Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products are thrilled to announce DRAWN TO LIFE, the highly anticipated, new family friendly show coming to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Written and directed by Michel Laprise, this collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering will open for previews March 20, 2020, and officially premiere April 17, 2020. The show will take residency at Disney Springs.
Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, stated “We have joined forces with Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios to create a show that combines Disney animation and heart with the unique artistry and theatrical sensibility of Cirque du Soleil. We are honored to be the first company trusted to work and create around these classic Disney characters in this unique way. For Cirque du Soleil, this is a beautiful way of celebrating Disney’s legacy in the art of animation. This new and exciting production is most certainly the best way to highlight the privileged relationship we have with our colleagues at Walt Disney World and our joint commitment to continually bring audiences new experiences that surpass their expectations.”
The show is a result of years of research and extraordinary collaboration that included extensive visits to Disney theme parks, Walt Disney Archives, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, The Walt Disney Family Museum, as well as hands-on work between Disney animators and Cirque du Soleil. ln fact, the Cirque du Soleil teams collaborated extensively with legacy animators to create the show.
“For more than 60 years, we’ve been bringing Disney stories and characters to life in our theme parks around the world,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “Now our teams at Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios have joined with Cirque du Soleil to create an entirely new experience that will wow Walt Disney World guests and bring timeless, enchanting Disney stories to life in an unforgettable new way.”
ABOUT THE SHOW
“This show is a love letter to the art of animation,” said Michel Laprise, writer and show director. “And it’s just a pure joy for us to explore the richness and the authenticity and the audacity of Disney animation.”
The creative team was reassuring: Mickey Mouse would not juggle and Goofy would not be on the trampoline. In fact, there wouldn’t be any of Disney’s mascots on the stage. This original creation coming to Disney Springs celebrates the art of Disney animation in Cirque du Soleil’s signature way, with a tribute to the craftsmanship that makes Disney so extraordinary. The show will transport the audience into the world of Disney animation with new original acrobatic sequences, dazzling choreography, musical masterpieces and whimsical characters.
“What fascinates us is that moment when life appears in drawings. Just like in an acrobat’s body, the visceral physicality of animation. The way they perform, the way they create the illusion of life,” Laprise added.
This new show follows the story of Julie, a courageous and determined girl who discovers an unexpected gift left by her late father: an unfinished animation piece. Guided by a surprising pencil, she embarks on an inspiring quest sprinkled with her Disney childhood memories. Through this journey, she learns to imagine new possibilities and animate the story of her future. “It’s a show about love. The love of a father for his daughter, who grew up with all the Disney characters, and the love of a craftsman for his craft. Julie will receive a message from her father who will tell her basically: now it’s up to you to take over, to create the illusion of life and find your own signature,” said Laprise.
“What fascinates us is that moment when life appears in drawings. Just like in an acrobat’s body, the visceral physicality of animation. The way they perform, the way they create the illusion of life,” says Michel Laprise Writer and Show Director.
In creating this show, we’ve brought to life an extraordinary new entertainment experience for the whole family,” said Josh D’Amaro, President Walt Disney World Resort, “It blends all the heart, humor and joy of Disney storytelling with dazzling new acrobatic performances and effects never before seen in a Cirque du Soleil production.”
DRAWN TO LIFE will transport guests of all ages into the world of Disney animation in Cirque du Soleil’s signature style. This entirely new experience will wow Walt Disney World guests and Cirque du Soleil fans, while bringing timeless Disney stories to life in an unforgettable new way.
Michael Jung, Creative Director at Disney Imagineering, added that Disney expressed two demands: first, that it be a show for the whole family, “with heart and humor”, and second, that the characters of Disney brand were well represented – even though they would not be “physically” on stage. “We did not want it to be a musical,” he said.
“It has been a fantastic collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering. We had the chance to work with some of the animators that have worked on iconic Disney movies. You’ll get to meet some of your favourite characters, but maybe in a very different way,” says Fabrice Becker, Creation Director.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, the show’s physical feats will “amaze”, while performances require “astounding athletic skill”. The musical score will “shake the soul”, and the story “tugs deeply at the heart”. The score will be written by Benoît Jutras, who wrote the scores for La Nouba, “O”, and Quidam. Costumes designed by Philippe Guillotel (LOVE, IRIS, Kurios, and Paramour). Sceonography by Stephane Roy (Zumanity, Kooza, Kurios). But acrobatics? Germain Guillemot has Russian Swings, Icarian Games, Korean Plank, Russian Cradle Wheel, Hand-to-Hand, Aerial Straps and Swings on tap for the show. With an international cast of more than 65 artists, the Cirque du Soleil theater located in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, will welcome up to 1,580 spectators for each show, five days a week.
CREATIVE TEAM
For Cirque du Soleil:
• Chief Executive Producer — Yasmine Khalil
• Vice President of Creation — Daniel Fortin
• Chief Creative Officer — Diane Quinn
• Executive Producer — Charles Joron
• Creative Director — Fabrice Becker
• Writer and Show Director — Michel Laprise
• Set Designer — Stephane Roy
• Costume Designer — Philippe Guillotel
• Make-up Designer — Eleni Uranis
• Acrobatic Designer — Germain Guillemot
• Acrobatic Equipment Designer — Danny Zen
• Music Composer — Benoit Jutras
• Projection Designer — Mathieu St-Arnaud
• Projection Designer — Félix Fradet-Faguy
• Projections Producer — 4U2C
• Production Director — Matthew Whelan
• Magie Nouvelle — Raphaël Navarro
• Puppets Designer — Johanna Elhert
• Sound Designer — Jonathan Deans
• Light Designer — Martin Labrecque
• Comic act Designer — Joe de Paul
• Choreographer — Kostiantyn Tomilchenko
• Chroeographer — Andrew Skeels
For Walt Disney Animation Studios:
• Custom Animation — Eric Goldberg
For Walt Disney Imagineering:
• Executive, Theatrical Development — Michael Jung
• Executive, Music Studio — Matt Walker
• Vice President, Production — Natalie Woodward
• Producer — Omar Kamal
• Principal Technical Director — Larry Sonn
SNEAK PEEK
BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products first teamed up to bring La Nouba to the stage at Disney Springs (then Downtown Disney) in 1998. Twenty years later, the two organizations are excited to be working together on a new project.
DRAWN TO LIFE is the 50th original production of Cirque du Soleil.
