curiousities, which
distinguishes itself from typical circus fare with a steampunk twist
on acrobatic acts, clever contortions, and balancing feats. Performers
are outfitted in extravagant, Victorian-era garb while faces are
painted in a riot of shapes and colour to complement the elaborate
sets and stunts.
A striking visage amongst the cast is Klara the Telegraph of the
Invisible with her teal-painted lids, bold liner arches, and
distinctive gravity-defying hair 'do, also known as the human antennae
that receives alpha waves with a turn of her heel. Played by Kazuha
Ikeda, the professional dancer doesn't just bring her boogey skills to
the table, but her talent with the brush, too. She does her own makeup
a feat made all the more impressive considering Ikeda's minimalist
beauty approach on the day-to-day. We take a trip to the Big Top to
witness the magic for ourselves and delve deep into the methods and
madness behind Klara's powdered mien.
Q. How did you become a Cirque Du Soleil performer?
I'm from Japan, Tokyo, and it all started when I moved to Los Angeles
in 2003. I took a trip down from L.A. to watch my first Cirque show in
Vegas, and I remember being so impressed by the whole performance.
I've never seen anything like it. As a dancer, I didn't think I'd be
able to be a part of it because the show was mainly centered around
acrobatics. Then I learned that there were so many other roles within
the show, and that you didn't actually have to do acrobatics. That was
when I decided to actively pursue getting into the Cirque. I
auditioned many, many times before I got the role as Klara in 2017. It
was a dream come true.
Q. You do your own makeup. Is professional makeup application a
mandatory skill at Cirque?
No! [Laughs] When you sign with Cirque, you'll be sent to Montreal for
training where makeup lessons are provided. Mine was four weeks long.
During the training sessions, the designer behind the look teaches you
how to do it step-by-step, and I'm given a template guide to refer to
until I reach a point where I can do it from memory.
Q. How long does it take for you to get your full face done?
Now? I'd say it takes up to two hours. It might be because I'm always
pausing in between to check my phone, relax... [Laughs] When I'm in a
rush, I can get it done in an hour and a half. I used to take three
and a half hours when I first started!
Q. There are a lot of elements to your look. How do you keep track of
them all?
It was really easy for me to miss out on certain parts in the
beginning. I always used to forget the lines right down my nose. The
only way for me to remember was to do it as the first step until it
became an ingrained in me. I spent a lot of time trying to work out an
order to all these makeup steps so it's easier to remember.
Q. How does ensure your makeup stays on throughout your performance?
One of the methods Cirque employs is double application. You always
apply your makeup first in cream form, then you double back with the
same product in powder form, only then you set everything. This
prevents you from sweating any makeup off on-stage... It's the
technique used for our water show in Las Vegas as well. In those
shows, the actors actually jump into a pool and they'll come out of
the water looking just as fresh. It's a fool-proof method. We do a
two-and-a-half-hour show, sometimes two shows a day, and I only ever
really need to touch up my lipstick. Other than that, nothing ever
comes off or peels.
Q. That sounds like quite a bit of makeup. Does it take a toll on your
skin?
Nah. But that's probably because I have really strong skin.
Q. Klara's makeup might not impact your skin, but does it play an
integral role in helping you get in character?
Yeah, it definitely helps me get into her frame of mind. The whole
process of putting on her makeup takes a while, so I make it a point
to come to work early and get it all done. The process calms me down
and really allows me to get into her headspace.
Q. What would you say is your favourite part of Klara's makeup?
The earrings! I draw them in. It's such a small thing, and a lot of
people don't notice that I have actual makeup on my ear, but you
know... that's the fun of it.
Q. How has stage makeup changed your relationship with beauty?
I'm terrible when it comes to my personal makeup. [Laughs] Through
this job, I feel like I've really learned how the human face works,
like I understand how to make my face look more appealing and I feel
that it is translating to my makeup in the day-to-day. Slowly.
Q. How so?
Well, I now know that I should be using more than one type of
foundation to make my flat, Asian face pop! [Laughs] They also taught
me the exact placement of blush where it is most flattering, like I
should be dabbing it right at the apples of my cheeks. It's just all
these things where it's like, "Oh, I never knew that!"
Q. Do you have any makeup tips for someone doing stage makeup for the
first time?
A good tip to get these precise lines and details right is to use
rulers. A lot of people I know don't use them, but for someone with
asymmetrical eyes, it can be a real challenge.
Q. What's more challenging putting on your makeup, or taking it off?
Oh, definitely putting on my makeup! Taking off my makeup is really
easy. It takes all of fifteen seconds, because I use a really good oil
cleanser. Putting it on is a lot more challenging, but I also like to
use the time to meditate and really get into Klara's mindset for the
show. I love it.
{ SOURCE: Buro }
----------------------------------------------------------
Jerónimo García, the Yucatecan who triumphs in JOYA
{Aug.04.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
{Translated from the original Spanish using Google Translate}
When the opportunity meets the preparation is something that many
people call luck, this is how the history of the only Yucatecan
artist of the Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ is summarized. Consistency,
determination and focus, those are the words that describe Jerónimo
García Cabral; a Yucatecan who turned his life into the dream of many
others.
In 2002, he positioned himself as one of the first Mexicans to join
Cirque du Soleil and is currently part of JOYÀ; a magical and truly
unique theater experience that is about to be five years old as a
resident in the Riviera Maya. Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ has more than 40
artists on stage being part of a multisensory show. All of multiple
nationalities with great talents and among them is Jerónimo, who
performs impressive acts on stage.
Jerónimo García is a person who radiates energy and charisma but above
all he is aware that dreams are possible if you have the perseverance
and discipline to achieve them. He began his career as a gymnast from
a young age and gradually went into the show business. My mother
always joked that she wanted to escape with the circus, I think she
was the one who put that little seed, he talks in an interview. As a
kid there was no Cirque du Soleil yet, I fantasized about being an
astronaut or flying, I wanted to be in the air and move.
It was in the late 90s, when he discovered the circus company and for
him the people who work there were like aliens. I thought wow! How
can they do that, I want to do it. There began my passion and I was 25
years old when I started to dream it .
THE AUDITION, A GREAT EXPERIENCE
A moment in which he says I leave my soul there and gave everything
I had to give. I heard that for the first time the tent of Cirque du
Soleil would be in Mexico, I knew they would audition and I put
together a demo with everything I had, but nobody told me that the
auditions would be for vendors and setters not for artists, reveals
the Yucatecan .
It was so that he literally slipped in with a blacksmith who would
carry materials and entered the circus office to deliver a VHS
cassette with his videos. I created my opportunity and two weeks
later they called me on the phone, they wanted to audition me, he
says.
When the day came to test his talent, he focused and for 11 hours
showed why he had to be at Cirque du Soleil. It was an incredible
audition, when I left there I didnt even know what was going to
happen but I felt it as the best experience of my life at an artistic
level, he says. The next thing was to do a training in Montreal,
where the company was born in 2002 He gave him his first contract with
Zumanity in Las Vegas , in which he did everything and achieved
6,000 performances over the next six years.
Jerónimos career continued through Europe by performing a cruise show
that took him five times to cross the Atlantic and meet the love of
his life: his now wife Jessica Ritchie , with whom he performs one of
his acts at the Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ , which was created entirely by
them.
But getting to this moment in his life was not easy, Jerónimo is a
completely self-taught artist because of what he learned by trial and
error, facing all obstacles and challenges with consistency and
passion for what he does. Yes I have had people who advise me, but
98% of what I do and have done in the characters comes from my mind.
Find out, fall, hurt, try again and criticize myself; when I started
there was no one to copy or learn on YouTube, he explains.
FITNESS PROFESSIONAL
Jerónimo has been working professionally with his body for 27 years
and recently finished his twelfth certification as an international
professional trainer in Fitness. What has led him to know himself very
well and above all to know how the body works. The only thing you
need is to be very critical of yourself, to a certain extent obsessive
because although it never reaches perfection there is always a process
of improvement.
Although everyone could imagine that being an artist in the most
important circus company worldwide implies a very rigorous work on and
off the stage, Jerónimo says that over the years discipline has become
his way of life. I have created the habit of staying healthy and I no
longer see it as a sacrifice. On weekends you can see me like any
neighbors son but I can also be strict in my diet and exercises when
I have to be. Now by instinct my body chooses everything healthy but
it was not something I was born with and that is what I try to share
with people; if you can and it takes your effort but once you create a
habit it is not as difficult as it seems.
That is why their main message is that they remain active and curious.
They smile a lot and remember that small positive and well focused
actions will change their lives. When he managed to be part of the
company, it was a goal he celebrated internally, but it is until now,
16 years later, when he feels the best part of his life. When I
started there was nothing to brag about, my job was just going
uphill.
AT THE SUMMIT
Today he knows that he is physically doing things better than when he
entered and was 28 years old. I feel fuller now that I have my son
Arian and Jessica in my life. And although he is 45 years old, for
him it is only a figure. At this point I am supposed to be retired
but the truth is I still have enough energy, I feel very well
physically, he said.
DREAM ACHIEVABLE
For those who share the dream of one day being part of Cirque du
Soleil, Jerome confesses that there are no secrets to achieve it.
Yes you can, but it is not a flown or a lottery ticket; They have to
be very clear about their goals and at least have a plan on how to
follow them. Every decision we make every day can lead us to a
different direction and have a tremendously positive or negative
result in our goals.
It also explains that you have to know very well what you want, how
much time you will spend, be realistic and know the limitations of
yourself. You have to be really alert and know what to do to become
the person you want to be, he adds.
Currently, the circus is such a large company that there are many
opportunities to integrate, whether as a dancer, singer, acrobat,
choreographer, costumer, stage director, musician, etc. If there are
possibilities on a larger scale but the formula does not change, a lot
of consistency and focus is needed. You have to think it, feel it and
put the maximum amount of action to make it happen; youre going to
stumble all the time but you cant stop seeing the compass to know
where youre going and not stop until you get your dreams. On the road
to success you will stumble all the time, but you cannot stop seeing
the compass to know where you are going, and not stop until you get
it.
GREAT SATISFACTIONS
The greatest satisfactions that his profession has left him are to be
able to share many hours a day with his family and the privilege of
doing what he loves most. I really dont feel this is a job. I love
my time in the theater, being in JOYÀ is like my hobby. When I am
there I disconnect from everything and I dedicate myself to what I
like.
In addition, he is grateful to be able to inspire people and make a
difference in their lives with just a look or a smile and being an
example not only when he is on stage. I want to raise fitness
awareness through these 27 years of experience and help people a
little.
That is why he is developing a Health & Fitness system , of which he
already has 60 exercise routines, which he applies in his daily life.
I like to try everything, when I see a new technique I try it and
that is the way I have stayed fresh and away from injuries in general.
Everything has been prevention, recovery, awareness of how I train and
technique, he says.
MERIDA, IN YOUR HEART
The strangest thing about Mérida is to share with her friends and her
mother, although thanks to her closeness she is often followed. I
have many memories in Merida, thats where the whole dream began. It
is a city that I have deep in my heart and I go whenever I can.
The memories he has most in mind are when he was transporting
throughout the city on skates and took advantage of the defenses of
the trucks to gain momentum. I always went to Salvador Alvarado
Stadium , hid the skates in the bushes and started running there.
Something he doesnt have in the Riviera Maya is the Yucatecan food he
loves so much. The second best food on the planet is Mexican, the
best is Yucatecan. That variety and combinations do not exist
elsewhere; Where is my pout , my potage? I cant have it here; I love
to eat it but I have no patience to prepare it .
He confesses addicted to knowledge, reading, learning, fitness and
being very happy with his family. It is not one of the people who
spends all day watching television or on Facebook but likes to be
doing different activities with his wife and son as well as resting
when the body needs it, as his priority is to be well for each show.
I am really an ordinary person but very energetic.
For Jerónimo, each one of his experiences with Cirque du Soleil has
been like the chapter of a book, a story that he summarizes as very
picturesque, which he has written from time to time and which still
has many pages left. fill in.
THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING
His taste for gymnastics led him to be an artist. Inspired by the
movie Rocky 4 and with the aim of defending a friend who was
bullied, Jerónimo García discovered his passion for the exercise. At
age 14 he ran his first marathon and began his career as a gymnast in
1989 and shortly thereafter had his first state competition.
When his mother discovered that he had potential, he trained him to
train during a vacation with the Mexican Olympic Committee and, after
that first approach, decided to stay and live in Mexico. At that age
I didnt know who to stay with or how to do it but I always had the
support of my parents for this adventure.
After problems between his coach and the Olympic Committee, Jerónimo
returned to Mérida a short season but finally decided to return to
Mexico in a final attempt. It was in 1993 when he started working
extra on Televisa to survive. I started in the show doing
everything, musical comedy, childrens theater, novels, musical
comedies, television commercials, circus stuff and even in bad death
clubs.
After participating in different musicals, such as Marcelino pan y
vino and Muchachos de Nueva York , he attended a casting for
Astral Express , where he began to skate as a professional. The love
for skating is something he had since childhood when he used the
skates as his means of transport.
Even after meeting Jessica when it occurred to her to create a couple
act on roller skates. She did not know how to skate but during a
vacation in Merida she taught him in the park of the German colony and
from there every day they trained to achieve a solid show that led
them to have one contract after another.
IT WAS HIS DESTINY
Upon learning that Cirque du Soleil would create JOYÀ as a resident
show in the Riviera Maya, Jerónimo decided to speak to Montreal to ask
for an opportunity, however they told him that it was not possible
because the cast was complete.
Almost a year later, he went to a company party where he met the
artistic director of JOYÀ , who told him that he was looking for him
to supply one of the artists for ten days. I had seen the JOYÀ show
two weeks before and the incredible thing is that I told Jessica that
in the act of the paratroopers we could perfectly be with ourskates.
That same night, they climbed their skating table to the van, slept
just four hours and went to the Riviera Maya to do the lighting and
costume tests; The next day they were already part of the show. That
is the magic of JOYÀ . That week became one more and then they offered
us the one-year contract.
Now the show has more than 1,500 presentations and has established
itself as one of the most important in the company thanks to the magic
and talent of each of its artists.
If you want to know more about Jerónimo you can follow him on his
social networks:
IG: @trainwithjeronimo
YouTube: Train With Jerónimo
FB: trainwithjeronimo
{ SOURCE: Diario de Yucatàn }
----------------------------------------------------------
ICYMI - Meet Geert Chatrou, Corteo's Whistler
{Aug.09.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
I started whistling when I was about four years old. We lived in the
Eindhoven area of the Netherlands, and my dad whistled all the time.
It was impossible for him to whistle out of tune. He whistled a lot of
Bach, but also the Beatles. We whistled TV theme tunes together him
whistling one note, and me the next. I immediately produced a nice
tone. Within a few years, I was better than he was.
By 2003, when I was 34, I was working as a psychiatric nurse, and had
three young kids. That year we had a big Christmas dinner for the
family, and I remember whistling along to cheesy tunes like Rudolph
The Red-Nosed Reindeer. My sister-in-law asked me to stop several
times. At one point, I said: If there was a competition, I would
enter. Two weeks later, I received a text from her: Geert, youre
going to America. Ive just entered you for the World Whistling
Championships.
The auditorium was in a high school in Louisburg, North Carolina.
Everything was overwhelming. There were about 30 contestants some
terrible, some very good. Some people were really, really competitive.
It lasted two days and I won. The prize was a big trophy covered
with American flags and eagles. I had to go through customs with three
trophies: one for classical, one for popular and one for grand
champion.
After that, I started receiving my first invitations to do concerts
mostly classical, accompanied by symphony orchestras, string quartets
or, sometimes, just a piano. I was aware that I was the odd one out on
the line-ups, and I had yet to turn professional.
Then in 2007, I was asked to whistle in a big church in Leiden by an
entertainment company. I knew it would be special the queen of the
Netherlands, Queen Beatrix, would be there.
Normally at a concert there is a little security, but this was another
level, with sniffer dogs. A lot of the performers, who included
musicians and ballet dancers, were pretty nervous. When the queen came
in, a weird frisson went through the audience. I whistled Czardas by
Vittorio Monti; its a virtuoso violin piece that starts dramatically,
then gets faster and faster; in the third part there are some really
high notes.
There was a circus performer in a feathered bird costume, hidden in
the church ceiling. When I started my second piece, In A Sentimental
Mood by Duke Ellington, she descended on a hoop and landed on the
grand piano. Then I helped my bird down.
The queen was very appreciative: it was a special moment. Im not a
big royalist, but I saw what she means to a lot of people.
Now, Im a professional whistler. I made the transition last summer; I
had been working with homeless people, and felt close to burnout. Then
Cirque du Soleil emailed me to say they were looking for a whistler. I
went to Montreal to audition and they hired me in October; Im
travelling with them at the moment. I open the Corteo show as the
ringmaster. At one point I whistle Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as
beautifully as I can. Then I go into a duet with the violinist, backed
by an orchestra.
I do between 75 and 100 concerts a year and earn twice as much as I
did as a nurse. I also run whistling workshops. I practise all day,
but its hard for me not to whistle. I like to whistle recorder
concertos by Vivaldi, but also jazz or blues. I love to improvise.
The whistling community is getting bigger and bigger, and we often
meet each other at tournaments. Ive judged the past two World
Whistling Championships. Theres a Japanese whistler, Akiko Shibata,
who I think is brilliant. Shes one of my favourite whistlers right
now.
If people want to get into whistling, and they can afford it, they
should go to the championships. There are also videos on the internet
that can give you a feel for the quality of some of the top whistlers.
The best advice is to keep it joyful.
Its unbelievable that I get to see the world just because I can
whistle well. Its really silly. But the key is not to take it too
seriously.
{ SOURCE: The Guardian }
----------------------------------------------------------
The Toronto Star with Elena Lev
{Aug.21.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
For the first time in its history, Cirque du Soleil is bringing one of
its shows out of retirement.
Alegria is a beloved Cirque title: when it closed in 2013, it had been
running for almost 20 years and had been seen by more than 14 million
spectators worldwide. With its baroque, fanciful costumes, elemental
story about a generational struggle between an old and a new order,
and lush score by the famed composer René Dupéré, Alegria (the word is
Spanish for joy) helped define the classic Cirque esthetic.
Rather than just bringing the show back, Cirque decided to update it:
We looked at the costumes, the music, the acrobatic decisions and
gave them a modern twist. Either artistically or acrobatically, were
pushing them further, says the shows senior publicist, Francis
Jalbert. Its almost like discovering the show from a new angle.
Having premiered in Montreal in April, Alegria: In a New Light is
setting up camp under the signature blue and yellow big top at Ontario
Place from mid-September through Dec. 1.
Few people are better positioned to talk about the shows significance
and how its changed than Elena Lev, one of only two original cast
members who is also in the remount.
Twelve years old when the show premiered, Lev is now 37 and is
performing a version of her original act, which combines hula hoop,
contortion, dance and hand balancing. Much like the show itself, the
act is a combination of old and new.
In the years since Alegria premiered, says Lev, I grew up from a
little girl to a teenager, to a woman, to a mother, and whatever I
present personally onstage today is so different. All the emotions,
all the feelings, all the movements. It was a good step of renewing
the things, keeping some of the original, but at the same time
bringing something new and giving people a new way, a new look at
Alegria.
She was raised in a circus family in Moscow; the whole family moved to
Montreal when her father was recruited to participate in the creation
of Alegria (his high bar act is in the remount, but hes not himself
performing). An offer for Lev to appear in the show came not long
afterwards. As do her parents, Lev now calls Las Vegas home.
Lev toured with Alegria for eight years and completed her high school
degree at the same time: there were a number of young people in the
show and Cirque provided their schooling (its a sign of changing
times and societal expectations that Cirque no longer allows
performers younger than 18 in its productions).
Lev has kept on performing; shes been in a total of six Cirque
productions, most recently Zumanity, which is a permanent show in
Vegas rather than a touring one. This suited her lifestyle as she
raised her daughter, who is now 14. She also completed a college
degree in food and beverage management. Thats for later, for the
future, she says, because for the present, Alegria is somewhat
unexpectedly back in her life.
Last year, she and some other original cast members helped organize a
reunion party for Alegria in Vegas, which ended up involving some 140
people from around the world. While we were doing that, we heard a
rumour that the show might be coming back, she says. She performed
her Alegria act at the party and, soon after, Cirque producers asked
her if she would like to be in the remount.
Taking up the offer took some thought, says Lev. It was a challenge
and a process.
Destabilizing her home life was a concern. And there was the whole
question of extending her performing life: Do I quit? Do I continue?
The bodys going through this change as well in your mid-30s. A lot
went through my head but, at the same time, there was always something
telling me Im not done. Im not finished, and I want to go back and
travel because thats been my life for a long time.
In the end, I couldnt say no.
Performing with Cirque made my life who I am today. Lots of memories,
lots of stories and a big chapter of my life. It created a full
circle. A chance for me to go back and kind of relive
but in a new
way, in a new chapter. Share it with my daughter and touch the fans,
hopefully, again. And people that want to see it or havent seen it.
So here I am.
{ SOURCE: Toronto Star }
----------------------------------------------------------
Q&A w/MJ ONEs Sam Frahn
{Aug.23.2019}
----------------------------------------------------------
You wont be able to take your eyes off Sam Frahn, one of the warrior-
dancers in Cirque du Soleils Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay and
a natural-born entertainer loaded with charisma and personality.
Originally from Tampa, Fla., Frahn has paved her own path by creating
a unique and personal style of dance influenced by jazz and hip-hop
styles. I love the culture of hip-hop but what I do is not
necessarily breakdancing, she says. Im kind of a variety piece of
all the things that I love, and I like being a girl that can hang with
the guys. If somebody is hitting hard, Im going to hit hard, too.
Q. How long have you been performing in Michael Jackson ONE?
It will be three years in January. I still feel new. Theres so much
to learn and so many people who have been doing it for so long.
Q. Have you been dancing all your life?
Since I was six. When you get to high school you start to think, What
am I going to do to make money? And my parents were (saying), Its
not going to be dancing. I used to want to be a dentist, but I
started studying and found out I wasnt passionate about it. There was
a dance crew in college called Ruckus and within that group I started
to realize what was possible. The people doing it professionally,
their skills and ability to achieve, I realized I wasnt too far from
that. So my parents made sure I got my degree and then I moved to
Vegas.
Q. Your first breakthrough was with a Jennifer Lopez performance in
Florida. Did you get to see J. Los residency show in Las Vegas?
Oh yeah. Thats something so cool about Vegas right now, the
residencies that are happening and bringing in all these dancers from
L.A. who are very gifted. And they want to party it up while theyre
in Vegas, and we go to the same clubs to hang out. A place like On the
Record (at Park MGM), its doing a lot of stuff with dance battles and
bringing the street scene into the club, so thats the spot. You go
there and you get to see a free show, all these people throwing down
and having fun.
Q. How do you describe your role in the show?
The character I play is an MJ warrior. We are Michaels army, his
hand-selected crew of people to represent him in this world and to
defend everything that is good. We help these kids who dont realize
they are heroes to see that within themselves. Our job is to send his
message to them and to the audience that everything you need is within
you already, you just have to hone your strengths and believe in them.
Q. Theres a lot more to your performance than just performing classic
Michael Jackson moves, but it must be exciting to hit those parts
of the show every night.
Its what every dance kid dreams of. You watch these iconic
performances and your eyes are glued to the screen and you think, I
wish I could learn those moves. So to learn them with people who
worked closely with Michaelits something else.
Q. Do you have favorite parts of the show?
I have different favorites for different reasons. My favorite number
to be in would be Smooth Criminal, because thats super-iconic
choreography and the lean is so fun. Its the coolest thing you get to
do as a dancer and they did a phenomenal job of creating something so
visually stimulating. When it comes to watching the show, I love
Billie Jean for all the lights and because its my favorite MJ song.
But for sentimental reasons, theres a number called Smile that has
one of the heroes coming into her own, and that resonates with me. It
goes back to my mom and dad saying theres no money in being a dancer
and doubting whats possible, limiting your potential. That hero goes
through the same thing, then she puts the hat on and realizes
everything shes capable of.
{ SOURCE: Las Vegas Magazine }
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
{Alegria, Amaluna, Koozå, Kurios, Luzia, Totem,
Volta & Bazzar}
o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues
{OVO, Crystal, Corteo, Messi10, AXEL}
o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre
{Mystère, "O", Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, MJ ONE, JOYA,
Paramour, X: The Land of Fantasy, and R.U.N}
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/ >,
or for a more comprehensive tour listing, visit our Itinéraire
section online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=6898 >.
------------------------------------
BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
------------------------------------
Alegría-25th Anniversary:
Toronto, ON -- Sep 12, 2019 to Nov 24, 2019
Miami, FL -- Dec 13, 2020 to Jan 26 2020
Houston, TX -- Feb 21, 2020 to Apr 5, 2020
Austin, TX -- Apr 15, 2020 to May 17, 2020
Chicago, IL -- Jun 3, 2020 to Jul 12, 2020
Washington, DC -- Jul 23, 2020 to Sep 27, 2020
Vancouver, BC -- Oct 15, 2020 to Jan 10, 2021
Amaluna:
Winnipeg, MB -- Sep 14, 2019 to Oct 20, 2019
San Francisco, CA -- Nov 19, 2019 to Jan 12, 2020
Sacramento, CA -- Jan 22, 2020 - Feb 16, 2020
Bazzar:
Cairo, EG -- Sep 19, 2019 to Oct 6, 2019
Koozå:
Malaga, ES -- Sep 13, 2019 to Oct 13, 2019
Madrid, ES -- Oct 24, 2019 to Dec 22, 2019
Seville, ES -- Jan 15, 2020 to Feb 9, 2020
Tel Aviv, IL -- Jun 4, 2020 to Jun 30, 2020
Kurios:
Sydney, AU -- Oct 2, 2019 to Nov 24, 2019
Brisbane, AU -- Jan 10, 2020 to Feb 9, 2020
Melbourne, AU -- Mar 12, 2020 to Apr 13, 2020
Adelaide, AU -- May 29, 2020 to Jun 7, 2020
Perth, AU -- TBA
Luzia:
Calgary, AB -- Aug 16, 2019 to Sep 22, 2019
Vancouver, BC -- Oct 3, 2019 to Dec 15, 2019
London, UK -- Jan 12, 2020 to Feb 16, 2020
Moscow, RU -- Mar 19, 2020 to Apr 12, 2020
Totem:
Gran Canaria, ES -- Jul 5, 2019 to Sep 22, 2019
The Hague, NL -- Oct 11, 2019 to Dec 1, 2019
Düsseldorf, DE -- Dec 19, 2019 to Jan 26, 2020
Munich, DE -- Feb 12, 2020 to Mar 8, 2020
Rome, IT -- Apr 1, 2020 to Apr 19, 2020
VOLTA:
Washington, DC -- Jul 25, 2019 to Sep 29, 2019
Atlanta, GA -- Oct 10, 2019 to Jan 5, 2020
Los Angeles, CA -- Jan 18, 2020 to Mar 8, 2020
Costa Mesa, CA -- Mar 18, 2020 - Apr 19, 2020
------------------------------------
ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues
------------------------------------
OVO:
Medellin, CO -- Oct 09, 2019 to Oct 26, 2019
CRYSTAL - A BREAKTHROUGH ICE EXPERIENCE:
Monterrey, MX -- Sep 19, 2019 to Sep 22, 2019
Guadalajara, MX -- Sep 25, 2019 to Sep 29, 2019
Mexico City, MX -- Oct 4, 2019 to Oct 13, 2019
Moscow, RU -- Nov 22, 2019 to Dec 8, 2019
Saint Petersburg, RU -- Dec 11, 2019 to Dec 15, 2019
Kazan, RU -- Dec 19, 2019 to Dec 22, 2019
Ufa, RU -- Dec 25, 2019 to Dec 29, 2019
Ekaterinburg, RU -- Jan 1, 2020 to Jan 5, 2020
Riga, LV -- Jan 15, 2020 to Jan 19, 2020
Krakow, PL -- Jan 23, 2020 to Jan 26, 2020
Gdansk, PL -- Jan 30, 2020 to Feb 2, 2020
Minsk, BY -- Feb 6, 2020 to Feb 9, 2020
Kiev, UA -- Feb 13, 2020 to Feb 16, 2020
CORTEO:
Turin, IT -- Sep 26, 2019 to Sep 29, 2019
Milan, IT -- Oct 2, 2019 to Oct 6, 2019
Bologna, IT -- Oct 9, 2019 to Oct 13, 2019
Pesario, IT -- Oct 17, 2019 to Oct 20, 2019
Leipzig, DE -- Oct 23, 2019 to Oct 27, 2019
Frankfurt, DE -- Oct 30, 2019 to Nov 3, 2019
Nuremberg, DE -- Nov 6, 2019 to Nov 10, 2019
Graz, AT -- Nov 13, 2019 to Nov 17, 2019
Brussels, BE -- Nov 21, 2019 to Nov 24, 2019
Paris, FR -- Dec 12, 2019 to Dec 15, 2019
Stuttgart, DE -- Dec 18, 2019 to Dec 22, 2019
Mannheim, DE -- Dec 25, 2019 to Dec 29, 2019
Lisbon, PT -- Jan 3, 2020 to Jan 12, 2020
Granada, ES -- Jan 15, 2020 to Jan 19, 2020
Zargoza, ES -- Jan 22, 2020 to Jan 26, 2020
Vitoria-Gasteiz, ES -- Jan 29, 2020 to Feb 2, 2020
Santiago de Compostela, ES -- Feb 5, 2020 to Feb 9, 2020
Santander, ES -- Feb 12, 2020 to Feb 16, 2020
Antwerp, BE -- Mar 13, 2020 to Mar 22, 2020
Vienna, AT -- Mar 25, 2020 to Mar 29, 2020
Montpellier, FR -- Apr 2, 2020 to Apr 5, 2020
Aix-en-Provence, FR -- Apr 8, 2020 to Apr 12, 2020
Lille, FR -- Apr 16, 2020 to Apr 19, 2020
Nice, FR -- Aug 20, 2020 to Aug 22, 2020
AXEL:
Cornwall, ON -- Oct 4, 2019 to Oct 5, 2019
Syracuse, NY -- Oct 11, 2019 to Oct 13, 2019
Huntsville, AL -- Oct 18, 2019 to Oct 20, 2019
Pensacola, FL -- Oct 24, 2019 to Oct 27, 2019
Tampa, FL -- Oct 31, 2019 Nov 3, 2019
Jacksonville, FL -- Nov 7, 2019 to Nov 10, 2019
Roanoke, VA -- Nov 14, 2019 to Nov 17, 2019
Worcester, MA -- Dec 5, 2019 to Dec 8, 2019
Quebec City, QC -- Dec 12, 2019 to Dec 15, 2019
Montreal, QC -- Dec 19, 2019 to Dec 29, 2019
Detroit, MI -- Jan 2, 2020 to Jan 5, 2020
Milwaukee, WI -- Jan 9, 2020 to Jan 12, 2020
Tulsa, OK -- Jan 16, 2020 to Jan 19, 2020
Cincinnati, OH -- Jan 23, 2020 to Jan 26, 2020
Kansas City, MO -- Jan 30, 2020 to Feb 2, 2020
Nashville, TN -- Feb 6, 2020 to Feb 9, 2020
Greeneville, SC -- Feb 13, 2020 to Feb 16, 2020
Messi10:
Barcelona, ES -- Oct 10, 2019 to Nov 10, 2019
Buenos Aires, AR -- Jun 11, 2020 to Jul 5, 2020
'Twas The Night Before
Chicago, IL -- Nov 29, 2019 - Dec 8, 2019
New York, NY -- Dec 11, 2019 - Dec 29, 2019
---------------------------------
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
*) 2019 Dark Dates:
o) August 20 thru 21, 2019
o) September 21 thru 25, 2019
"O":
Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday
NOTE: Starting January 2020, "O" performs 7 Days a Week
Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 9:30pm
*) Single Show Dates | 7:00 pm Only
o) Tuesday, Nov 5, 2019
*) 2019 Dark Dates:
o) 9:30 PM Performance of November 7
Zumanity:
Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
KÀ:
Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark Thursday/Friday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
LOVE:
Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
MICHAEL JACKSON ONE:
Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Thursday through Monday - Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
JOYÀ:
Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
One/Two Shows Nightly:
9:00pm (Weekdays)
7:00pm & 10:15pm (Fri, Sat & Holidays)
PARAMOUR:
Location: Stage Theater New Flora | Hamburg, Germany
Performs: One/Two Shows Nightly...
o) Monday: Dark
o) Tuesday: 6:30pm
o) Wednesday: 6:30pm
o) Thursday: 8:00pm
o) Friday: 8:00pm
o) Saturday: 3:30pm & 8:00pm
o) Sunday: 2:30pm & 7:00pm
X: THE LAND OF FANTASY
Location: Hangzhou, China
R.U.N:
Location: Luxor Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Wednesday through Sunday - Dark: Monday/Tuesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
SHOWS BEGIN OCTOBER 24, 2019
=======================================================================
OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS
=======================================================================
o) WEBSERIES -- Official Online Featurettes
o) VIDEOS -- Official Peeks & Noted Fan Finds
---------------------------------------------------
WEBSERIES: Official Online Featurettes
---------------------------------------------------
*) TEST R.U.N
Prepare for a live experience, unlike anything youve ever seen
from Cirque du Soleil! R.U.N is a live-action thriller jam-packed
with stunts and chases thatll leave you on the edge of your seat.
o) EPISODE 1: "PLAYING WITH FIRE"
LINK /// https://youtu.be/4wBqllx0BDw
---------------------------------------------------
VIDEOS: Official Peeks & Noted Fan Finds
---------------------------------------------------
o) MEET THE ARTISTS! Behind the Scenes at...
o) Music Videos for...
- KÀ | "The Deep": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcPKLaa-EmY
- ALEGRIA | "Alegria (Encore)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSwgpfMT0dE
- VOLTA | "The Change": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIo7oeeM7IQ
- "O" | "Simcha": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Jn06_0b7s
- TOTEM | "Koumaya": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b18J9W_Li8
o) Makeup Tutorials
- Creating Stage Makeup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0VsO5pwTk
- TOTEM | "The Frog": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6n2baZOwck
- OVO | "The Foreigner": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PXj4CXoFoo
o) Videos About R.U.N
- What it's like to Train:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJX0L7PsMbY
- How a Martial Artist Became The Hero at Cirque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_QF3r7pys
- Meet "The Groom" from R.U.N
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R5SWjGK6mE
- Meet "The Hero" from R.U.N
https://www.facebook.com/runtheshow/videos/2362114574027211/
- Meet "The Professional" from R.U.N
https://www.facebook.com/runtheshow/videos/373610416650724/
- Dangerous Live Stunts Performed on Stage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoJSWsXVnPg
o) AXEL Shows Off His Singing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UoHbjiBQUo
o) Behind the Scenes at Alegria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YExXpa5vk0A
o) The Beauty of Cirque du Soleil on ICE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrPtBIwYyM4
o) The Challenges of a Cirque du Soleil Audition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ3fg0WLrsA
o) The Challenges of Creating CRYSTAL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ihFD2NwwCI
o) A Choreographers' Showcase Presents
"Before the Stage Episode 1: Caine Keenan"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf3duaN-K5U
o) What it Takes to Be a Contortionist for Cirque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWJnbpK81PI
o) CRYSTAL: When Hockey Players Meet Extreme Skaters
https://www.facebook.com/sjseadogs/videos/364162404508702/
o) CRYSTAL: Meet Musician Brad Reid
https://www.facebook.com/CrystalbyCirqueduSoleil/videos/1110722419121147/
o) KURIOS: Behind the Scenes in Singapore
https://youtu.be/682bs2f6kfg
o) VOLTA: Behind the scenes with unicyclist Philippe Bélanger
https://www.facebook.com/usatoday/videos/498897494219407/
o) MESSI10: 10 Seconds of Training
https://www.facebook.com/CirqueduSoleil/videos/842650539469133/
=======================================================================
FASCINATION! FEATURES
=======================================================================
o) "The Show Must Go On! Inside Guy Laliberté's Plan To
Create Another Entertainment Phenomenon"
By: Madeline Berg, for FORBES Magazine
o) Jean David's Quel Cirque, Part 9: "A Little Farther West"
A Special Series Celebrating Cirque's 35th Anniversary
------------------------------------------------------------
"The Show Must Go On! Inside Guy Laliberté's Plan To
Create Another Entertainment Phenomenon"
By: Madeline Berg, for FORBES Magazine
------------------------------------------------------------
Guy Laliberté stands on a dock at the old port of Montreal and surveys
the skyline. This is the city of a hundred steeples, as well as the
20-story La Grande Roue de Montréal Ferris wheel and the 90-year-old
Jacques Cartier Bridge, its cantilevers a bright aqua blue. Up above
is Mount Royal, the hill topped with a 100-foot steel cross. To his
right, a blue-and-white-striped circus tent.
My first baby, says Laliberté, pointing to the big top, where Cirque
du Soleil performs. A black beanie is pulled over his head, a pair of
ripped jeans hang on his hips. Laliberté turns to the left, where an
81-foot-tall gleaming white pyramid stands. My new baby, says
Laliberté, 59.
The pharaonic structure, formally known as PYI, spans 15,000 square
feet, cost $30 million and is now home to Lalibertés new acts. During
the day it hosts Through the Echoes, an immersive light and sound
show. Its as trippy as it seemsand it only gets more so at night,
when DJs arrive to spin into the early hours of the morning,
presenting themed sets like Candy World, Astral Plane and Sci-
Matic. Attendees to these events are encouraged to incorporate the
evenings theme into their attire. In Candy World, for example,
partiers dress in shades of fluorescent pastels, creating visions of
acid-laced sugar plum fairies. Be cute, be evil, be twisted, the
events advertising tagline instructs. Be anything youd likejust
dont be shy about it.
This is Laliberté unleashed and uninhibited once again. Decades ago,
he poured those impulses into Cirque du Soleil, creating one of the
most profitable and famous pieces of performance art of the last
century. Most recently, it has become a franchise. There is Cirque,
the Michael Jackson version. Cirque meets Messi. Cirque does the
Beatles. Cirque goes underwater. It was all very lucrativeand, after
a while, replicative with a predictability bordering on boring.
The Billionaire Behind Cirque Du Soleil Debuts Montreals PY1 Pyramid
Laliberté wanted to do something else, so in 2015, he sold off most of
Cirquewalking away with $1.5 billion to put into new endeavors. Some
of that went to more real estate, a family office, some startup
investing and art purchases, too. And then, two years ago, he launched
Lune Rouge Entertainment, the corporate parent company of the pyramid
and the psychedelic shows within it. Lune Rouge is not where most of
the proceeds from Cirque's sale wenthe has probably sunk about $100
million into it between constructing the pyramid and developing the
live entertainmentbut its certainly the most visible part of his
second act. And given how Cirque turned out, it could very well turn
out to be more valuable than anything he has done since Cirque.
Hes a winner. His name is associated with winning. You know it will
work, says Yves Lalumière, CEO of the Tourisme Montréal. People will
want to follow him without even knowing where he is goingyou know he
will deliver.
Whats happening in Montreal is only the beginning. The pyramid opened
there in June and will close in September. It will be taken down and
moved to Miami this fall and then possibly to New York. Laliberté is
not shy about his ambitions. A pyramid, he says, in every city.
Laliberté sees himself as made up of two halves: performer and
capitalist. The fusion of those two occurred long ago. I grew up in
this type of very balanced world of business and creativity. My mom
was very, very creative, eccentric. And my father was a PR guy, a
wheeler-dealer, he says from the red leather drivers seat of his
Range Rover as he maneuvers through downtown Montreal. I really
believe that one gift my life have given me is this fifty-fifty
creative-business brain.
In 1978, he dropped out of college to become a busker, playing an
accordion hed found in his fathers closet.?He left his hometown the
next year and hitchhiked through Europe. There he perfected his craft,
learning skills like stilt-walking and fire-breathing. A few years
later he returned home and joined a professional troupe called Les
Échassiersstilt-walkers in Frenchin Baie-Saint-Paul, a Canadian
town off the St. Lawrence River. Still partly the kid who sold
baseball cards in his schoolyard at age 5, he became one of the
groups leaders, organizing shows and raising money.
Les Échassiers hit it big in 1987 when Quebec offered the group $1
million to create a circus-themed traveling performance for the 450th
anniversary of Canadas discovery. We had every problem starting a
big top could have, Laliberté told Forbes in 2004. The tent fell
down the first day. We had problems getting people into the shows. It
was only with the courage and arrogance of youth that we survived.
But they ended up turning a $40,000 profit and soon streamlined the
performance. With the help of government grants and loans, the show
added fanciful costumes, gravity-defying acrobats and emotional music.
Cirque du Soleil was born.
I remember at the opening of our show my mom realized that this was a
serious thing that we were doing, he says. Grinning, he adds, With
my father, it took, like, two more years.
Cirque du Soleil expanded, betting everything it had on a show called
Cirque Réinventéthe story of normal people entering a mystical
alternate reality where they join a circusthat premiered at the Los
Angeles Arts Festival. It was a gamble: Laliberté and company had only
enough money for one-way tickets to California. If they failed, theyd
be hitchhiking back to Canada.
In the end, they couldve flown home first class. Cirque Réinventé
sold out throughout southern California before traveling the globe for
three years. In 1993 the Treasure Island Hotel opened in Las Vegas
with a theater dedicated to Cirque du Soleil. The next year Cirques
revenues hit $30 million. Two years later, they were $110 million. By
the early 2000s, the circus was putting on five different shows a
night in Sin City and had permanent spots in Disney World, China and
Japan. Sponsors like American Express and AT&T lined up to partner
with the upscale acts, while merchandise like teapots and leather
jackets brought in millions.
When Laliberté sold Cirque in 2015, 10 million people were seeing its
shows each year. Cirque employed 4,000 peoplemore than, say, Airbnb
or Hasbroand brought in $845 million in revenue.
The scale was huge, the acts were repetitive and Laliberté was growing
tired. He tried to find a buyer in Montreal but ended up making a deal
with TPG Capital, a San Francisco private equity firm. In 2015, he
sold the bulk of Cirque, keeping 10% of the company and the right to
be involved in Cirques creative decisions. What next? I gave myself
an objective: I really was missing performing as an artist. When I
started Cirque, I pretty much gave up performing. Its really
something that I wanted to live again, he says.
The sale left him with a great deal of moneyand a great deal of time
to think about what he wanted to do. Laliberté bought hundreds of
millions in real estatea French Polynesian island, a 270,000-square-
foot complex of seven Montreal office buildingsand bought works by
the likes of conceptual artist Jenny Holzer. He parked some money in
green startups such as FoodHero and some in digital marketing
companies like HelloStrategy. (He declined to give details on
specifics investments.)
But he longed to do something truly creative. He thought about going
professional with his DJing hobby. In November 2016, he played his
first paid gig in New York. He wont say where he performedto save
the clubs reputation, he insists. Because when he went to cash the
$4,000 paycheck from the performance, the check bounced.
It really brought me back to my street-performer days, he says from
behind a haze of Gauloises Blondes cigarette smoke. Theres no way
those people were getting away with not paying me.
Okay. Maybe not DJing. Laliberté thought about it a little longer,
pondering how to create another Cirque-type spectacle that would take
advantage of the significant advancements in technology since Cirques
creation. Whatever he built, he wanted it to be able to morph as he
thought more about what could work. I wanted to create a sandbox to
grow creatively for the next ten, fifteen years, he says.
What would that sandbox look like? For centuries, dome-shaped venues
have been the preferred spaces for immersive technology. That seemed
too obvious. We wanted to do it in a shape that is different, he
says, an espresso now in his hands. His mind went to the pyramids, a
spiritual symbol revered around the world.
Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, which entomb the dead, Lalibertés
pyramid courses with life. The theater is equipped with massive
screens, 126 speakers, 32 projectors, 948 lights and 39 lasers.
Theres a smoke machine, too, and a bubble machine. Its first show,
Through the Echoes is itself a celebration of life. The hour-long
performance tells the story of the Earths creation from the Big Bang
to the rise of mankind. Laliberté calls it a technological and
emotional odyssey. Its very reminiscent of when I first started
with Cirque, says Michael Anderson, the pyramids production
director, who began working with Cirque du Soleil in the mid-1990s.
Only today we have more money.
Through the Echoes is a loosely told narrative, and audience members
experience it by lying on the floor, heads on pillows. Visually it
feels like being inside a lava lamp. Laser beams flash, and organic,
abstract images project onto all four sides of the pyramid. In one
moment the pyramid seems to be transformed into the Milky Way. In
another its lit up in flames before becoming a futuristic garden. The
soundtrackat some moments soft, in others, intensematches the
images.
I always want to create things that have not been done, Laliberté
says. The pyramid
will be what the blue-and-yellow big top was for
Cirque du Soleil.
Each pyramid is expected sell about 200,000 tickets (for $21 to $45
each) during a shows three-month run just for the daytime
performances. The DJ-led eventson Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundayscan bring far more, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars each
night. Laliberté imagines the space as a home for fitness, yoga or
meditation classes in the morning, and shows there should be less
costly to put on than Cirque with its many performers and, in the case
of the Michael Jackson circus show, royalty fees. Meanwhile, another
part of Lune Rouge, the pyramids parent company, is figuring out how
to turn the ideas behind the shows at the pyramid into other media
everything from comic books and podcasts to video games and TV shows.
Im not stupid. I evaluate danger, but I trust life is good, says
Laliberté, taking a long drag on his Gauloises. And I trust that
theres intelligence behind a decision were making, and if you want
to be a game-changer, you just have to take risks.
------------------------------------------------------------
Jean David's Quel Cirque, Part 9: "A Little Farther West"
A Special Series Celebrating Cirque's 35th Anniversary
------------------------------------------------------------
Today a consultant in creativity and event marketing, Jean David was
one of the pioneers of Cirque du Soleil, where he led the marketing
department for 15 years (from 1984-1999), introducing the magic of the
Grand Chapiteau to the whole world. During his tenure, David
distinguished himself through innovative methods by commercializing
the Big Top and introducing its magic to other cultures on four
continents.
A man of vision but also a determined entrepreneur, Jean David acted
as Vice President of Entertainment, Sales & Marketing at the WYNN
Hotel in Las Vegas before moving to India for 18 months, where he led
a pre-feasibility study for the creation of an innovative project: the
Mumbai International Creative Center, an international resort centered
around the theme of creativity.
In his 2005 book - "Quel Cirque!" ("What a Cirque!") - David offered
his views on leadership and revealed the innovative qualities that
contributed to Cirque du Soleil's enormous success in marketing,
management, creation and exploration. There was only one problem... it
was written in his native French. Thankfully, David himself translated
and web-published an English-language version of his book and we've
collected the relevant Cirque-related chapters for this 12-part
series.
Jean David's "Quel Cirque" is a fantastic read and as Cirque du Soleil
celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, we thought this would be
the perfect year to share these texts with you. So, without further
ado, Quel Cirque!
# # #
A fascinating nation with a rich culture, Japan was eager to have us.
In the autumn of 1987, Japanese producers were flocking to the big top
in Los Angeles. But it took a few years for us to cut a deal. Fuji
Television, the countrys biggest private TV network, became our
privileged partner. The media giant had vast experience in producing
shows of all sorts: variety, opera, and theater. The Japanese cant
get enough of big American-style shows. And Fuji television
capitalizes on their viewers interest. Ever innovative, Fuji saw
Cirque du Soleil as a golden opportunity.
It was the beginning of a long-term partnership. During the early
negotiations, I must admit we were a little apprehensive. You cant
help being impressed by the Japanese. Their culture is so different
from ours that at first it can throw you for a loop. We teamed up with
Fuji on a number of productions and co-productions in the 1990s. And
they were mega-projects: astronomical costs, multiple shows and
gargantuan operations.
During that time, we had numerous dealings involving untold hours of
meetings where decorum resembled protocol more than anything else.
These marathon negotiations played out like a big game in which the
ground rules are supposedly set. Everything is established, the major
themes are agreed upon, the roles are clearly defined, the order of
discussions is pre-synchronized, and if youre patient and determined,
youll probably manage to have a say about the next meetings agenda.
Sometimes, the negotiations reached a dead end. Many a time, our
Japanese colleagues would give a firm no to our requests. Then in
the evening, leaving the bar, theyd freely concede that we were
absolutely right and that theyd ok our conditions. The next morning,
it was scene one, take two, and their answer was a categorical no.
It was pointless to remind them that only a few hours before, theyd
told us we were right: It would have been impolite! But the Japanese
are absolutely delightful. They have a great sense of humor when you
get used to it
Often, they give the impression that things are more
complicated than they really are. Maybe, its because they prefer
settling things among themselves in their own way. They take great
care to make sure that no one loses face.
I find different cultures fascinating. To me, a foreign language
represents a different perspective on life, another way of seeing the
world. In The Hidden Dimension, author Edward T. Hall explains that
people from different cultures, not only speak different languages
but, more importantly, inhabit different sensory worlds. I agree
completely.
Over the years, I have participated in meetings and negotiations in a
wide variety of countries. I have had two fascinating linguistic
experiences that were really rather similar. Both cases involved
intense business negotiations: once with Japanese partners and another
time with German colleagues. The conditions were the same: marathon
negotiations that had been going on for 48 hours. The stakes were
high. Everything had to be crystal clear; each dot and comma would
count.
In the first case, my Japanese counterparts started talking things
over among themselves. I could sense that there was a
misunderstanding; I felt they were misinterpreting what I had said. So
I interrupted them and explained that there was a problem of
interpretation: what they were discussing was not exactly what I had
said. Then I rephrased my remarks. They were stunned. Some of them
were convinced I understood Japanese.
The same situation occurred one day in Nuremburg with a group of
German businessmen. Of course, I dont speak Japanese or German. What
I picked up was the body language. I used my intuition. It was a
question of attention and interest.
Place Your Bets!
----------------
Playing in Las Vegas wasnt just a pipedream. The resounding success
our show registered in California in 1987, made some people consider
the possibility of setting up our big top in Las Vegas. But it wasnt
until the early 1990s, that serious negotiations got underway with
Caesars Palace. It was a very complex process indeed. There were many
difficulties to iron out: the idea of a permanent show in the city was
a fascinating and innovative concept, but there were many unknowns.
Vegas casinos were old hands at producing all kinds of shows.
Typically, they presented superstars who cost them a small fortune.
Nevertheless, their investment in entertainment permitted them to draw
hordes of customers who were tempted to try their luck at the gambling
tables, and thats where the casinos make their money. So
entertainment had always had a privileged place in Las Vegas. Now
there was a real need in the city for something new.
Las Vegas wanted to reposition itself to attract a family clientele.
Baby-boomers had contributed to Vegas development. Theyd settled
down, married, and had children, but they hadnt lost their taste for
gambling. Casinos had to offer them a new, modern product, fresh
entertainment and something that would excite every member of the
family. Cirque du Soleil, with its innovative shows, was just what the
market needed. And Caesars management was intrigued.
In fact, if Cirque du Soleils was a permanent fixture, total
production costs could be amortized over a few years, making the
investment extremely appealing. With 60% occupancy rates, it was even
possible to foresee realizing a profit, a rather uncommon phenomenon
in the Las Vegas entertainment scene. But the long months of
negotiations between Caesars and Cirque ended abruptly. A few hours
before the deal was sealed, Caesars management walked away. They
probably thought the project too risky. For one of the worlds most
famous gambling establishments, it was hardly a case of leading by
example.
Yet, the negotiations had been the talk of the town. The entire
community was aware that the deal had fallen through. So Steve Wynn,
who headed the Mirage Group, called to say that he wanted to see us.
The meeting was held in Toronto where the Cirque had a show at the
time. In a matter of hours we mapped out a very simple arrangement.
The Mirage Group would build a hotel, the Treasure Island Hotel,
scheduled to open in 1993. It would set up a magnificent performance
space that met our technical requirements. In return, we undertook to
produce a show exclusively for that venue. Cirque du Soleil and Mirage
agreed on an investment recovery mechanism for each party, royalty
payments and profit sharing. The contract was finalized in the weeks
that followed.
It was the start of an enduring and profitable partnership. The
premiere of our new production Mystère left the spectators enchanted.
Steve Wynn, a man of courage and foresight, received a standing
ovation for making the whole thing possible. Scarcely three months
after the show debuted, all ten performances a week sold out.
The residents of the city were very proud. Finally, a true show with
true emotions. And they werent afraid to express their feelings to
anyone whod listen. Guy Laliberté liked to say wed planted a flower
in the desert. Mystère embodied to perfection the transformation of
Las Vegas. The show gave definite meaning to the towns desire for
renewal, which had started out as nothing but a gigantic marketing
operation.
From the outset, the Mirage and Cirque teams underwent many
adjustments. The companies had very different corporate cultures,
which were not incompatible but extremely different. Many times I had
to iron things out with my opposite numbers Allen Feldman and John
Schadler. The success and good will displayed by both parties was an
excellent recipe for building a trusting relationship.
At a press conference announcing the partnership, Steve Wynn detailed
the remarkable things he intended to accomplish with us and spoke at
length about the many millions of dollars in profit that he expected
to make in this relationship. Mirage was listed on the stock exchange,
and he loved to impress his shareholders. His firm stood in stark
contrast to us, a private enterprise, which had received tens of
millions of dollars in government grants.
Cirque du Soleil was somewhat reticent about publicly revealing this
kind of information. With the announcement of the project, many people
feared we would lose our soul at the gambling tables. But I knew that
Las Vegas would receive us with open arms. We werent changing the way
we did shows; we were just furthering our development.
After wed played before full houses for a few years, Las Vegas knew
entertainment could be a moneymaking enterprise. This was a mini-
revolution. And Steve Wynn had other plans. He intended to build Le
Bellagio, a hotel with a performance space tailored to Cirque du
Soleil. We were encouraged to be even more creative, to imagine the
unimaginable. The hotel project included a water theme, which was
incorporated into the new show. On stage, there was a volume of water
equivalent to three Olympic-sized swimming pools. So, for the most
expensive hotel in the world, we created O, the most magnificent show
in the world.
Cirque du Soleil transformed the face of Las Vegas. It helped change
the way things were done. It set new standards in business
partnerships and raised the bar as to the kind and quality of shows
presented. Now MGM, Caesars and Wynn Resorts rival one another in
staging shows of superior class. All the mega-projects by the three
groups have been created by Cirque du Soleil or the team headed by
former Cirque du Soleil director Franco Dragone. Apparently Americans
love winning formulas.
=======================================================================
COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
=======================================================================
Fascination! Newsletter
Volume 19, Number 9 (Issue #188) - September 2019
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (C)
2001-2019 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., All Rights
Reserved. No copyright infringement intended.
{ Sep.11.2019 }
=======================================================================
