Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter.
Guess what? Cirque 2016 – the new touring show set to debut next spring – has a name! Although I do know what it is I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but fear not… an official announcement is due by mid-November. Of course we’ll keep an eye out for any trademark name registrations and will let you know then!
Meanwhile, perhaps the most interesting news is that it seems as if Cirque du Soleil is embracing television in a mighty big way. Paradiso, a drama from Cirque du Soleil Media and 20th Century FOX TV, has been set up at FOX with a script commitment plus penalty. The project, which stems from the first-look deal for scripted-series Cirque Media inked with 20th TV in January, is said to be in inspired by the dreamlike style of Cirque’s shows. Paradiso explores what would happen if a character like Amelie from Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s movie went into a place like the Moulin Rouge, with exhilarating performances every week. Additionally, Cirque’s casting department posted an urgent call for a male clown for a TV Show named “Circus Kids”. Whether this is the same show, or something radically different, 2016 appears to be the year Cirque tackles television! These two will join Cirque’s “Luna Petunia”, scheduled to appear on NETFLIX Fall 2016.
But Television isn’t the only medium the NEW Cirque du Soleil is heading into. Also announced this month was Cirque’s foray into gaming and gambling with a partnership with Scientific Games. Launched at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas was Cirque du Soleil’s first branded gaming machine, based on their 2007 spectacular KOOZA. The KOOZA machine is the first of what Scientific Games hopes will be many gaming devices based on Cirque’s properties, especially those in Las Vegas. It all sounds exciting but I have mixed feelings about this development. On one hand it seems Cirque-branded slot machines is a no-brainer – the machine is entertaining and Cirque is an entertainment company – but on the other hand wonder if it’s a prudent move to associate the brand with gambling in this way. Certainly Cirque is associated with Las Vegas, and Las Vegas is known for its gaming, but why now? It just strikes me odd although I hope it works out.
But perhaps more eyebrow-raising was a piece out of the New York Times reporting wedding packages would be available for couples to wed at ZUMANITY by January 2016. The article suggested that it may be possible for couples to actually get married during the show? Interesting! In either case, the first episode of KURIOS ABOUT Webseries was released this month. You’ll find a description and link to the two-minute video in our CLUB CIRQUE section, in addition to the next C:LAB experiment (robots!), and all about TORUK’s Costumes and Characters – including links to the videos recently posted about the show).
Last month we began our exclusive interview with KURIOS drummer Kit Chatham by discussing his youth and history with Broadway show Blast! After being introduced to Cirque du Soleil by VAREKAI drummer Paul Bannerman, we pick up the story with Kit’s first experience, Corteo. Check it out! And we also continue with our look back at Guy Laliberte’s Poetic Social Mission. Last month we looked at the first steps in Guy’s adventure in “The Countdown Begins”. Now we continue our adventure as Guy gets settled in, passes a few tests, and continues his accelerated training routine (June 2009!)…
As always we also have the relevant posts made to Cirque’s Facebook pages, and updates to Cirque’s touring schedule.
So, let’s get started!
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