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Fascination Issue 219
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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 23, NUMBER 4 June 2023 ISSUE #219
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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) Fascination! Features
* "THERE'S NOTHING LIKE MIXING A CIRQUE SHOW" - an
Exclusive Interview with David Wallace, head of
PLANS at Cirque du Soleil's "Drawn to Life" [Part 2 of 3]
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
* "LIFE IS A CIRCUS II: More Posts from the Cirque Blog"
By: Cirque's Artists, Editors, and More...
o) Copyright & Disclaimer
=======================================================================
CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
***************************************************************
LA PRESSE -- General News & Highlights
***************************************************************
----------------------------------------------------------
This Summer Cirque is Back in Andorra!
{May.12.2023}
----------------------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil celebrates ten years of collaboration with Andorra
with the creation of the new show FESTA, a show of impossible
acrobatics, music and great staging, which you can only see in
Andorra.
Cirque du Soleil invites you to check into extraordinary at FESTA,
a make-believe hotel in the heart of the Pyrenees mountains where
wonder and imagination come to play. With celebratory storytelling,
colourful characters and epic acrobatics, FESTA will draw you into
a world with no limits and leave you feeling uplifted like never
before while paying tribute to the vibrant beauty and culture of
Andorra. The festive story opens with the concierge, an endearingly
eccentric character who is taking a nap on his lunch break and
dreaming of love. With their boss distracted, the hotel staff get
busy planning a surprise party to mark the hotel's 10-year
anniversary. The arrival of the vacationers kicks off a colourful
and chaotic adventure, with the hotel team and guests coming
together in a feel-good celebration of friendship, life and love.
A great celebration where you'll relive some of the best acrobatics
that you've enjoyed over the past ten years awaits.
Cirque du Soleil's tent, which is fully covered, will be pitched in
the Prada Casadet communal car park in front of the government
building in the centre of Andorra la Vella, with several car parks
nearby. It will take place from Tuesday to Sunday, with a special
performance on Sunday, July 30. As usual, it lasts 1 hour and starts
at 10pm with animations scheduled before the start time. Take note
that since last year it has changed its location and is now located
in the Prada Casadet car park (in front of the administrative
building of the Government of Andorra).
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil, Visit Andorra }
----------------------------------------------------------
Copyright fight over hand-balancing
Cirque du Soleil act tossed back to lower court
{May.16.2023}
----------------------------------------------------------
Two brothers and two sisters will continue their hand-balancing act
copyright infringement battle in trial court after a Ninth Circuit
panel remanded the case for further proceedings.
Marco Paulo Rodrigues Lorador and Paulo Renato Rodrigues Lorador
performed for Cirque du Soleil for 23 years under the stage name the
Alexis Brothers. Their routine, "Peace and Discord," was registered as
choreography with the U.S. Copyright Office in 2003.
Cirque obtained a license for the work from the Alexis Brothers and
the routine was performed as part of the Cirque show until the onset
of Covid-19, which brought the curtain down on performances in early
2020.
When performances resumed in 2021, Cirque hired Michelle and Nicole
Kolev, performing under the stage name Kolev Sisters, in their own
hand-balancing act. The Alexis brothers had lost their jobs.
In the original complaint filed in federal court, the Alexis Brothers
claim that on July 27, 2021, the Kolev Sisters "debuted in the show,
occupying the portion of the show that the Alexis Brothers previously
occupied, and performing what was substantially a copy of the work."
The Alexis Brothers sued the Kolev Sisters, Cirque du Soleil and Las
Vegas resort Treasure Island claiming copyright infringement and moved
for a preliminary injunction, which a federal judge granted in part.
Both parties appealed to the Ninth Circuit.
In an unpublished per curiam memorandum issued Tuesday, a three-judge
Ninth Circuit panel said the trial court should have determined
whether the similarities in the works of choreography are protected by
copyright.
"Absent direct evidence of copying, proof of infringement involves
fact-based showings that the defendant had access to the plaintiff's
work and that the two works are substantially similar."
The panel noted the lower court had correctly determined the Alexis
Brothers had a valid copyright and the Kolev Sisters had access to the
brothers' work. But the court had to go to the second step of the
extrinsic test and did not.
"Because the district court must disregard any similarities that
contain unprotectable material, 'it is essential to distinguish
between the protected and unprotected material in a plaintiff's
work,'" the panel wrote. "The district court simply claimed that
'Peace and Discord' was 'a sequence of uncopyrightable elements that
are already in the public domain.' It did not address what the
'uncopyrightable elements' were, which similar elements were
protectable, or why the elements were protectable and others were not.
"Simply put, the district court did not perform an analysis based on
sufficient 'external, objective criteria' to determine which aspects
of the routine were protectable by copyright. And given the highly
technical nature of the case, the district court could not have done
so without the benefit of expert testimony," the panel wrote.
U.S. Circuit judges Lawrence VanDyke, a Donald Trump appointee, and
Gabriel Sanchez, a President Joe Biden appointee, and U.S. District
Judge Stephen Murphy III, a George W. Bush appointee sitting by
designation from the Eastern District of Michigan, vacated the order
on preliminary injunction and remanded for further proceedings.
"We recognize the challenges inherent in determining whether hand-
balancing routines are protectable by copyright. And we recognize the
court's thorough analysis of the evidence," the panel wrote. "But that
analysis fell short of the 'analytical dissection' required for the
extrinsic test."
{ SOURCE: Courthouse News }
----------------------------------------------------------
'Mad Apple' in Vegas replicates the energy of New York
{May.19.2023}
----------------------------------------------------------
The energy exhibited during a performance of Cirque du Soleil's Mad
Apple is a bit overwhelming at timesmuch like the city the show
salutes through a series of vignettes, some comical, some acrobatic,
some a bit profane. Through it all, the Cirque troupe lovingly
replicates the bustling vibe of the City That Never Sleeps.
Everything about this show screams motionbodies are constantly moving
and flying across the stage; there's a bar set up in front of the
stage prior to showtime, with both bartenders displaying their flair
skills for the crowd. Heck, even the live band, including a trumpeter,
saxophonist, keyboard player and drummer, can't sit still, twisting
and turning in their perches above the proceedings, and even joining
the zaniness on stage from time to time!
As your ears are treated to live versions of songs like "New York
State of Mind," "Summertime" and "Rhapsody in Blue," your eyes are
treated to some of the best Cirque acts the Strip has to offer:
o) A juggler who exudes confidence (and more than a bit of sexiness) as
he throws juggling pins high into the air, catching them from all
angles;
o) A diabolo artist who keeps adding yo-yos without skipping a single
beat;
o) Basketball dunkers who seem to almost be on the verge of vaulting
into audience members seated at the sides of the stage (Of course
they never do, and in the process show off impeccable timing);
o) A woman who hangs from a harness by her long hair and performs a
full routine that way, spinning, cavorting and displaying a
gracefulness most of us would not possess were our follicles in
danger;
o) Two performers who make the entire audience hold its breath while
they flip each other through the air using only the power of their
legs;
o) A strongman who's harnessed into place on a large contraption and
grabs a woman by the arms, flipping and flinging her into the air
using only his arm strength;
o) A hand balancer who's as graceful as he is lithe and sinewy;
o) Aerialists who spin around the stage and over some of the audience,
as well as floor acrobats who jump through hoops that get
progressively higher and higher.
There's also plenty of humor, most of it supplied by comedian Harrison
Greenbaum, an America's Got Talent alumnus who even performs a bit of
magic in between the hilarious jokes and audience banter. Another
comedic highlight involves the show's "stage manager" displaying his
talents when it comes to shadow puppets. (Spoiler alert and a surprise
to absolutely no one: It's for adults only!)
Speaking of hand gestures, yes, there are plenty of "Bronx salutes" in
this showwould you expect anything less?
{ SOURCE: Ken Miller, Las Vegas Weekly }
----------------------------------------------------------
CDS and Gamefam Unveil New Immersive World on Roblox
{May.24.2023}
----------------------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Gamefam, a leading metaverse
game developer, are joining forces to create Cirque du Soleil's first-
ever immersive experience on Roblox, a global immersive platform where
millions of people connect and communicate daily. In Cirque du Soleil
Tycoon, users can build their own Cirque du Soleil universe filled
with performers, artists, sell-out crowds and some of the most
visually stunning performances in the metaverse.
Community members will have the chance to build and manage their own
Big Top performance, try their skills in interactive challenges and
mini-games, hire acrobats, and set the stage to create their very own
custom Cirque du Soleil site. Inspired by Cirque du Soleil's brand-new
touring show, "ECHO", which explores the relationship between humans
and nature, the experience incorporates whimsical and fantastical
Cirque du Soleil details and brings existing and new fans together for
a behind-the-scenes look at how Cirque du Soleil productions work.
Roblox community members will also have access to unique virtual
items, such as animal head masks inspired by real-life ECHO costumes,
allowing them to customize their avatar and express their creativity
in true Cirque du Soleil fashion.
"Cirque du Soleil Tycoon will channel the influence of global online
platform Roblox for immersive shared experiences and harness Cirque du
Soleil's high-end entertainment expertise, creative DNA, and multi-
generational fanbase. To launch Cirque du Soleil's first-ever digital
experience on a major immersive platform like Roblox made a lot of
sense for us just like the story of ECHO which centers around
connection, Roblox is all about bringing people together, and in this
case, also enabling us to offer a coveted behind-the-scenes experience
to millions of fans at once, sans distance or other physical
limitations," said Sébastien Ouimet, Head of Filmed and Immersive
Entertainment at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
This unique experience supports Cirque du Soleil's newly defined
mission to diversify its offering beyond live shows by bringing its
world-renowned creative development engine to the immersive world of
Roblox and allowing new and existing fans to engage with a first-of-
its-kind metaverse experience. "With the creation of Cirque du Soleil
Tycoon, we underscore the increasing importance of widening our
portfolio of brand experiences across 3D immersive and filmed
entertainment, premium content, gaming, and beyond," notes Nickole
Tara, Chief Growth Officer, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
"It has been a privilege to bring one of the world's most admired and
magical attractions to Roblox and invite the community to experience
Cirque du Soleil beyond the physical big top," added Ricardo Briceno,
Chief Business Officer at Gamefam. "Cirque du Soleil Tycoon serves as
yet another great example of how beloved brands can extend their reach
and engage new fans right where they are spending time each and every
day."
By tapping into Gamefam's metaverse gaming expertise, Cirque du Soleil
aims to engage some of the 66 million+ daily active players on Roblox,
attract a new fan base, and provide people globally an easily
accessible way to experience the creativity and universe of Cirque du
Soleil. Cirque du Soleil Tycoon will be available for free on Roblox
via most platforms and devices, including consoles, PCs, mobile, and
tablets starting in summer 2023.
About Gamefam
Gamefam, a leading metaverse game developer and publisher that creates
connected experiences with gaming communities and well-known brands,
is building the next generation of pop culture franchises born from
the metaverse. Our mission is to create dynamic experiences for an
amazing community while we grow the next generation of super hit
gaming and entertainment franchises from within the metaverse. Gamefam
operates the largest network of games on Roblox with over 25 million
daily game sessions and 115 million hours of engagement each month
across 30+ live games in the company's portfolio. Gamefam's top
franchises include Sonic Speed Simulator, Twilight Daycare, Tower of
Misery, Funky Friday, Ultra Power Tycoon, Starving Artists, Hot Wheels
Open World, Easy Obby and Weapon Fighting Simulator. The Gamefam
experience also extends into metaverse destinations including its
operation of the three leading Minecraft servers and development of
Fortnite's top 40 maps. With its headquarters in Los Angeles, the
Gamefam team combines the business and production expertise of
longtime brand experts and game industry professionals with the
metaverse's top creators. For more information, visit
https://gamefam.com.
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil }
----------------------------------------------------------
CDS and COSM Unveil New "Shared Reality" Experience
{May.24.2023}
----------------------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Cosm, a leading immersive
technology, media, and entertainment company, today announced a
partnership to deliver a completely new way to experience Cirque du
Soleil. Under the partnership, Cosm will produce and present an iconic
Cirque du Soleil show at its forthcoming venues, the first of which
will open in Los Angeles in spring 2024 and showcase a 26.6-meter
diameter LED dome in a 65,000 total square feet facility.
Cosm's new generation of venues will bring entertainment to life by
utilizing its revolutionary domed and compound curved LED technology
to create a larger-than-life ''Shared Reality'' experience that
bridges the virtual and physical worlds, all with corresponding sights
and sounds. Merging the energy of the crowd, elevated food and
beverage service, and state-of-the-art visuals, fans will be able to
experience Cirque du Soleil's avant-garde creativity from a brand-new
perspective.
"From our research we know our fans are seeking immersive, emotionally
fulfilling experiences featuring creative storytelling through
innovative formats that ignite the imagination and foster human
connection. This partnership with Cosm will allow us to once again
push production and technology boundaries to seamlessly blend virtual
and physical worlds and cultivate our connection with fans beyond the
stage,'' commented Sébastien Ouimet, Head of Filmed and Immersive
Entertainment at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
This unique immersive experience supports Cirque du Soleil's goal to
diversify its offerings beyond live shows by expanding its portfolio
across gaming, premium content, filmed and immersive entertainment, as
well as an increased emphasis on licensing and merchandising.
"Cirque du Soleil has established itself time and time again as a
category-defining entertainment genre," added Neil Carty, VP, Head of
Cosm Studios at Cosm. "Its combination of live theater, circus arts,
and immersive storytelling has captivated audiences around the world.
We're excited for this partnership to bring an iconic Cirque
performance to our venues in Shared Reality."
Cosm recently broke ground at its first venue in Los Angeles at
Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome, and
announced its second venue in Dallas at Grandscape, with plans to
expand to additional locations in key markets. Details around the
schedule of events upon the opening of these venues will be shared at
a later date.
About Cosm
Cosm is the leading experiential media and immersive technology
company redefining the way the world experiences content. With a
storied history of building some of the most innovative experience
technology in the world, Cosm provides sensorial experiences for every
type of fan, from sports and entertainment to immersive art and
education. Its immersive venues bridge the virtual and physical worlds
through pioneered technology that expands the realm of what's
possible, connecting people and bringing them together in Shared
Reality. As the company continues to expand to new cities and
countries, Cosm is sparking shared passions and providing guests
across the globe with experiences they need to feel to believe. To
learn more about Cosm, visit www.cosm.com.
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil }
----------------------------------------------------------
Motorola Launches Razr+ With CDS And Kim Petras
{Jun.05.2023}
----------------------------------------------------------
What do the collapse-able Motorola phones, Grammy award-winning Kim
Petras, and Cirque du Soleil all have in common?
An event collaboration for the launch of the new razr+ phone, which is
reintroducing the beloved pink design for the first time since the
early 2000s. Alongside announcing the launch of the new razr+, the
event aimed to showcase the seamless integration of technology,
entertainment, art, and pop culture.
The night kicked off with an exclusive, one-of-a-kind show from the
iconic Cirque du Soleil. Inspired by the new Motorola phone, the mind-
bending performance complemented the reveal of the bendable razr+,
with a phone-infused act.
The new Motorola razr+ has an "ultra pocketable" design and is
considered the thinnest flippable smartphone in the industry when
flipped closed. Users are able to stand the device completely on its
own at multiple angles. Alongside its abilities when opened as a
normal phone, the razr+ has many of the same features on the external
screen when closed, such as texting, playing games, using Spotify, and
watching videos.
Following the Cirque du Soleil performance and razr+ reveal, guests
were escorted to the main space where they were able to engage with
backdrops and props to match each of the colors of the new Motorola
razr+. Surprised by an intimate performance from Kim Petras, the
guests remained on the dance floor throughout the night, celebrating
the upcoming release of the razr+ phone.
{ SOURCE: V Magazine }
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
{Alegria INAL, Koozå, Kurios, Luzia, Bazzar}
o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues
{Crystal, Corteo, Messi10, OVO}
o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre
{Mystère, "O", LOVE, MJ ONE, JOYA, X: The Land of Fantasy,
and Mad Apple}
NOTE:
.) While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate
touring dates and locations available, the information in
this section is subject to change without notice. As such,
the Fascination! Newsletter does not accept responsibility
for the accuracy of these listings.
For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts,
please visit Cirque's website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ >.
------------------------------------
BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
------------------------------------
Alegría-In a New Light:
Tokyo, JP -- February 8, 2023 to June 25, 2023
Osaka, JP -- July 14, 2023 to October 10, 2023
Madrid, ES -- December 4, 2024 to January 6, 2024
Barcelona, ES -- March 20, 2024 to April 14, 2024
Koozå:
Toronto, ON -- April 7, 2023 to June 18, 2023
Denver, CO -- July 5, 2023 to August 13, 2023
Calgary, AB -- August 25, 2023 to October 8, 2023
Vancouver, BC -- October 21, 2023 to December 31, 2023
Kurios:
Milan, IT -- May 10, 2023 to June 25, 2023
Knokke, BE -- July 27, 2023 to August 27, 2023
Brussels, BE -- September 7, 2023 to October 8, 2023
Paris, FR -- November 16, 2023 to December 17, 2023
Luzia:
Frankfurt, DE -- June 13, 2023 to July 23, 2023
Bazzar:
Buenos Aires, AR -- June 24, 2023 to July 9, 2023
Oaks, PA -- September 26, 2023 to October 22, 2023
San Antonio, TX -- November 5, 2023 to December 3, 2023
Charlotte, NC -- December 16, 2023 to January 14, 2024
St. Petersburg, FL -- February 22, 2024 to March 24, 2024
ECHO:
Montreal, QC -- April 20, 2023 to August 20, 2023
Washington, DC -- September 6, 2023 to October 22, 2023
Atlanta, GA -- November 5, 2023 to January 21, 2024
------------------------------------
ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues
------------------------------------
CRYSTAL - A BREAKTHROUGH ICE EXPERIENCE:
Christchurch, NZ -- Jun 16, 2023 to Jun 25, 2023
Auckland, NZ -- Jul 4, 2023 to Jul 9, 2023
Brisbane, AU -- Jul 21, 2023 to Jul 30, 2023
Sydney, AU -- Aug 3, 2023 to Aug 13, 2023
Melbourne, AU -- Aug 17, 2023 to Aug 27, 2023
Adelaide, AU -- Aug 31, 2023 to Sep 3, 2023
Perth, AU -- Sep 15, 2023 to Sep 24, 2023
Windsor, ON -- Nov 30, 2023 to Dec 3, 2023
Oshawa, ON -- Dec 7, 2023 to Dec 10, 2023
Hamilton, ON -- Dec 14, 2023 to Dec 17, 2023
Montreal, QC -- Dec 22, 2023 to Dec 31, 2023
Hershey, PA -- Jan 11, 2024 to Jan 14, 2024
Pittsburg, PA -- Jan 18, 2024 to Jan 21, 2024
CORTEO:
Hoffman Estates, IL -- Jun 1, 2023 to Jun 4, 2023
Boston, MA -- Jun 8, 2023 to Jun 11, 2023
Newark, NJ -- Jun 15, 2023 to Jun 18, 2023
Columbus, OH -- Jun 22, 2023 to Jun 25, 2023
Ottawa, ON -- Jun 28, 2023 to Jul 2, 2023
Kingston, ON -- Jul 6, 2023 to Jul 9, 2023
Saint Paul, MN -- Jul 13, 2023 to Jul 16, 2023
Sacramento, CA -- Aug 3, 2023 to Aug 6, 2023
San Jose, CA -- Aug 9, 2023 to Aug 13, 2023
Oakland, CA -- Aug 17, 2023 to Aug 20, 2023
San Francisco, CA -- Aug 23, 2023 to Aug 27, 2023
Palm Springs, CA -- Aug 31, 2023 to Sep 3, 2023
San Diego, CA -- Sep 6, 2023 to Sep 10, 2023
Phoenix, AZ -- Sep 13, 2023 to Sep 17, 2023
Wichita, KS -- Nov 9, 2023 to Nov 12, 2023
Dayton, OH -- Nov 16, 2023 to Nov 19, 2023
Cleveland, OH -- Nov 22, 2023 to Nov 26, 2023
Omaha, NE -- Nov 30, 2023 to Dec 3, 2023
Winnipeg, MB -- Dec 7, 2023 to Dec 10, 2023
Regina, SK -- Dec 14, 2023 to Dec 17, 2023
Saskatoon, SK -- Dec 21, 2023 to Dec 24, 2023
Edmonton, AB -- Dec 27, 2023 to Dec 31, 2023
MESSI10:
Salta, AR -- Jul 14, 2023 to Jul 29, 2023
Buenos Aires, AR -- Oct 5, 2023 to Nov 5, 2023
OVO:
Tallinn, EE -- Jun 1, 2023 to Jun 4, 2023
Vilnius, LT -- Jun 8, 2023 to Jun 11, 2023
Riga, LV -- Jun 15, 2023 to Jun 18, 2023
San Sebastian, ES -- Jul 19, 2023 to Jul 23, 2023
Gijon, ES -- Jul 26, 2023 to Aug 6, 2023
Gran Canaria, ES -- Aug 12, 2023 to Aug 20, 2023
Amsterdam, NL -- Sep 7, 2023 to Sep 10, 2023
Rotterdam, NL -- Sep 14, 2023 to Sep 17, 2023
Bordeaux, FR -- Sep 21, 2023 to Sep 24, 2023
Turin, IT -- Sep 28, 2023 to Oct 1, 2023
Berlin, DE -- Oct 5, 2023 to Oct 8, 2023
Zurich, CH -- Oct 11, 2023 to Oct 15, 2023
Bratislava, SK -- Oct 19, 2023 to Oct 22, 2023
Pesaro, IT -- Oct 26, 2023 to Oct 29, 2023
Bologna, IT -- Nov 2, 2023 to Nov 5, 2023
Florence, IT -- Nov 8, 2023 to Nov 12, 2023
Lyon, FR -- Nov 15, 2023 to Nov 19, 2023
Toulouse, FR -- Dec 7, 2023 to Dec 10, 2023
Granada, ES -- Dec 13, 2023 to Dec 17, 2023
Lisbon, PT -- Dec 20, 2023 to Dec 30, 2023
Lausanne, CH -- Jan 18, 2024 to Jan 21, 2024
---------------------------------
RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre
---------------------------------
Mystère:
Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Variable Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2023 Dark Days:
o) July 21, 2023
o) September 8 thru 12, 2023
o) November 10, 2023
"O":
Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Wednesday through Friday, Dark Monday/Tuesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2023 Dark Days:
o) June 18, 2023
o) August 16-20, 2023
o) October 22, 2023
o) November 29-30, 2023
o) December 1-3, 2023
o) December 6-10, 2023
KA:
Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark Thursday/Friday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2023 Dark Days:
o) June 14, 2023
o) August 16, 2023
o) October 21 - 25, 2023
o) November 18, 2023
o) December 13, 2023
LOVE:
Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
Age Requirements:
- Children under 5 not permitted.
2023 Dark Days:
o) July 4 & 11, 2023
o) September 5-9, 2023
o) September 12-16, 2023
o) November 18, 2023
o) December 25, 2023
MICHAEL JACKSON ONE:
Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Thursday through Monday - Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2023 Dark Days:
o) June 5, 2023
o) August 10 - 14, 2023
o) October 16, 2023
JOYÀ:
Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
DRAWN TO LIFE:
Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Two Shows Nightly - 5:30pm and 8:00pm
MAD APPLE:
Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
Age Requirements:
- Children under 16 not permitted.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
2023 Dark Days:
o) June 9 - 13, 2023
o) August 21 22, 2023
o) October 27 31, 2023
o) November 3 7, 2023
o) December 18 19, 2023
=======================================================================
FASCINATION! FEATURES
=======================================================================
o) "THERE'S NOTHING LIKE MIXING A CIRQUE SHOW" - an
Exclusive Interview with David Wallace, head of
PLANS at Cirque du Soleil's "Drawn to Life" [Part 2 of 3]
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
o) "LIFE IS A CIRCUS II: More Posts from the Cirque Blog"
By: Cirque's Artists, Editors, and More...
----------------------------------------------------------
"THERE'S NOTHING LIKE MIXING A CIRQUE SHOW" - an
Exclusive Interview with David Wallace, head of PLANS
at Cirque du Soleil's "Drawn to Life" [Part 2 of 3]
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
----------------------------------------------------------
Last issue we began part one of our multi-part conversation with Mr.
David Wallace - Head of PLANS (Projections, Lighting, Audio,
Networking & Special Effects) for Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life in
Orlando. This month we continue our conversation, discovering how
extra COVID-related down time provided a way to refocus and refine the
show, and learn how the sophisticated sound equipment in the theater
helps the music go round and round.
* * *
"The takeaway I had from the COVID situation was it gave us [and
director Michel Laprise (who also directed Kurios and Septimo Dia
https://www.facebook.com/michel.laprise.35 )] a little breathing
room."
The long down time meant there were inevitable changes. "From
Creation One [of Drawn to Life] we had two acts that did not return to
the [show]. We had an interesting Icarian act that was done on an
acrobatic apparatus that spun. It was like having pedals on a bike
and it was turning in the air, and the Icarian performers would be on
these pedals. They would do foot juggling on this apparatus as it was
spinning, and they would be doing tumbling while they were 40 feet in
the air. It was quite extraordinary and certainly quite dangerous."
[In a February 2023 addition to the show an Icarian act has been re-
added, performed by a pair of Ethiopian acrobats.]
"And the other act - you remember the diabolo act from La Nouba? We
had a new version. The ladies were a little older, but they had new
costumes with new music. That act was such a favorite [from La Nouba]
and was in the original Drawn to Life, but it was replaced by the
Unicycle Act."
A SECOND CREATION PERIOD
------------------------
Having a second creation period offered other opportunities as well.
"Some wonderful things happened during Creation Two. Such as with the
band. We were able to organize rehearsals and they came back three
weeks before Creation Two. Because the band is learning the music,
but the music is being written and changing every day. So there might
be a piece of music in front of you [that] you've [been] playing and
then there's adjustments and changes - we've added a measure here,
we've moved this section there - and that all happens exceptionally
quickly."
"But the musicians have just met and started playing with each other,
they never really get to play as a band because they're learning new
music [every day]. And then they rehearse while everybody is still
trying to figure out their own parts."
"So, we would go into the theater at night when everybody else had
gone home, and we would just play the music. So, they had three weeks
to play together as an ensemble, the bandleader got to rehearse, and
the band got to play with each other. So, by the time we started
Creation Two, it was working well from a sound perspective and a band
perspective. The band was working together extraordinarily well, they
had learned to play as an ensemble by that point. I think that was a
result from COVID that had an interesting sort of domino effect."
Ah, the music! Composed by Cirque veteran and composer of La Nouba,
Benoit Jutras (.com see our interview with him at
https://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=2417 ), it mixes that trademark
Cirque musical oeuvre with myriad recognizable musical quotes from
Disney productions. And played, as they are in most Cirque
productions, by live humans. "[For] musicians we have a solo violin,
cello, guitar, percussion, and drums. Tom, our bandleader is playing
piano as well as calling the show and triggering the cues. And then
we have the singer, Stephanie. And two woodwind players who are
multi-instrumentalists who play everything: flute, clarinet, English
horn, oboe, bassoon, and clarinet, and they're switching instruments
multiple times during many of the songs. And those instruments [are
played live]."
For those playing along at home, here is the musician lineup for Drawn
to Life.
o) Thomas Lipps Bandleader/Keyboard
o) Steffi Ledbetter Singer
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffi-ledbetter-5051a1163/ )
o) Michel Levin Guitar/Cello
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-levin-56084747/ )
o) Kit Chathan Drums (from Corteo, Viva Elvis, and Kurios; see our
interview with him at https://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=6486 )
o) Kateryna Chechel Violin
(https://www.instagram.com/che_violin/?hl=en )
o) Nathaniel Edison Woodwinds
(https://www.instagram.com/nathanieledison/?hl=en )
o) Alex Fontaine Woodwinds
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-fontaine-a3506441/ )
As at La Nouba, the musicians are divided into two pods perched above
the stage on the left and right. However, unlike La Nouba where they
were visible to the audience, they are now hidden from view by some of
the screens on which animated projections are shown at points during
the show. "I understand why the band is hidden," Mr. Wallace
comments, "but I would love for the public to know that there are live
musicians playing the [music of the] show. So many [audience members]
don't realize it until the end when we have the woodwind player on
stage with the guitar player and the singer. Which is strange to me,
because I guess they're not realizing that they're on stage at the
beginning as well. Every time I mix the show there'll be someone from
the audience who comes up and goes, "I didn't realize it was live".
So, in some ways it's a neat little secret that people come to
realize. But at the same time, I wish they knew [it was played live],
because it sounds so beautiful and these musicians deserve so much
credit for their work."
Creation of a show always presents its own challenges, where the
"what" of creation meets the "how" of production, which as always
affects every department, including sound. "The most challenging
[thing] overall wasn't the acts themselves, [it was] the transitions.
I think from an audio perspective the most challenging act was the
Double Wheel of Death act we call it "The Old Mill". It's
challenging because there's so many cues going on." (Originally a
1937 Disney Silly Symphony short film, it marked the first use of the
multiplane camera, pioneering depth in animation see more
information on it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Mill ).
Drawn to Life relies on a complex series of electronic cues and
triggers to make the magic happen exactly when it should. "The
systems integration [cueing] on Drawn to Life involves the
bandleader's triggering. We've programmed triggers in the music that
trigger projections and sound effects. And then we have sound effects
that trigger lighting cues. Take the pencil sharpener from the
[beginning of the] show. We turn that device by hitting a sound
effect from the sound desk. There are times [when] the music is
driving the lighting, triggering all the lights in a sequence, or the
lighting is triggering certain sound effects, or we're telling
projections to do things, or projections [are] telling us to do
[things]."
Interplay of systems in a high-tech theatrical production can make for
a complicated cueing system. "Think of it as a matrix, bridging the
various disciplines together in a cohesive whole. The bandleader
isn't thinking about the lights or projections, and not thinking about
those technical requirements; he's just running the music, we've
embedded cues to make changes. Because we're still mixing live,
taking all those cues and those sound effects it becomes very
challenging because there's so much going on."
"Looking at creation challenges overall it was [most challenging]
putting some of the transition elements together. Whether time was
the limiting factor, [or] how fast can we do this change, [or] where
are we going to be, [or] how are we going to get those swings on the
stage at the right time? And all of that created a fascinating
creation period because we could see the vision."
Drawn to Life provided Cirque another opportunity to explore new ideas
and break new ground. "The interaction between the projections and
the artists, for me that was the biggest moment. An example is when
the Aerial Pencil act [starts] and the tip of the pencil looks like
[it's] drawing across the stage. And the Comforting Sheets which is a
huge fan favorite especially for our Disney friends, with our
characters interacting with the projections. I think that was the
biggest moment for me, technically."
The show also includes a return to hand-drawn animation for Disney,
who created brand-new animation for the show, with an interesting
edge. "We have possibly the only hand-drawn official Olaf animation,
because he's in the Comforting Sheets section. In the Frozen movies
Olaf was, of course, computer generated, but our Olaf was hand-drawn.
And I never thought about it until [I heard it during] one of the
question-and-answer periods the company manager had done. And it
dawned on me because of course, there is no hand-drawn Olaf."
"Some of what I adore about the animation was getting to see some of
the original pencil drafts of characters like Ariel, Cinderella, and
Tarzan. I have no idea what the dates on those are, but they are just
incredible historical Disney animation documents. And they let them
out of the vault to be part of this show and partner with Cirque.
That's a generous and beautiful part of the story."
Drawn to Life, at least to this writer, seems a perfect fit for Disney
Springs because it incorporates Disney into it. "And I think,
hopefully moving forward, that's the draw. With La Nouba we had a
number of people saying, "Oh, is it a Disney show?" I know Disney
folks have mentioned that some customers thought maybe it was a Disney
show."
"And anytime you partner with someone else you're going to have
differing opinions. I'm sure there are some Cirque fans that [feel]
this is really about Disney, this isn't a true, pure Cirque show. But
the [response] is, well, it's really a Cirque show telling a story
about animation, and what better story to tell than through the
artwork of Disney. That's one thing that was interesting during
creation. You have two very divergent styles of storytelling and
creation between Disney and Cirque du Soleil. And it made for a
really interesting adventure to see those two styles come together and
create Drawn to Life. And it worked remarkably well."
Mr. Wallace transitioned somewhat seamlessly (with breaks for theater
refit and COVID) from La Nouba to Drawn to Life, for 25 years of
continuous service to the cause of Cirque audio artistry. That
surprises others in the theater arts, where longevity with one company
or production is rare. "Other audio engineers and [others] have asked
me "You stayed with the show for how long? How did you do that?"
And I'm [thinking about] the question behind the question. And
they're usually trying to figure out, "Wouldn't you be bored?" [But]
there's nothing like mixing a Cirque show, nothing on the planet,
because of the design, and the fans. The audience becomes part of the
fabric of the show. The major elements of the music are live and are
played by humans, so every night is different, and every night has its
own flavor. And if you're someone who can live in the moment it's
always new. From opening until closing night [of La Nouba] I never
felt like the musicians played the same show. I did front of house
sound for La Nouba for something like over 5,000 shows. There was
always enough musical interest to keep me there. And of course,
you're working with that tremendous talent on stage and being part of
what's going on in front of you. You'll never get another experience
like it. So that's how I could maintain the years and years of the
same show, because it's always a little different and certainly awe-
inspiring."
SOUND STUFF
-----------
OK, fair warning for you, dear reader we are about to get deep into
the tech with the sound biz. Being a person that has adored sound as
an avocation for my life, I wanted to go deep on the theaters sound
what was changed between La Nouba and Drawn to Life, and a bit of how
the show runs from a sound perspective. So, pardon us while we get a
little technical. Mr. Wallace was happy to oblige.
"Certainly! The sound designer, Jonathan Deans
(www.designingsound.com ), has designed [most] of the resident shows
[including La Nouba with Francois Bergeron see a list at
https://designingsound.com/portfolio/ ] as well as a number of touring
shows. [And] I'm sure you know Benoit Jutras (.com) was the composer
for both La Nouba and Drawn to Life. So, a big part of our sound team
has been together for over 23 years now."
"At the time that La Nouba was created and designed, the [sound]
system was a distributed system using Meyer Sound (.com) MSL-2
speakers (a picture can be seen at https://www.manualslib.com/manual/
969181/Meyer-Sound-Msl-2a.html ) as the main system as well as EAW's
(.com) for orchestra surrounds on the back wall and some Tannoy (.com)
speakers in the knee walls (a short wall used to support rafters in
roof construction)."
"When we got to Drawn to Life, we realized that though the system had
been incredibly well maintained the technology had grown in leaps and
bounds over the course of 19 years. So, when Jonathan designed the
show, he went with newer Meyer sound arrays. The boxes we're using
are Leopards (https://meyersound.com/product/leopard/ ), they are the
main arrays and a beautiful sounding speaker, along with Meyer
subwoofers."
"There's a center cluster, Meyer JM-1P's right above the center seats
in the proscenium that is mainly used for our vocal system, which
gives dialogue much better clarity and intelligibility, the singers
voice is used in that system as well. Then on our four arrays we have
7 Leopards per array. The upper arrays are hung where the band sits,
which in La Nouba you could see but in Drawn to Life you do not see.
And the lower arrays are just below that as well as the sets."
"We didn't toss out the La Nouba PA. We repurposed those speakers and
hung them as overhead surrounds, mid-field surrounds, effect speakers
and delays. Jonathan not only utilized what we had but added modern
technology with the array system and the center clusters to improve
the quality of the facility sound."
"And there are 40 speakers on the stage. If you look carefully at the
stage, especially from the upper bowl, you'll see Donald Duck
footprints. Those are actually speakers pointed straight up and they
[have] a very wide spread and a dual purpose, so we can track sound
effects across the [entire stage] and also provide foldback to the
artists on stage. We can send any information that we would like to
the stage during the act. that was a huge upgrade."
Mr. Wallace then provided a rough count of the number of speakers in
the theater. "I can give you a breakdown. [These are all Meyer sound
(.com) speakers.] We have 28 Leopards (https://meyersound.com/
product/leopard/ ) in the array clusters. We have six 1100-LFCs
(https://meyersound.com/product/1100-lfc/ ) which are low frequency
subwoofers. And then we have 6 more 900-LFC subs
(https://meyersound.com/product/900-lfc/ ). We have 8 speakers in the
center cluster, 39 speakers on the stage in the deck, 4 additional
speakers on stage for foldback and effects, and then 11 front fills in
front of the stage, pointing directly at the audience. We have 14
orchestra surrounds, 6 midfield surrounds, 7 overhead surrounds, and
12 cross-aisle surrounds. We have 8 delay speakers. By the time we
hit the stage we're at 40 speakers in the house and 79 [elsewhere],
about 111 speakers.
Of course, the mixing desks and other electronics were upgraded as
well. "Absolutely! Jonathan chose to go with DiGiCo (.biz) as our
console. So front-of-house we have an SD10
(https://digico.biz/consoles/sd10/ ) and then for monitors we have an
SD9 (https://digico.biz/consoles/sd9/ ) and those are connected using
MADI. (Multichannel Audio Digital Interface a format for carrying
multiple channels of digital audio between devices, also called
AES10). The snakes (gatherings of multiple audio cables) are located
on the band towers and [the audio signals are] converted to MADI [that
is transported] over fiber optics.
The mixing desk collects and merges all the individual instruments,
microphones, and playback tracks into the final mix of sound heard in
the theater. But all those sources start out as individual signals,
approximately 128 in total. Some sources are the samples and
sequences that are part of the music that are not played by the
musicians. Things like string sections of songs and some other
elements. Like some of the quirky sounds that are in Teeterboard
the almost cartoonish quality of the samples in that song those
would be an example of what is played back."
"[There's also] utility stuff; like the click track to guide the
musicians, as well as vocal tracks for artists that are on stage. As
an example, when (lead character) Julie is on stage and she's doing
the initial sequence when she goes through the desk into the basement,
that whole sequence where she is reaching for the pencil, the pencils
are getting sharpened, the pages of pictures are churning, that's all
on a track that she's hearing in her ear [because] she can't see the
video. So there's a voice (the conductor) that is [telling] her
turn the page in three, two, one, reach for the pencil in three, two,
one - So that her timing lines up with what is happening on the
screen."
Surprisingly, in a show as technically complicated as Drawn to Life
there is very little timecode used. (An electronic reference signal
sent to various departments in a production to keep all the various
elements in sync with each other.) "No, strangely enough, there's
very little timecode in the show. What we do use it for is the
Rhythmic Gymnastics act (the inflatable mat act), for that one we have
the bandleader sending timecode to the lighting console; that is the
only moment in the show that is timecoded."
"We had originally implemented timecode going everywhere. Every
department was receiving timecode from multiple sources because we
weren't sure. Of course like a good concert production we were ready
for anything, but in the end we found that we were using a lot more
UDP (UDP-based Data Transfer a high-performance data transfer
protocol) over Ethernet for things like video and projections, because
the projection elements were short enough that we weren't really
worried about sync over a long period."
In addition to the musicians, there are a few artists who need to be
heard during the show and wear microphones. "At some point in the
show The Animators, the four sort-of clowns, will all get mics. Julie
(played by Chloe Diane Polson or Miho Inaba) has a mic, Miss
Hesitation (played by Emily Carracher) has a mic. We've [used a mic]
for Mr. Pencil (played by Guerassim Dichliev) occasionally when
certain people are out. So overall we probably have six character
mics."
In a structure continuing from La Nouba, Drawn to Life resides in a
theatre that is owned and managed by Disney. "We maintain the
equipment [but] Disney owns the equipment. So, repairs, replacements,
all of that gets funneled through Accounting as a "go back." They
[supply] the personnel that run food and beverage, the box office,
front of house, house and theater management, the guest-facing side is
all managed by Disney. And we all work incredibly well as a team."
* * *
Next month, in our final installment, we discuss Mr. Wallace's other
passions, as well as his philosophical thoughts and words of wisdom.
----------------------------------------------------------
"LIFE IS A CIRCUS II: More Posts from the Cirque Blog
By: Artists, Editors, and More...
----------------------------------------------------------
From life outside the big top to peeks behind the curtain, Cirque du
Soleil has started a blog to allow fans to get up close and personal
with their fascinating talent as well as a look at the know-how that
goes into giving a Cirque show its spark the kinds of things you
might not get to see from beyond the stage. Here are a few more of
the recent posts that we found interesting to share!
# # # # #
BAYARMA ZODBOEVA-PARRY'S BIGGEST ROLE
BY: Maxim Potvin, Blog Editor | April 12, 2023
Motherhood is an extraordinary experience that can be challenging,
rewarding, and transformative. It's a role that demands a great deal
of physical, emotional, and mental endurance, which makes it more
impressive when combined with a demanding profession like
contortionist for Cirque du Soleil. We had the chance of speaking with
a remarkable performer who not only excels in her craft but also
balances the demands of motherhood while touring the world with one of
the most iconic circus troupes in history.
Q. Could you introduce yourself and let our readers know about what
you do?
My name is Bayarma Parry, I've been working with Cirque du Soleil
since 2011, I'm a contortionist on KURIOS Cabinet of Curiosities and
I'm currently answering these questions from Rome, in Italy!
Q. Getting right into it, we wanted to know how you planned to
celebrate Mother's Day this year?
This Mother's Day, I'll probably be celebrating by performing two
shows in Milan, since it falls on a Sunday. My husband is away in
Saudi Arabia since he's a stage manager with Cirque du Soleil and we
planned to visit him in May during our tour break, before Mother's Day
and have an early celebration with our son, Ashton. That's just what
our life looks like right now: sometimes we work together, sometimes
we travel together and sometimes we travel to each other.
Q. Sounds like you've made your way around the globe a few times, has
this had any impact on your child's upbringing?
I'm from the Republic of Buryatia, in Siberia and my husband is from
England, but we live in Las Vegas. My son Ashton was born in Sydney,
Australia, after travelling to nine countries inside my tummy! I feel
like Ashton is so much more of a traveler at his young age, since he's
been doing so before he was even born. Even now, at 3 years old, he's
the one saying, "let's go to a new home!", when he wants us to get
back on the road and head to a new country!
Q. How has caring for a baby changed your professional routine?
I think my life changed a lot. Before my pregnancy, I've always been
fully dedicated to my training, my performance, and my act. Now, I
feel like motherhood has become a priority. My schedule allows me to
be a mom starting at 8am and keep at it until it's showtime, at 8pm.
I'm a professional acrobat, that hasn't changed, but I'm much less of
a workaholic than before. I spend a lot of time enjoying my life at
home with my family.
Q. What unexpected challenges can arise when raising a child on tour?
Caring for a baby is all about the routine, same goes as they age
only the routine changes. Initially, having to rebuild the routine
with Ashton at every new city you visit was challenging. Every two or
three months, you must find new grocery stores, new playgrounds, new
nannies, new schools, new hospitals, the list goes on.
Q. In what ways is your community helping you manage your unique
reality?
Of course, after the pandemic break, a lot of the cast and crew came
back with a new addition to their family. We all support and help each
other while on tour. We all know we're in the same boat right now,
there's a lot of kids around the same age, so we celebrate birthdays
together, we eat together, and the children share playrooms. It's just
nice to know we're not alone, we're one big family touring and
exploring the world. It warms my heart to be a part of a community
that helps each other.
Q. Given the opportunity, would you trade your lifestyle for something
more traditional? Would you ever settle down and raise your family
in one location?
We know that touring isn't forever. But I feel like touring is the
best school, it's a privilege and opportunity to get see the world.
For example, why read about Italy when you can just go and see Italy
and try all it has to offer? I was myself a travelling kid, I started
to travel when I was 12 years old, studying in Hungary and Poland at
the embassy's school and in every other city we were working at. I
think it was a great exposure to the world and I learned so much. I
speak five languages just because of my travels for work. Until Ashton
is enrolled in a school, we plan to keep touring as much as we can.
We're even looking at online schools for him, something that was very
helpful to the people around us during the pandemic. If my son enjoys
travelling that much, we will be happy to have him experience this
incredible life.
Q. To end this interview on a bright note, what would you say makes
you the proudest?
I'm proud of being able to keep performing. Before the pandemic forced
us into a break, Ashton was only 3 months old, and I was planning to
get back to work when he reached 6 months. This ended up being 3 years
break for me, counting the months before giving birth, and I'm proud
to be back in full force after that.
Want to Follow Bayarma's Adventures Around the World? Follow Bayarma
and her family on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bayarmabella/)
and watch her perform on KURIOS across Europe this year.
# # # # #
DIVE DEEP INTO THE WHIMSICAL SEASCAPE OF "O"
BY: Maxim Potvin, Blog Editor | January 20, 2023
If there was ever a Cirque du Soleil show that made a splash on The
Strip, it would quite literally be "O". As this classic amphibious
production enters its 25th year as a resident show at the Bellagio
Hotel in Las Vegas, it's only fair that we dip our toes back in this
one-of-a-kind universe.
SOAK UP THE UNIVERSE OF "O"
For those unfamiliar with this timeless performance, "O" tells the
thrilling story of a young Sicilian boy, Philemon, who went out
looking for adventure and marvels untold. To no one's surprise, this
is exactly what he stumbles upon, after entering a strange new world.
This realm populated by a manifestation of his hopes, dreams, and fear
engulfs him as he sets out to explore deeper, darker waters. On this
dream-like expedition, Philemon encounters the cast of this aquatic
story as they perform multiple acts in front of the audience. Amongst
these 77 characters, a young lady stands out and captures Philemon's
attention: Aurora. Is a love story about to unfold before your eyes?
Our colorful performers' stories flow into one another's, narrated by
an enigmatic figure, known as Le Vieux, accompanying our main
character on his way through the realm. Many mysteries lay deep
beneath the waves of the pool: what else awaits the protagonist of
"O"?
WATER IS A MAIN CHARACTER
Water is central to the continuity of this story, as a river follows
its course. It's clear how "O" is inspired by the infinity and the
elegance of water's pure form. The focus on this graceful element is
key to many performers' acts and serves as the red thread between the
characters. The ever-changing nature of water and its many properties
proved it to be crucial to this production. As the story progresses,
water comes on and off the stage to mimic tides, pours down from the
sky in a perfect storm and springs up in the air from the pool below.
The water also contrasts greatly with the fiery and aerial acts
sprinkled throughout the performance.
A COLOSSAL PRODUCTION PUZZLE
"O" has amazed its audience consistently and this is thanks to
relentless efforts to make this show run as seamlessly as possible and
countless ameliorations since its launch. With moving parts weighing
in at 900lbs, this masterwork of ingenuity and innovation has kept the
crowd on their toes for 24 years now and shows no signs of stopping
any time soon. Ensuring continuity and transitions between acts, an
elite team of 17 synchronized swimmers perform choreographies co-
created by Debra Brown and the Olympic gold medalist Sylvie Fréchette.
But the pool is not the only place where tightly choreographed
performances take place. High up in the air, our elite divers jump
from 60 feet higher than an Olympic diving board into a 17 feet
deep section below water. This is no small feat but fear not: "O"
features the largest contingent of Olympic Athletes of any of the
Cirque du Soleil productions. Many of our performers have taken part
in one or more Olympic Games before joining the show. Currently, we
have gold, silver, and bronze medalist winners in the show. Safe to
say they all know exactly whatthey're doing! Below the water are a
team of 14 technicians and certified scuba divers who help move set
pieces, aid in transitions between scenes, and supply oxygen to
artists underwater as they wait for their cues to appear above the
surface. They've mastered underwater communications and give a hand to
artists during the performances and are a crucial element to the show.
WHAT TO EXPECT
First and foremost, if you're lucky enough to be seated in the front
rows of the theater, you can expect to get a little bit wet! Luckily
for you, the theater hosts four different micro-climates, so the
audience can enjoy a sensible 72 degrees ambient temperature. It is
also safe to expect and mind-blowing performance like you've never
seen before! Years of practice really makes perfect, and everybody
involved in the show works tirelessly to make sure you won't forget
your night. Still looking for more insider secrets on "O"? To get the
most out of your experience with the Interactive Program, look for QR
codes outside the theater and learn even more about the show, the cast
and crew, and Cirque du Soleil.
# # # # #
THE ARCHITECTURE OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S INTERNATIONAL HQ
BY: Tony Babinski, Writer and Creative Director | April 19, 2023
Cirque du Soleil designed and built its Montreal head office to both
express its heartfelt vision and serve the needs of its artists and
creators. The result is entirely unique.
When Cirque chose Montreal's Saint-Michel district for its
headquarters, it was driven by a desire to transform the community for
the better. At the time of construction, Saint-Michel was one of the
poorest communities in Canada, and the Cirque du Soleil project was
intended as a pillar of urban revitalization.
When visitors arrive at the headquarters, they first notice the apple
trees and vegetable garden outside. Cirque planted these as an
expression of its commitment to nature and the environment. Everything
grown there is used by the company. Similarly, rainwater is collected
and reused in the building a total of 2 million liters of water per
year.
In order to serve the unique needs of the circus artists, the
structure has several training studios with high ceilings, fed by
natural light. These ceilings must be high enough to accommodate
acrobatic performances and rigging of every kind, including aerial
acts. One studio at the headquarters, Studio A/B, is large enough to
accommodate sets built for Big Top shows. Studio T features a smaller
Italian stage for rehearsing more intimate performances. The
headquarters also has a complete music studio.
In addition, the building is home to Cirque du Soleil's costume
atelier. This space is large enough to meet the needs of a department
that makes and repairs costumes for all of the company's live shows.
Also full of natural light, the atelier is large enough to fit
material and costume professionals, as well as textile and dyeing
shops.
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COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
=======================================================================
Fascination! Newsletter
Volume 23, Number 4 (Issue #219) June 2023
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (C)
2001-2023 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.
{ Jun.09.2023 }
=======================================================================
