======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ E X P A N D E D I S S U E ------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================================================= VOLUME 12, NUMBER 2 February 2012 ISSUE #97e ======================================================================= =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues * BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau * Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre * Venue Shows -- Venue & Seasonal Productions o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets * Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub * Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Flickr o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain * Historia -- Cirque du Soleil's History o) Fascination! Features * "CirqueWeek 2011: A Review (Part 2 of 2)" By: Ricky Russo with Barb Lewis * "Who are the Creators of AMALUNA?" By: Cirque du Soleil Press Room Materials o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Goodbye, ZED {Jan.01.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- ZED, Cirque du Soleil's fantastic show in Tokyo, Japan, had its final curtain call on December 31, 2011... and we at Fascination will miss it greatly. Below are tributes to ZED from other Cirque du Soleil productions around the world. Some celebratory, some touching, and some downright sad. < http://www.youtube.com/v/y_DMWnWZ2P8&hl > {SOURCE: YouTube} More Changes to KÀ on the Way [EXPANDED] {Jan.06.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- According to Mike Weatherford of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, more changes are on the way for Cirque du Soleil's fourth Las Vegas Strip production: KÀ, at MGM Grand: # # # When Spencer Novich auditioned for Cirque du Soleil, he had to call home to double-check one questionnaire point with his mom: Are you afraid of heights? "No, you're fine," she assured him. Good thing. Before long, he was in the cast of "Ka," taking part in a nightly battle that suspends him on wires, dangling him over a near-vertical deck nearly 120 feet in the air. "I just started getting up on the wall and doing it," Novich says. "In everyday life you're not going to be up there with that perspective. But you get used to it." But not too used to it. As the biggest show on the Strip notched its seventh anniversary in November, Cirque du Soleil's epic continues to undergo tweaks and changes to keep it fresh. "The idea is if you keep this show being a work piece, it's fun for everybody," says artistic director Marie-Hélène Gagnon. "Everybody has an opinion (and) not coming in, clocking in, doing the thing you do and then going home, which would be a killer for anybody who likes to work the stage." The creative team recently overhauled that climactic battle scene, a dazzler in which the show's opposing forces go at it on the wall, letting the audience watch as if from overhead. Audiences aren't really expected to notice that the fighting is more realistic, with a few more characters involved. But both efforts reflect the twin goals of the creators: adding more action and clarifying the story in the only Cirque production that tells one. "There is a story in the show. The idea of all these little tweakings are to serve it better," Gagnon says. The MGM Grand epic was Cirque's fourth resident show on the Strip, and still stands as the pinnacle of a seemingly unstoppable Las Vegas in the mid-2000s. It was still possible then to spend upward of $165 million on a production that would rewrite the rules for what could be done on a live stage. "Ka" was Cirque's grand opera (without the singing), and it hired Robert Lepage, a director skilled in opera, to pull it off. (Of late he's been restaging Wagner's "Ring" cycle for the Metropolitan Opera). The three Las Vegas Cirques that followed ("Love," "Believe" and "Viva Elvis") focused more on specific themes than spectacle, leaving "Ka" unchallenged in the sheer grandeur of sinking ships, flying machines and the giant Wheel of Death. But it's not based on familiar source material, so the separate adventures of a twin brother and sister, separated by an early attack on their people, could be difficult to follow from distant rows. In late 2007, an aerial adagio between the sister and a Tarzan-like character, officially known as Firefly Boy, replaced some acrobatics that took place on the ground, adding love interest to the story. The action, particularly in that climactic battle, "was more of a choreographed dance," says Joe Cameron, the acrobatic coach who restaged the battle. "We're working on our fight scenes to make them more realistic and more technical." "When they created the show in the first place they had to get it done, and there were all the acts in the show they had to rehearse, and I guess they didn't really have a whole lot of time to perfect their skill on the wall," he notes. "Over the seven years they've gotten better and better." With some performers logging hundreds of shows on that wall, Cameron says it was time to say, "Let's see what you got. They were able to do so much more than they were able to do seven years ago." The battle also adds characters and rearranges them to fit the story. "What I wanted is to have the twins who had lost their kingdom lead the battle that would get them back there," Gagnon says. After "Ka" takes a vacation in the second half of January, creators will begin reworking other sequences, such as the battle on a ship tossed at sea. It's part of a larger marketing effort to distinguish each Cirque title from the other, and to position "Ka" as "this epic adventure," Novich notes. "That seems like something people have this base interest in. To see something like that onstage is an incredible feat." One such marketing move took the battle scene to the opening night of Comic-Con in San Diego last summer, staging it on the vertical wall of Petco Park baseball stadium. Comic geeks in the audience couldn't be any more delighted than Pierre-Luc Sylvain, who plays Firefly Boy. "I became an acrobat because I'm a big Spider-Man fan. I wanted to be Spider-Man," he says. "So when I have a chance to be vertical on a wall and just fly around, that's a dream come true for me." {SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal} MJ to be Honored; Immortal Performers to Present {Jan.06.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- According to NME.com, Michael Jackson is to be honors with an imprint at a popular tourist site on Hollywood Boulevard. # # # The late King of Pop's children Prince, Paris and Blanket are to make their mark with their father's shoes and sequined glove at the historic site outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre on January 26, reports AFP. The cast of Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, a Cirque du Soleil show, are set to make a presentation at the event. The site also features the prints of legendary stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Fred Astaire, Sidney Poitier and Clark Gable. Jackson's estate commented that the nod recognized the singer's groundbreaking short films for songs such as 'Thriller', 'Billie Jean' and 'Beat It'. {SOURCE: NME.com} Cirque Workers' Art on Display {Jan.06.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- LAS VEGAS (FOX5) - The beauty of Cirque du Soleil can now be seen in original art pieces. "PARADE, The Collective" features artwork created by the employees of the Cirque du Soleil productions. The exhibit starts Thursday and lasts until Jan. 26 inside the Arts Factory on W. Charleston and S. Casino Center boulevards in downtown Las Vegas. From photography to fabric and ceramic sculptures, no limitations were set for the exhibition, organizers said This is the seventh art collection from the artistic group created to encourage and support the artistic freedom of its employees. {SOURCE: KVVU.com} Paramount to Distribute Cirque's 3D Film - "World's Away" {Jan.10.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- Paramount Pictures has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the James Cameron-produced Cirque du Soleil 3D feature film, the studio announced Tuesday. "Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away" - which will feature performances from various Cirque du Soleil productions - is written and directed by Andrew Adamson ("Shrek," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"). It is executive produced by Cameron, and produced by Adamson and Aron Warner, along with Cirque's Martin Bolduc and Ed Jones and Cary Granat. Warner and Adamson's Strange Weather Productions, Reel FX and Cameron Pace Group all contributed to this groundbreaking production. A release date has not been set. "The coupling of filmmaker James Cameron's groundbreaking 3D visual accomplishments and Andrew Adamson's beautiful direction, combined with a timeless original story written especially for this movie, will make for a truly amazing moviegoeing experience for audiences of all ages," Paramount Pictures Vice Chairman Rob Moore said in a statement. "This 3D event brings the spectator beyond what they could see at a show, it takes them on the stage," said Jacques Méthé, Executive Producer, General Manager, Images, Events, Lifestyle of Cirque du Soleil. "This unique point of view allows the audience to discover the artistic details of our productions and reveal the human spirit that our artists bring to the audience in their performances. Jim and Andrew have masterfully captured what a Cirque du Soleil 3D experience could offer and Paramount will present it to the world." {SOURCE: Reuters} IRIS Packing Up; Back March 27th {Jan.12.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- A lot of glitter trails Cirque du Soleil's arrival in any given town, and a lot of excited ballyhoo proceeds it. And "IRIS," the cinema-focused show currently housed at the Kodak Theatre, had plenty of talk even prior to its debut. Perhaps, even, more than most Cirque productions. Why, in particular? Because the Kodak Theatre is famously home to a famous little show starring a golden metal man named Oscar. Meaning that two major productions, one ongoing and one for one- night-only, would essentially have to take turns. And taking turns between a Cirque show and the Academy Awards? Not quite as easy as letting someone else on the swingset for a few minutes. With that in mind, "IRIS" is set to shutter, temporarily, following its Sunday, Jan. 22 show. The Oscars are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 26, and then a Cirque rep says the circus'll be back in town, and at the Kodak "in March" with a specific date to be determined. (Update: The date is tentatively set as March 27.) {SOURCE: NBC4 Los Angeles} CRAVE's Top 10 Cirque shows in Las Vegas [EXPANDED] {Jan.12.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil has become synonymous with Sin City. With seven productions settled into ongoing runs at separate Las Vegas hotels – and an eighth on the way when Cirque's Michael Jackson- themed show opens at the Mandalay Bay in 2013 – the Montreal- based circus extraordinaire holds the elite reputation of putting on the shows Vegas visitors must see. With that in mind, choosing the most amazing acts from the spectrum of Cirque's Las Vegas titles is a juggling challenge worth of a French-Canadian acrobat. But, after combing through the seven successful nightly shindigs, Crave Online serves up The Top 10 Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas Moments: 1) “Pursuit” from KA at the MGM Grand KA feels like the most epic of Cirque’s Vegas offerings, and this number is the action-packed highlight of the show. This mix of battle and chase features acrobats deftly maneuvering all around the show’s vertical Sand Cliff Deck Stage. A gantry crane can lift the Sand Cliff Deck 72 feet, rotate 360 degrees and tilt from flat to 110 degrees — all at the same time. The deck is powered by five 250-horsepower pumps and a 4,000-gallon oil reservoir. 2) “Man on Fire” from O at The Bellagio The title says it all. Ray Wold, an original cast member with the show who hasn't missed a performance in the last 12 1/2 years (or 6,000 + performances) burns before your eyes in an artistic way that only Cirque can serve up. He spends about 2 1/2 minutes in a full body burn per show. 3) “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” from The Beatles Love at The Mirage The trippier, psychedelic era of The Beatles’ career serves Cirque do Soleil’s ethereal style perfectly. So, when John Lennon sings, “Climb in the back with your head in the clouds…And you're gone,” that’s the cue for the titular, beautiful aerial performer to soar through the theater – end to end and back again – at a speed rarely seen in even a Cirque show. 4) “The Wheel of Death” from KA at the MGM Grand The second entry from the MGM’s massive offering feature’s that show’s jump rope acrobats maintaining their speed rope rhythm while spinning in huge rotating cages high above the stage. Not only do the performers keep their ropes spinning, the momentum of their jumping rotates the cages. 5) “One Night with You” from Viva Elvis at The Aria The original Elvis Presley hit was intended as a passionate love song from a man dreaming of just one night alone with the object of his desire. But, Viva Elvis, the massively entertaining tribute to Presley, transforms the song into a lament for Elvis’ still born twin brother, Jesse Garon. As Elvis pleads for just one night playing with the brother he never knew, two acrobats swing from a huge guitar suspended high above the stage. The song is a duet between Presley and a female singer who symbolizes Elvis' mother, serenading the son she lost. The whole effect is one of Cirque’s more moving moments. 6) “The Hoops” from Zumanity at New York, New York Perhaps the best marriage of dance, acrobatics and sexiness from Cirque’s sensual adult show, the incredibly lithe and lean hoop artist Julia Kolosova combines her hips with her aerial skills to keep countless rings rotating from stage to ceiling. 7) “Help!” from The Beatles Love at The Mirage Love: Four fab inline skaters in matching mop-tops roll into an intricately choreographed skate ramp number set to The Beatles song, Help. Not only does it play out almost faster than the eye can take it in, but the joyful celebration of the band’s earlier sound offers a upbeat change of pace during the show. 8) “Got A Lot of Livin‘ to Do” from Viva Elvis at The Aria The King loved comic books and claims that he always imagined himself as the hero in any comic. To celebrate that, Viva Elvis offers this trampoline number inspired by street acrobatics. Seven acrobats in stylized, masked superhero costumes defy gravity in a “cavalcade of synchronized jumps, leaps and bounces.” 9) “Hand to Hand” from Mystere at Treasure Island While many of Cirque’s big Vegas involved massive production values and sensory stunning visuals, this is a return to the simpler, earlier days of Cirque as two male performers display feats of acrobatic strength, balance and coordination as they defy physics with their various tandem poses. 10) “Motorcycle” from Criss Angel Believe at Luxor Believe is the only Vegas Cirque show not built around an original Cirque performer. Criss Angel’s production is a departure from other shows in the line as it deals primarily with illusion, and this moment might be the most impressive trick in the program. For the motorcycle illusion, Angel makes a motorcycle appear onstage out of thin air. It’s obviously high- tech trickery, but it kills the audience every time. {SOURCE: Crave Online} Cirque 2012 is... AMALUNA! {Jan.16.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil unveils a new touring show! AMALUNA Directed by Diane Paulus IN MONTREAL'S OLD PORT STARTING APRIL 19. Tickets on sale today. Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to announce the launch of a new creation in Montreal presented by Desjardins Group : Amaluna. Directed by Diane Paulus, a renowned theatre director from New York, Amaluna will be presented under the Grand Chapiteau on the Quays of the Old Port of Montreal as of April 19, and at the Port de Québec as of July 25. THE SHOW Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter's coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honours femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next. In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera's daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony. THE NAME Amaluna is a fusion of the words ama, which refers to "mother" in many languages, and luna, which means "moon," a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where the story unfolds. DIANE PAULUS Diane Paulus is the Artistic Director of the A.R.T. (American Repertory Theatre). Her recent work with A.R.T. includes The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, a new production adapted by Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, and OBIE-winning composer Diedre Murray, playing on Broadway; Prometheus Bound; Death and The Powers: The Robots' Opera, a new opera by Tod Machover in collaboration with MIT Media Lab, which world premiered at l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo; The Donkey Show, a disco adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which ran for six years Off-Broadway and toured internationally; Best of Both Worlds, and Johnny Baseball. Diane's other recent theatre credits include the Public Theatre's Tony-Award winning revival of HAIR on Broadway and London's West End and, as an opera director, The Magic Flute (Canadian Opera Company), Il mondo della luna at the Hayden Planetarium in New York, Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Turn Of The Screw, Cosi fan tutte, and the Monteverdi trilogy Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, L'incoronazione di Poppea, and Orfeo at the Chicago Opera Theatre. Diane is a Professor of the Practice of Theatre in Harvard University's English Department and was recently named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Boston by Boston Magazine. She is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Boston Conservatory. This is Diane Paulus' first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. THE CREATIVE TEAM Amaluna's creative team comprises 16 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté: o) Guy Laliberté - Artistic Guide o) Fernand Rainville - Director of Creation o) Diane Paulus - Director o) Scott Pask - Set and Props Designer o) Mérédith Caron - Costume Designer o) Bob & Bill - Composers o) Jacques Boucher - Sound Designer o) Matthieu Larrivée - Lighting Designer o) Karole Armitage - Choreographer o) Debra Brown - Acrobatic Choreographer o) Caitlan Maggs - Acrobatic Choreographer o) Rob Bollinger - Acrobatic Performance Designer o) Fred Gérard - Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer o) Patricia Ruel - Props Designer o) Eleni Uranis - Makeup Designer o) Randy Weiner - Dramaturge TICKET INFORMATION As of today, tickets are on sale for Amaluna's performances in Montreal (starting April 19) and Quebec City (starting July 25). Tickets can be purchased online at www.cirquedusoleil.com. SPONSORS AND PARTNERS Amaluna is presented by Desjardins Group, the presenting sponsor of the 2012 Canadian tour of the show. Infiniti, CGI, Xerox and Rogers are the official sponsors. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL Amaluna is Cirque du Soleil's 32nd production since 1984. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit AMALUNA's Official Website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/amaluna.aspx > Visit AMALUNA on FaceBook: < http://www.facebook.com/AmalunaCirque > {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} OVO: How to make costumes that look like bugs [EXPANDED] {Jan.19.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- Are we insects or are we dancers? "I was always fascinated by insects since I was a child. I would go into my backyard and look under rocks, to see what the insects were doing," says costumer Liz Vandal, whose first assignment for Cirque du Soleil is Ovo, a show about the insect universe. "I educated myself on how useful the insects were," Vandal explains. "I wanted to know how they survived, and I grew to understand how without humans, the world would be better" for insects. Vandal says Ovo's first challenge was to "evoke" the world of insects from their point of view, trying to imagine, say, what a spider looks like to other spiders. "This was a challenge because that's not the way we think, and knowing insects the way I did, of course I wanted to put on wings and antennae. Then sometimes I chose not to. How do you evoke a cockroach? Being human, you say, uuugggh, they're so ugly, but if you're a cockroach, you say, 'Hey, look at the abdomen on that guy.'?" The other challenge, she says, was keeping dancers comfortable. She's been costuming dancers for 20 years, and says the costume must enhance the dancer but not bother him. Her costumes are built on Lycra foundations onto which she layered polyester. Still, a concern was raised about trying to make it a "green" show, one that uses only natural fibers. "Then we realized that natural fibers would break easily, so it was 'greener' to use synthetics, and polyesters permitted us to print on them and add on all these textures," she says. "It may not be chic, but polyester is the key." Polyester typically makes dancers sweat, so the dancers instead wear a layer of Lycra to protect the skin, and the decorative polyester is only "in sections on top of the Lycra," Vandal says. She adds that the word "insect" comes from the Greek insecta, which means sections. "This show made me fall in love with them all over again," she says. "I grew to become a complete groupie of insects." {SOURCE: LA Weekly} Eiko Ishioka, 73 [EXPANDED] {Jan.27.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- Eiko Ishioka, who earned an Oscar for the costumes in "Bram Stoker's Dracula," a Grammy for her design of Miles Davis' album "Tutu" and two Tony nominations for her work on "M. Butterfly," died of pancreatic cancer on Saturday in Tokyo. She was 73. Ishioka's wide-ranging career also included designing the costumes for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and for 2002 Cirque du Soleil show "Varekai." She was also the visual artistic director for David Copperfield's 1996 Broadway magic show "Dreams and Nightmares." The designer worked on four films directed by Tarsem Singh in which her costumes were key to the densely colorful, visually extravagant and surrealistic aesthetic: “The Cell,” starring Jennifer Lopez; “The Fall”; Singh’s big-budget 2011 effort in 3D “Immortals”; and “Mirror Mirror,” the helmer’s take on Snow White set for release in March. Also recently, Ishioka created the costumes for Broadway’s high- profile musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.” She was the production designer and uncredited costume designer on Paul Schrader’s highly regarded 1985 film “Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters”; for her work, she, together with the cinematographer and composer, received a special prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Ishioka she also directed videos for Bjork. The New York Times said Ishioka’s aesthetic, which married East and West, “simultaneously embraced the gothic, the otherworldly, the dramatic and the unsettling and was suffused with a powerful, dark eroticism. Her work, whose outsize stylization dazzled some critics and discomforted others, was provocative in every possible sense of the word, and it was meant to be.” Ishioka was born in Tokyo, attended Tokyo National U. of Fine Arts and Music, trained as a graphic designer and became widely known for her work in Japan. She is survived by her husband, Nicholas Soultanakis, whom she married in 2011; her mother; two brothers; and a sister. {SOURCE: Variety} MJ Immortal to Europe Beginning October 2012 {Jan.31.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- MONTREAL, Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil announced today that the European tour of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour will begin in October 2012 following its highly successful North American tour, which has thrilled more than 600,000 people since the October 2011 World Premiere in Montreal. This once-in-a-lifetime electrifying production combines the excitement and innovation of Michael Jackson's music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil's unparalleled creativity to give fans worldwide a unique view into the spirit, passion and heart of the artistic genius who forever transformed global pop culture. Written and directed by Jamie King, the show includes more than 60 international dancers, musicians and acrobats. The European tour of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour will premiere in London at the O2 Arena on October 12, 2012 with a charity benefit as part of the opening night festivities. The tour will then travel to select cities in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Spain. Additional cities and dates will be announced in the coming months. A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael's creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour unfolds Michael Jackson's artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing Michael's creative genius for the first time, the show captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations. THE IMMORTAL World Tour takes place in a fantastical realm where we discover Michael's inspirational wellspring of creativity. The secrets of Michael's inner world are unlocked-his love of music and dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature. The underpinnings of THE IMMORTAL World Tour are Michael Jackson's powerful, inspirational music and lyrics-the driving force behind the show-brought to life in Michael's own voice backed by some of the very musicians who accompanied him in concert with extraordinary power and breathless intensity. Through unforgettable performances Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour underscores Michael's global messages of love, peace and unity. This innovative reimagining of Michael's music, overseen by musical designer Kevin Antunes, can be found on the Epic Records release Immortal both in single disc and deluxe double disc. Writer and Director Jamie King is a multiple Emmy Award and MTV Video Music Award nominee and has choreographed some of the most popular music videos and directed some of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. For the past 12 years, he has served as Madonna's creative director, and most recently directed world tours for Rihanna, Celine Dion, Spice Girls and Britney Spears. King has worked with an array of superstars including Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Shakira, George Michael, Elton John, Diana Ross and Jennifer Lopez. This is Jamie's first show with Cirque du Soleil. For tour schedule and ticket information, please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/michaeljackson. FALL 2012 EUROPEAN TOUR SCHEDULE October 12 -- London, UK -- O2 Arena October 24-25 -- Herding, DK -- Jyske Bank Boxen October 27-28 -- Copenhagen, DK -- Parken November 2-3 -- Stockholm, SWE -- Ericsson Globe Arena November 6 -- Helsinki, FIN -- Hartwall Areena November 16-17 -- Frankfurt, DE -- Festhalle November 20-21 -- Oberhausen, DE -- Koenig-Pilsener November 24-25 -- Munich, DE -- Olympichalle` November 28 -- Hannover, DE -- TUI Arena December 1-2 -- Vienna, AT -- Stadhalle December 5-6 -- Manheim, DE -- SAP Arena December 8-9 -- Leipzig, DE -- Leipzig Arena December 11-12 -- Hamburg, DE -- O2 World-Hamburg Arena December 15-16 -- Cologne, DE -- Lanxess Arena December 19-20 -- Berlin, DE -- O2 World Arena December 27-30 -- Madrid, ES -- Palacio Deportes {SOURCE: PRNewswire} ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem, Varekai & Amaluna} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Saltimbanco, Alegría, Quidam, Dralion & Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour} o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, ZAIA, Believe & VIVA Elvis} o) VENUE - Venue & Seasonal productions {Iris & Zarkana} 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. .) Dates so marked (*) are not official until released by Cirque du Soleil. 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 ------------------------------------ Amaluna: Montreal, QC -- Apr 19, 2012 to Jul 15, 2012 Quebec, QC -- Jul 25, 2012 to Aug 19, 2012 Toronto, ON -- Sep 5, 2012 to Sep 30, 2012 Vancouver, BC -- TBA Corteo: Barcelona, ES -- Jan 20, 2012 to Mar 11, 2012 Amsterdam, NL -- Mar 22, 2012 to Jun 3, 2012 Antwerp, BE -- Jun 13, 2012 to Jun 28, 2012 Gijón, ES -- Jul 25, 2012 to Aug 26, 2012 Zurich, CH -- Aug 31, 2012 to TBA Berlin, DE -- Nov 28, 2012 to TBA Koozå: Fukuoka, JPN -- Feb 9, 2012 to Apr 1, 2012 Phoenix, AZ -- Jun 7, 2012 to TBA Houston, TX -- Jul 26, 2012 to TBA Dallas, TX -- Sep 19, 2012 to TBA Tampa, FL -- Nov 8, 2012 to TBA London, UK -- Jan 2013 to TBA Ovo: Santa Monica, CA -- Jan 20, 2012 to Mar 25, 2012 Portland, OR -- Apr 5, 2012 to May 13, 2012 Brisbane, AU -- Jul 13, 2012 to TBA Sydney, AU -- Sep 12, 2012 to TBA Melbourne, AU -- Dec 5, 2012 to TBA Adelaide, AU -- Feb 27, 2013 to TBA Perth, AU -- Apr 13, 2012 to TBA Totem: London, UK -- Jan 5, 2010 to Feb 16, 2012 San Jose, CA -- Mar 2, 2012 to Apr 8, 2012 San Diego, CA -- Apr 25, 2012 to May 13, 2012 Boston, MA -- Jun 10, 2012 to TBA Washington, DC -- Jul 11, 2012 to TBA Atlanta, GA -- Oct 25, 2012 to TBA New York, NY -- Nov 19, 2012 to TBA Varekai: Rio De Janeiro, BR -- Dec 8, 2011 to Jan 8, 2012 Belo Horizonte, BR -- Jan 19, 2012 to Feb 12, 2012 Brasilia, BR -- Feb 23, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 Recife, BR -- Mar 30, 2012 to Apr 8, 2012 Salvador, BR -- May 3, 2012 to May 13, 2012 Curitiba, BR -- Jun 7, 2012 to Jul 1, 2012 Porto Alegre, BR -- Jul 11, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012 Buenos Aires, AR -- Aug 17, 2012 to Sep 16, 2012 Santiago, CL -- Sep 28, 2012 to Oct 28, 2012 Lima, PE -- Nov 16, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Bogota, CO -- Jan 10, 2012 to Feb 24, 2013 ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Saltimbanco: Sofia, BG -- Feb 3, 2012 to Feb 5, 2012 Bucharest, RO -- Feb 8, 2012 to Feb 12, 2012 Bratislava, SK -- Feb 15, 2012 to Feb 19, 2012 Graz, AT -- Feb 22, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012 Bordeaux, FR -- Mar 2, 2012 to Mar 4, 2012 Dijon, FR -- Mar 9, 2012 to Mar 11, 2012 Rome, IT -- Mar 15, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 Manila, PH -- Aug 9, 2012 to Aug 19, 2012 Alegría: Nantes, FR -- Feb 1, 2012 to Feb 5, 2012 Lyon, FR -- Feb 23, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012 Toulon, FR -- Feb 29, 2012 to Mar 4, 2012 Nice, FR -- Mar 7, 2012 to Mar 11, 2012 Montpellier, FR -- Mar 14, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 Strasbourg, FR -- Mar 21, 2012 to Mar 25, 2012 Brussels, BE -- Mar 28, 2012 to Apr 1, 2012 Manchester, UK -- Apr 4, 2012 to Apr 7, 2012 Glasgow, UK -- Apr 11, 2012 to Apr 15, 2012 Birmingham, UK -- Apr 18, 2012 to Apr 22, 2012 Dublin, IE -- Apr 25, 2012 to Apr 29, 2012 Budapest, HU -- May 17, 2012 to May 20, 2012 Prague, CZ -- May 23, 2012 to May 27, 2012 Hambgurg, DE -- May 30, 2012 to Jun 3, 2012 Hanover, DE -- Jun 6, 2012 to Jun 10, 2012 Nuremberg, DE -- Jun 13, 2012 to Jun 17, 2012 Vienna, AT -- Jun 20, 2012 to Jun 24, 2012 Belgrade, RS -- Jun 29, 2012 to Jul 1, 2012 Tel Aviv, IL -- Aug 8, 2012 to Aug 18, 2012 Lille, FR -- Nov 21, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012 Paris, FR -- Nov 28, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012 Quidam: Detroit, MI -- Feb 2, 2012 to Feb 5, 2012 Hoffman Estates, IL -- Feb 8, 2012 to Feb 12, 2012 Springfield, IL -- Feb 15, 2012 to Feb 19, 2012 Baton Rouge, LA -- Feb 22, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012 Austin, TX -- Feb 29, 2012 to Mar 4, 2012 Frisco, TX -- Mar 7, 2012 to Mar 11, 2012 San Antonio, TX -- Mar 14, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 Champaign, IL -- Mar 21, 2012 to Mar 25, 2012 Roanoke, VA -- Mar 28, 2012 to Apr 1, 2012 Knoxville, TN -- Apr 4, 2012 to Apr 8, 2012 Evansville, IN -- Apr 26, 2012 to Apr 29, 2012 Green Bay, WI -- May 1, 2012 to May 2, 2012 Rockford, IL -- Jun 13, 2012 to Jun 17, 2012 St. Louis, MO -- Jun 20, 2012 to Jun 24, 2012 Indianapolis, IN -- Jun 27, 2012 to TBA Winnipeg, MB -- Jul 19, 2012 to Jul 22, 2012 Regina, SK -- Jul 25, 2012 to Jul 29, 2012 Edmonton, AB -- Aug 8, 2012 to Aug 12, 2012 Kamloops, BC -- Aug 15, 2012 to Aug 19, 2012 Kelowna, BC -- Aug 22, 2012 to Aug 26, 2012 Abbotsford, BC -- Aug 29, 2012 to Sep 2, 2012 Victoria, BC -- Sep 5, 2012 to Sep 9, 2012 Honolulu, HI -- Oct 4, 2012 to Oct 14, 2012 Dralion: Loveland, CO -- Feb 2, 2012 to Feb 5, 2012 Broomfield, CO -- Feb 8, 2012 to Feb 12, 2012 El Paso, TX -- Feb 15, 2012 to Feb 19, 2012 Colorado Springs, CO -- Feb 22, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012 Rio Rancho, NM -- Feb 29, 2012 to Mar 4, 2012 Laredo, TX -- Mar 6, 2012 to Mar 7, 2012 Corpus Christi, TX -- Mar 9, 2012 to Mar 11, 2012 Hidalgo, TX -- Mar 14, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 College Station, TX -- Mar 21, 2012 to Mar 25, 2012 Highland Heights, KY -- Mar 28, 2012 to Apr 1, 2012 Cleveland, OH -- Apr 4, 2012 to Apr 8, 2012 Hamilton, ON -- Apr 26, 2012 to Apr 29, 2012 Halifax, NS -- May 2, 2012 to May 6, 2012 Saint John, NB -- May 9, 2012 to May 13, 2012 London, ON -- May 16, 2012 to May 20, 2012 Rochester, NY -- May 23, 2012 to May 27, 2012 Manchester, NH -- May 30, 2012 to Jun 3, 2012 Syracuse, NY -- Jun 6, 2012 to Jun 10, 2012 Bridgeport, CT -- Jun 13, 2012 to Jun 17, 2012 Rosemont, IL -- Jun 20, 2012 to Jun 24, 2012 Chicago, IL -- Jun 27, 2012 to Jul 1, 2012 Sunrise, FL -- Jul 19, 2012 to Jul 29, 2012 Estero, FL -- Aug 1, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012 Richmond, VA -- Aug 8, 2012 to Aug 12, 2012 Raleigh, NC -- Aug 15, 2012 to Aug 19, 2012 Baltimore, MD -- Aug 22, 2012 to Aug 26, 2012 Atlantic City, NJ -- Aug 29, 2012 to Sep 2, 2012 Pittsburgh, PA -- Sep 5, 2012 to Sep 9, 2012 CHarleston, WV -- Sep 12, 2012 to Sep 16, 2012 Minneapolis, MN -- Sep 19, 2012 to Sep 23, 2012 Ontario, CA -- Oct 24, 2012 to Oct 28, 2012 Long Beach, CA -- Oct 31, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012 San Deigo, CA -- Nov 14, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012 Phoenix, AZ -- Nov 21, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012 Topeka, KS -- Dec 5, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012 Tulsa, OK -- Dec 12, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Okalahoma City, OK -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour: St. Louis, MO -- Feb 7 & 8, 2012 Houston, TX -- Feb 10, 11, & 12, 2012 New Orleans, LA -- Feb 15 & 16, 2012 Tulsa, OK -- Feb 18 & 19, 2012 Kansas City, MO -- Feb 21 & 22, 2012 Indianapolis, IN -- Feb 24 & 25, 2012 Orlando, FL -- Feb 28 & 29, 2012 Miami, FL -- Mar 2, 3 & 4 2012 Jacksonville, FL -- Mar 7 & 8, 2012 Raleigh, NC -- Mar 10 & 11, 2012 Charlotte, NC -- Mar 13 & 14, 2012 Milwaukee, WI -- Mar 16 & 17, 2012 Montreal, QC -- Mar 20, 21 & 22, 2012 Quebec, QC -- Mar 24 & 25, 2012 Minneapolis, MN -- Mar 27 & 28, 2012 Newark, NJ -- Mar 30 & Apr 1, 2012 New York City, NY -- Apr 3, 4 & 5, 2012 Long Island, NY -- Apr 7 & 8, 2012 Philadelphia, PA -- Apr 10 & 11, 2012 Pittsburg, PA -- Apr 13, 14 & 15, 2012 State College, PA -- Apr 24 & 25, 2012 Columbia, SC -- Apr 27 & 28, 2012 Hartford, CT -- May 2 & 3, 2012 Baltimore, MD -- May 5 & 6, 2012 Worcester, MA -- May 16 & 17, 2012 Quebec, QC -- May 19 & 20, 2012 Dayton, OH -- Jun 6, 7 & 8, 2012 Columbus, OH -- Jun 9 & Jun 10, 2012 Nashville, TN -- Jun 12 & 13, 2012 Austin, TX -- Jun 15, 2012 San Antonio, TX -- Jun 23, 2012 Atlanta, GA -- Jun 29 & 30, 2012 Montreal, QC -- Jul 6 & Jul 7, 2012 Washington, DC -- Jul 13, 14 & 15 2012 Cleveland, OH -- Jul 17 & 18, 2012 Chicago, IL -- Jul 20 & 21, 2012 Ottawa, ON -- Jul 24 & 25, 2012 Boston, MA -- Aug 3 & 4, 2012 Los Angeles, CA -- Aug 14 & 15, 2012 Salt Lake City -- Aug 21, 2012 Europe 2012: ------------ London, UK -- Oct 12, 2012 Herding, DK -- Oct 24 & 25, 2012 Copenhagen, DK -- Oct 27 & 28, 2012 Stockholm, SE -- Nov 2 & 3, 2012 Helsinki, FI -- Nov 6, 2012 Frankfurt, DE -- Nov 16 & 17, 2012 Oberhausen, DE -- Nov 20 & 21, 2012 Munich, DE -- Nov 24 & 25, 2012 Hannover, DE -- Nov 28, 2012 Vienna, AT -- Dec 1 & 2, 2012 Manheim, DE -- Dec 5 & 6, 2012 Leipzig, DE -- Dec 8 & 9, 2012 Hamburg, DE -- Dec 11 & 12, 2012 Cologne, DE -- Dec 15 & 16, 2012 Berlin, DE -- Dec 19 & 20, 2012 Madrid, ES -- Dec 27 to Dec 30, 2012 --------------------------------- RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre --------------------------------- NOTE: (*) Prices are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise noted. (*) Ticket prices exclude the 10% Live Entertainment Tax, the $7.50 per-ticket processing fee, and sales tax where applicable. Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): o Category 1: $109.00 / $54.50 o Category 2: $99.00 / $49.50 o Category 3: $79.00 / $39.50 o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50 o Category 5: $60.00 / $30.00 (Limited View) 2012 Dark Dates: o January 14 - February 8 o May 12 - 16 o September 8 - 12 o November 14 "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm Ticket Prices: o Orchestra: $150.00 o Loggia: $130.00 o Balcony: $99.00 o Limited View: $93.50 2012 Dark Dates: o February 5 - 8 o April 9 - 15 o June 10 o August 6 - 12 o October 14 & 17 o December 3 - 18 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm Ticket Prices (adults) / (child 3-9): o Category 0: $120.00 / $97.00 o Category 1: $105.00 / $85.00 o Category 2: $85.00 / $69.00 o Category 3: $69.00 / $56.00 o Category 4: $55.00 / $45.00 2012 Dark Dates: o January 17-21 o March 20 o May 15-26 o July 24 o September 18-22 o November 27 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday Dark: Wednesday & Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm Ticket Prices (18+ Only!): o Duo Sofas: $129.00 o Orchestra Seats: $105.00 o Upper Orchestra Seats: $79.00 o Balcony Seats: $69.00 o Cabaret Stools: $69.00 2012 Dark Dates: o TBA KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): o Category 1: $150.00 / $75.00 o Category 2: $130.00 / $65.00 o Category 3: $99.00 / $49.50 o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50 2012 Dark Dates: o TBA LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm Ticket Prices: o Lower Orchestra: $150.00 o Upper Orchestra: $130.00 o Lower Balcony: $99.00 o Middle Balcony: $93.50 2012 Dark Dates: o TBA ZAIA: Location: Venetian, Macao (China) Performs: Every Day, Dark: Wednesday One to Two Shows Daily - Times Vary Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 2-11): o VIP Seating: MOP$ 1288 / MOP$ 1288 o Reserve A: MOP$ 788 / MOP$ 394 o Reserve B: MOP$ 588 / MOP$ 294 o Reserve C: MOP$ 388 / MOP$ 194 BELIEVE: Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted into the theater. Ticket Prices (all): o Category 1: $160.00 o Category 2: $130.00 o Category 3: $109.00 o Category 4: $89.00 o Category 5: $59.00 2012 Dark Dates: o TBA VIVA ELVIS: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm Ticket Prices o Category 1: $175.00 o Category 2: $150.00 o Category 3: $125.00 o Category 4: $99.00 2012 Dark Dates: o TBA NOTE: VIVA ELVIS to close by end of 2012 -------------------------------------- VENUE - Venue & Seasonal Productions -------------------------------------- Zarkana: Moscow, RU -- Feb 4, 2012 to Apr 8, 2012 New York, NY -- May 9, 2012 to TBA IRIS: Location: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Friday @ 8:00pm Saturday @ 2:00pm and 8:00pm Sunday @ 1:00pm and 6:30pm DARK: Monday 2012 Dark Dates: o TBA Ticket Prices: Weekday Matinees: o Category Premium - $253.00 USD o Category 1 - $123.00 USD o Category 2 - $93.00 USD o Category 3 - $68.00 USD o Category 4 - $43.00 USD Saturday Matinee & All Evening Performances: o Category Premium - $253.00 USD o Category 1 - $133.00 USD o Category 2 - $103.00 USD o Category 3 - $78.00 USD o Category 4 - $43.00 USD ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub o) Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, Youtube & Twitter --------------------------------------- CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub --------------------------------------- The Kids of Liverpool Hard at Work [EXPANDED] {Jan.10.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- "Adults call it work, but it's fun," says 10-year-old David about his role in LOVE, The Beatles-inspired show by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage. Shay is one of six boys, ages 9 to 11, currently starring in the production. Called the "Kids of the Liverpool," these pint-size performers have the giant responsibility of launching the audience into a biographical journey into the world's best-known rock band, representing The Beatles as young lads growing up in Liverpool. On top of that? Homework. It's a hard day's (and night's) work at Cirque school. For three hours every day, starting at 1 p.m., the current crop of Liverpool lads are taught the school-district curriculum by a certified teacher in a classroom, located inside the Cirque du Soleil Resident Shows Division building. “It's the best school ever!” “Did they promise you a Pepsi to say that?” I joke. He shakes his head and sighs. “We're not allowed caffeine before a show.” After finishing school, the boys report to The Mirage at 5:30 p.m. and stretch for an hour with a Cirque dance instructor. She teaches them everything from pirouettes to splits to tendus, explaining why keeping bodies limber is crucial for performers. The kids are attentive, disciplined and clearly having fun. By 6:30 p.m., they're in their dressing room applying their own makeup. Four boys are needed for both shows each night, and the cast of six rotates its schedule. Parents pick them up at 11 p.m., after the second show. While the schedule is a little unorthodox for kids their age (they attend Thursday through Monday, to follow the show's performance schedule), the boys realize they've been given a rare opportunity to be part of a critically acclaimed spectacle seen by just under a million guests per year. Most auditioned three times to land their roles, and all have plans to continue careers in live theater. “Everyone here's really nice. they're like kids, too.” The Top 5 Most Watched Videos of 2011 {Jan.14.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- Let's take a look at the 5 most watched videos of 2011 on Cirque Club. 1. Cues for Success Esther Daak, General Stage Manager for Dralion talks about how she ensures a smooth show and gives a tour of the control booth. < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/photos- videos/videos/galleries/dralion-Esther-Daak-general -stage-manager.aspx > 2. Interview with Quidam's Head Rigger Head Rigger, Robert Tita, speaks about the technically complex set of Quidam. < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/photos- videos/videos/galleries/quidam-rigger.aspx > 3. The music of Michael Jackson Greg Phillinganes and Kevin Antunes, Musical Director and Musical Designer for Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil, talk about Michael's musical dynamics and their excitement to be working on this show celebrating Michael. < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/photos- videos/videos/galleries/the-music-of-michael-jackson.aspx > 4. Musical Designer Kevin Antunes Kevin Antunes tells us about Michael Jackson's music as the driving force behind the creation of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/photos- videos/videos/galleries/musical-designer-kevin-antunes.aspx > 5. A visit of Cirque du Soleil's Studio in Montreal Immerse yourself in the creative core of one of the world's largest artistic entertainment companies through the virtual visit of its unique creation centre in Montreal. < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/photos- videos/videos/galleries/grand-tour.aspx The Top 5 Most Popular Cirque Club News of 2011 {Jan.20.2012} --------------------------------------------------------- Today, we bring you the most-popular articles published on Cirque Club in 2011. Enjoy! 1. The Premiere of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-09-30-MJTIWT-Premiere.aspx > 2. The Unveiling of the New Dralion Visual < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-05-06-new-visual-dralion.aspx > 3. Alegría: Original Costume Sketches < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-05-26-alegria-costume.aspx > 4. Exclusive New Videos from Zarkana < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-05-zarkana-videos.aspx > 5. 5 Ways to Stay in Touch with Cirque du Soleil < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-09-08-join-us.aspx > --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter --------------------------------------------------- ---[ AMALUNA ]--- {Jan.18} Meet "Amaluna" Director Diane Paulus, and Director of creation Fernand Rainville, as they talk about the name of the show - catch glimpses of rehearsals too! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vr7023_JdU > {Jan.16} Catch glimpses of rehearsals of Amaluna - the show World Premieres in Montreal this spring. Ticket & Information: http://cirk.me/xsaUjn LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUvPv6GuIUY > ---[ IRIS ]--- {Jan.30} Mark Jenkins, Head of Carpentry for IRIS by Cirque du Soleil discusses the shows load-out process happening now at the Kodak Theatre! LINK ///< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS6he2TC_Nk > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {Jan.23} Here's a shot of Kooza at Fukuoka Steps! LINK /// < http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ash4/s320x320/403679_10150477025501339_ 34324811338_9048779_336714229_n.jpg > ---[ LA NOUBA ]--- {Jan.27} In case you missed it, check out Ana teaching Jen from the Disney Parks Blog a bit about aerial ballet in La Nouba! LINK /// < http://youtu.be/ItXt_45g5E4 > {Jan.23} Florida residents and Cirque Club members can see La Nouba at a special price for select performances from January 31 - March 30. Just call 407.WDW.SEAT or visit our website at www.cirquedusoleil.com/lanouba and hit the tickets & offers page for more info. See you soon! {Jan.18} If you missed the interview we did on Radio-Canada's 'Bouillant de culture,' click the link and skip to 24:26! LINK /// < http://www.radio-canada.ca/audio- video/pop.shtml#urlMedia=http://www.radio- canada.ca/Medianet/2012/CBF/Bouillant DeCulture201201071405.asx > ---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]--- {Jan.11} Great article about the show coming to The Bay Area ! Hurry up for the last tickets still available in San Jose and Oakland ! LINK // < http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_19712394 > ---[ MYSTERE ]--- {Jan.12} Hi Mystère friends! We are on a break for the next few weeks until February 11, partly to give everyone some much-needed rest but also to make some exciting changes to the show! Before we start revealing some of our new elements please join us in wishing all the best to our Highbar team who gave their final performance with Mystère last night. They will always be part of the Mystère family and we can't say enough how amazing they are - THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN!! ---[ SALTIMBANCO ]--- {Jan.29} Aadded 18 new photos to the album New Show images of Saltimbanco!! Colorful & Magical! LINK /// ---[ ZAIA ]--- {Jan.27} ZAIA team wishes all of you a Happy New Year of Dragon!! LINK /// < http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ash4/s320x320/404534_10150613284503064_ 40707978063_11060994_70914205_n.jpg > ---[ ZED ]--- {Jan.09} Added 15 new photos to the album: On the final day - Farewell. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= a.10150678873586164.492981.41326571163&type=1 > ---[ ZUMANITY ]--- {Jan.15} Zumanity celebrates its 4,000th performance!! ====================================================================== COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= o) HISTORIA - Cirque du Soleil History ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque du Soleil History ------------------------------------ * Feb.01.2008 -- Delirium opened Oberhausen, Germany * Feb.01.2008 -- Announcement that Delirium will fold in London, UK * Feb.02.2001 -- La Nouba celebrated 1000th performance [Friday, 6:00pm] * Feb.02.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Nantes, FR * Feb.02.2011 -- Koozå opened Tokyo, Japan * Feb.02.2011 -- Alegria Arena opened Laredo, TX * Feb.02.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Mobile, AL * Feb.03.2000 -- Dralion opened San Francisco, California * Feb.03.2005 -- KÀ Premiere Gala (Previews End) * Feb.04.1988 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Santa Monica (again) * Feb.04.2007 -- Cirque du Soleil performs at Super Bowl XLI. * Feb.04.2009 -- Corteo opened Tokyo, Japan * Feb.04.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened St. Charles, MO * Feb.04.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Detroit, MI * Feb.04.2010 -- OVO opened San Jose, CA * Feb.05.2007 -- iShares Announces Sponsorship of 2007-2008 US Teams * Feb.05.2008 -- Delirium opened Hanover, Germany * Feb.05.2009 -- Varekai opened Seville, Spain * Feb.06.2003 -- Dralion opened New Orleans * Feb.06.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Insbruck, AT * Feb.07.2002 -- Quidam opened Miami, Florida * Feb.07.2003 -- Region 2 DVDs released: Saltimbanco, Quidam, Dralion * Feb.07.2003 -- Quidam opened Tokyo * Feb.07.2007 -- Dralion opened Tokyo * Feb.07.2007 -- Koozå Creative Team Announced * Feb.07.2007 -- Delirium opened Moline, IL * Feb.07.2008 -- Alegria opened Sao Paulo * Feb.08.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened Hambourg * Feb.09.2001 -- Saltimbanco opened Fukuoka, Japan * Feb.09.2005 -- Alegría opened Fukuoka, Japan * Feb.09.2007 -- Corteo opened Dallas * Feb.09.2007 -- Delirium opened Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. * Feb.09.2011 -- Alegria Arena opened Hidalgo, TX * Feb.09.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Columbus, OH * Feb.10.2008 -- Delirium opened Bremen, Germany * Feb.10.2006 -- Cirque announced/launched Fashion Line * Feb.10.2008 -- Cirque du Soleil performs "A Day in the Life" from The Beatles/Cirque du Soleil LOVE at the Mirage at Grammy's. * Feb.10.2008 -- Cirque du Soleil wins 2 Grammy's for LOVE album. - "Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Medium" - "Best Surround Sound Album" * Feb.10.2011 -- Corteo opened Vienna, AT * Feb.11.1998 -- Quidam opened Dallas * Feb.11.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Indianoplis, IN * Feb.11.2010 -- Corteo opened Fukuoka, Japan * Feb.11.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Friedrichshafen, DE * Feb.12.2007 -- Cirque & Orange Business Services sign Partnership * Feb.12.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Indianapolis, IN * Feb.13.2008 -- Delirium opened Stockholm, Sweden * Feb.14.2001 -- Dralion opened Miami, Florida * Feb.14.2002 -- Saltimbanco opened Amsterdam * Feb.14.2007 -- Delirium opened Fort Wayne, IN * Feb.15.2005 -- Cirque Music available on iTunes * Feb.15.2007 -- Cirque Partners with Champ Car race * Feb.16.2001 -- Quidam opened Manchester * Feb.16.2008 -- Delirium opened Turku, Finland * Feb.16.2011 -- Alegria Arena opened Corpus Christi, TX * Feb.16.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Detroit, MI * Feb.17.2005 -- Saltimbanco (2005) CD Released (CDS Musique) * Feb.17.2007 -- Delirium opened Chicago, IL. * Feb.17.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Austin, TX * Feb.18.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Batton Rouge, LA * Feb.18.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Istanbul, TR * Feb.19.1998 -- Alegría opened Madrid * Feb.19.2002 -- Quidam Extended CD Released (BMG/CDS Musique) * Feb.19.2004 -- Alegría opened St. Petersburg * Feb.20.2007 -- Cimarron gives KÀ new visual style * Feb.20.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Memphis, TN * Feb.21.2007 -- CirqueCon's 2007 & 2008 Announced * Feb.21.2007 -- Delirium opened Kansas City, MO * Feb.22.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened Cosa Mesa * Feb.22.2000 -- Alegría: Le Film CD Released in US (RCA/Victor) * Feb.22.2007 -- Alegría opened Barcelona * Feb.23.2006 -- Alegría opened Milan * Feb.23.2011 -- Alegria Arena opened Tulsa, OK * Feb.24.2005 -- Saltimbanco opened Birmingham * Feb.24.2005 -- Varekai opened Austin * Feb.24.2007 -- Delirium opened Ames, IA * Feb.24.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Rockford, IL * Feb.24.2009 -- Varekai celebrated 2,500th performance [Seville, Spain] * Feb.24.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Frisco, TX * Feb.25.1988 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Calgary * Feb.25.2001 -- Quidam opened Manchester * Feb.25.2008 -- Delirium opened Zurich, Germany * Feb.25.2010 -- Varekai opened Manchester, UK * Feb.25.2010 -- Koozå opened San Diego, CA * Feb.25.2010 -- Banana Shpeel opened NYC (Previews) * Feb.26.2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Bilbao * Feb.26.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Charlottesville, VA * Feb.26.2009 -- Cirque & Reebok announce "Fit to Fly" * Feb.26.2009 -- Quidam opened Liverpool, UK (Temporarily Arena) * Feb.26.2010 -- Quidam opened Sao Paulo * Feb.27.2005 -- Dralion opened Amsterdam * Feb.27.2008 -- Quidam opened Veracrux, Mexico * Feb.28.2000 -- La Nouba celebrated 500th performance [Monday] * Feb.28.2002 -- Alegría opened Singapore * Feb.28.2007 -- Delirium opened Green Bay, WI * Feb.29.2008 -- Varekai opened Amsterdam * Feb.29.2008 -- Delirium opened Budapest, Hungary ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) "CirqueWeek 2011: A Review (Part 2 of 2)" By: Ricky Russo with Barb Lewis o) "Who are the Creators of AMALUNA?" By: Cirque du Soleil Press Room Materials ---------------------------------------------------------- "CirqueWeek 2011: A Review (Part 2 of 2)" By: Ricky Russo with Barb Lewis ---------------------------------------------------------- Whether you're a casual fan, an enthusiast, a Cirque devotee, a super fan or an aficionado, Cirque du Soleil has created the perfect event to satiate your appetites for all things Cirque. It's called CirqueWeek and it's a gathering of Cirque du Soleil fans (a convention if you will, similar to CirqueCon but organized not by fans but by Cirque du Soleil itself) that offers unique show and event packages with exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences. As we discussed in the first part of our article from last month, I was in town for some of the activities surrounding CirqueWeek, as were many fans of Cirque du Soleil. Last month, with the help of fellow fan and Passionate Barb Lewis (who also attended the majority of these events) we brought you Cirque Week activities from the beginning through Mystère's Bungee Demonstration on December 4th. Now let us bring you the rest of CirqueWeek 2011... /// DECEMBER 5th - ZUMANITY REHEARSAL Go Behind the Scenes with Zumanity Zumanity Theatre at NY-NY | 2:00pm - 3:00pm { Get up close & personal with the sexy artists of Zumanity! Guests will have the opportunity to sit through a live rehearsal of one of the show's acts, followed by a Q&A session with the artists and crew afterwards in the gorgeous Zumanity Theatre. } CirqueWeek attendees poured into the voluptuously sensual Zumanity Theater for the second time (the first was the "Inside Cirque" panel giving fans an exclusive peek at the business side of the show through a Q&A with company President and CEO Daniel Lamarre, joined by a panel of key executives from numerous departments from Casting to Marketing) to partake in a series of rehearsals designed to give the show's sexy vixens the wherewithal in case a particular performance did not go forward as planned. Called "what ifs," these run-throughs sketch out segments of the show whereby something crucial could go amiss, such as a missing prop, performers out sick, or what to do when a piece of equipment malfunctions. This type of rehearsal also allows for the integration of new artists into Zu's coven and tutor seasoned show performers with new marks or subtle ways to change-up their day-to-day performances. There are multiple places throughout Zumanity where a cock-up might occur, and the performers continuously rehearse "what ifs" on a weekly basis, rotating through the acts in the show. Today's rehearsal centered on young Russian artist Arslan Gusengadzhiev's bone stretching act: Dislocation. While we waited for the setup, Arslan explained to us how his skill differs from general contortion - contortionists entertain through their very limber, flexible bodies; a dislocation artist on the other hand is able to unhinge their limbs to twist themselves into unusual poses (for example, one of the poses he struk for us was a "backwards pushup" with his hands on the floor behind his back instead of in front of him - which elicited more than a few gasps from the crowd). Although Arslan is flexible and he does need to rehearse, because of the danger of repeated dislocation, as the run-throughs commenced he only performed some of the easier moves, withholding those that strain his body the most. A video monitor was available showing the entire act from start to finish helping the audience maintain the context of his performance. The first run-through was rather innocuous and straight-forward, allowing the newcomers a chance to interact with their marks first- hand and giving seasoned performers (such as silk artist Alan Jones Silva) a chance to ham it up as a John looking for a good time - and he'll pay! In fact, that's what the set-up of this performance is all about: Having no money to pay for some... companionship from the Botero Sister's harem of girls (they're running a brothel), Arslan attempts to woo the girls into a score of happy endings with his... unique talents. Does it work? (SPOILER - unfortunately not, all the men strike out and the girls come away with all their money!) The second scenario detailed what the company could do if Arslan's performance rug did not appear on the lift as it rose to performance height. It is imperative that Arslan's rug (or some kind of carpeting) be used as it is very unsafe for him to perform with his greased up body directly on the stage floor (as it would be unsafe for those performers who came out after... girls sliding around in their high heels... shameful!) Should the rug not appear with the lift, the Satyr character (the one who runs on all fours) is tasked with fetching a rug off-stage for Arslan in adequate time and make the insertion of the set piece appear seamless to the action, so nothing is amiss! [And it works quite well!] The third scenario dealt with the mechanical malfunction of a swing which lowers one of the girls down into the action on stage and then swings her back and forth as the action unfolds around her. Should the swing malfunction and not release the grips holding the performer in place, she could be crushed between two other set pieces moving on stage (in this scene, the backgrounds that make up the brothel). There are two ways the automation department can handle this situation: the first is to retract the swing to a safe point (which is programmed), which will allow the movement of the background pieces; the second is to leave her in the swing and stop the background pieces from moving, necessitating a change-up in how the girls exiting the thrust of the stage. It was all quite exciting! Following the rehearsals all the members of the ensemble came down to the thrust of the stage, introduced themselves and told the audience a little bit about who they are, what they did and how they came to Cirque du Soleil. It was quite the rare treat. From Africa to Russia and all points in between; who knew how worldly this cast really was? If you attended this activity you found out. Following a break in the CirqueWeek activities - the 6th and 7th were "off days" - festivities picked back up at the VIVA ELVIS Theater. /// DECEMBER 8th - VIVA ELVIS DEMONSTRATION Viva ELVIS Rocks the Jailhouse Elvis Theater at ARIA Resort & Casino | 2:00pm - 3:00pm { With an onstage demonstration of the Jailhouse Rock set, attendees will see what it takes to move a three-story, 90,000-lb. set piece and learn how the artists perform upside down. } If you've ever walked into the VIVA ELVIS Theater, you know it's huge. But did you know it is the fourth largest theater in North America? It's true! And that's just one of a number of amazing facts about the show CirqueWeek attendees learned at the Viva Elvis demonstration. Unfortunately, Nicole and I had to leave Las Vegas during the break in CirqueWeek activities; therefore we were not in attendance during the Viva Elvis Demonstration or the KA Battle Scene activities that followed. But Barb Lewis was there and the Company Manager, Artistic Director, Assistant Head of Rigging, and the Head of Automation expounded upon many more interesting facts, such as: In General: o) The theater is three stories high, which includes the fly lofts plus to more stories stuffed with set pieces below the stage! o) Backstage space encompasses 200 feet from left wall to right wall and the grid is 105 feet up. o) Most projections are synched with a time code. 98% of things that move in the show are manually controlled, generally from unseen places. o) There are 125 tech staff in 8 departments from wardrobe to automation working on the show. 85 people are needed to run the show every night and perform daytime cleanup. Support activities run 24/7 so it is a non-stop production! o) The rigging is inspected every day for anything life supportive. They use Genie lifts or they rappel. Weld inspectors do magnet tests twice a year. o) Cirque employs its own welders in-house. "Gotta Lotta Livin'": o) The "Gotta Lotta Livin'" set piece is monstrous, and heavy, and it flies! (There would be no room for it in the basement. It is 80 feet wide, 32 feet tall and 32 feet deep!) o) The set, which weighs 64,000 pounds, is picked up four to five times a day using a series of nine winches - four down in front and five attached at the rear. Each of the winches can pull ten times their actual weight - a Cirque du Soleil standard. o) The trampoline work performed on this set is a mix of what we see in Mystère and La Nouba. On the trampolines themselves, there are 720 springs that are changed out quarterly, Cirque replaces every other spring on a normal rotation. o) The trampoline artists are well aware when replacements are made: they are invited to check out the new tension settings and make adjustments accordingly. o) When raising the "Whole Lotta Livin,'" set less than 1/4-inch deflection is allowed. The 4 drive units are laser-guided while raising this set piece 70 feet above everyone's head. The winches have double brakes and double load capacity. They utilize safety integrated logic Level 3, the same level as used in nuclear plants. o) But why the superhero motif? Elvis was a voracious reader of comic books; Captain Marvel Jr was his idol (he wore a shorter cape; the character's symbol was a lightning bolt with the initials "TCB"), so it made sense to include this fact since VIVA ELVIS is an abstract biography of the famed performer. "Jailhouse Rock": o) The 3-story "Jailhouse Rock" set piece (60 feet wide by 45 feet deep and almost 40 feet tall) weighs 82,000 pounds and up to 36 performers really dance on the ceiling using a series of harnesses, which are hand-made for each artist and cover the entire body using a "double car system" (but don't worry, they're checked twice per show). o) Artists hang upside down while dancing for 2-5 minutes, since Cirque du Soleil doesn't want its performers to hang upside down for more than five minutes. And the artists don't dance upside down in all 10 weekly shows, they're rotated in and out to minimize any injuries performing upside down might cause. o) The "Jailhouse Rock" set piece is laser-guided; it does not move on tracks! Moving the piece takes six drive units and 650 castors. When those castors are lined up, though, it only requires three people to push it. All too soon our time with VIVA ELVIS came to an end, but before we left the theater Cirque du Soleil discussed the recent announcement that the show would close at the end of 2012, placing it into contractual context: although Cirque du Soleil entered into a 10-year contract with ARIA/City Center to present the show, ARIA did not feel it was drawing sufficient audience so it opted out at the 3-year mark set within the contract itself. So what will happen with all the equipment when the show has its final curtain call? It will all go into storage. Cirque du Soleil believes they have a good show in VIVA ELVIS ("if Zumanity is the 'sensual side of Cirque du Soleil' then VIVA ELVIS is 'the Broadway side'") and will be actively searching for a new home for The King. We wish them luck! /// DECEMBER 9th - KÀ BATTLE SCENE DEMONSTRATION KÀ "Battle 2011" Q&A KÀ Theatre at MGM Grand | 3:30pm - 4:30pm { Cirque du Soleil shows constantly evolve from the minute they open their doors for their very first performance. The finale of KÀ - the gravity-defying Battle between good and evil - has been undergoing a major transformation for more than a year to prepare for the addition of new characters to the scene. Members of the cast, Artistic and Technical teams will discuss what it takes to make such a large change to the show after more than six years and 3,000 performances. } Officiating this activity was KÀ's Artistic Director, the artist who plays the twin brother (with the show for eight years now) and one of the warrior men (doing battle in the show for five years - he was the battle captain and how he is the climb captain.) And while they were making their introductions, behind them a rehearsal of The Battle was commencing - a new performer nearly ready to enter the show was put through his paces to shakedown his costume (remember that we learned from the Mystère costuming Q&A that a correct fit is a necessity or else it could pose a safety hazard!). Although it looked like everything was progressing well an issue did crop up: while working at 80-degrees vertical his wig popped off. Luckily he was able to catch and retain the hairpiece and the rehearsal was able to continue once he and another performer reattached the wig. Meanwhile the Artistic Director told us that following CirqueWeek 2010 last year, Cirque du Soleil decided to create a special performance for Cirque Week 2011 guests, spending from nine months to a year designing, staffing and practicing a special battle performance. The original choreographer came in to help create the scene with The Twins fighting to regain their kingdom. She told us that almost everyone in the show had contributed to the special Cirque Week production and it was a fantastic performance! And then we got to the Q&A: The Battlefield Deck: o) On the upright Battlefield Deck wall there are 16 cable lines, 14 of which are used by the performers. There are 30 artists trained to perform on the Battlefield Deck, which is raised to 80 degrees (not 90 degrees). Each of the 30 artists is cross-trained on the performance duties of 3 different lines since performers in different positions on the wall act out with different movements. o) The artists control themselves! There are wireless controllers for each person's line in the vest portion of their costume, but there are limits to what an artist can do: they can only move 11 feet per second (still quite fast) and cannot move above or below the deck by themselves. When that motion is required a team of technicians at the top and bottom of the deck will take over control. o) Performers who rotate in twisting belts during battle spin on bearings. There is air in the equipment around the performers' waists. The air depletes quickly while in use, therefore, the Battlefield scene in the show runs about seven minutes. o) The show's twin brother performer explained that the angle of the Battlefield Deck is intended to give the audience a bird's-eye view of a perpendicular stage, looking right down on the top of the battle. For performers to give the illusion of warriors "walking" on the raised Battlefield Deck, artists have to hold their abdominal muscles and neck positions under super-tight control in a position needed to look like they are walking perpendicular to the raised wall. Instead of the center of gravity being related to their feet, their actual center of gravity is in their backs. As a result of these controlled muscle actions, everyone has "six-pack" abs! o) The battery packs hidden in the back of the warriors' vests and the rigging equipment for each person performing on the Battlefield Deck weighs 10 pounds. The costume contains a strobe light which the performer can use to signal if there is something wrong, the performer signals by crossing their arms about their chest and flashing the strobe. Each battery pack is fully charged before each performance so there's no need for a backup (and that extra weight!) The Sand Deck: o) The 50 foot by 25 foot six inch thick Sand Deck weights about 88,000 pounds but can move about sixty-six feet thanks to hydraulic cylinders on either side of the deck. These five cylinders, each containing 7,000 gallons of hydraulic fluid, if stood on end would reach as high as the Statue of Liberty (150 feet). Sixteen high-speed winches are used, which pull the cylinders at fourteen feet per second! o) Although it's called the "Sand Deck" no sand is actually used on it; specks of cork are used instead, custom-ground for Cirque du Soleil in Portugal. Cork is used because it is less heavy than actual sand, is softer to land on and easier to sift through. o) The cork must be maintained in a 45%-55% humidity atmosphere (a little more troublesome in a desert environment), three full-time Cirquesters are employed just to handle the substance. o) KÀ purchases about 12,000 pounds of the cork per year and uses approximately 2,000 pounds of it per show. Most of it is caught and recycled after each performance and it is replaced every three years. Plans are afoot to recycle the replaced cork it replaces into drinking coasters with the KÀ logo burned in; you might be able to find them in the boutique soon! Some of the CirqueWeek audience members were repeat visitors to the world of KÀ and wanted to know where the Pillars from the cancelled Pillars act ended up. Unfortunately the majority of those materials were recycled although there are a few placed in the green room! The performer playing the male twin role then proudly told everyone that she was the only girl performer who could do Pillars without missing a step. The warrior? He missed at least a step in every performance! At least falling isn't an issue - you'll most likely fall into an airbag! Typical airbags receiving performer falls are 10 feet by 10 feet and generally run from side to side at the front of the stage area. As one never knows when a fall may occur (whether it's scripted or unintentional) the bags are kept at a constant state of inflation. But if there is a problem with an airbag a "NO JUMP" call will be sent, and every performer on the Battlefield will grab a peg to stop the choreography - better safe than sorry. Even the "language" spoken between performers in the show (though mostly gibberish dialog) is laced with safety words in case one performer needs to grab the attention of another. And rounding out our time we found out just what Cirque du Soleil puts its artists through to see if they experience vertigo: they're asked to climb a rope to the top of the deck and sing once they get there. KÀ's performers really are versatile after all! (And happy, KÀ performs 476 shows a year and has retained 45% of its original cast!) * * * CirqueWeek had one more special activity before it all came to an end - a special VIP meet and greet (limited to 100 fans) with Criss Angel after that night's performance of his show, BELIEVE. Believe it or not - we didn't attend, bringing our time with Cirque du Soleil to an end following KÀ's special performance Friday afternoon. By in large CirqueWeek 2011 was a rousing success. But if there are any bad marks we'd give the entire endeavor it would be these: o) Ten days was just too long, with the activities too spread out amongst them. It makes it very expensive in terms of hotel and food costs (not to mention gambling) for a return of just one hour of "special activities" per day. o) And while you're shrinking down the number of days from a budget-busting 10 to a more affordable 4-5, move the event away from the National Finals Rodeo, when hotel prices go way up to gouge those cowboys. Here's a hint - the 2012 Rodeo will be December 6-15. o) Why hold a special event like CirqueWeek during a critical show's (The Beatles LOVE and "O") extended dark period? o) The seating categories offered should be identified more clearly in the ticket packages. For some shows the seats were in Category 1 while in others they were in Category 2 or 3, making the package price seem more reasonable - until you got into your show seats to find they weren't optimal. We suggest as many seats be Category 1 as possible - if they are catering to fans they should never offer Category 3 seats, especially the upper balcony at "O"! o) Offer tickets to all performances of all shows certainly, but have "official" performance of each of the shows. Offer fans the opportunity to mass together as one enthusiastic entity where the energy of the audience spurs the show to greater heights. We have found with CirqueCon how powerful those experiences can be, for artists and audience. o) And, allow for better a-la-carte ticket packaging to ensure fans get tickets to the shows they want to see, not the shows you want them to see. Hopefully this is something Cirque du Soleil will take into account for CirqueWeek 2012 - which will be coming to Las Vegas next winter. Perhaps we'll see you there! ---------------------------------------------------------- "Who are the Creators of AMALUNA?" By: Cirque du Soleil Press Room Materials ---------------------------------------------------------- By now you've seen the press release announcing cirque du Soleil's latest touring show - AMALUNA - set to debut on the quays of Montreal on April 19, 2012 and have seen a list of those who helped create this new production. But just who are they and what have they done? Cirque du Soleil's special AMALUNA website has highlighted the careers of the show's creators, which you'll find below: Ferrnand Rainville Director of Creation A prolific actor and director, Fernand Rainville has been active on the Quebec cultural scene for over 25 years. He made his mark in the theatre world by directing over a hundred creative and repertory theatre plays, both contemporary and classical, as well as large-scale variety shows such as the bilingual production of Les Misérables (1990-1991), Légendes fantastiques (which ran from 1998 to 2007 and earned him the Quebec Tourism Prize) and Saka,an equestrian show performed under a big top between 2007 and 2009. In television, Fernand has worked as Artistic Director for the show Le plaisir croît avec l'usage, which aired on Télé-Québec between 2001 and 2003. He was also responsible for the artistic direction of the opening ceremonies of the Outgames at Montreal's Olympic Stadium in 2006. Fernand has been working with Cirque du Soleil on a regular basis since 2005. He was co-director for the opening ceremony of the Montreal 2005 - XI FINA World Championships, Director of the Cirque du Soleil pre-game show at the 2007 Miami Superbowl, as well as Director of Creation and Director of Wintuk, a show that ran seasonally for four years at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theatre in New York. For ONE DROP, Fernand directed the multimedia experience AQUA and, during Guy Laliberté's journey into space in 2009, he assumed the role of Content Producer and Artistic Director for the Poetic Social Mission event, a show on water-related issues that was broadcast on television and the Internet. Diane Paulus Director Diane Paulus is the Artistic Director of the A.R.T. (American Repertory Theatre). Her recent work with A.R.T. includes The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, a new production adapted by Pulitzer prize- winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, and OBIE-winning composer Diedre Murray, playing on Broadway; Prometheus Bound, a new musical inspired by Aeschylus's ancient Greek tragedy, written by Tony and Grammy Award-winner Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) with music composed by Grammy Award-winning System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian; Death and The Powers: The Robots' Opera, a new opera by Tod Machover in collaboration with MIT Media Lab, which world premiered at l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo; The Donkey Show, a disco adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which ran for six years Off-Broadway and toured internationally; Best of Both Worlds, and Johnny Baseball. Diane's other recent theatre credits include the Public Theatre's Tony-Award winning revival of HAIR on Broadway and London's West End. She has also directed Kiss Me, Kate (Glimmerglass Opera) and Lost Highway (ENO co-production with the Young Vic) and, as an opera director, The Magic Flute (Canadian Opera Company), Il mondo della luna at the Hayden Planetarium in New York, Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Turn Of The Screw, Cosi fan tutte, and the Monteverdi trilogy Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, L'incoronazione di Poppea, and Orfeo at the Chicago Opera Theatre. Diane is a Professor of the Practice of Theatre in Harvard University's English Department and was recently named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Boston by Boston Magazine. She is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Boston Conservatory. This is Diane Paulus' first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Scott Pask Set and Props Designer Award winning Scenic Designer Scott Pask has designed a diverse range of productions, both on Broadway and in London. His works for theatre, opera and dance include The Pillowman, with Billy Crudup and Jeff Goldblum(Tony Award for Best Scenic Design); A Behanding in Spokane, starring Christopher Walken, and A Steady Rain, with Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. A long time collaborator of Diane Paulus, Scott has worked on many projects with her, most notably the award winning revival of HAIR on Broadway and in London, as well as The Donkey Show. His numerous Broadway Scenic design credits also include Promises Promises, Pal Joey, Speed The Plow, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Vertical Hour, Urinetown, Take Me Out, NINE with Antonio Banderas, La Cage Aux Folles, and The Coast of Utopia for which he won the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Hewes Awards for Best Scenic Design. Most recently he designed the new hit musical The Book Of Mormon and won one of the production's nine Tony awards for his design. He has also designed Peter Grimes at the Metropolitan Opera. His work has been exhibited at The Prague Quadrennial, The Bruce Museum of Science and Art, The Leslie Lohman Gallery, The Met Gallery, and is in the permanent collection of the McNay Art Museum. Scott Pask works with Cirque du Soleil for the first time. Mérédith Caron Costume Designer Mérédith Caron has made her mark in theatre, cinema, opera and circus, not just in Quebec but the world over. With more than 175 collaborations under her belt, Mérédith is one of Canada's top costume designers. She has worked with some outstanding directors, including Pierre Bernard, Serge Denoncourt, Robert Lepage, Martine Beaulne, René Richard Cyr, André Brassard, Daniele Finzi Pasca and Richard Monette at the prestigious Stratford Festival in Ontario. During her collaborations, Mérédith Caron has received many prestigious awards in Quebec, including a Gémeau, seven Gascon-Roux and two Masque awards. She has been teaching art history and costume design at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal for nearly 20 years. She worked with Cirque du Soleil for the first time in 1988, when she designed costumes for a project under development. After CRISS ANGEL Believe, Mérédith is working on her third project with Cirque du Soleil. Bob & Bill Composers Composers and arrangers Guy Dubuc and Marc Lessard (aka Bob & Bill) are well known for their ability to blur the lines between genres and styles. In 2003, they composed the music for Splinter Cell (Pandora Tomorrow), a best-selling Ubisoft video game. They have also produced several albums, including Monica Freire's Bahiatronica and Pink Floyd Redux, a collection of remixed songs from the British cult band, as well as the soundtrack album for the Cirque du Soleil show KOOZA. In 2004, Bob & Bill supplied the musical direction and arrangements for the Cirque du Soleil show Midnight Sun, as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the 20th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil. Three-time nominees for a Quebec music industry ADISQ award, the two sidekicks also created the music for several films and television series, and composed the music for Director Robert Lepage's production Pageant de Canotgraphie. In 2008, the duo launched their first album, Crime Report, a work combining electronic and organic sounds. Bob & Bill regularly work with Cirque du Soleil to create the musical arrangements for many special events, including the show Le Royaume de Tôle (the third chapter of Les Chemins invisibles performed in Quebec City in the summer of 2011). They also composed the music for TOTEM, directed by Robert Lepage. Amaluna will therefore be their third show as composers for Cirque du Soleil. Jacques Boucher Sound Designer For over 25 years, Jacques Boucher has been creating sound environments for a number of productions from Quebec and beyond. Jacques also worked as a sound technician for various Quebec artists, including Richard Séguin, Laurence Jalbert, Diane Dufresne and Bruno Pelletier. He went on to develop an expertise in sound design for musicals such as Dracula (2006) and large-scale events, including the mega-show 2000 voix chantent le monde, presented in Quebec City in 2000, with over 2,300 singers on stage. In 2008, Jacques was asked to handle the sound for almost every event presented as part of the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. As Sound Designer and Head of Sound, he designed sound for the Quebec Symphony Orchestra's performance of the Symphonie des mille by Gustav Mahler, The Image Mill by Robert Lepage, for which he designed the impressive sound system spanning 1.2 km, and the special show presented by Cirque du Soleil. Jacques also works as Sound Designer and Head of Sound for some Cirque du Soleil special events. After TOTEM, he will be taking part in his second Cirque du Soleil show. Matthieu Larivée Lighting Designer Matthieu Larivée came up with the ingenious lighting designs for several shows and artistic events in Quebec and throughout Canada. His multidimensional approach and overall vision of the show has allowed him to participate in large-scale projects such as the show Le Petit Roy, directed by Serge Postigo, and Beladi - A night at the Pyramids, a unique show featuring singer Chantal Chamandy and the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, performed in front of the Egyptian pyramids, which allowed Matthieu to emphasize the beauty of such majestic monuments. This international project earned him the MELDA (Middle East Lighting Design Awards) Award in 2007 and recognition from his peers at the 2008 Parnelli Awards in Las Vegas. At the 2010 Gala de l'ADISQ, Matthieu was nominated as "Lighting Designer of the Year" for MusicMan, starring Gregory Charles, and again in 2011 for Roch Voisine's Americana. Matthieu never hesitates to push the boundaries of his art, incorporating video technology and scenic effects into his projects. For over ten years now, Matthieu Larivée and his Lüz Studio team have been responsible for the visual look of numerous concerts and events, including Canadian Music Week (2010 and 2011), Guy Laliberté's Poetic Social Mission (an event that took place in 2009 during his eleven-day journey into space on board the International Space Station), the Concerts OSM éclatés, as well as the graphic design for the opening night of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in 2010. Matthieu has also worked with famous artists such as pianist Michel Legrand and singer Natasha St-Pier. Amaluna marks Matthieu's second time taking part in a Cirque du Soleil show after Wintuk. Karole Armitage Choreographer Karole Armitage, director of Armitage Gone! Dance Company based in New York, was rigorously trained in classical ballet. Through her unique and acute knowledge of the aesthetic values of Balanchine and Cunningham, she is seen by some critics as the true choreographic heir to the two masters of twentieth-century American dance. Known as the "Punk Ballerina," Armitage is renowned for pushing the boundaries to create works that blend dance, music and art. Following the premiere of the Watteau Duets, Mikhail Baryshnikov invited her to create a work for the American Ballet Theatre, and Rudolph Nureyev commissioned a work for the Paris Opera Ballet. She has collaborated with contemporary composers and worked with artists such as Jeff Koons, Brice Marden and David Salle. She choreographed two Broadway productions (Passing Strange and Hair, which awarded her a Tony nomination), videos for Madonna and Michael Jackson and several films. She has set new works on companies that include the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, Ballet Naccional de Cuba and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Her company tours an extensive repertoire and creates site-specific works for festivals and venues worldwide. She has directed operas from the baroque and contemporary repertoire for prestigious houses of Europe, including Teatro Di San Carlo in Naples, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the Lyric Opera in Athens and Het Muzik Theatre in Amsterdam. She also choreographed The Cunning Little Vixen for the New York Philharmonic. Armitage was awarded France's most prestigious award in 2009, Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This is her first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Debra Brown Choreographer Debra Brown is world renowned for her unique choreographies blending acrobatics and dance. She joined Cirque du Soleil in 1987 as a choreographer for We Reinvent the Circus and went on to choreograph the shows Nouvelle Expérience, Saltimbanco, Alegría, Mystère, Quidam, "O", La Nouba, Corteo, one act in Zumanity, ZED, Zarkana and Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. She has also worked with artists and groups from a wide variety of disciplines including the 1990 Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (Paris), the John Corigliano's opera The Ghosts of Versailles, presented at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Wagner's Ring Cycle, put on by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 1994, Debra created and produced Apogée, a 50-minute trampoline-based ballet which premiered in Toronto and was also presented in Los Angeles and San Francisco for an AIDS benefit hosted by Elizabeth Taylor and Magic Johnson. In 1995, she worked with Luciano Pavarotti on the Metropolitan Opera's production of La Fille du Régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) in New York. Debra also choreographed Aerosmith's Jaded video and performance for the American Music Awards in 2001, as well as Madonna's Drowned world tour. Debra has worked with major musical acts such as Shakira, Wyclef Jean and Céline Dion. Her film work includes Catwoman, Van Helsing and Barney's Great Adventure. She received the Innovative Choreography Award in honour of her exceptional contribution to choreography and dance at the 14th Bob Fosse Awards in Los Angeles in 1997. In 2002, she received an Emmy Award for her choreography of an act created by Cirque du Soleil for the Academy Awards. Caitlan Maggs Acrobatic Choreographer A dance expert for over 30 years, Caitlan Maggs received her classical ballet training at The Royal Ballet School in London and went on to dance with The National Ballet of Canada with such legendary dancers as Nureyev and Baryshnikov. After being a soloist with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, she became principal dancer with Desrosiers Dance Theatre where she performed a contemporary dance-theatre repertoire. Caitlan Maggs has performed internationally at festivals and venues including American Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, Metropolitan Opera of New York and Covent Garden. Following her stage career as professional dancer, Caitlan became a reputed teacher and choreographer at l'École Supérieure de Danse du Québec for 10 years. At Cirque du Soleil for the past 12 years, Caitlan is Head of Artistic Training overseeing customized training programs offered to performers by specialists in dance, theatre, singing and movement. Caitlan is also involved in the development and implementation of artistic and acro-artistic training for all new Cirque du Soleil creations. In 2008 Caitlan was acrobatic choreographer for the Cirque du Soleil production CRISS ANGEL Believe. She also collaborates with Cirque du Soleil's Centre for Research and Innovation of Performance to explore new possibilities in acro-dance, and, since 2009, she choreographs acts for Cirque's Special Events Department. Amaluna will be her second Cirque du Soleil production as acrobatic choreographer. Rob Bollinger Acrobatic Performance Designer Rob Bollinger was a competitive trampolinist at the age of 9 and partnered with his father on the invention of the double mini trampoline as his family owned a trampoline club in Illinois, where he grew up. He studied Business at Indiana University on a scholarship as a competitive springboard diver. He won two national diving championships and qualified for the 1980 and 1984 Olympics trials. He did not make the team on either occasion, and at first turned away from the world of competitive sports. Rob tried his hand at a variety of jobs in aeronautics and insurance, but always found the pull of acrobatics too strong to resist, so he went to work in diving shows in theme parks, which led him all over Europe. On his return to the United States he put his talents as a diver and trampolinist to work in film and television as a professional stunt man, notably for Universal Studios. Rob joined Cirque du Soleil in 1993 during the creation of the first resident show Mystère as a coach and artist in the show's original house troupe. In 1997 he joined "O", first as a coach, then as artistic coordinator and eventually he was appointed the production's artistic director. He also added the artistic direction of Mystère to his responsibilities. This is Rob's second show as Acrobatic Performance Designer after ZAIA. Fred Gérard Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer In 1984, after some eye-opening encounters at Zingaro Circus (France), Fred left a career drilling for oil to tap into circus arts. Among the first to graduate from the National Centre for Circus Arts in Châlons- sur-Marne (France) as a flying trapeze porter, Fred was approached to become a trapeze artist in the Cirque du Soleil show Nouvelle Expérience. Forced to leave the stage following an injury, he became assistant to the show's director and artistic director. He went on to assume the role of Tour Artistic Coordinator. After a short stint in Europe, he returned to Cirque du Soleil, taking his first steps in acrobatic equipment design for the shows Alegría and Mystère. Working as Head Rigger and training circus technicians at Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters in Montreal, he then took up these duties on several touring shows between 1997 and 2006. With the help of his circus friends, Fred co-founded the Nickel Chrome group in Martigues in the South of France. As a member of this organization, which supports circus projects, he acts as Tent Master/Head Rigger, Artistic Director, Designer or Trainer for circus projects and companies all over the world. Working with Nickel Chrome and Théâtre Europe, he was also involved in the creation and development of the Janvier dans les Étoiles festival in La Seyne-sur-Mer, France. This is the second time Fred Gérard has worked on a Cirque du Soleil show as Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer, after OVO. Patricia Ruel Props Designer (KÀ, LOVE, Viva Elvis, Amaluna) Patricia Ruel has contributed to the success of a myriad of plays, television shows and special events, both in Quebec and abroad. Her track record includes over 50 productions as Props Designer and a dozen as Set Designer. Patricia has received two Théâtre Denise- Pelletier awards for her sets for Révizor, directed by Reynald Robinson, in 2003, and Edmond Dantès, directed by Robert Bellefeuille, in 2004. In 2011, she received a Gémeau award in the "Best Set Design: all variety categories, magazines, public affairs, sports" category for the end-of-year special Bye Bye 2010, aired on SRC. She has worked with various theatre directors, including Robert Lepage, Dominic Champagne and Fernand Rainville. She has also worked on several projects for Cirque du Soleil, including KÀ, The Beatles LOVE and Viva ELVIS as Props Designer and Wintuk and Banana Shpeel as Set Designer. Eleni Uranis Makeup Designer Eleni Uranis joined Cirque du Soleil in 1989 as Assistant to Costume Designer Dominique Lemieux. She then worked on various shows, where she was responsible for materials research, fittings and artistic quality control. She then designed costumes for the show Pomp Duck and Circumstance, performed in Hamburg (Germany) from 1997 to 1999. In 2002, she worked alongside world-renowned designer Thierry Mugler to design the costumes for Zumanity. In 2004, Eleni Uranis' career took a sharp turn when she joined the Cirque du Soleil make-up workshop, where she would see her ideas brought to life by the artists of Dralion. Between 2004 and 2006, Eleni Uranis assisted Make-up Designer Nathalie Gagné with several shows and, in 2005, she designed the make- up for Reflections in Blue, the show Cirque produced for the opening ceremonies of the XI FINA World Aquatic Championships. With Amaluna, Eleni is designing the make-up for her sixth Cirque du Soleil production after Dralion, Wintuk, ZED, Banana Shpeel and Zarkana. Randy Weiner Dramaturge Randy Weiner is a playwright and theatre producer. He is a leading impresario of non-traditional theatre in New York and around the world. With his wife, Diane Paulus, Weiner co-created The Donkey Show, a disco adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which has been produced in New York, London, Madrid, Geneva, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Seoul, and throughout the United States. Along with partners Simon Hammerstein and Richard Kimmel, Weiner created and continues to manage the variety theatre-nightclub THE BOX in NYC and London. As a writer collaborating with Director Diane Paulus, Randy's work includes the story for a robot opera, Death and the Powers, produced by MIT Media Lab; the book and lyrics for Best of Both Worlds, an R&B musical based on Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale produced by American Repertory Theatre; and 38 other productions with Project 400, a troupe he established with Paulus. Weiner is the creator of OBERON the theatre- nightclub that is the second stage for American Repertory Theatre. Weiner also produced the Drama Desk Award winning immersive theatrical experience of Punchdrunk's Sleep No More. He has served on the Advisory Committee on the Arts at Harvard University and has lectured on theatre arts at Harvard, Columbia University, Barnard College, New York University, and Yale University. Randy Weiner collaborates with Cirque du Soleil for the first time. ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly publication, available through subscription via the World Wide Web in text format at the newsletter's website: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. To subscribe, please visit our website and enter your name and email address in the "About Fascination" box and press Subscribe. You,ll receive an email to confirm your selection. Once confirmed you,ll be added to our mailing list. To Subscribe via Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News) use the following: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >. To view back issues, or other online Newsletter content, please visit us at: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Volume 12, Number 2 (Issue #97) - February 2012 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2012 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., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement intended. { Feb.05.2012 } =======================================================================