A record-breaking $6 million was raised for Guy Laliberte’s One Drop Foundation from the World Water Day festivities that were highlighted with the spectacular one-night-only performance of “One Night for One Drop” at Mandalay Bay on Friday night.
Cast members, technicians and backstage workers from all eight Cirque du Soleil shows on the Strip took part in the all-volunteer effort for the “One Thought, One World” production choreographed and directed by Mukhtar O.S. Mukhtar from Cirque’s “The Beatles Love” at the Mirage.
“It was an amazing night,” Las Vegas-based Jerry Nadal, senior VP of resident shows worldwide, told me. “We set a very high bar with the first ‘One Drop’ show last year (in “O” theater at Bellagio), and we surpassed it. Everybody was ecstatic with its success.
“We raised more money in ticket sales. We raised more in the auction. Our turnout was higher all round, and the initial total looks like a $6 million record.
“This show proved that we have no shortage of talent here in Las Vegas. We will select a new choreographer and director within the next month for next year’s third show. Guy and his entire Montreal team said that they couldn’t have asked for better — everything was flawless.
“With all the moving parts and people volunteering while still doing their regular shows, you would have thought something would easily have gone wrong. But everything was flawless.”
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The four-act, 93-minute production told the story of the desertification of our world and the search for water. Mukhtar showed the struggles of Earth’s “Call for Help” in the “Walk for Water” and “Search for Rain” segments. He brought to life the inner innocence of childhood with a dream sequence that “Crystalized” with violin genius Lindsey Stirling of YouTube fame.
The third act was titled “Oasis” and featured spectacular acrobatics by trampoline artists through rain and a waterfall in the water celebration titled “Dripping Strings.”
Guest performers The Tenors took part in the second act of “City & Technology,” proving the “Power of Music“ and also closed the show with “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen for the “New Birth” signaling “The Future of Our Planet” as the theme of the fourth act.
Spoken-word poet In-Q mesmerized the audience with his “Mirrors” speech. Musical composer Nick Littlemore created the music for the amazing aerial duet “Rae.” There were incredible contortionists, taiko drummers, gymnastics, aerial artists, a wickedly suggestive yoga instructor and a tall, stacked chair balancer.
It’s sad in a sense that the show was only for one night because there were so many happenings onstage and within the theater, it was impossible to absorb it all. Thankfully, TV cameras recorded it, and we’ll get the opportunity to see it online next month.
{ SOURCE: Robin Leach, Las Vegas Sun | http://goo.gl/N9do67 }
