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Fascination Issue 206
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T h e U n o f f i c i a l
C i r q u e d u S o l e i l N e w s l e t t e r
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http://www.CirqueFascination.com
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VOLUME 21, NUMBER 3 March 2021 ISSUE #206
=======================================================================
Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial
Cirque du Soleil Newsletter.
The only big news since last we spoke is Cirque's announcement that
it plans to re-launch its shows in the United States with "O" in
Las Vegas first, followed quickly by Mystère. Details about the re-
launch have yet to be released. Meanwhile, check the article within
from the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the announcement. So there's
light at the end of the tunnel! Hopefully we'll see Cirque du Soleil
shows re-start (beyond JOYA in Mexico and The Land of Fantasy in
China)! Also within is the conclusion to our "What Ifs and If Onlys"
series. Enjoy!
/----------------------------------------------------\
| |
| Join us on the web at: |
| < www.cirquefascination.com > |
| |
| Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): |
| < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > |
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\----------------------------------------------------/
- Ricky "Richasi" Russo
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CONTENTS
===========
o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
* La Presse -- General News & Highlights
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
* "What Ifs and If Onlys, Part 7 of 7"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
o) Copyright & Disclaimer
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CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
***************************************************************
LA PRESSE -- General News & Highlights
***************************************************************
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"O" To Return July 4th!
{Feb.28.2021}
----------------------------------------------------------
The fuse has been excruciatingly long, spanning the globe and
smoldering for more than a year. But Cirque du Soleil is eager to set
off a firecracker on the Fourth of July by reopening its long-running
aquatic hit "O" on the Las Vegas Strip.
"I think at this point, we feel we need to draw a line in the sand
because of the amount of time it would require for us to return to
work, given the complexity of our shows and the physical performance,
getting our artists back in the show in ready condition," Cirque
Senior Vice President Eric Grilly said in a phone interview Thursday.
"We're planning to open this summer. I'm being hopeful. I would love
to open by July 4th weekend."
Grilly, who was named to his executive role in Cirque in November
2019, confirmed the tentative order of progression of reopening would
be "O" at Bellagio, followed by "Mystere" at Treasure Island, then a
still-to-be-determined procession of "Love" at The Mirage, "Michael
Jackson One" at Mandalay Bay, and "Ka" at MGM Grand.
Starting in July, a Cirque show would open every month, roughly,
through the end of 2021.
To conceive this reopening plan, Grilly has worked with MGM Resorts
International execs, led by that company's president of entertainment
and sports, George Kliavkoff, and the management team at Treasure
Island.
"With MGM Resorts, I think we're very much aligned that O' will be
the first show that we relaunch with them," Grilly said. "And our
partnership and Treasure Island has expressed great interest in the
return of Mystere,' so we've sort of identified those two shows that
would be the first that would reopen
We presented a staggered
approach to opening the shows, but we really don't have a schedule
beyond that."
Cirque theaters would likely be at reduced capacity with spaced
seating for social-distancing requirements. But the shrunken houses
would not be a deal killer for Cirque shows. Company CEO Daniel
Lamarre and Kliavkoff have both said Cirque could run its Strip shows
at 50 percent, and still edge into the black.
In its reopening template, the first Cirque holding to return to the
stage might not be traditional Cirque show. It's conceivable Blue Man
Group, which Cirque owns, could be back onstage at Luxor even before
"O" arrives.
"I would be remiss not to add, our actual first show that could reopen
could be Blue Man Group," Grilly said. The show plays to a customized
theater across from the second-floor Atrium Showroom at Luxor. For it
to return, the troublesome 25-foot moat would need to be removed in
place of a 6- or 12-foot distance between the performers and audience.
Grilly's Las Vegas Entertainment Creators Council and Las Vegas Events
President Pat Christenson's Vegas COVID-19 Events Committee have been
lobbying Clark County officials and the state's Covid Task Force to
amend that directive. They are likely to meet that end on May 1, when
enforcement of pandemic protocols in Nevada hotel-casinos shifts from
the governor's COVID emergency directive, to the state Gaming Control
Board and (on the Strip) the Clark County Commission.
Artistically, Cirque performers and technicians would require about
eight to 10 weeks to return to the stage. Artists and techs in a show
as intricately staged and choreographed as "O," for starters, can't
just be called back and expected to immediately perform safely. That
is the case even though Grilly says about 95 percent of the company's
artists have remained in Las Vegas and have been training throughout
the COVID shutdown.
"We're calling back artists into our theaters in March, to do physical
assessments for those acts that have specific apparatuses, so that
will give us a good sense of physical conditioning," Grilly said.
"That could influence, and probably will influence, our current
thinking around rehearsal time."
Grilly was previously CEO of VStar Entertainment, taking his post with
Cirque after the company snapped up all VStar's productions (including
"Sesame Street Live" and "Barney & Friends"). He was barely in place
before COVID shut down the entire worldwide Cirque operation. The six
Cirque shows on the Strip were halted March 14, with the company
laying off 3,500 employees over 44 international shows. That includes
some 1,370 artists, technicians and support staff in Las Vegas.
In November, Cirque permanently shut down "Zumanity," which had run
for 17 years at New York-New York. A couple weeks later, a new
investment team formally took control of the company. The group's $375
million investment has effectively kept Cirque afloat.
The relationship between the new Cirque and MGM Resorts International
is not quite the same as pre-pandemic, as there is no guarantee Cirque
will realize its hopes of bringing a new show to New York-New York.
And MGM Resorts has other plans for Luxor Theater, where Cirque held a
long partnership with the magician Criss Angel and attempted the $64
million, graphic-novel inspired production "R.U.N," which closed less
than a week before Cirque's company-wide shutdown.
But for Cirque, the news is brighter entering this spring than at any
point in the past year. Grilly says there is "definitely" a
celebration centered on the 15-year anniversary of "Love" this year,
which would be a boffo event after the lingering shutdown.
"I got a card from the cast and crew of Love' the other day, thanking
us, myself and the team for our efforts to return the performances,"
Grilly said. "It's contagious to see the love that these folks have,
and the passion they have for their art and for their shows. I feel
honored to be a part of it."
{ SOURCE: John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Review-Journal }
----------------------------------------------------------
"Viva Nos Divas" Delayed, Again"
{Mar.09.2021}
----------------------------------------------------------
In an announcement that should surprise no one, Cirque du Soleil has
announced another delay in its summer concert series at Aphithéâtre
Cogeco in Trois-Rivières. Originally slated for Summer 2020, then
delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19, has again been delayed. From the
announcement:
"Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken strict
measures to protect our work teams and viewers. Our priority
has always been and remains the health and safety of all. Given
the uncertainty regarding the conditions regarding the
presentation of cultural activities this summer, we are forced
to announce that the show Vive nos Divas - Tribute to the great
female voices of Quebec - will now be given from July 13 to
August 13, 2022.
Ticket holders are urged to support local events and keep their
tickets as they will be honored in the upcoming season. More info
about how the postponement works will also come via email.
{ SOURCE: Amphithéâtre Cogeco }
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
{Alegria, Bazzar, Koozå, Kurios, Luzia, Totem, Under the
Same Sky, and Volta}
o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues
{OVO, Crystal, Corteo, AXEL, Messi10}
o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre
{Mystère, "O", KÀ, LOVE, MJ ONE, JOYA, X: The Land
of Fantasy, and Drawn to Life}
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-In a New Light:
Not Currently Scheduled
Bazzar:
Not Currently Scheduled
Koozå:
Washington, DC -- Jul 21, 2021 to Sep 19, 2021
Kurios:
Rome, IT -- Mar 16, 2022 to Apr 22, 2022
Milan, IT -- May 4, 2022 to Jun 19, 2022
Luzia:
Madrid, ES -- TBA
Barcelona, ES -- TBA
Totem:
Rome, IT -- Mar 17 2021 to Apr 25, 2021
Milan, IT -- May 5, 2021 to Jun 20, 2021
Under the Same Sky:
Montreal, QC -- Spring 2022
VOLTA:
Not Currently Scheduled
------------------------------------
ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues
------------------------------------
OVO:
Not Currently Scheduled
CRYSTAL - A BREAKTHROUGH ICE EXPERIENCE:
Hanover, DE -- Sep 22, 2021 - Sep 26, 2021
Leipzip, DE -- Sep 29, 2021 - Oct 3, 2021
Nuremberg, DE -- Oct 6, 2021 - Oct 10, 2021
Cologne, DE -- Oct 13, 2021 - Oct 17, 2021
Oberhausen, DE -- Oct 27, 2021 - Oct 31, 2021
Munich, DE -- Nov 4, 2021 - Nov 7, 2021
Frankfurt, DE -- Nov 10, 2021 - Nov 14, 2021
Stuttgart, DE -- Dec 1, 2021 - Dec 5, 2021
CORTEO:
Lille, FR -- Jun 10, 2021 to Jun 13, 2021
Antwerp, BE -- Jun 17, 2021 to Jun 27, 2021
Nice, FR -- Aug 19, 2021 to Aug 22, 2021
Vienna, AU -- Sep 1, 2021 to Sep 5, 2021
Aix-en-Provence, FR -- Oct 27, 2021 to Oct 31, 2021
Monpellier, FR -- Nov 4, 2021 to Nov 7, 2021
Copenhagen, DE -- Jan 13, 2022 to Jan 16, 2022
Helsinki, FI -- Jan 27, 2022 to Jan 30, 2022
Stockholm, SE -- Feb 3, 2022 to Feb 6, 2022
Trondheim, NO -- Feb 18, 2022 to Feb 20, 2022
Oslo, NO -- Feb 24, 2022 to Feb 27, 2022
Vilnius, LT -- Mar 17, 2022 to Mar 20, 2022
Moscow, RU -- Apr 8, 2022 to May 16, 2022
Saint Petersburg, RU -- May 20, 2022 to May 29, 2022
Dublin, IR -- Jun 30, 2022 to Jul 10, 2022
London, UK -- Jul 13, 2022 to Jul 17, 2022
Palma de Mallorca, ES -- Aug 5, 2022 to Aug 14, 2022
Leeds, UK -- Oct 27, 2022 to Oct 30, 2022
AXEL:
Not Currently Scheduled
Messi10:
Not Currently Scheduled
---------------------------------
RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre
---------------------------------
JOYÀ:
Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Shows restarted on July 3, 2020
X: THE LAND OF FANTASY
Location: Hangzhou, China
Performances of "X: The Land of Fantasy" staged on
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting June 3, 2020
=======================================================================
OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS
=======================================================================
o) CIRQUECONNECT SPECIALS
Enjoy a front-row seat to awe-inspiring moments of the larger-
than-life shows, with never-before seen angles that can only be
experienced on your screen.
- SPECIAL #40: SPOTLIGHT ON VOLTA {Feb.12}
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1qnw0bYJEc
- SPECIAL #41: SPOTLIGHT ON CRYSTAL {Feb.26}
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u9NANaHutg
- SPECIAL #42: SPOTLIGHT ON AMALUNA {Mar.12}
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J-tr6kE0i0
o) CIRQUECLASS - ELENA LEV
Learn from the master of the hula hoops, Elena Lev, as she
explains what being a circus performer is all about. Elena Lev,
one of Cirque du Soleil's iconic performers, started her career
as a circus performer at the age of 12 when she first joined the
show Alegría. She is wildly known for her signature acts which
combine the art of hula hoops with gymnastics and contortion.
Elena is a seasoned performer, having toured the world with
some of Cirque du Soleil's most famous productions, including
Saltimbanco and Quidam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWYvWZ3h3ns
=======================================================================
FASCINATION! FEATURES
=======================================================================
------------------------------------------------------------
"What Ifs and If Onlys, Part 7 of 7"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
------------------------------------------------------------
Over the years Cirque du Soleil has announced or was rumored to be
working on a wide variety of interesting advancements beyond circus
shows, their traditional core product. Some of these new opportunities
were in the realm of music, some in television, some as new experience
concepts, and some in the realm of... say what?!
Back when we were approaching our 100th issue (in 2012, gosh, has it
really been eight years?), I thought about all the quotes, blurbs, and
past announcements we covered in Fascination of new products, venues,
or avenues of adventure the Cirque intended to explore. I wondered
which of these came to fruition and which had quietly remained hidden
behind the curtain at Cirque HQ in Montreal. I uncovered many examples
in my search through our news archives - some that had come readily to
mind while others I had completely forgotten about, and couldn't wait
to touch on further - and then organized those findings into a three-
part celebratory series leading up to Fascination's publication
milestone.
In Part One of that series, we explored a number of rumors and
announcements regarding "permanent" or "resident" shows made through
the years that didn't pan out. In Part Two, we examined announced
and/or rumored media potentials from the company from filmed shows
and books to new music CDs many of which never saw the light of day.
And in Part Three, we explored what could have been in regards to
projects beyond Cirque du Soleil's traditional space entertainment
and media and dove into the realm of other experiences Cirque
attempted to provide. It was a satisfying look back at what could have
been from Cirque du Soleil, if only...
As we began to approach our 200th issue I began to ponder those "what
ifs" and "if onlys" again and wondered: would it be interesting to
revisit that original idea and present new findings on old and new
topics alike? Turns out... yes! And we've organized these findings
into a new seven-part series that mixes together announcements of new
show concepts and/or places that Cirque wanted to set up residence, to
projects for the large and small screen, to experiences and other
oddities that were announced but didn't quite come to fruition. So,
without further ado, here's the final set of items that announced but
then quietly disappeared over the years.
ON THE BIG SCREEN
-----------------
Most of us know that Cirque du Soleil produced "World's Away 3D" in
2012 for the big screen. Many know that the company also produced
"Journey of Man" in 2000 for the IMAX screen. Fewer still remember
1999's art-film "Alegria: Le Film" by Franco Dragone. But did you know
that there was a much earlier attempt at bringing Cirque du Soleil to
the big screen?
The first inkling that a deal with Hollywood producers to bring Cirque
du Soleil's magic to the big screen occurred on March 15, 1988; the
Ottawa Citizen published a small passage confirming "after weeks of
negotiations and fielding offers, offbeat Quebec circus Le Cirque du
Soleil has sold film rights to Columbia Pictures." There was no word
on how the drama and art of the aerialists, clowns, jugglers, and
cyclists would be translated to the screen, but a Columbia
representative said, "The movie will not be presented as a concert
picture." A few days later, on March 26th, the Montreal Gazette helped
fill in some more details.
Normand Latourelle, the Cirque's vice-president and general manager,
said the Coca-Cola subsidiary made an offer it could not refuse - to
produce a movie as unique as the Cirque itself. "It will be part
performance, part high tech," he said, "but with a love story as
well."
The film is a personal project of Dawn Steel, president of
Columbia Pictures, who has seen the troupe perform many times.
Steel was so enthralled with Cirque she bought out both of the
troupe's shows [on March 27th] and plans to share the magic with
thousands of Columbia employees, their families and her friends.
Steel says she doesn't want to make just another concert-type
film about the Montreal group, but a romantic thriller set under
the big top. She doesn't have to look any further. From the
moment the performance begins in dense fog, the audience is
transported into a web of magic complete with rainbow-colored
costumes and electronic space age music.
Capturing the daredevil showmanship of Cirque on film will be a
feat in itself, Latourelle said. "We want our film to do what
Flashdance did for dance - dazzle the people." There are rumors
Steven Spielberg will direct the movie, although a Columbia
spokesman said no one is officially attached to the project. And
although spokesmen refused to divulge figures for the deal, the
average cost of making a Hollywood movie today is $17 million.
According to Latourelle, profits from the movie deal will be used
to improve the show - bring in new acts, buy new equipment and
get back on the road. But the troupe won't see that money for
quite a while. The movie needs to be written before the cameras
can roll, and the strike by the Writers Guild needs to end before
than can happen.
Unfortunately, nothing happened. On September 11, 1989, The Ottawa
Citizen announced that the movie was not going to happen. Not only was
development of the script delayed due to the 1988 Writer's Strike, "We
couldn't go along with Columbia on questions of merchandising and
control of the feature story," circus spokesman Jean Heon reported.
But the Cirque movie idea lives on, Heon added. "There is definitely
interest elsewhere." Hélène Dufresne, president of Cirque du Soleil's
sister production company, Télémagik, said that plans now call for in-
house development of the film story -- and a future partnership with
another production company. "We want to keep as artistically involved
as possible," she said. "After all, this is our life." But, as we
know, a tell-all film about the life-and-times of Cirque du Soleil did
not happen. Cirque du Soleil has gone on record in the past stating
this deal had given Columbia Pictures too much influence, in
attempting to secure all rights to the production itself. Laliberté
and Gauthier pulled out before it could be concluded, keeping Cirque
du Soleil independent. (Consequently, Guy Laliberté has expressed that
experience stands out as a key reason why Cirque remained independent
and privately owned for 30 years.)
And yet that hasn't stopped Cirque du Soleil from exploring projects
for the big screen. On May 21, 2019, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment
Group announced a partnership with Rideback (producer of premium film
and television content) to develop feature length movies inspired by
the Cirque du Soleil creative catalogue. "This partnership aims to
both leverage Rideback's successful track record of transforming
premium IP to the movie screen and, via continued diversification of
content offering, increase the opportunities for a global audience to
enjoy the Cirque du Soleil universe," the release stated.
"Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is synonymous with high
quality entertainment, regardless of the brand or product
category. For us, the movie business is a logical progression
for ongoing portfolio expansion, and Rideback is the perfect
partner to embark on this journey," said Daniel Lamarre,
president and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
"Rideback is known for its ability to penetrate the movie
industry with quality content. I look forward to the endless
creative opportunities that will emerge by providing access to
the immense Cirque du Soleil library of characters and
storylines."
"Cirque du Soleil has enchanted millions of people around the
globe through soul-stirring artistry and journeys of the
imagination that are Cirque du Soleil hallmarks. Their expansion
into movies creates a one-of-a-kind, frontier opportunity to
develop entirely new narrative features driven by the awe-
inspiring worlds they have created," said Dan Lin, founder and
CEO of Rideback. Lin continued, "We're thrilled to partner with
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, as we feel uniquely
positioned to share in their mission. We built Rideback on an
ethos of empowering storytellers, opening doors for a broader
mix of voices, and helping creators feel free to take risks and
explore new ideas. We think our unique development environment
will help Cirque du Soleil unlock exciting new stories waiting
to be told on the big screen."
Of course, the COVID-19 Pandemic has put the brakes on everything at
Cirque du Soleil, but we'd be surprised if anything ever comes from
this deal.
CIRQUE DU CASINOS
-----------------
Cities like London, Paris, New York City, Beijing, Singapore, Moscow,
and Berlin are oft mentioned as ideal markets for Cirque du Soleil to
launch a resident show in, and for a time there might be plans and an
announcement to do just that (like the 2015/2016 discussions about
cloning shows, like LOVE in London, ZUMANITY in Berlin, "O" in
Shanghai, or the cloning of Michael Jackson ONE and KA in other
markets), or the realization that JOYA created "many, many requests"
from developers to host similar version of the dinner-show concept in
places like Hawaii, Brazil, and elsewhere, only for those plans never
to be spoken of again. Toronto isn't usually a city mentioned in that
list of potential Cirque residences. But back in 1994, when Steve Wynn
and Mirage Resorts came to Vancouver to pitch an elegant but "value-
added" Las Vegas-style resort for the city, he also half-pitched an
idea for a similar development in Toronto, though it was not taken too
seriously. Two decades later, a September 2012 blurb from the Toronto
Star changed everything.
The Toronto Star reports that MGM Resorts International has
pledged to include the Montreal-based troupe in its casino,
provided it gets the go-ahead from Ontario Lottery and Gaming
Corp. There are still two big barriers to cross. OLG has not yet
decided which company will get its Toronto contract, and the
Toronto City Council has not yet voted to allow a casino in the
city. "Our colleagues at Cirque would love to have a permanent
home in Toronto. They see, as we do, this incredible
cosmopolitan global destination, one that would work very well
for them," says Alan Feldman, MGM's senior vice president of
public affairs. He says the casino could include a circus
theatre and/or a Cirque-themed nightclub.
Cirque du Soleil public relations director Renée Claude-Ménard even
confirmed the story with the Montreal Gazette. "If MGM obtains
something in Toronto," she said, "we have confirmed that we would be
their entertainment content provider. What it will be will be
determined at a later date, but yes, we have of course confirmed our
interest to our partner MGM." And that's all we heard of the project
until the plans were made public - to mixed reviews - the following
March:
MGM Resorts International and its partner Cadillac Fairview is
proposing to build a casino complex, complete with a shopping
mall, a 1,200-room hotel, and a permanent home for Cirque du
Soleil on the grounds of Exhibition Place at a cost of up to $4
billion. The proposal is one of several received by the city in
the last few months in advance of an April council vote on the
controversial issue of allowing a casino to be built within the
city.
At the unveiling of the most recent plan, the senior vice-
president of public affairs at MGM Resorts touted economic
benefits of the company's proposal. A model was presented at the
unveiling, though journalists were not allowed to photograph it.
The massive three-million-square-foot complex would bring 10,000
new, unionized jobs with an average salary of $60,000 plus
5,000 construction jobs during an estimated three years of
development and millions of dollars in city revenue, said Alan
Feldman.
Other features include a 10,000-spot underground parking lot, an
enhancement to the Molson Amphitheatre that would create a
Canadian Music Hall of Fame at Ontario Place and 10 restaurants
overlooking Lake Ontario. The Canadian National Exhibition would
be moved closer to the water, Feldman said. "We're looking for a
way to take the variety of the wonderful assets that are on
Exhibition Place and Ontario Place, and weave them together into
a whole that can help to energize this space year-round," he
said.
MGM Resorts International even stepped up its public-relations
campaign, launching a website to convince Torontonians of the supposed
benefits of a casino development in their city. The website, MGM
Toronto, showed the gates of Exhibition Place underneath a detailed
description of the MGM's "vision" for an "integrated resort
destination." However one observer in the theatre sector is not
convinced the Cirque du Soleil proposal would actually come off.
Wayne Leung, Managing Editor of the Toronto-based Mooney on Theatre
website, said: "The second part of Feldman's statement that the
project could be a nightclub "or something", has some precedent.
Cirque has moonlighted in creating upscale ultra-lounge' nightclubs.
However, if you're making grandiose statements about bringing Cirque
du Soleil to the table as a partner for a casino-resort project
anything short of a full-fledge resident show would be an utter
disappointment. There's a key difference between MGM's Vegas property
and any potential Toronto casino. MGM owns its Vegas properties and
reaps all the revenue generated whereas they would only be a "private
operator" contracted to run the facility in Toronto and paid a set fee
for doing so by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. MGM would
be less likely to incur the financial risk of running a money-losing
show as a loss-leader if they don't directly benefit from the increase
in gaming revenue.
"This isn't the first time Cirque du Soleil has been down the path for
a downtown waterfront casino proposal in a Canadian city," Mr. Leung
added. "In 2005, Cirque was part of a partnership to build a new
resort facility for the Casino de Montréal in that city's Peel Street
Basin. Cirque pulled out of the project after the negative publicity
from the fierce public outcry against that project. This Toronto
project could be history repeating itself."
Alas, that April vote came and it did not go in MGM's favor.
Therefore, Cirque du Soleil's plans for Toronto were shelved and the
details thereof placed firmly into their ever-growing archives of
unrealized concepts. This would not be the last time MGM Resorts
International would leverage their partnership with Cirque du Soleil
in this way.
In addition to Toronto's 2013 bid, MGM also wrapped Cirque du Soleil
into a concept for a casino-hotel project in Massachusetts.
Local Mayor Domenic Sarno has selected MGM Resorts International
as its preferred bidder for the Western Massachusetts casino
license axing a rival development from Penn National Gaming in
the process. The MGM proposal must now be supported by voters in
a referendum before being able to compete with proposals by
Mohegan Sun in Palmer and Hard Rock International for West
Springfield. The state gambling commission has the final say
over which company will get the state license with a decision
expected by February [2014].
In 2011 in introduced legislation allowing for three resort casino-
licenses, one in each of three regions of the state, and a license for
one slot hall, which can be developed anywhere. MGM's US$800m major
entertainment complex' in Springfield would include world-class
dining, retail and entertainment district on about 10 acres of land
heavily damaged by the June 2011 tornado in Downtown Springfield. It
would include a 25-story 250-room hotel with world-class amenities
including a spa, pool and roof deck; 89,000 square feet of gaming
space; about 70,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space that would
accommodate 15 shops and restaurants; and a multi-level parking
garage. The casino would house at least 3,000 slot machines and 75
game tables.
Alongside the competition in Western Massachusetts, three
companies are in the race to land a license in Boston casino and
four are competing for the slot license. MGM president Bill
Hornbuckle said: "MGM Resorts is very grateful to Mayor Sarno
and his team for the confidence they have placed in MGM and for
providing a respectful, rigorous and responsible process that
led us to this day. We are happy to celebrate this milestone
today, but we remain keenly aware that there is more work to do.
We look forward to the continued dialogue and engagement with
city officials and residents." Mayor Sarno offered, "We have
negotiated an agreement in which the citizens of Springfield are
the winners. This has been a long and thorough process. MGM
rolled up its sleeves and is ready to provide the city with a
great opportunity for a brighter and stronger future. I urge
the City Council to consider and ratify this encompassing
agreement."
He added that the MGM project offered the best package of economic
development and jobs to the city. If it won, MGM had said it would
definitely complete the project within 33 months, though Mr.
Hornbuckle said the development time could be quicker. If the license
was awarded in early 2014, MGM said it could open by 2016.
Mayor Sarno added: "The competition to win this coveted license is not
happening inside Springfield. It is happening throughout Western
Massachusetts. MGM Springfield has the unique characteristics to
satisfy the criteria set forth by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
A City of Springfield and MGM Resorts partnership creates the
strongest competitive edge for Springfield to win." Mr. Hornbuckle
added:"The Western Massachusetts license presents an extraordinary
opportunity for MGM, Springfield and the entire region. MGM
Springfield looks forward to presenting its vision to a larger
audience, and in the not too distant future, to calling Springfield
home."
Today there is an MGM Springfield resort, but there is no Cirque du
Soleil. Notice that Cirque du Soleil itself was not specifically
mentioned in the amenities list; however, it was included in the
materials and renderings used to pitch the project.
CIRQUE'S AMERICAN DREAM
-----------------------
Most of us know the story of Cirque du Soleil visiting the United
States for the first time, how the company took the biggest risk in
its history up to that point by agreeing to perform at the Los Angeles
Festival without the funds necessary for a return trip home. We know
the gamble paid off and Cirque du Soleil generated the buzz that made
them the must-see act of the 1987 Los Angeles Festival, or otherwise
we wouldn't be here today talking about them. But that's not what this
story is about. This is the story about a December 2014 announcement
that Cirque du Soleil would establish a permanent theater for Las
Vegas-style shows at the American Dream project in the Meadowlands.
So, wait, Cirque du Soleil at a mall... in New Jersey? Yep.
American Dream is a retail and entertainment project amidst the
Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, that has
had a long, sordid history of development. The project was first
proposed in 2003 by the Mills Corporation as the Meadowlands Xanadu,
with construction beginning in 2004. After the Mills Corporation's
bankruptcy in 2007, the project was taken over by Colony Capital. In
May 2009, construction stalled due to the bankruptcy of Lehman
Brothers. Triple Five Group announced intent to take over the mall in
May 2011, and on July 31, 2013, officially gained control of the mall
and the surrounding site. Their version of it was supposed to open in
2014, but after a series financing issues, construction delays, and
legal challenges, construction stopped again in December 2016. In late
June 2017, construction resumed after new financing had been secured,
but would still suffer a series of "chronically delayed" opening
dates, until finally opening its first phase on October 25, 2019.
But what does Cirque du Soleil have to do with all this? Triple Five,
the current developer of the project, was telling prospective tenants
in 2013 and 2014 that more than 50 major retailers had already
committed to renting space at American Dream. More than a dozen
restaurants and a permanent live-performance theater for Cirque du
Soleil were also being built, all according to a 67-page leasing
brochure they were passing around. But had Cirque du Soleil really
committed to this project?
A confirmation of sorts came from NYTIX in November 2015.
"Cirque du Soleil has signed on to perform up to 10 shows a week in
The American Dream's 1,500-seat theater," NYTIX reported, "but it
remains to be seen if CDS will be able to attract the 15,000 ticket
sales per week in a shopping mall location somewhat far off the beaten
track of Broadway in order to sustain such a show in the black." The
article went on to say that...
Although the final name for the Cirque du Soleil show in
development for the American Dream Mall has not yet been
announced, Cirque du Soleil has toyed with keeping the original
name of the mall site, namely Xanadu. This could be problematic,
however, because of the Broadway musical that shares that name.
Furthermore, Cirque du Soleil executives may find that it is a
big stretch to get the notoriously picky Manhattan-ites to take
the train out to Secaucus Junction to see this show. This leaves
just the residents of New Jersey who own cars as the potential
audience for this show, all 8.9 million of them. It remains
unclear if that will be enough tickets sold to sustain Cirque du
Soleil, let alone the whole mall. If the mall falters, Cirque du
Soleil could ultimately fail, because it is not clear who will
want to go and see a show in a "ghost mall" in the depths of New
Jersey. Triple Five is building out a dedicated theatre space
for Cirque du Soleil's show, so expect to see a mix of
entertaining land and water based acts, taking in the very best
of the Vegas shows and rolling them into one. It has also been
mentioned that they may opt to change the show every 18 months
with one of their traveling shows, keeping the content fresh and
innovative.
And then we heard nothing as construction for the mall was delayed
again and again and again, except that the show might be themed around
fashion in some way shape or form. We'd even heard that the show could
be musical in nature (think The Beatles LOVE, Viva Elvis, and MJ
Immortal), and themed around Madonna, David Bowie, or even Elton John.
By the time things were really starting to come together for the
complex, Cirque du Soleil bailed. And whatever the idea for the show
was got filed away.
But it doesn't really stop there.
In November 2017, the developers of the American Dream Meadowlands
proposed a $4 billion American Dream center in... Miami, Florida
(Northwest Miami-Dade to be exact. In addition to a projected 450
retailers, restaurants and services, entertainment options announced
at the time included the world's tallest indoor ski park, a skating
rink, indoor water park, aquarium, submarine ride, gardens, a multi-
screen luxury theater complex, an arts center for live performances
and, you guessed it, a permanent Cirque du Soleil installation. In
August 2019, a Cirque du Soleil spokesperson, somewhat cryptically,
called the reports "rumor and speculation." Though at one time these
announcements were more than just rumor, we can now just add them to
an ever-growing list of announced-but-never-happened shows.
AT THE ROYALMOUNT CENTRE?
-------------------------
According to a December 2017 CBC News article, Cirque du Soleil
spokesperson Marie-Hélène Lagacé confirmed it was interested in having
a "creative project on the site of Royalmount." But what was
Royalmount? Royalmount Centre was a massive new shopping and
entertainment complex proposal slated for the Town of Mount-Royal's
industrial sector, not far from the Da la Savane Metro station in
Montreal. CarbonLeo, the company that built Quartier Dix30, a shopping
centre and entertainment complex on Montreal's South Shore, was
undertaking the $1.7-billion project nestled at the junction of
Highways 15 and 40, earning it the nickname Quinze40. The 232,257-
square-metre complex was to feature a performing arts space with
seating for 3,000 people, a water park, an indoor cinema complex and
an outdoor cinema on the green roof. The mall would also house
restaurants, terraces, two hotels, an outdoor skating rink and office
space. The project was controversial as opponents suggested the new
center would multiply traffic and pollution in the area, and that it
would centralize business, hurting the local economy and mom-and-pop
shops, and discourage people from working and living in the city core.
Proponents looked at the opportunity to redevelop a section of the
city generally overlooked. In either case, the fact that Cirque du
Soleil was "interested" in having a creative project of some kind on
the site was newsworthy to us, alas, after that announcement we... you
guessed it... hadn't heard anything further. So what happened? Delay.
Looks like by December 2019 the project was approved, but there was no
mention of Cirque.
A CIRQUE DU SOLEIL... WATER PARK?
---------------------------------
Last, but certainly not least, is this headline. Yes, a water park. At
IAAPA Expo 2018 in Orlando, WhiteWater (a world leader in designing
and manufacturing complete water parks) announced it was partnering
with Cirque du Soleil to create a unique new water entertainment
concept:
Cirque du Soleil has created a unique water park entertainment
concept, consisting of 15-minute evening shows that take place
at the same attractions guests enjoyed during the day. The
productions will feature Cirque du Soleil performers and run a
few times every night, allowing guests to pick and choose which
ones they'd like to enjoy and in what order. "The result is a
water park that entertains visitors both in the day time and
after sun down," says Su Ann Quah of WhiteWater. "In the day,
visitors enjoy a range of thrilling and innovative water rides
and slides, while at night, they'll have the chance to
experience a completely transformed environment. The water park
morphs into a festive venue with music, specialty food and
drinks, and picturesque illuminated trails which intertwine the
main features of the evening program." She says that Cirque and
WhiteWater have crafted a concept that encourages repeat
visitors, and the lengthened operating hours increases revenue
while using the same infrastructure. "In essence, this
entertainment concept is the ideal anchor for premium global
destinations as it seamlessly complements hospitality, retail
and resort venues, which welcome guests at all hours of the
day."
WhiteWater asserted, the productions would serve as an ideal anchor
for waterparks as "it seamlessly compliments hospitality, retail, and
resort venues which would welcome guests at all hours of the day."
Martin Boudreau, president and executive producer of Cirque du
Soleil's Parks and Hospitality says "WhiteWater and Cirque due Soleil
have always pushed the limits of what we can do." He added that,
working together, the two companies will "redefine the waterpark
experience" through the attractions and entertainment added to the
venues.
WhiteWater's chief business and development officer, Paul Chutter
noted that the company was already in discussions with two parties
looking at the goal of franchising Cirque du Soleil parks at several
locations worldwide.
So far... well... you guessed it. Nothing else was said about the
concept. Though there is one thing to note... it looks very similar to
some of the original concepts for The Celebrate Project / Theme Park
Cirque du Soleil was building with Vidanta, but as I said before,
that's a different story for another time.
* * *
And there we have it. Quite an interesting and long list, was it not?
Even so, the projects discussed in this series were just the ones we
knew about, those that were leaked and/or rumored to be happening, had
semi-official announcements made regarding the company's attention
toward pursuing them, or were featured in the press in some form or
another. There is no doubt in my mind that there are dozens more
concepts and projects we don't even know about and will probably never
have the privilege of knowing about.
Alas... who knows what we'll uncover in the future?
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COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
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Fascination! Newsletter
Volume 21, Number 3 (Issue #206) March 2021
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (C)
2001-2021 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.
{ Mar.14.2021 }
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