======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.CirqueFascination.com ------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================================================= VOLUME 13, NUMBER 01 January 2013 ISSUE #108 ======================================================================= Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. In March 2012 I mused how it had been a tumultuous sixteen months for Cirque du Soleil: first, back in October 2010, the company's twist on Vaudeville slipped on its own shpeel and closed. Next, nine months later on July 24, 2011, we received the shock of our lives - the magnificent ZED in Tokyo would close by year's end (due in large part to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami disaster). Four months later to the day, on November 24, 2011, Cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts announced the closing of VIVA ELVIS in Las Vegas by the end of 2012, citing poor ticket sales (On August 31, 2012, VIVA ELVIS gave its final performance in Las Vegas, turning the page on the first chapter of Aria's story). And on February 7, 2012, an announcement came that would close ZAIA in two weeks time, also citing poor ticket sales. With ZARKANA later taking VIVA ELVIS' place at ARIA, MICHAEL JACKSON THE IMMORTAL selling out and the rather successful launch of AMALUNA under the Grand Chapiteau, it seemed as if the turbulent times were finally behind us. Even if we did have to say goodbye to SALTIMBANCO at the end of the year. But then shocking and sad news took our fandom by storm the evening of Friday, November 30th as Cirque du Soleil unexpectedly announced that, despite phenomenal reviews and enthusiastic audience response, demand for tickets had not met projections; therefore, due to low ticket sales IRIS would close as well. With the show scheduled to hold its final performance on Saturday, January 19th, we've taken a moment to celebrate all that the show was destined to be by walking through the press announcements over the years, from the initial rumors to the latest announcement. You'll find that within this issue. But 2012 wasn't all doom and gloom. Besides launching yet another successful touring show, Cirque du Soleil partnered with Google for the Chrome Experiment known as Movi.Kanti.Revo, went behind the lens with movie director James Cameron to produce Worlds Away 3D (which you'll also find some information on this issue. Did you get a chance to see it? We did and we loved it!), added a couple of elements from ZED into Mystère, and performed at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, California. And though Cirque has hit a rough patch, there's still plenty to look forward to in 2013. Such as: Dralion, which has been traveling throughout North America since its conversion to the Arena format in 2010, will begin touring the world in 2013, visiting the United Arab Emerates, South Africa, and Venezuela before embarking on a European Arena tour. KOOZA, which recently wrapped up an impromptu 1-year second North American Tour (following a very successful Japanese Tour), will begin its first European Tour in January. Kooza, under the big top, joins Alegría and Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour in Arenas (though there are rumblings that THE IMMORTAL will visit Australia and Japan in the next couple of years before returning to North America). By mid-year Quidam will hop the pond and embark on its own tour of European Arenas, while TOTEM and AMALUNA remain in North America and Corteo begins touring South America. And what of Varekai and Ovo? They'll be around... but look for Varekai to convert to arena format soon. And who knows what other surprises Cirque has in store for us! As always we've got the latest news items posted to Fascination! Web and, of course, updates to Cirque's tour schedule. So, let's get started. We're off and running again! Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > - Ricky "Richasi" Russo =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau * Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues * Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets * Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub * Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Historia -- Cirque Company History * Odyssea -- Cirque Tour History o) Fascination! Features * "'That's a Wrap!' Cirque's World of Cinema Goes Dark" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) * "Worlds Away 3D: Through the Looking Glass" By: Cirque du Soleil, Production Notes o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= MJ Mandalay Bay Coming Along; Zarkana Beating Projections {Dec.05.2012} ---------------------------------------------- According to Robin Leach via the Las Vegas Sun, the Michael Jackson Mandalay Bay show is "on schedule" and ticket sales for Zarkana are beating projections! # # # Cirque du Soleil President Daniel Lamarre flew in for Shania Twain's opening night Saturday, and at the Caesars Palace box office, he told me that his cast and crew of the new permanent Michael Jackson show will be arriving here in March for onstage rehearsals at Mandalay Bay. "Everything is on schedule. We still don't have a show title yet, but we are very pleased with the way the project is developing and coming together." The new Cirque nightclub Light will open in the former Rum Jungle in March. The Jackson show opens in the former "Lion King" theater undergoing a transformation for previews beginning May 23, with the grand gala June 21. Daniel also told me that "Zarkana" at Aria is doing great box office, and Cirque and MGM Resorts execs are thrilled with ticket-sale numbers that are ahead of projections. # # # Read the original article here: < http://goo.gl/MhQfI > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun} MJ Mandalay Bay to be Called... {Dec.06.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Although Cirque du Soleil is tight-lipped about what the new Michael Jackson show at Mandalay Bay will be called, a search for marks registered by "Cirque Jackson IP", the holders of the Michael Jackson/Cirque du Soleil Partnership reveal something was registered back in October to compliment the mark MICHAEL JACKSON THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR. What? MICHAEL JACKSON ONE. The registration is similar to THE IMMORTAL so this could be the name of Cirque's next show! {SOURCE: Trademark Registration} Montreal Gazette Reviews "Worlds Away" {Dec.07.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Adamson, who wrote and directed Worlds Away, offers but a silky wisp of a romantic narrative. An innocent small-town girl (Erica Linz) crosses to the wrong side of the railway tracks in order to visit what turns out to be a seedy, old-style circus peopled by freaks and fraudsters. She spies a handsome young man (Igor Zaripov) driving stakes into the ground. He is ordered away, but a sympathetic clown hands her a poster that reveals her new crush is an aerial artist. So she enters the big top, not realizing that she is about to become her chosen acrobat's (literal) downfall. Like Alice in Wonderland she slips into a sandy netherworld, following him but never quite catching up to him - until Adamson decides it's time for a lovely pas de deux of the soaring Cirque du Soleil variety. In between, we share her adventures in a misty desert land of many circus tents. Except for a few words of dialogue at the beginning and the lyrics of the Beatles songs, Worlds Away is a wordless wonder. As the naïve girl in search of true circus love, acrobat/actor Erica Linz suits the paper-doll romantic image required. She registers awe, fear, sadness and joy at the appropriate moments, engaging us in her quest. It's a promising debut. Except for a few moments when I felt the camera had lingered too long on a single act, I enjoyed Worlds Away throughout. My perspective, however, is that of a journalist who has followed the Cirque du Soleil since its inception. I have seen most of the shows featured in this film several times. (It uses footage from seven Las Vegas-based Cirque shows: O, Ka, Love, Mystère, Zumanity, Believe and Viva Elvis.) Read more of the review here: < http://goo.gl/t4cba > {SOURCE: Montreal Gazette} Cirque to open Harrods winter sale {Dec.13.2012} ---------------------------------------------- World famous department store, Harrods, will begin its much anticipated post Christmas winter sale with a performance by Cirque du Soleil. The sale, which starts 26th December, and is being is being held in association with Macmillan Cancer Support, marks the 25th anniversary of Harrods sale openings, and is the first time that a performance act has declared the sale officially open. A number of families who have benefited from Macmillan's care in supporting children and adults suffering from cancer have been invited to watch the performance. Macmillan Cancer Support is Harrods' corporate charity for 2012 to 2014. Katharine Witty, group director of corporate affairs at Harrods, said: "We are very excited that Cirque du Soleil is opening the Harrods Sale. There is only one Harrods, and only one Cirque du Soleil, so it is a fitting collaboration and one that we are sure will entertain the crowds on Boxing Day." Read the original article here: < http://goo.gl/4Wesv > {SOURCE: Fashion United UK} Saltimbanco to Retire not Expire? {Dec.14.2012} ---------------------------------------------- The Montreal Gazette published a fascinating article this morning by Pat Donnelly on the show's return to the city after a twenty year run. In the article entitled "Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco: A final bow, but no last rights" she speaks with Gilles Ste-Croix, Saltimbanco's original Director of Creation, about the show's history, its "retirement" and its potential future... amongst other things. In the article we learn that in 2013, only one Cirque show will be launched: the Michael Jackson show at Mandalay Bay (which will have some acts/performers from Viva Elvis. The next tent show will be in 2014; Chantal Tremblay is Director of Creation and Michel Laprise the Director, but its process of creation has just begun. And MJ The Immortal is "printing money" it is so successful; it will visit Russia in 2013. Other highlights include: o) Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco is coming home to Montreal to retire, not to expire. Cirque du Soleil creative guide Gilles Ste-Croix wants to make this distinction clear. o) The staying power of Cirque shows is so far beyond industry standards that they set their own. (Worldwide, Cirque du Soleil actually brings in more revenue than all of Broadway.) o) "Viva Elvis is dead," Ste-Croix admitted during an early- morning interview at Cirque headquarters this week. Resuscitation is not in the cards for this tribute show, created in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, which wound down at Las Vegas's Aria Resort in August after a 21/2- year run. o) And there's no way the Cirque's one notable flop, 2009's vaudevillian Banana Shpeel, is ever going to make a comeback. o) But with Saltimbanco, "I don't like the idea that it dies," Ste-Croix said. " I think it retires. Maybe, you know, in 10 years, 15 years, some young artists will say, 'Hey, let's do Saltimbanco again.' " o) Shortly after the Iris [closing] announcement, it was revealed in the francophone media that there had been 30 layoffs at Cirque headquarters, including three vice- presidents. In La Presse, Iris losses were estimated at $20 million (plus an initial investment of $45 million, for a total of $65 million). o) Ste-Croix says seasonal layoffs happen every year at Cirque, where many people work on contract, but he doesn't deny that the company is going through a period of adjustment. o) Ste-Croix admitted being worried about market saturation. What the Cirque is doing now, he said, is slowing down its pace. "It's a timing situation, where the market is low right now," he said. "So there is less demand. And we have developed a lot. We are covering lots of markets." It's the new ones, in South America and Asia, that are offering hope, he added. o) Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lamarre has refused to comment on the Iris closure, leaving it to the head of Cirque public relations, Renée-Claude Ménard, to respond by email: "We are basically adjusting our operation to reflect our new reality of 2012. Our growth was very rapid in the last five years and production schedules and operations adjusted to that pace. We have now achieved a more normal production pace. So we are reviewing all of our operations over the next months to reflect this new reality." o) And one to make the fans happy: Ste-Croix describes Mystère, O, Love and Kà as "forever" shows, with no end in sight. Read the original article here: < http://goo.gl/IE0Dk > {SOURCE: The Montreal Gazette} Bell Canada Runs Away With Cirque {Dec.18.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Canuck broadcaster Bell Media and Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil are setting up Cirque du Soleil Media to create Quebec- based content for TV, film, digital and gaming platforms. Longtime Cirque exec Jacques Methe will be prexy of the company. The joint venture is notable given that Cirque is famous for keeping absolute creative control of its properties. Cirque du Soleil Media will be based in Montreal and overseen by a board of directors that will include representatives from Cirque and Bell, and will be managed by a programming team with input from both companies. "Cirque du Soleil and Bell Media together can deliver more incredible content to more consumers than ever before," said Bell Media prexy Kevin Crull. The closing of the transaction comes as Bell is taking a second run at acquiring Montreal-based Astral Media after federal broadcast regulator the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission nixed the original deal. Bell wants Astral for its channels in the Quebec French-language market - the Cirque deal is another example of Bell's interest in developing Quebec content. Read the original article here: < http://goo.gl/EaGm9 > {SOURCE: Variety} TrailerAddict Features "Worlds Away" {Dec.19.2012} ---------------------------------------------- TrailerAddict has a number of interesting videos about Cirque du Soleil's Worlds Away 3D film. Check them out! WORLDS AWAY B-ROLL I: First b-roll of two for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. B-roll provides a compilation of behind the scenes footage from the film. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/67525 > WORLDS AWAY B-ROLL II: Second b-roll of two for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. B-roll provides a compilation of behind the scenes footage from the film. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/67526 > ANDREW ADAMSON INTERVIEW I: First part of an interview with Andrew Adamson (Writer/Director) for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/67527 > ANDREW ADAMSON INTERVIEW II: Upscale Font Second part of an interview with Andrew Adamson (Writer/Director) for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/67528 > ERICA LINZ INTERVIEW I: First part of an interview with Erica Linz (Mia) for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/67529 > ERICA LINZ INTERVIEW II: Second part of an interview with Erica Linz (Mia) for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/67530 > JAMES CAMERON INTERVIEW: Interview with James Cameron (Executive Producer) for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/67532 > FEATURETTE, INSIDE LOOK I: Second featurette for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away takes an inside look into the film. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/66423 > FEATURETTE, INSIDE LOOK II: Second featurette for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away takes an inside look into the film. < http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/67533 > And there's more! Trailer Addict also has a number of 30-second TV Spots to see! See them all here: < http://goo.gl/FAuPo > {SOURCE: TrailerAddict.com} Worlds Away Weekend Box Office - Week #1 {Dec.24.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Box Office Mojo is reporting final weekend numbers this afternoon and Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away is not in the top 10: The hour and a half long movie earned $2,135,000 over the weekend, good enough to make it the eleventh most prosperous film of the weekend. With it showing in 840 theaters the film earned an average of $2,542 per screen, which certainly isn't bad (but isn't good either). Total USA box office results show the film earning $2,254,000 so far. {SOURCE: Box Office Mojo} JAXA engineer leaves green pastures to follow Cirque dream {Dec.29.2012} ---------------------------------------------- It is not uncommon to hear stories of people who give up promising careers to follow their passions. Such is also the story of Yusuke Funaki who left behind his lucrative job to become part of the world-famous Cirque du Soleil. The Okayama-born engineer started his career as a research student at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) researching the movements of a robotic arm on the International Space Station. He received his Masters of Engineering, majoring in aerospace engineering, and moved on to a lucrative job at the Research and Development department of tire maker Bridgestone. It was around this time that he saw Cirque du Soleil's ninth stage show, Quidam, and immediately fell in love with their skipping rope act and started learning and practicing on his own. But even with this new-found passion, he stayed with his job for a while, earning achievements in tire engineering and was even granted an international patent. But he eventually followed his heart and left his job to become a street performer, joining competitions around the world to gain experience and reputation until he finally made his dream come true. Nicknamed by other cast members as "NASA" because of his professional background, Funaki is now the second half of a duo that performs the opening act for Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba, enchanting more than 8 million viewers, and possibly even inspiring another person to follow his dreams. Read the original post here: < http://goo.gl/5BQIz > {SOURCE: The Japan Daily Press} ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem & Varekai} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Alegría, Quidam, Dralion & MJ Immortal} o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, Believe, 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. 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: Vancouver, BC -- Nov 23, 2012 to Jan 20, 2013 Seattle, WA -- Jan 31, 2013 to Mar 17, 2013 Calgary, AB -- Apr 11, 2013 to May 12, 2013 Edmonton, AB -- May 29, 2013 to Jun 16, 2013 Corteo: Hamburg, DE -- Jan 9, 2013 to Feb 08, 2013 Sao Paulo, BR -- Mar 30, 2013 to Jul 14, 2013 Koozå: London, UK -- Jan 5, 2013 to Feb 10, 2013 Madrid, ES -- Mar 1, 2013 to Mar 31, 2013 Bilbao, ES -- May 16, 2013 to Jun 2, 2013 Knokke, BE -- Jul 18, 2013 to Aug 4, 2013 Paris, FR -- Nov 22, 2013 to Feb 2, 2014 Ovo: Adelaide, AU -- Dec 06, 2012 to Jan 6, 2013 Melbourne, AU -- Jan 17, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 Perth, AU -- Apr 14, 2012 to May 5, 2013 Totem: Miami, FL -- Jan 10, 2013 to Feb 24, 2013 New York, NY -- Mar 14, 2013 to Apr 21, 2013 Philadelphia, PA -- May 30, 2013 to Jun 23, 2013 Ottawa, ON -- Jul 10, 2013 to Aug 04, 2013 Varekai: Lima, PE -- Jan 17, 2013 to Feb 27, 2013 Bogota, CO -- Mar 21, 2013 to Apr 7, 2013 ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Alegría: Barcelona, ES -- Dec 26, 2012 to Jan 6, 2013 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES - Jan 13, 2013 to Jan 20, 2013 Herning, DK -- Feb 7, 2013 to Feb 10, 2013 Copenhagen, DN -- Feb 13, 2013 to Feb 24, 2013 Oslo, NO -- Feb 28, 2013 to Mar 2, 2013 Stockholm, SE -- Mar 6, 2013 to Mar 10, 2013 Helsinki, FI -- Mar 13, 2013 to Mar 17, 2013 Turku, FI -- Mar 22, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 Tallinn, EE -- Apr 3, 2013 to Apr 6, 2013 Riga, LV -- Apr 11, 2013 to Apr 13, 2013 Vilnius, LT -- Apr 18, 2013 to Apr 20, 2013 St. Petersburg, RU -- May 9, 2013 to May 18, 2013 Moscow, RU -- Jun 5, 2013 to Jun 16, 2013 London, UK -- Jul 18, 2013 to Jul 28, 2013 Bratislava, SK -- Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013 Leeds, UK -- Oct 23, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013 Liverpool, UK -- Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013 Nottingham, UK -- Nov 6, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013 Madrid, ES -- Dec 18, 2013 to Dec 22, 2013 Quidam: Wichita, KS -- Jan 2, 2013 to Jan 6, 2013 Colorado Springs, CO -- Jan 9, 2013 to Jan 13, 2013 Rio Ranco, NM -- Jan 16, 2013 to Jan 20, 2013 El Paso, TX -- Jan 23, 2013 to Jan 27, 2013 Laredo, TX -- Jan 29, 2013 to Jan 31, 2013 Corpus Christi, TX -- Feb 2, 2013 to Feb 3, 2013 Hidalgo, TX -- Feb 6, 2013 to Feb 10, 2013 North Little Rock, AR -- Feb 28, 2013 to Mar 3, 2013 Houston, TX -- Mar 6, 2013 to Mar 10, 2013 New Orleans, LA -- Mar 13, 2013 to Mar 17, 2013 Mobile, AL -- Mar 20, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 North Charleston, SC -- Mar 27, 2013 to Mar 31, 2013 Charlottesville, VA -- Apr 3, 2013 to Apr 7, 2013 Norfolk, VA -- Apr 10, 2013 to Apr 14, 2013 Greensboro, NC -- Apr 17, 2013 to Apr 21, 2013 Dayton, OH -- Jun 12, 2013 to TBA Graz, AT -- Sep 5, 2013 to Sep 8, 2013 Vienna, AT -- Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013 Leipzig, DE -- Sep 18, 2013 to Sep 22, 2013 Stuttgart, DE -- Sep 25, 2013 to Sep 29, 2013 Innsbruck, AT -- Oct 2, 2013 to Oct 6, 2013 Salzburg, AT -- Oct 9, 2013 to Oct 13, 2013 Munich, DE -- Oct 16, 2013 to Oct 20, 2013 Cologne, DE -- Oct 23, 2013 to Oct 27, 2013 Frankfurt, DE -- Oct 30, 2013 to Nov 3, 2013 Dortmund, DE -- Nov 6, 2013 to Nov 10, 2013 Mannheim, DE -- Nov 13, 2013 to Nov 17, 2013 Malaga, ES -- Dec 5, 2013 to Dec 8, 2013 Zaragoza, ES -- Dec 11, 2013 to Dec 15, 2013 Dralion: Dubai, UAE -- Feb 13, 2013 to TBA Cape Town, ZA -- Mar 5, 2013 to Mar 10, 2013 Johannesburg, ZA -- Mar 21, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 Caracas, VE -- Apr 25, 2013 to May 5, 2013 Geneva, CH -- Dec 4, 2013 to Dec 8, 2013 Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour: Kazan, RU -- Jan 17, 18 & 19, 2013 Moscow, RU -- Jan 22 to 27, 2013 Budapest, HU -- Feb 5 & Feb 6, 2013 Prague, CZ -- Feb 8 & 9, 2013 Zurich, CH -- Feb 13 to 15, 2013 Turin, IT -- Feb 19 & 20, 2013 Milan, IT -- Feb 23 & 24, 2013 Montepellier, FR -- Feb 26 & 27, 2013 Antwerp, BE -- Mar 1 & 2, 2013 Amsterdam, NL -- Mar 8 & 9, 2013 Istanbul, TR -- Mar 15, 2013 Birmingham, UK -- Mar 26, 2013 Manchester, UK -- Mar 29, 2013 Paris, FR -- Apr 4 to Apr 7, 2013 Lisbon, PT -- Apr 11 to Apr 14, 2013 Barcelona, ES -- Apr 17 to Apr 20, 2013 --------------------------------- RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre --------------------------------- Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2013 Added Dates: o May 16 o December 27, 28 & 31 2013 Dark Dates: o January 5 - 16 o February 3 o March 13 o May 4 - 8 o July 10 o September 7 - 11 o November 6 "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2013 Dark Dates: o February 3 o March 21 & 22 o April 8 - 16 o June 9 o August 5 - 13 o October 6 o December 2 - 14 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2013 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 2013 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 2012 Dark Dates: o February 3 - 4 o April 4 - 8 o June 6 o More TBA 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. 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA ZARKANA: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm Previews begin in Las Vegas November 1, 2012 Regular performance begin November 11, 2012 2013 Dark Dates: o TBA IRIS: Location: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Friday @ 8:00pm Saturday @ 3:00pm and 8:00pm Sunday @ 2:00pm and 7:00pm DARK: Monday Select Weekday Matinee Performances Wednesday and Friday at 3:00pm NOTE: IRIS will close on January 19, 2013. ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub o) Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube --------------------------------------- CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub --------------------------------------- Holidays on Tour - From the cast of Amaluna {Dec.18.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Ukrainian artist Yulia Mikhaylova plays the character Miranda, Prospera's daughter, in Amaluna. The twenty-seven-year-old contortionist performs a challenging hand-balancing routine then glides into a water bowl and snakes through the water as her dashing suitor Romeo watches on. Between two cities, we asked Yulia how she plans to celebrate the Holidays on tour with her mother and daughter. Q. You have been a circus artist most of your life. What is your experience of life on tour? What are the challenges and what do you like the most? I was 15 years old when I joined a circus and started travelling away from my country. Although I miss my friends and family back home, I have made new friends on this tour, and now I get to travel with my seven-year-old daughter who goes to the Cirque du Soleil school and is training to become a contortionist like me. It's a fantastic environment for her. These days, my mother is travelling with us to help out with my daughter, so it's great for everyone! Q. How are you planning to mark the Holidays on tour with your family and with the cast? Each holiday is an occasion to have fun, regardless of the culture! For instance, on Halloween - a holiday we don't celebrate in the Ukraine - we all went trick or treating in the neighborhood and at the local shopping mall. My daughter had a wonderful time. For Christmas, the Amaluna cast will throw a party, and I plan to hold a small, intimate get-together with my daughter and a few friends. Q. The 120 members of the Amaluna cast and crew represent 17 different nationalities. What is it like to celebrate the Holidays in a multicultural environment? The more the merrier! Of course, Holidays vary from culture to culture. For instance, Russian artists celebrate Christmas on January 7 while our Chinese counterparts mark the New Year in February. We are all invited to each of these celebrations. But on Christmas and New Year's Eve, we will definitely take a break and celebrate. Q. What traditions from Ukraine do you bring with you on tour? On December 31st, artists from Russia and the Ukraine will exchange gifts and on January 7th, we will prepare a festive dinner, have a drink and watch Russian movies from the 1940s. Q. How do you say "Happy Holidays" in Ukrainian? We say Zrizdvom hrystovym! Q. What's your favorite Holiday food? My favorite Holiday treat is kholodets - a traditional Russian jellied meat dish. It's delicious with potatoes! Q. What is your favorite Holiday song? There are many! My mom used to sing me songs from the cartoons, and I catch myself humming them during the Holidays. My daughter, on the other hand, prefers Jingle Bells! {SOURCE: CirqueClub} Worlds Away in Theaters Friday! {Dec.20.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away comes out in theaters this week throughout North America, and we are thrilled to invite you to this must-see movie event! This is your chance to experience Cirque du Soleil in an immersive 3D environment like few have before - the beauty, the feats, a place where anything is possible... Take a first step inside this extraordinary world and find out what director Andrew Adamson had to say about it... Visit CirqueClub today to see the videos and pick up something special! < http://goo.gl/oXUzh > --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter --------------------------------------------------- {Compiled by Keith Johnson} ---[ ALEGRIA ]--- {Dec.07} First snow for Alegria! Rotterdam LINK /// < http://goo.gl/dQ0Fm > {Dec.14} Special visit from the Scuola di Cirko Vertigo (a circus school based in Torino). Alegria cast & crew was more than pleased to welcome this group of 60 students into our world. Together, we explored the different aspects of our touring reality and met with various artists who shared their personal experiences. Thank you Cirko Vertigo and best of luck in your future endeavors! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/WJE3l > {Dec.14} Superb photos from our Opening night here in Turin :-) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/nr5Lq > {Dec.30} Just about to start the show in Barcelona. Our thoughts are with the cast & crew of Saltimbanco who are putting together the show for the very last time tonight in Montreal, after more than 20 years on the road! A true success story! {Dec.31} Happy New Year from Barcelona! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/x0hXD > ---[ AMALUNA ]--- {Dec.01} Amaluna Trivia: Amaluna marks the first time Our Director Diane Paulus, Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theater (ART) at Harvard University, has worked with Cirque du Soleil. She has strong roots in the theatre, dance and opera worlds. Besides Amaluna can you name one of her other productions!? Hint: one won the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. (Answer: Porgy and Bess) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IEam3 > {Dec.07} Get to know the Characters of Amaluna Series: Here are the Valkyries. They fly out high over the audience on straps, liberating Romeo and fighting the half man, half lizard character Cali. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kU7zM > {Dec.14} A little Balance Goddess rehearsal on this fine Friday in Vancouver. You have to see it to believe it. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/1A7K3 > {Dec.20} Meets the Amazons: The fierce feminine force on the island. They present a fast-paced theatrical version of the classic gymnastic routine, something never before performed in a Cirque du Soleil show! Photos: Camirand Costumes: Mérédith Caron LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OvPUl > {Dec.21} Congratulations to our Balance Goddess who was named one of the top 10 theatre performances of the year by the Globe and Mail. "Cirque du Soleil usually wows with speed and strength, but Amaluna's Lara Jacobs captivated big-top crowds in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver with stillness and concentration by balancing one giant stick on top of another. (Coming your way in the new year, Calgary and Edmonton.)" - Kelly Nestruck LINK /// < http://goo.gl/VPAul > {Dec.23} Yesterday Amaluna welcomed a group from Vancouver's Project Limelight, a free program that offers young residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside the opportunity to be inspired by professional actors, directors, dancers, singers, costume designers, filmmakers and musicians! Happy Holidays kids- we hope you like the presents and the show! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/z2DBC > {Dec.24} Everyone is welcome at Amaluna! Even Santa has made an appearance. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kD2Am > {Dec.25} From the Amaluna school, and the rest of us here on tour - HAPPY HOLIDAYS! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/64jXH > {Dec.30} Congratulations to our extended Cirque family at Saltimbanco as they take their final bow at the Bell Centre in Montreal this afternoon. After 20 great years touring worldwide, we all celebrate with you today. ---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]--- {Dec.01} Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D | TV Spot: We are counting down the days 'till you can experience our 3D motion picture event and we're excited to offer you more glimpses! Have you purchased your movie tickets yet? LINK /// < http://cirk.me/FbWAtix > {Dec.01} The Road to Zarkana: The Road to Zarkana: Find out more about Zarkana's cross country journey from Radio City Music Hall in New York to ARIA Resort & Casino! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/11coPt1 > {Dec.01} We're live at the "O" Theatre to kick off Day One of Cirque Week. Are you joining us in Las Vegas this year? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Z1kyh > {Dec.02} Ardell Lashes has created an exclusive collection of lashes inspired by our upcoming 3D film, Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. The collection consists of six attention-grabbing lash styles ranging from more natural styles to feathers and jewel embellished lash strips - available now at fine beauty supply stores! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5yrVq > {Dec.02} KÀ by Cirque du Soleil and Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil both performed at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon today! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/gczaG > {Dec.02} Day Two of Cirque Week! The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil interactive set demonstration. Which other shows would you want to tour backstage? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/UE2gk > {Dec.03} Are you following Cirque on Pinterest yet? Follow us today for exclusive photos, holiday gift ideas and insider access! LINK /// < http://pinterest.com/cirquedusoleil/ > {Dec.04} China Glaze Nail Lacquer and Ardell Lashes offer you a chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas, tickets to a Cirque du Soleil show of your choice, and $1,000 spending money! Enter their 'Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D' sweepstake and check out the film-inspired nail polish and lash collection here: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/CGALSw > {Dec.05} Meet Amaluna music composers Bob & Bill and discover our latest compilation album (featuring their work!), 'Le Best Of Cirque du Soleil - 2': LINK /// < http://cirk.me/TGiXot > {Dec.06} The KÀ + Marvel panel is wrapping up at Cirque Week and we're gearing up for Cirque Week LIVE tomorrow with host Jennette McCurdy! Here she is getting into the spirit of things (and the Empress costume) at KÀ! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3MgpA > {Dec.07} We're LIVE at Cirque Week with host Jennette McCurdy! Tune in NOW to get an all-access look. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/6PQK0 > {Dec.07} That's a wrap on Cirque Week LIVE! Thanks to everyone who tuned in! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GHc5f > {Dec.08} Director Andrew Adamson paid us a visit recently to talk about is work on 'Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D'! In this first of two segments, hear Andrew talk about what 3D brings to our movie experience... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/LSq6C > {Dec.09} Merci & thank you to all of our fans who attended this year's Cirque Week! If you didn't have a chance to attend, you can check out highlights here. See you next year! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/WF1wTQ > {Dec.12} Find beauty in the ordinary. Share pics of the incredible world around you on Instagram w/ #Imagination #CirqueMovie! LINK /// < http://instagram.com/p/TJuplzxI3J/ > {Dec.20} Part two of our interview with Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D Director, Andrew Adamson, is now available to Cirque Club members! Watch here: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/U14MrX > {Dec.22} We're excited our movie is now playing in theaters across North America! Have YOU seen it yet? Artists and Filmmakers reunite at a special screening celebrating the North American release of Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D in New York City. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/HnCth > {Dec.23} Discover the main titles song 'Calling For Your Love' from Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D by EELS: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/VcFTgc > {Dec.24} Which of these Cirque du Soleil-inspired designs is your favorite? Cirque du Soleil-Inspired RealD 3D Glasses Masks! (At participating Regal movie theaters. Limited quantities; one mask per ticketholder - while supplies last. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/nTMWo > {Dec.28} It's the Grand Prize that doesn't fit in a box. Become a Cirque Club member today... And enter for your chance to select your own exciting Cirque du Soleil getaway destination! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/WiU0h3 > {Dec.30} Just started the last performance of Saltimbanco ever. THANKS to all our fans. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ffB8m > {Dec.31} Saltimbanco waved goodbye after a fabulous show for the very last time last night. Thank you all for watching the show and supporting it all over the world for the last 20 incredible years! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/27nGk > ---[ CORTEO ]--- {Dec.01} Here's an amazing shot taken at our Dress Rehearsal in Berlin published in the website zimbio.com. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/YypXj > {Dec.02} Valentyna having fun flying over Berlin's audience. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/7tPZx > {Dec.03} Corteo angels chatting during rehearsals... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/P2cXh > {Dec.03} Corteo - Desigual store in Berlin - Magic Monday LINK /// < http://goo.gl/D5ANo > {Dec.06} Corteo - Berlin premiere - 2012 (10 photos) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/6qhBt > {Dec.07} Patrick Schuhmann, one of our artists, was featured in today's Berliner Zeitung. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/tKlwW > {Dec.09} We love this picture taken backstage right before the show...don't you? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/TnCxU > {Dec.19} Tournik boys backstage getting ready before hitting the stage for the final act of the show! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KQveS > {Dec.20} German TV personality Karen Heinrichs training backstage today with the Corteo planche/teeter board guys.... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/p7Clu > ---[ CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE ]--- {Dec.05} Day 5 of Cirque Week! Magic with Maestro has just concluded, and now we're wrapping up with a Q&A. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OTkML > {Dec.10} Last week Jennette McCurdy sat down to interview Criss Angel for Cirque Week, along with catching a performance of Believe! Check out the interview here: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/WF1wTQ > ---[ DRALION ]--- {Dec.02} Congrats to our Dralion running team who ran the 25th Annual Runner's Den & Fiesta Bowl half Marathon earlier today!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/C2DZF > {Dec.04} Here is a cool backstage photo of the trampo-wall team! One of our trampolinists has decided to pursue new adventures. Dmytro, known as Dima, has been with Dralion since 2007. We wish him the best of luck and we are looking forward to seeing him soon! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kGArS > {Dec.05} Did you know each performer has their own ritual before each show. Here is a photo of two of our artists doing their special hand shake before the performance! Have a good show everyone! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3bYDR > {Dec.07} We love seeing the Aerial Pas de Deux with our Goddess of the Air Azala and her partner Shine. Tonight, they performed for the 1st time a new rotating Straps duet act in Topeka, KS. Congratulations! It's beautiful! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5qFOk > {Dec.13} Meet Courtenay Stevens (Clown Alberti) talking about his role! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Z2tak > {Dec.18} Did you know it takes our Carpentry team approx. 4-hours to build the stage and the wall on a load-in day! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/2mVS0 > {Dec.19} Lots of trainings happening at the Chesapeake Energy Arena this afternoon. Performers are preparing for tonight's performance! Show start at 7:30 pm LINK /// < http://goo.gl/stRGT > {Dec.22} Every year, our cast and crew celebrates the Holidays by doing a Secret Santa gift exchange. It's about to start, yay! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/aWpLN > {Dec.23} After 2 1/2 years on the road in North America, it is time to say goodbye! Dralion has performed 691 shows in 100 cities to over 1.5 million spectator. Thank you to all of our fans and we hope to see you soon at another Cirque du Soleil show! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/rB9cj > {Dec.24} We would like to wish all of our fans around the world Happy Holidays! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Wr4cD > {Dec.26} We would like to thank our truck drivers who for the past 2 years have been transporting close to 400,000 pounds of equipment from city to city! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GrsK6 > {Dec.30} Dralion pays tribute to Saltimbanco by Cirque du Soleil for an incredible journey performing in front of millions of spectators across the world. We send lots of love to the cast and crew of this beautiful show! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0wwDF > {Dec.31} We wish all of our fans a very Happy New Year! Hope 2013 will bring love, happiness and prosperity! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yCkyf > ---[ IRIS ]--- {Dec.09} Tonight IRIS performs its 500th show! Congratulations to everyone! {Dec.13} In honor of our recent 500th show, the artists of IRIS have produced this creative video in celebration! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FpFLq > {Dec.15} We hosted a holiday bazaar backstage featuring handmade gifts and goodies including jewelry, art, and antiques from our very own artists and crew. Happy Holidays! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZMDwO > ---[ KÀ ]--- {Dec.02} KÀ performed on stage for runners and fans at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas marathon today! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/gXo7C > {Dec.06} Don't miss Cirque Week LIVE tomorrow, with host Jennette McCurdy! Here's a preview of the KÀ section! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/WF1wTQ > {Dec.06} Lots of good questions at our Cirque Week panel with Marvel! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/UvSSC > {Dec.10} Will your holiday gift be as surprising this season? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/7pf3C > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {Dec.07} Did you know it takes about 400 and 3 kinds of feathers to construct the Hoops cape? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Olva1 > {Dec.16} We are all packed and ready to go, thank you St. Petersburg and see you soon London! Here we come!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/eRokA > {Dec.31`=} We're almost ready for our premiere in the Royal Albert Hall in London! Keep checking this page for stage pictures...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! All the best friends! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/NhUqV > ---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]--- {Dec.01} All dressed up and ready to pose! Two IMMORTAL artists behind the scenes at a special event in Vienna! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kLhwF > {Dec.05} Fun Fact. The IMMORTAL Percussion Rig features 81 individual instruments including 12 different drums and 69 other instruments that are struck, shaken, crashed, etc. by Percussionist Taku Hirano. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Yd0aV > {Dec.06} Meet the cast of IMMORTAL... Acrobats execute a perfectly synchronized tumbling act to SCREAM, flinging themselves in the air and belly-flopping onto the stage, as Ninja-style aerial dancers are suspended above. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/2F585 > {Dec.11} Over 135 people make Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil possible in every city! Here's a glimpse at the technical side of our show and how everything works together! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WklYfl5TzEc > {Dec.13} Backstage before "Thriller"... some of the artists getting ready to wow the crowd! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/UYsbf > {Dec.16} Take a look behind the scenes at one of the IMMORTAL dancers getting ready for the show... first things first - makeup! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJuoQ3o58LA > {Dec.18} Meet the cast of IMMORTAL... Surrounded by gangsters, a female acrobat performs a "DANGEROUS" pole-dancing act. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/SK3nN > {Dec.20} Caught backstage! Some of the artists found a creative space to rest before the show. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KWQOJ > {Dec.24} From the cast and crew of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil, happy holidays to all of our fans across the world! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/31x0k > {Dec.26} Before we open in Madrid tonight, take a look behind the scenes with Choreographer Travis Payne, Artistic Director Tara Young, and Dancer Davi Lorenzo talking about Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil right before the European premiere! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ANPyz > {Dec.30} Thinking about our friends at Saltimbanco by Cirque du Soleil who will take the stage for the very last time tonight. Congratulations on sharing the love and joy for over 20 years! Cheers to a great last show in Montreal! {Dec.31} Happy New Year from our family to yours! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/XzHyR > ---[ MYSTERE ]--- {Dec.03} We're live at Mystère Theatre for day three of Cirque Week! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5lxOy > ---[ OVO ]--- {Dec.06} Awesome Premiere in Adelaide tonight! The crowd was loud, the cast was on fire. Looks like it will be a promising season!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/X2Qqo > {Dec.06} Everybody in Adelaide is raving about OVO. You can read the latest review from FIVEaa... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/uXuaQ > {Dec.13} DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that OVO's flying act is the biggest in the world? It mixes 3 circus disciplines: Banquine, Trapeze and Russian Chair/Russian Swing. A real circus Marvel!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/crois > {Dec.18} G'day Adelaide! Are you coming to the Big Top tomorrow for the special Christmas Charity Showcase? Just bring a new toy for a children in need and you will be invited to watch a special 10 minute performance of OVO by Cirque du Soleil. See you tomorrow at 11:30am! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/TvAw2 > {Dec.20} The cast and crew of OVO is so grateful to the population of Adelaide for making the first OVO Christmas charity event such a memorable success. We are incredibly impressed by the generosity of the people of Adelaide and happy in the knowledge that together we have made sure that many needy children will have a joyous Christmas. Merry Christmas to all of you. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/T4whc > {Dec.24} The cast & crew would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Lkv7B > {Dec.28} Here is a very cool behind the scene video of the OVO performance at the Helpmann Awards on September 24, 2012, at the famous Sydney Opera House. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-VLj1ZTW1Y > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {Dec.20} What do you get when you mix good looks, a sweet accent and a whole lot of talent? The newest QUIDAM Cyr Wheel performer! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/HYsi7 > {Dec.22} We're only 3h away from the Quidam Secret Santa Grand Reveal! Which Quidam character or crew member would you wish you picked in a gift exchange and what would you give them? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/lhmZa > {Dec.25} MERRY CHRISTMAS from our Quidam family to yours. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/v5uPb > {Dec.28} Quidam counts people from 24 different countries!!! Discover how they celebrate the Holidays back home. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CJosB > {Dec.30} Meet the Quidam band's newest member Josué, he will be singing the show until June - do you recognize this song? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yZliw > {Dec.30} Thinking about our friends on Saltimbanco by Cirque du Soleil who will give the show's final performance in Montréal tonight. Congratulations on sharing the love and joy for over 20 years! {Dec.31} Wherever you are, whomever you are celebrating with, the Quidam family wishes you the happiest New Year! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IJcr8 > ---[ SALTIMBANCO ]--- {Dec.11} Starting tomorrow night in Cedar Park, TX. Read what RJ Owens (The Ringmaster) had to say about the show. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/sK5Vf > {Dec.14} What is Saltimbanco? LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFXmJDAjAxQ > {Dec.16} Getting ready to perform the final performance of Saltimbanco in the United States. Two more weeks in Montreal before the grand Finale on Dec.30. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Cvsrt > {Dec.18} Saltimbanco setting up for the last time inside the Bell Centre. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Yqzk5 > {Dec.19} How it All Comes Together LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLx1v5_nNHg > {Dec.20} Amazing review about Saltimbanco in Montreal!! Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco has returned to Montreal for a fourth and final time, at the Bell Centre, looking sexier and more daring than ever. Pat Donnelly - The Gazette. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kvALf > {Dec.23} "Djuzum, Djuzum... Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year from the entire Saltimbanco cast and crew! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3TQwA > {Dec.28} Congrats to Zbigniew Bachor "Zibi" for 5,000 performances, and 15 years on Saltimbanco !! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/rlkxc > {Dec.30} Just started the last performance of Saltimbanco ever. THANKS to all our fans. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/aaqfx > {Dec.31} Saltimbanco waved goodbye after a fabulous show for the very last time last night. Thank you all for watching the show and supporting it all over the world for the last 20 incredible years! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FJtqs > ---[ THE BEATLES LOVE ]--- {Dec.02} We had a great time at our Cirque Week event! LINK /// < http://instagr.am/p/SwJyrKRI6d/ ---[ TOTEM ]--- {Dec.01} Joe Putignano, Crystal Man character, was featured on CNN this week for his inspiring story! Discover the man who comes down from the cupola of the Big Top every night to bring life to the TOTEM amphibian characters! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/hAjdj > {Dec.04} Did you catch us this morning on CBS Atlanta? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OYyLW > {Dec.06} Our High Bar Captain Fabio Luis Santos live on NBC! Coming up, Chesley (the weather man) is trying 2 tricks on the High Bars! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IoFBj > {Dec.09} Ready to kick-off our two Sunday shows! Did you know that the green dots in the Green Frog make-up are actually airbrushed by our wardrobe assistants? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3xpjn > {Dec.14} The first of our 7 week-end performances is about to start while Shandien, Hoop Dancer, is getting her wig fixed! Have a nice week-end everyone! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4TKRe > {Dec.15} 10am, the Artistic Tent is getting busy for our 3-show Saturday! Caoliang quietly applies his make-up in the dressing rooms before the show starts at noon. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/B7YXK > {Dec.16} Marina is warming-up in the Artistic Tent in Atlanta!! Two weeks left of performances at Atlantic Station before we leave! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/eyt6R > {Dec.17} On Monday, December 10, 41 artists, employees, and friends of TOTEM got involved with Park Pride to help the enhancement of the Grove Park in West Atlanta. Under the rain, the brave tour members worked at expanding the capacity of a garden, rebuilding a protective boundary fence around the garden, removing trash along a creek and trimming the accumulation of invasive plants. Good job everyone!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ibDve > {Dec.20} Always wondered what it is like to be performing on tour with TOTEM? Here is a glimpse from CCTV America! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4X9mkSCO90 > {Dec.22} 3-show Saturday at TOTEM, Annette (flutes/vocals) is getting her wig fixed before the next performance!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/acA7P > {Dec.23} Last technical pre-set before Christmas! Go team go!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/d2n59 > {Dec.24} Merry Christmas to all our fans! May your wishes come true! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZPbvN > {Dec.26} HLN met with Gael Ouisse (Rings Trio) to learn about his dream job of performing with TOTEM! What is yours? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/fMJdv > {Dec.28} Ante (The Tracker) getting ready for the first performance of the week-end at 4pm! Only 6 shows left in Atlanta already. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/gAq77 > {Dec.30} While finishing our Atlanta run today, we are in thoughts with the cast and crew of Saltimbanco by Cirque du Soleil who are putting together the show for the very last time tonight in Montreal, Canada after more than 20 years on the road! A true success story! Long live Saltimbanco! {Dec.31} Our crew is in full packing mode! TOTEM is moving from Atlanta to Miami for the New Year! Performances to start on January 10 at Sun Life Stadium! Photo credit: Pascal Sioui LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ivzks > {Dec.31} The Big Top is going down in the Atlanta skyline! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/D5Vus > ---[ VAREKAI ]--- {Dec.02} Inside Varekai: Last Wednesday Gordon White (our Skywatcher) received this beautiful statue created by Adwick Serrada here in Chile. What a beautiful surprise!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/XpqFq > {Dec.06} Varekai without words... Varekai sin Palabras.. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/XsKsf > {Dec.13} Last week the people of Varekai had a truly humbling experience arranged by the Make a Wish Foundation Chile. We had the opportunity to share special moments with Benjamin Naranjo... He and his family were guests for the show and in the artistic tent during intermission. Truly a day to remember! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/7rvUv > {Dec.13} Varekai it's getting ready for our live performance this afternoon in Calle 7 here in Chile :D wish us luck! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/UL6u4 > {Dec.19} For this Christmas we hope all your dreams come true!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/eRLQw > {Dec.25} From the Varekai family to all... Merry Christmas! :D {Dec.31} Happy New Year to all! Wishing everyone an incredible 2013! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3kR9J > ---[ ZARKANA ]--- {Dec.02} Performers from Zarkana at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas marathon start line with Nikki Reed! We sang the National Anthem! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/nCsh3 {Dec.08} It's the last day of Cirque Week and we're wrapping up with panel and rehearsal featuring Zarkana! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/7htTh {Dec.26} Even our swan was in the holiday spirit. Happy Holidays! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Wzun9 {Dec.31} Happy New Year from all of us at Zarkana! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/pCpFw ---[ ZUMANITY ]--- {Dec.04} This year's Cirque Week attendees are busy enjoying the sensual side of Cirque with our Zumanity behind-the-scenes panel! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/E2Hyj > {Dec.12} Check out this backstage look at Zumanity from The Daily! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/j9Ulb > ======================================================================= COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= o) DIDYAKNOW - Facts at a Glance about Cirque o) HISTORIA - Cirque Company History o) ODYSSEA - Cirque Tour History --------------------------------- DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque --------------------------------- IRIS is closing at the end of this month. Here are a few amazing things we'll miss about this show! TECHNICAL o) In order to prepare the space for the performances, IRIS required digging 40 feet underneath Kodak Theatre to install massive stage lifts. o) A special curtain is used to mimic the movement of a camera's iris. It frames many of the acts and moves at a rate of 6 feet per second! o) IRIS features 8,300 square feet of floor surface. o) During 'aerial ball' in IRIS, one operator is running 11 automated axis and flying 4 artists. o) At one point during IRIS, there are twelve artists and two technicians riding the lifts. o) IRIS features 603 lighting features. o) The Projection crew for IRIS, headed up by Olivier Simola and Christophe Waksmann, is the largest in Cirque du Soleil History. o) Around 2,000 brushes have been distributed to the 72 artists in IRIS to complete their make-up kits. That's 28 per person! o) IRIS features 20 video projectors and the most live cameras in use of any Cirque du Soleil show. o) Some of the motorized winches used for IRIS can lift up to 1,200lbs at a speed of 10 feet per second. o) Some set pieces in IRIS are 6 stories high! o) There are over 80 motorized winches (lifting machines) in IRIS that require only 2 people to operate. Some can lift up to 1,200 pounds at speeds of 10 feet per second. COSTUMES o) Designer Philippe Guillotel conducted extensive research into the history of cinema to devise concepts which some 250 artisans brought to life in the costume workshop at Cirque du Soleil. It took him three years of intensive research to complete the project. o) He searched the Musée des arts et métiers in Paris - where you can find everything from the first chronophotographic gun to the earliest sound projector - from top to bottom. He also screened innumerable films including the works of Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin and Georges Méliès, as well as the first films made with Thomas Edison's pioneering cinema inventions. o) The costumes he designed let IRIS follow the major stages in the evolution of color in film, from black and white and sepia, through Technicolor and colorization to the deliberately saturated colors of films like Dick Tracy. o) The symbiosis between the costumes and the technical inventions of cinema is particularly striking in the half-human/half machine 'hybrid' characters. One of these creatures wears a skirt reminiscent of the praxinoscope, one of the first animation devices. Based on the stroboscopic effect, this costume illustrates the decomposition of movement. The circular structure of the skirt reveals - through slots as it rotates - two boxers in action. o) Philippe Guillotel usually singles out five or six materials per show which he uses in every possible way. For IRIS, these included soft Lycra which can be made to look woolly or glossy, silk stretch nylon, which drapes well and can be printed with reflective designs, and natural cottons and linens. o) The influence of Dick Tracy is front and center in the number that pays tribute to gangster movies. The artists who leap up and down the buildings from trampolines hidden in the stage floor are wearing bright red, yellow and blue tartan suits. o) More than 200 costumes are needed for IRIS. That amounts to over 850 hours spent in fitting sessions to satisfy performance requirements. All of the artists' heads were scanned and 3D printed for IRIS in order to create the hats and wigs for the show. o) All together, the costume team (of 50) worked around 70,000 hours and they sewed more than one kilometer of fabric to deliver all the costumes. o) In the Aerial Ballet number the costumes of the bungee-jumping "diamond women" are studded with nearly one million Swarovski crystals. In the air, the artists themselves are not as visible as the brilliance of the stones, which give their bodies a smooth and bright look. o) The costumes worn the by the Icarian Games "Kiriki" characters are an evocation of costumes in the films of Georges Méliès. o) The hybrid Furniture Characters are artists whose costumes make them look exactly like pieces of living room furniture: two chairs, a lamp, a table and a moose head on the wall. At one point, as part of a movie, they all come to life and unfold in a matter of seconds. o) Some costumes pay tribute to various professions and crafts associated with cinema, including screenwriters, makeup artists, cinematographers, carpenters, decorators, painters, electricians and lighting designers. ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque Company History ------------------------------------ * Jan.05.2007 -- REVOLUTION Lounge opens (based on Beatles/LOVE) * Jan.06.2003 -- Premiere of Fire Within on BRAVO * Jan.07.1999 -- Saltimbanco Asia-Pacific Tour Began (Sydney) * Jan.07.2003 -- Saltimbanco Euro Tour II began London * Jan.07.2003 -- Varekai CD Released in US (BMG/CDS Musique) * Jan.10.1999 -- Alegría: Le Film showcased in Palm Springs * Jan.14.1997 -- Quidam CD Released in US (RCA/Victor) * Jan.17.1999 -- Banquine Act awarded in the 23rd Festival du Cirque de Monte-Carlo. * Jan.17.2010 -- Dralion's Final Bigtop Curtain Call [Mexico City] * Jan.19.2013 -- IRIS's Final Curtain Call [Los Angeles] * Jan.20.2008 -- Corteo celebrated 1,000th performance [San Diego, CA] * Jan.27.2004 -- Order of Canada bestowed upon Guy Laliberté * Jan.28.1999 -- La Nouba Premiere Gala (Previews End) * Jan.31.2009 -- Dralion celebrated 3,500th performance [4:00pm, Perth] ------------------------------------ ODYSSEA: Cirque Tour History ------------------------------------ * Jan.01.2013 -- Quidam Arena opened Wichita, KS * Jan.02.1997 -- Saltimbanco opened London, UK * Jan.02.2009 -- Koozå opened Atlanta * Jan.03.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Quebec, QC * Jan.03.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Quebec, QC * Jan.04.1999 -- Alegría opened London, UK * Jan.04.2007 -- Quidam opened Dubai, UE * Jan.04.2009 -- Quidam opened London, UK * Jan.04.2011 -- Corteo opened Brussels, BE * Jan.04.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Québec, QC * Jan.04.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Oshawa, ON * Jan.05.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened London, UK * Jan.05.2006 -- Alegría opened London * Jan.05.2007 -- Alegría opened London * Jan.05.2007 -- Varekai opened Auckland * Jan.05.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Quebec, QC * Jan.05.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Baton Rouge , LA * Jan.05.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Boston, MA * Jan.05.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Lille, FR * Jan.05.2011 -- Totem opened London, UK * Jan.05.2012 -- Totem opened London, UK * Jan.05.2013 -- Koozå opened London, UK * Jan.06.2005 -- Dralion opened London * Jan.06.2005 -- Saltimbanco opened Manchester, UK * Jan.06.2005 -- Varekai opened Houston * Jan.06.2008 -- Varekai opened London, UK * Jan.06.2010 -- Varekai opened London, UK * Jan.07.1998 -- Alegría opened London, UK * Jan.07.1999 -- Saltimbanco opened Sydney, AU * Jan.07.2003 -- Saltimbanco opened London, UK * Jan.08.2004 -- Dralion opened London, UK * Jan.08.2010 -- Koozå opened Irvine * Jan.08.2010 -- Quidam opened Rio de Janeiro, BR * Jan.09.2004 -- Alegría opened Miami * Jan.09.2013 -- Corteo opened Hamburg, DE * Jan.10.2001 -- Alegría opened Auckland * Jan.10.2013 -- Totem opened Miami * Jan.10.2013 -- Varekai opened Bogota, CO * Jan.11.2008 -- Corteo opened San Diego * Jan.11.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Granada, ES * Jan.11.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Kingston, ON * Jan.11.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Windsor, ON * Jan.12.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Colorado Springs , CO * Jan.12.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Grand Rapids, MI * Jan.12.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Chicoutimi , QC * Jan.13.2006 -- Saltimbanco opened Mexico City, MX * Jan.13.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Chicoutimi, QC * Jan.13.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Salzburg, AT * Jan.13.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Paris, FR * Jan.13.2013 -- Alegría Arena opened Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES * Jan.14.1997 -- Quidam opened Cosa Mesa, CA * Jan.14.2009 -- Alegría opened Taipei, Taiwan * Jan.15.2000 -- Quidam opened Barcelona, ES * Jan.16.2003 -- Varekai opened San Jose * Jan.16.2004 -- Saltimbanco opened Seville, ES * Jan.16.2004 -- Varekai opened Orange County * Jan.16.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Chicoutimi, QC * Jan.17.2002 -- Dralion opened Houston, TX * Jan.17.2008 -- Quidam opened Monterrey, MX * Jan.17.2013 -- Ovo opened Melbourne, AU * Jan.18.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Bilbao, ES * Jan.18.2012 -- Varekai opened Belo Horizonte, BR * Jan.19.2006 -- Corteo opened San Jose * Jan.19.2006 -- Dralion opened Seville * Jan.19.2006 -- Quidam opened San Diego, CA * Jan.19.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Broomfield, CO * Jan.19.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened St. Louis, MO * Jan.19.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Gdansk, PL * Jan.20.2006 -- Varekai opened Miami * Jan.20.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Strasbourg, FR * Jan.20.2011 -- Varekai opened Taipei, TW * Jan.20.2012 -- Corteo opened Barcelona, ES * Jan.20.2012 -- Ovo opened Santa Monica, CA * Jan.21.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Hoffman Estates, IL * Jan.23.2003 -- Alegría opened Dallas * Jan.23.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Detroit, MI * Jan.23.2013 -- Quidam Arena opened El Paso, TX * Jan.24.1995 -- Alegría opened Costa Mesa, CA * Jan.25.2000 -- Saltimbanco opened Hong Kong * Jan.25.2008 -- Dralion opened Tokyo, JP * Jan.25.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Toulouse, FR * Jan.26.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened San Diego * Jan.26.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Loveland, CO * Jan.26.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Chicago, IL * Jan.26.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Malmö, SE * Jan.27.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Frankfurt, DE * Jan.28.2011 -- Ovo opened Dallas, TX * Jan.29.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Cleveland, OH * Jan.29.2009 -- Dralion opened Perth, NZ * Jan.29.2013 -- Quidam Arena opened Laredo, TX * Jan.30.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Costa Mesa, AZ * Jan.31.2008 -- Koozå opened San Jose ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) "'That's a Wrap!' - Cirque's World of Cinema Goes Dark" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) "Worlds Away 3D: Through the Looking Glass" By: Cirque du Soleil, Production Notes ---------------------------------------------------------- "'That's a Wrap!' - Cirque's World of Cinema Goes Dark" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil's IRIS draws much of its inspiration from Hollywood in all its past and present glory. The initial spark of the concept, though, was ignited during Cirque du Soleil's performance at the 74th Academy Awards - held in the Kodak Theater on March 24, 2002 - more than 10 years ago. That night, for five minutes, Cirque du Soleil was the focus of the awards ceremony. It took the company four months to create the special show seen that night, which featured eleven acts from some of their most popular productions at the time: Dralion, La Nouba, Quidam, Mystère, "O" and Alegría, all set to the electro-urban sound of the La Nouba soundtrack. It was so well received that it set the creative wheels at Cirque in motion. The result: a poetic phantasmagoria inspired by the world of cinema. With the show scheduled to hold its final performance on Saturday, January 19th, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate all that the show was destined to be, from the initial rumors to the latest announcement. CIRQUE GOES HOLLYWOOD? With the plethora of show announcements steaming full speed ahead in 2007 - a show at Madison Square Garden ("Wintuk"), a rumor about a show in Shanghai (which didn't pan out), Cirque du Soleil pulling out of the Jackie Gleason Theater deal in Miami (which might have seen a South-Beach version of Zumanity installed), announcing Cirque in Dubai (which has also failed to pan out), preparing to partner with Criss Angel in an attempt to re-invent the magic show ("BELIEVE") and launching a new touring show ("Koozå") - it's little wonder that the Cirque fandom was blindsided by the announcement that Cirque would open up a resident show in Hollywood, California by 2010. From the November 19, 2007 release: Cirque du Soleil will open a new, $100 million production at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood in 2010, the group's founder announced. The unnamed show will focus on Hollywood's role in the history of film. Seventy-five performers will put on the show 368 times a year as part of a 10-year agreement between Cirque du Soleil and the CIM Group, which owns the Hollywood & Highland Center where the Kodak Theatre is located. The $100 million project includes modifications to the showroom's configuration costing about $60 million, and a production featuring 75 artists. The show will be directed by France's Philippe Decouflé, who directed the Albertville Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies in 1992. By way of inspiration, the creation team will be able to draw on a treasure trove of film archives. According to founder Guy Laliberté, the number of seats in the hall will be cut from 3,400 to about 2,500 to provide Cirque with the space it needs to create "an imposing show," making extensive use of new technologies. "We may include archive images in the show," he says, "but they will be reworked. We're not here to cut and paste. Over the last 10 years, Philippe Decouflé has developed his own signature style when it comes to using multimedia." After the initial announcement regarding the show concept, information became lost in the shuffle of the debuts of CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE at the Luxor in Las Vegas, ZAIA at the Venetian in Macao, China, and ZED at Tokyo Disneyland in Japan. That is until news of a delay began to circulate in early 2009 (pushing the show from its originally announced 2010 premiere into 2011). The reason for the delay was not widely known until a June 29, 2009 article in the Los Angeles Business Journal shed some light on the matter: The Los Angeles city government is stepping in to help save plans for a reconstruction of the Kodak Theatre so the home of the Oscars can accommodate Cirque du Soleil's 10-year Hollywood- themed show. L.A. developer CIM Group, which co-owns and operates the Kodak at Hollywood & Highland, is seeking a $30 million loan from the city to replace a private financing deal that collapsed in the capital market meltdown. Under the deal, the city essentially would borrow $30 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and then loan that money to CIM for the project. It carries some risk to the city. If the Cirque show tanks or otherwise is unable to pay, then CIM is obligated to pay. But if it can't, the city would lose up to $30 million of HUD money. Already, design changes have forced a delay of at least nine months in the project's opening, pushing it back to summer 2011 from the September 2010 opening date originally announced. The major change has involved fitting an on-site training center for Cirque performers into the existing complex. A month later the loan situation would be resolved. A five-member committee of the Los Angeles City Council voted to move ahead with the $30 million loan to bring a decade of Cirque du Soleil performances to the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. The council's Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee unanimously forwarded the loan proposal to the full council for a vote, saying the deal would boost the economy by drawing tourists to the Hollywood & Highland shopping mall, where the theater is located. Under the proposed loan agreement, TheatreDreams LA/CHI (a joint venture with CIM/H&H Retail, LP, which operates the Kodak Theater and the Legendary Chicago Theater) would promise to create no fewer than 858 jobs and stage the acrobatic show 368 times per year. IS THIS A GOOD IDEA? With the loan situation behind Cirque and its partners, attention began to turn toward the question of bringing the company to Los Angeles in the first place. Considering that Cirque celebrated its 25th Anniversary in June 2009 and had plans to open VIVA ELVIS in Las Vegas by the end of that year, the LA Times pondered, "Hasn't everyone seen at least one Cirque du Soleil show by now?" It doesn't matter, says James Hadley, senior artistic director for Cirque's North American shows. "Our biggest challenge is not about diluting the brand," Hadley said as he stood in the shade watching his performers go onstage at the Grove. "It's letting people know each show is different. People see Cirque du Soleil once and think, 'Well, I can cross that off my list.' One of the reasons we came to the Grove is to show how different each show is." On Sunday afternoon, performers from each of the six Vegas shows performed an excerpt from their shows. The Kodak Theatre show would be new and centered on a history of the movies -- as befits the Hollywood location. And referring to the legendary story of Laliberté's gamble on Los Angeles in 1987, he said, "now to come back to Los Angeles is just a wonderful way to complete the circle." And how was the show fairing? "It's coming along," Gilles Ste-Croix, Cirque du Soleil's SVP of Creative Content said in Québecois-accented English, confirming that Cirque Hollywood was on track to launch sometime after the annual Oscars show in 2011. "Right now, they will transform the theater because it's a theater for the Oscar, but we want to have the possibility of [installing a] lift and all that, to have scenery changes, new rigging points and all that. So they have to transform the theater." Ste-Croix suggested that Cirque also will reconfigure the seating arrangement of the vast Kodak space to make it feel a bit more intimate. Although Cirque's new Hollywood production will be performed year-round, for something on the order of 368 shows annually, it probably won't be able to fill a 3,400-seat house for that many performances. After all, as tourist meccas go, Hollywood isn't quite on the order of Las Vegas. HOLLYWOOD 2011 IS "IRIS" On September 22, 2010, Cirque du Soleil officially announced IRIS to the world. The name of the show, IRIS, taken directly from a camera diaphragm as well as the colored iris of the human eye, presents an imaginary journey through the evolution of cinema - from the foundations of the art form to the bustle of the soundstage - through optical effects and film genres. IRIS transposes into a language of dance and acrobatics all of cinemas splendor, inventiveness and, above all, its sense of wonder. IRIS also conjures up a place between motion and picture, light and sound, which shifts constantly between reality and make- believe, to explore the limitless possibilities of cinema. By combining dance, acrobatics, live video, film footage and interactive projections, the show illustrates both the mechanics of cinema and its extraordinary power to deceive the eye through a number of "scenes" using acrobatics as their core, such as: Aerial Straps Duo -- In an atmosphere of light and shade, two acrobats soar through the air suspended from single or double straps. They take off high above the stage and land with grace and fluidity, delivering a performance that makes one think of an aerial hand-to-hand number. Shadows and Contortion -- In an evocation of shadow stories played out on prehistoric cave walls - the very beginnings of what eventually would become cinema - four contortionists adopt striking poses and undulate like dancing flames. The flexibility of their movements is amazing as they are transformed into living sculptures. Hand to Hand -- Two porters launch their partners into the air to perform stunning feats requiring absolute mastery and control. Generated live by their every move, the kaleidoscopic projections above the acrobats decompose motion to add a poetic dimension to their number. Filmstrip -- In a choreography that calls for high-speed precision, performers advance from one frame of film to the next to create the illusion of continuous movement. Kiriki (Icarian Games) -- The principle of Icarian games - one of the oldest circus arts disciplines - calls for a porter lying on his back spinning an acrobat with his feet. This dazzling number features eight acrobats who literally blur the lines between reality and the impossible as they push the act far beyond its traditional boundaries with cool daring. Movie Set -- Controlled chaos reigns over a succession of highly visual numbers and audacious plunges as a bold allusion to various aspects of filmmaking. The choreography brings the circus disciplines of teeterboard, Spanish web, Russian bars, aerial silk to floor gymnastics and original choreography. Trapeze and Broom Manipulation -- An artist on stage manipulates his broom while above him, a trapeze artist - the embodiment of his dream - performs with fantastic artistry. Their interaction turns into a gentle complicity. Trampoline (The Rooftops) -- In a tribute to gangster movies and to the work of stunt actors, trampolinists deliver a number packed with thrills on the roofs of buildings, multiplying their astounding leaps, flips and glides in a non-stop action movie atmosphere. Hand Balancing -- Playing the part of the show's heroine Scarlett, a young woman balancing on canes performs a number infused with romanticism, subtlety and sinuous strength that captures the already conquered heart of Buster. Before it's over, they will share a tender kiss. Aerial Ball -- In an aerial bungee ballet that pays tribute to 3D movies, women in costumes studded with crystal dive and soar in unison from the ceiling above the audience in a thrilling, swirling flight. WHY DID IRIS FAIL? The show got off to a great start; however, by the time IRIS was celebrating its second anniversary, ripples of change were abound. Not only did the theater change hands (from Kodak to Dolby), but as early as summer 2012 (and unbeknownst to most) Hand Balancing and Hand-to- Hand acts had been cut from the show and the intermission removed. Other remaining acts were shortened so the run-time matched other resident productions: 90 minutes. And then shocking and sad news reached the fandom on the evening of November 30, 2012 - due to low ticket sales IRIS would have its final performance on Saturday, January 19, 2013. From IRIS's Facebook page (where the news first broke): After close to 500 well received shows at the world renowned Dolby Theatre, the last performance of IRIS by Cirque du Soleil will be January 19, 2013. Despite phenomenal reviews and enthusiastic audience response, demand has not met projections. We have been honored to work with both the City of Los Angeles and the CIM Group to launch IRIS at this iconic location. It has been a joy to stage IRIS in the beautiful state-of-the-art Dolby Theatre and we appreciate the wonderful relationships we have built in Los Angeles. For the time being, we will redeploy as many as our artists and employees to other Cirque du Soleil projects. Performances of IRIS from 20 January through 26 January have been canceled. Any customer who has purchased tickets for these performances, please return to your point of sale for a refund or exchange into another performance. Indeed the Los Angeles Times asked in the wake of the shocking news: Why did the show fail? Their answer: IRIS just failed to ignite the passions and imagination of the Los Angeles populace. Despite promises that "Iris" would run for 10 years, the consensus is that the show never captured the public's imagination, confounded by a low level of excitement in Los Angeles and high ticket prices, which rose to as much as $253 for certain VIP packages. "It didn't capture the fancy of Angelenos like 'Wicked' or 'The Lion King,' which became must-see events," said Leron Gubler, president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. "I did not hear a lot of people say you have to see 'Iris.'" Danny Elfman, who composed the music for "Iris," said in an interview that he had expected the show to run "at least to the summer," after which Cirque would make a decision whether or not to continue. "Everyone knew that the attendance was not up," Elfman said. The Oscar-nominated composer, who lives in Los Angeles, said he was extremely happy with the show from an artistic point of view, but said that he was disappointed by the lack of general public awareness. "After a year of advertising, the fact that most people I ran into had no knowledge of it being there says it all. It wasn't able to get into the general consciousness," Elfman said. Cirque officials declined requests for comment. They also declined to provide box-office figures. At one point the top ticket price of $253 was a record high in Los Angeles. Company officials said that they expected Southern California residents to drive attendance in the first two years of the show's run, and that then tourist interest would pick up, according to Gubler of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. But that obviously has not happened. Michael Ritchie, the head of Center Theatre Group, said that tourists who come to L.A. don't usually put theater-going on their itineraries. We here at Fascination are saddened that IRIS will not have the opportunity to work out the kinks in its cog and mature into one of the Cirque's classic productions. But in amongst the uncertainty, the cast and crew are keeping their head up: they just celebrated their 500th performance (on December 9, 2012) in style. Will IRIS surface again in the future? Only time will tell. All that we do know is that artists who wish to continue their careers with Cirque du Soleil are being offered all available spaces and those who don't are lining up new opportunities. We wish them all luck and hope to be seeing them in the future! ---------------------------------------------------------- "Worlds Away 3D: Through the Looking Glass" By: Cirque du Soleil, Production Notes ---------------------------------------------------------- "Experience a Journey Like Never Before..." From the big top to the big screen, Academy Award-nominated director Andrew Adamson and visionary filmmaker James Cameron invite audiences on an all-new 3D adventure -- Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away. Two young people journey through the astonishing and dreamlike worlds of Cirque du Soleil to find each other as audiences experience the immersive 3D technology that allows them to leap, soar, swim and dance with the performers. Unique in scope, this immersive experience melds acts from seven live Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas -- "O," KÀ, Mystère, Viva ELVIS, CRISS ANGEL Believe, Zumanity and The Beatles LOVE -- into a circus love story produced, written and directed by Academy Award nominee Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). The film stars Cirque du Soleil strap aerialists Igor Zaripov (The Aerialist) and former artist Erica Kathleen Linz (Mia) as the young couple. Presented by Paramount Pictures and Academy Award winner James Cameron (Avatar, Titanic), the film is a Cirque du Soleil production in association with Reel FX Inc., Strange Weather Films and CAMERON | PACE Group. Produced by Cirque du Soleil producer Martin Bolduc, Adamson and his Strange Weather Films' partner Aron Warner, Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away is captured in 3D by executive producer Cameron and his CAMERON | PACE Group partner Vincent Pace, the film's 3D executive producer. Executive producers are Cameron, Jacques Méthé, Cary Granat and Ed Jones. Director of photography is Brett Turnbull. Composer Benoit Jutras (Cirque du Soleil shows Quidam, "O,". La Nouba and, as co-writer, Mystère) wrote the score and the opening song. Stephen Barton contributed additional music to the final strap act. The editor is Sim Evan-Jones. ABOUT THE FILM -------------- For writer/director/producer Andrew Adamson, tying a love knot around some of the best elements of seven Cirque du Soleil live shows that play in Las Vegas was a journey into magical realism. Executive producer Cary Granat and Reel FX Inc. had been discussing the possibility of collaborating with Cirque du Soleil on a project for quite awhile when he approached Adamson about the idea of crafting and directing a Cirque-based feature film. Granat is the former CEO of Walden Media, which collaborated with Adamson on the first two films of C.S. Lewis' beloved The Chronicles of Narnia series. Adamson is also a producer on the third film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. "We had to find a natural, cinematic way into the world of Cirque du Soleil," says Adamson. "I started thinking about the way Cirque du Soleil live shows work. There is a very dreamlike quality about them. A thin thread of narrative that weaves in and out of each but allows these acts to exist within the worlds that are created. I thought this movie could do the same thing. I could find a narrative that threads these completely different shows together. "I came to the idea of these two people who meet in a real-world circus. She's a young girl looking to escape her life. She sees this aerialist and instantly falls in love with him, but when their eyes meet he slips and falls. He drops right through the circus ring into another world and drags her with him. They spend the rest of the film looking for each other in these worlds that exist in a limbo state, kind of a space between life and death, a world between worlds. Ultimately they come together in a dream fulfilling aerial ballet. An act that hangs in the balance between beauty and danger." Like the live shows, the film eschews dialogue, using music and the marvelous expressions of the performers to move the narrative forward. But it was never the filmmakers' intention to simply capture the live shows. "What I wanted to do" says Adamson, "is take the audience to see these shows in a way that they hadn't seen them before, to get the camera in close and give a different perspective of what these artists do and show that perspective in high speed, slow motion 3D." Executive producer Cameron, whose company CAMERON | PACE Group shot the film with his FUSION 3D camera system, says the film feels "as if you strayed into a circus in a dream. From the beginning Andrew had a fairly clear vision of what he wanted to do and it continued to evolve. As a producer, I kind of acted as his sounding board. The goal was to really celebrate the physical artistry of everything Cirque du Soleil is about, the design, the beauty and grace of those performances. "Andrew had to walk a fine line working with such diverse elements from these shows. It was never meant to be about effects but to showcase the raw, pure physical human talent and their amazing ability. While it starts in this sort of run down circus, it plays out as discovery of this other dimensional circus world they fall into, but it is still very much a circus. There are wires, harnesses and you see it all, no effects hiding it. In seeing it, you experience the ingenuity of staging, costume design, the strength and agility of their talent that seem so effortless, so fluid. But the preparation and work that goes into it is anything but effortless. What you see is pure Cirque du Soleil." Adamson drew inspiration from such classics as Walt Disney's Fantasia, Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, Peter Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet and his own personal experiences from watching a traveling circus show in Mexico in 2000. "It was a Fred Flintstone themed traveling circus. I remember the ringleader had a lot of years on him, the lion had no teeth and one of the trapeze artists was a large woman wearing a star-spangled bikini. It was almost an empty house and had definitely seen better days," he recalls. "But there was this sort of sad yet beautiful element to it bittersweet one of my favorite emotions. That was in the back of my mind. So I set the opening of this film in a circus that was connected to no time or place. I really wanted it to feel like a traveling neighborhood circus that could be anywhere." At first Adamson wanted to use actors in the key roles, "but I also knew that I wanted to end with some kind of beautiful romantic straps aerial act." "To teach a normal person to do (aerial) straps, to perform at this level takes years," says executive producer Jacques Méthé of Cirque du Soleil. "The way to go was to take Cirque du Soleil performers and teach them to play the part. At the end of this film, they are both flying in each others' arms. They need the skills and training of a real Cirque du Soleil performer. Igor and Erica have worked on several of our shows for years. They are not only wonderful acrobats, but because of their Cirque du Soleil training, they have learned to become characters. In any Cirque du Soleil show, everybody is a character and plays some part. So we knew these two had the acting skills because of their years with Cirque du Soleil." Erica Kathleen Linz was 19 when she joined Cirque du Soleil shortly after graduating from high school. "I grew up as a gymnast and a singer, which led to theater, so I have flip-flopped between acting and acrobatic roles, and recently I've been doing an aerial straps duet which fits into this whole theme," Linz says. Landing the film role gave her an opportunity within Cirque du Soleil that she had never known before. "There's never really been an opportunity for anybody to kind of float through the shows, participate in what they do every night and get a feel for each show's culture. Every show is sort of like its own family, has its own vibe, its own set of nationalities and sense of humor. Personally, it's been unbelievable for me." Although she and co-star Igor Zaripov have performed in the show KÀ, neither performed a duet together before Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away. Zaripov, who joined Cirque du Soleil in 2002, grew up in a Russian circus family that had been in the business for more than a century. He has been an aerial acts acrobat from his first stage appearance at 11 for the Moscow Circus. He traveled with other circuses around the world honing his skills. When he joined Cirque du Soleil, he performed in KÀ for five years as the Firefly boy and in Cirque du Soleil's adult-themed Zumanity for several years. "I had never worked closely with Erica before but we had to get into it really quick (the first time for the love scene of the final act) and it was really nice," he says. What they do, although an outgrowth of KÀ, was created specifically for the film -- a romantic aerial straps ballet which captures the ascendancy of love. "What you see is how these two learn to trust each other so completely. Her life is literally in his hands an act of total surrender," notes Cameron. "The acting is inferred by the physicality of the moment. And the grace with which it is done is simply beautiful." UNDER THE BIG TOP ----------------- When Adamson chose acts from the seven live Cirque du Soleil shows to use in the film, he picked those that would lend themselves to the storyline of Mia searching for the Aerialist from tent to tent. Each time she peels back the curtain and steps inside, another Cirque du Soleil world opens to her. These worlds are: "O" -- "Water represents both life and the unconscious, the dream state and illusion because of its reflection," says Pierre Parisien, Cirque du Soleil senior artistic director. "It's sort of the unseen realm of spirits, of ghosts, and the flying boat is like The Flying Dutchman. They are trying to lure Mia aboard but she won't go." It is the first tent Mia visits after she falls into an alternate desert wasteland populated by six big tops, "six kinds of limbos," says Linz. [FASCINATION NOTE: You'll see Synchronized Swimming, Duo Trapeze, Bateau, Fire, Contortion and Aerial Hoops from "O" in glorious 3D]. KÀ -- To Adamson KÀ was about spectacle, with a stage a quarter of the size of a football field that lifts vertically, spins around and changes. "What I wanted to capture wasn't just the act and the performers but the ingenuity. Part of what Cirque du Soleil does so well is combine art and technology and present you with this completely different imagery you've never seen before." [FASCINATION NOTE: Wheel of Death, The Final Battle, Pursuit, and the Flying Bird from KA are shown here. The film also ends here as the two main characters perform an aerial ballet in the Forest scene.] MYSTÈRE -- "Mystère is highly acrobatic, the most acrobatic show we have," says James Hadley, Cirque du Soleil's senior artistic director for resident shows in North America. It is also the longest running Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas. Hanging from a cube in mid-air, an aerialist performs a ballet with seemingly effortless maneuvers, foreshadowing what is to come for the star-crossed lovers. [FASCINATION NOTE: Only the Aerial Cube is shown, much to our dismay.] VIVA ELVIS -- In the film, a mysterious self-propelled tricycle leads Mia to the Viva ELVIS tent, where performers dressed as super heroes fly off trampolines to the music of Elvis. [FASCINATION NOTE: Only the Trampoline - Got a Lot of Livin' To Do - number is shown.] CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE -- Mia travels through six Cirque du Soleil tents that occupy a limbo state between life and death in search of love lost. The seventh element is not a tent but Cirque du Soleil's very own peculiar White Rabbit, a dancing disembodied bunny head from CRISS ANGEL Believe, who makes a timely appearance, beckoning her to follow. [FASCINATION NOTE: And thankfully this is the ONLY appearance of anything related to BELIEVE in the film.] ZUMANITY -- "The act that we're using from Zumanity is very small and contained, but it fits thematically well where we've placed it," says Adamson. What first appears to be water on the moon transforms into a water-filled glass container from which a seductive contortionist entices the Aerialist to join her. [FASCINATION NOTE: Only the waterbowl act was performed for the film to "Nostalgie" from "O".] THE BEATLES LOVE -- The act built around the song Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite is "a circus-based theme," says Adamson, "so it tied us back into the beginning of our opening circus." Hadley adds, "Actually Mr. Kite, of all the acts that we filmed, probably has the biggest number of artists in one act." [FASCINATION NOTE: A number of scenes from LOVE appear, such as Blackbird, Octopus' Garden, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, For the Benefit of Mr. Kite, Get Back/Glass Onion, and While my Guitar Gently Weeps.] THE MUSIC --------- Composer Benoit Jutras wrote the score and transitional music between the Cirque du Soleil shows used in the film. Barton had previously teamed with Adamson on the Shrek and Narnia films, but the director felt it important to have Jutras, who had written scores for some of the Cirque du Soleil shows used, to adapt and refine some of that music specifically for Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away. "The music was really the dialogue of this film," says Jutras. "You see, Cirque du Soleil developed it as a language for its shows, to tell a story with the music and without words. It becomes the universal language." It was an element that Cameron and Adamson wanted to retain for the film. "When it came to inspiration for this film's score," Jutras continues, "it was about the passage through life and a young woman who falls in love, about how love makes you go through all of these emotions, the colors of love, so to speak. What I wanted to do with the opening act was to make it a very separate experience, to make it as little like Cirque du Soleil as possible to show the contrast of the old circus and the worlds of Cirque du Soleil. In the final act, since it was part of KÀ, Stephen Barton used that show to inspire the music (of the final act)." THE POWER OF 3D --------------- For Cameron, Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away "was a dream come true. I had been talking to them for some time about doing something in 3D because it's never been done. How lucky to be working with the Cirque du Soleil family, to have that talent create such an emotional performance for this film. Because their death-defying acts require such incredible skill and nerve, we felt it was so important to show the cabling, everything supporting that human ability. "We were working with a different stage crew every four days. We did use the live shows and shot both during the live performances and on their dark days. It was cost effective to shoot during the live shows, but we did get the best stuff on dark days because we were able to come in from different angles. We dropped in with our 10 3D cameras and started shooting. But it's a lot different than just standing back with a ring of cameras and shooting a live show. We were getting in there with the Steadicam, shooting close-ups -- in their faces as close as possible -- getting into the action because it's much better for 3D. I lobbied for high camera positions so when you are shooting down you get that sense of vertigo. At times we were shooting from 50 to 100 feet in the air, and you feel the height of these amazing artists performing 90 feet above the floor. You also realize the jeopardy they are in all the time. "The live experience of these shows is incredible. But in the movie theater, what we can give you is the experience of being right in the middle of a show where you will really get to see the detailed work that's gone into the characters, the costumes and the choreography. There is pageantry to the live experience, but there is an intimacy to the 3D experience." One of the challenges for the filmmakers of Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away was that 3D involves more complicated cameras and technology and thus more time to set up the equipment. Prep also meant meeting strict safety parameters with underwater cameras (avoiding the lethal mix of electricity and water) and camera cranes (out of harm's way of aerialists and flying objects.) "There was a lot of hurry up and wait," notes producer Martin Bolduc, "which is difficult for Cirque du Soleil performers as their bodies are cooling off and they need a minimum of time to warm up their muscles after a certain period of inactivity." Still, the shooting schedule was relatively short -- 37 days over three time periods: October-November 2010 in Las Vegas, December 2011 in New Zealand and February 2011 again in Vegas. The only CGI used in the film are scenes in the desert when Mia and the Aerialist travel between the tents. "Twice a day, five days a week the performers do their work," says Cameron. "When we told them we would make a 3D film that would really capture their commitment to their art, I don't think these artists really knew what to expect. They were a bit jaded because they do it day after day, year after year. But when it was over and they saw what they do through our eyes they were awestruck. It rejuvenated them." * * * The drive to expand and constantly transform from the circus norm is what separates Cirque du Soleil from the pack. Always positioning itself as "nouveau Cirque du Soleil," it remains theatrical, character-driven entertainment sans animals. From its humble roots on the streets in the early 1980s to an arty version of the big top to the showbiz behemoth it is today with 20 shows around the world, certain elements of the Cirque du Soleil experience will forever remain. "You will always need your 'wow,' your tender moments, your humor," says Cirque du Soleil owner and co-founder Guy Laliberté, much like the narrative of any great screenplay. But he reminds that Cirque du Soleil's conventions are all about hinting at the plot and teasing at the themes. It is there, he says, on the edge of imaginative interpretation that Cirque du Soleil invites audiences to suspend disbelief and step through the looking glass. Learn more about Worlds Away 3D at the film's website: < http://www.worldsaway3d.com/ >. ======================================================================= 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 13, Number 01 (Issue #108) - January 2013 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2013 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. { Jan.04.2013 } =======================================================================