======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 14, NUMBER 7 July 2014 ISSUE #126 ======================================================================= Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. Last month Cirque du Soleil celebrated its 30th anniversary and at the same time I celebrated 15 years of following the sun. To celebrate both milestones I advised last time I'd been working on some projects behind the scenes - "Richasi's Summer of Cirque" and that on select days between June 16th and the end of August, I'd be releasing some of those projects to you. What I neglected to mention was where to find them! You can locate each of these projects (as they're completed) on Fascination's website: http://www.cirquefascination.com, under the "Cirque's 30th" menu option, or here: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=4897 > The first of these projects - a "book" entitled « Artisans de L'Imaginaire: 30 Ans du Cirque du Soleil », which looks at the company (and its projects) from a fan's point of view - is up for your browsing. Collected there, and massaged into articles, are a combination of texts published within Fascination over the years stepping through Cirque's major projects over the years. Remember those "Look Back" or "Milestone" articles we've been publishing? That's where you'll find them! For July there are two more releases coming: « Le Grand Tour: Une Aventure du Cirque du Soleil » and « Live to Cirque: 15 Ans Après le Soleil » (Live to Cirque: 15 Years Following the Sun). Both of these are collections that feature my personal experiences with Cirque du Soleil. Then, in August, we celebrate Fascination's launch (August 31, 2001) with a three-volume collection of best-of materials - enhanced for this release. Okay, so with my personal whims out of the way, let's see... Toward the end of June we heard an interesting couple of rumors about two of Cirque's current Big Top shows: one would be folding while the other would be converted to the arena format. Unsure which was which, we began an analysis of the markets the Big Top shows have visited, looking to see where the shows might end up next. DRALION (1999): NAT (1999-2003), Europe (2004-2007), Japan (2007-2008), Australia (2008-2009), Mexico (2009-2010); VAREKAI (2002): NAT (2002- 2006), Australia (2006-2007), Europe (2007-2011), Asia (2011), South America (2011-2013), Mexico (2013); CORTEO (2005): NAT (2005-2008), Japan (2009-2010), Europe (2010-2013), South America (2013-2014), ???; KOOZA (2007): NAT (2007-2010), Japan (2011-2012), NAT (2012), Europe (2013-2015), ???. OVO (2009): NAT (2009-2012), Australia (2012-2013), Japan (2013-2015), ???; TOTEM (2010): NAT* (2010-2014), Australia (2014-2015), ???; AMALUNA (2012): NAT (2012-2015), ???; and KURIOS (2014): NAT (2014-2017), ??? Dralion and Varekai we could dispense with since both were now arena shows (and Dralion is due to close soon), that left CORTEO, KOOZA, OVO, TOTEM and AMALUNA to contemplate. CORTEO has been everywhere but Australia, but won’t be able to since TOTEM will be there shortly. That leaves nowhere for CORTEO to go except to tack on a Mexican itinerary following its time in South America. That ould only extend to the end of 2014 though, maybe beginning of 2015, and then it has nowhere to go. Unless it goes on hiatus to give enough time to head to Australia, it’ll have to fold, or convert to arena. OVO hasn't hit European or South American markets. But with TOTEM heading to Australia, then Japan, and lastly possibly Europe, there isn't room for OVO in Europe when, by that time, AMALUNA is going to need a place to go. The only place is Europe. And by the time AMALUNA gets established, TOTEM should be ready to follow. With KOOZA pushing through Europe until 2015, that would give Amaluna, which is going to be done with NAT in 2015 a chance to head over since TOTEM is going to be busy in Asia-Pacific. And given the option between Amaluna and OVO, I’d say they’d want Amaluna pushing through Europe instead. Kooza’s only options out of markets it hasn’t yet visited by late 2015 would be South America/Mexico. It would be too soon, IMO, for another show to visit Australia so closely after TOTEM leaves. It might be able to skate through South America before TOTEM has to go through there though. KOOZA hasn't been to Australia or South America, so my guess is that Australia will be ready for KOOZA after its European tour, then South America. After, it'll be ready for arena. So, What of CORTEO and OVO? Well, according to sources, CORTEO will continue in South America through 2014/15 and visit select cities in Mexico throughout 2015 where it will then fold completely. Reason: it's current staging makes it very difficult and costly to convert to the arena format. Fans might also remember that DELIRIUM traveled in a similar format for a while, before having to convert to a more natural staging, as it ran into trouble finding arenas to set up in. That leaves OVO as the show to next convert into the Arena format, which it should do following its Japanese tour. With MJ IMMORTAL and DRALION closing soon, CORTEO rumored to close in 2015, QUIDAM likely closing mid-2016, and OVO converting to the arena format, there's no denying the next couple of years will be interesting ones. In the mix we'll also see JOYA, the AVATAR arena show open and maybe another touring show in April 2016. In the meantime we've got KURIOS beginning to wind its way around North America. To that end, Cirque du Soleil released its official descriptions of the show's characters and acts, which we've collected for you within. Keith Johnson is back this month with a great article summary on the tech behind Cirque's LIGHT Nightclub, and we celebrate Quidam's 6,000th performance with a little "look back" at the show. 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! 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 * Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube o) Fascination! Features * "The Tech Behind LIGHT Nightclub - A Summary" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) * "KURIOS Official Character & Act Descriptions" By: Cirque du Soleil Press Materials * "We Are All Quidams - Celebrating 6,000 Performances" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Cirque du Soleil has $28K worth of costumes stolen {Jun.03.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Vancouver police are searching for three unidentified men who swiped a jewelled necklace and a pair of masks from Cirque Du Soleil Saturday night. The men allegedly broke into a tent at about 3:30am and ran off with the necklace, a black mask with gold trim and an ape mask. The items, created for Cirque Du Soleil’s Totem production, have an estimated value of about $28,000. “We are appealing to the public to help us get the stolen costumes back, because the show must go on,” VPD spokesperson Sergeant Randy Fincham said in a statement. Fincham says the items were stolen from a secure area at the site, on the north side of False Creek. He says the break and enter doesn’t appear to be an inside job. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video and looking for any witnesses. Fincham says the costume pieces are essential to the production and doesn’t know if Cirque has a back-up plan. See images of the items here: LINK /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=4833 > { SOURCE: CBC, Vancouver Sun, Metro News } TOTEM’s Stolen Items Found! {Jun.07.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- The cast and crew members of TOTEM are pleased to announce that the three costume pieces stolen on Saturday, May 31 have been returned anonymously to the trademark blue-and-yellow Big Top and are now back in the show. Cirque du Soleil would like to thanks Vancouver residents and media for their messages of support. { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil, VanCityBuzz } Michael Jackson Livid over LOVE? {Jun.08.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Michael Jackson’s former security guards have teamed up on the ultimate insider account of the King of Pop’s last 2½ years, most of it in Las Vegas. Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard were the everyday gatekeepers after Jackson arrived here unannounced at Christmas 2006, ending 18 months of self-exile overseas. In their new book, “Remember the Time,” Whitfield, a security guard at Agassi Prep for the past four years, and Beard reveal how Jackson’s Las Vegas comeback plan fizzled along with family drama. Jackson died June 25, 2009, at his home in Los Angeles from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. There are many revelations in the book, but one that stood out… Jackson was livid when he discovered that Cirque du Soleil had opened “Love,” a collaboration with The Beatles, at The Mirage. “Nobody asked me about that,” he told Beard. “They didn’t get my permission for that.” He owned the rights to The Beatles’ songs after paying a reported $47.5 million for between 160 and 260 Beatles songs, including “Yesterday” and “Let it Be.” { SOURCE: Norm Clarke, LV Review-Journal | http://goo.gl/azCBVn } Marblemedia & Cirque Partner to Develop TV Properties {Jun.09.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil and cross-platform producer marblemedia are getting into business to co-produce TV content inspired by the Canadian-based circus troupe. Toronto-based marblemedia will work with Cirque du Soleil Media, a joint venture between Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil and Canadian broadcaster Bell Media, to develop and produce a TV mini-series, a one hour drama and a live musical event. The development deal, to include CAA, will be spearheaded by marblemedia’s Los Angeles office, which recently expanded into primetime programming. “Leveraging our presence in L.A. and our international contacts, our goal is to find innovative showrunners to help us create characters and worlds that are enchanting, unique and astonishing,” Matthew Hornburg, co-CEO and executive producer at marblemedia, said of identifying creative talent and a TV slate to shop to North American broadcasters later this year. Hornburg added the challenge is developing TV content that resonates with international audiences, and yet is unique and in keeping with the prestigious Cirque du Soleil brand. “You have an international brand and reputation (in Cirque du Soleil), so you have to be very particular and distinctive about the choices you make in identifying partners and writers and stories and characters, to ensure it make sense and comes from that same creative enterprise,” he argued. “Our goal with this partnership is not to televise our live performances, but rather create properties in the primetime scripted arena that will elevate the genre by drawing from Cirque’s creative vision,” Jacques Méthé, Cirque du Soleil Media president, said in a statement. The Cirque du Soleil Media joint venture was launched two years ago to create film, TV, digital and gaming content for worldwide distribution. Bell Media brought marblemedia on board to leverage its Los Angeles contacts and talent pool, and oversee eventual production of the TV projects, likely in Canada. Cirque du Soleil has been busy elsewhere on the TV front. The big top circus recently pacted with Saban Brands, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, on a cross-platform kids property based on the global entertainment brand. The partnership calls for a TV series, online content and merchandising spinoffs for the kids property with worldwide appeal. { SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter | http://goo.gl/JGePRN } New Clowns Bring Big Laughs to La Nouba {Jun.10.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- “Were you born funny, or is it something you’ve had to work at?” That’s one of the questions I asked the new clown act at “La Nouba” by Cirque du Soleil. Both named Pablo, the duo didn’t hesitate. “Orange Pablo” shared, “Everybody’s born funny. But if you want to be funny onstage, you have to work. You have to work on the timing of jokes and get a feel for what the audience needs.” “Purple Pablo” chimed in, “It’s genetics, your soul and hard work.” I had the chance to see their performance over the weekend and I’ll tell you this … it didn’t look like they were working at all. They were having far too much fun, and so was the audience. One of my favorite sounds at Cirque is the pure, unfiltered laughter that comes from the younger kids in the crowd. I heard plenty of that at the show. And already, Pablo and Pablo have gotten fan mail from a dad sharing that he’d never heard his son laugh so much. I think we can all agree that we’ve got a hit on our hands! The new clowns bring a fresh energy to the show, so even if you’ve seen “La Nouba” in the past, well, you haven’t seen it quite like this! When I asked the Pablos how their performance differs from other clown acts, they didn’t hesitate. They talked about their great respect for Balto and Sergey, their “La Nouba” predecessors, and they also acknowledged their take was much different. “They were like jazz. We’re more ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ with a very fast rhythm. We’re like two kids mocking each other.” Having seen both versions of the show, I think it’s a great analogy. And while I don’t want to give too much away, I’ll share this tidbit: I’ve never seen anyone make piñatas and paper airplanes so entertaining. The Pablos had some advice for future show-goers: “Arrive early. Forty-five minutes before start time to get a good parking spot and at least 15-minutes early to see our first act. From there, just sit down, relax and enjoy – it’s a wonderful show.” { SOURCE: Disney Parks Blog | http://goo.gl/euneCH } TIME – 30 Years of Cirque’s Best Photos {Jun.16.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- The “dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment” show turned 30 this week, after three decades of incredible acrobatic acts—and astonishing photos of them. Check out these 13 pictures from TIME Magazine in celebration of Cirque’s 30th Anniversary: http://time.com/2881637/cirque-du-soleil-best-photos/ { SOURCE: Time Magazine } Amaluna’s Angie Swan Shreds Nightly Under the BigTop {Jun.21.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Age: 32 Hometown: Swan was born and raised in Milwaukee before making the trek to Boston to study professional music at Berklee College of Music. Her home base is now Los Angeles. Think of: Michael Jackson’s lead guitarist and femme shredder extraordinaire Jennifer Batten — minus the giant, teased, platinum locks. What caught our eye: Swan wails on her guitar in the all-female band for Cirque du Soleil’s “Amaluna,” currently being performed under the big top at the Marine Industrial Park. The acrobats in the show twist, bend, and swing to Swan’s lead electric riffs, and it’s a sight to behold. Swan has traveled with “Amaluna“ since 2012. Light bulb moment: “I grew up in a very musical family. My mom and dad exposed me to different genres and artists such as B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and so many more. My father played guitar around the house, and I picked it up around 11 or 12. How couldn’t I fall in love with it?” Biggest thrill: “The audience [for “Amaluna”] is completely different every show. That’s the amazing thing about live music, you can feel the audience and you perform differently depending on that.” Biggest surprise: “When doors close, other opportunities open. A career in entertainment can be fickle and you always need to be ready for the next opportunity and seize it. That’s what I try to do with my life and music career.” Inspired by: “The endless possibilities. Each night here at Cirque we have a different audience and we play a different show because it’s live. There is no limit to what can inspire you when you’re in an environment like this.” Aspires to: “I aspire to continue to create and test the waters of different outlets, whether it’s at Cirque or what I did before. It’s inspiring to express yourself in a creative way. It’s a real gift.” For good luck: “Two push-ups before every show — three on a good day. And some meditation does the trick.” What people should know: Swan has performed with the likes of Prince, Will.I.Am, and Macy Gray and played behind Mickey Rooney at a Michael Jackson memorial. She has also appeared on “Glee” “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Ellen,” and “The American Music Awards.” Coming soon: Swan will be working on her own album in the coming months. { SOURCE: The Boston Globe | http://goo.gl/kxnYnJ } Strip Entertainers Come Together “Under the Big Top” {Jun.23.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- In any other city, you picture the committee meeting for a fundraiser going like this: “How about a big top theme?” “Hmm, interesting. But do we have the budget for the costumes? And wouldn’t it be kind of cheesy without actual circus performers? I mean, it’s not like anyone knows any acrobats.” But the planning meeting for Golden Rainbow’s 28th annual Ribbon of Life? “Hmm, well that certainly would be efficient, wouldn’t it? Just have to make sure it’s not too much like work for them.” Somehow though, the annual gathering of show people to fight AIDS and HIV never does. Instead, the Sunday afternoon show in Penn & Teller’s theater at the Rio showed, as Golden Rainbow always does, just how much effort entertainers will put into something if you give them a good cause and a creative outlet beyond the one that pays the bills. And the “Under the Big Top” theme managed to find still a few new corners of the circus world to explore — thematically, at least — even if a few of the numbers seemed to exhibit a bit of passive-aggressive acting out. Demented clowns throughout. The “Love” cast showing a new kind of love with kinky whip-crackin’. Two numbers (deliberately) going off the rails with rebellious, dangerous performers. Maybe just a wee bit of pent-up repression about the Las Vegas obsession with Cirque du Soleil and variety shows? “You know we’re gonna have nightmares tonight,” declared co- emcee Edie, who usually handles the hosting in Cirque’s “Zumanity.” More often though, it was easy to fold acrobats into the revue’s trademark Broadway-style numbers. The vocal numbers rarely suffered for a visual counterpoint, such as the male stars of “Mamma Mia!” singing Billy Joel’s “The Entertainer” as a gymnast did a handstand on raised poles in the background. A few numbers gave the performers a chance to get their pop on, mashing up recent hits into medleys. There was even an edgy rap by Brandon Nix (of “Rock of Ages”) leading into a more predictable “Man in the Mirror.” As Edie (Christopher Kenney) pointed out, the true reward is “for us to come together” and cross creative paths. One of the stand-out numbers, “20,000 Leagues Away: A Sunken Circus,” was easy enough on the costume budget with its uniform black swimwear, but stylistically bold and minimalist as “Zombie Burlesque” star Sophia Monica weaved amid symmetric performers from several shows, including “Mystere” and “O.” “Imagine them trying to schedule this rehearsal?” Edie noted of the coalition. Cabaret Jazz headliner Clint Holmes sustained a “Golden Rainbow” tradition of spelling the group numbers with a hushed, intimate vocal solo, this time “Send in the Clowns” with Christian Tamburr on vibraphone. But a tradition ended this year for cohost Chris Saldana, who announced he delayed a move to Austin for one last Golden Rainbow before he relocates there for a TV anchor position. Austin may have better bands and barbecue. But one suspects it won’t be quite as easy there to whip together a circus on a Sunday afternoon. { SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal | http://goo.gl/mjal3v } A Cirque-themed Restaurant Coming Mid-2015? {Jun.24.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Culinary giants Albert and Ferran Adrià have revealed more details on their next major restaurant venture in Ibiza, a project they claim will be gargantuan and international in scale. In an interview with Spanish publication El Confidencial’s Vanitatis section Albert Adrià dropped grandiose hints but few concrete details on the restaurant he’s working on with the elder Adrià brother: an Ibiza eatery that’s slated to open May 29, 2015. The restaurant, he said, will be multi-disciplinary, international, “with a global impact.” “It won’t be just a restaurant, but something more,” he said. The restaurant will open for six months of the year, and the concept will undergo an overhaul every season, he added. Moreover, the restaurant will seat 1,000 people. “… And it won’t be just about dining. We’re going to surprise the world with a park of cultural and artistic attractions for adults,” he said. Meanwhile, Diario de Ibiza reports that the Adrià brothers are in talks with Cirque du Soleil, which could explain the adult- friendly theme park concept. The multi-disciplinary dining concept is in line with a growing trend in the upper echelons of fine dining that aims to elevate food to a theatrical experience that engages all the senses. Adrià’s Barcelona restaurant 41° serves a multi-course meal alongside visual projections and a culinary soundtrack. (That restaurant will close August 2 and move to another restaurant project Enigma). { SOURCE: The Pursuitist, Montreal Gazette | http://goo.gl/8MqFmh } The JOYÀ Theatre Takes Shape Before Your Eyes {Jun.26.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- From ideation to implementation, watch the JOYÀ theatre take shape before your eyes, an architectural achievement in itself. More info: http://cirk.me/1pBmtyt { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil | http://youtu.be/wfkL1QGtLKM } Adriana Pegueroles, Boleadoras Act, Saltimbanco {Jun.27.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Check out this moving video with Adriana Pegueroles, Boleadoras dancer with Saltimbanco for 13 years, as she reminisces about her time with the show on the eve of Saltimbanco’s final performance. We also hear from Carmen Ruest, Director of Creation for Saltimbanco’s restaging in 2007. LINK /// < http://youtu.be/RcEGUCuw0aQ > # # # Transcript of the video... Adriana Pegueroles: My name is Adriana Pegueroles and I do the Boleadoras act. Bo- le-a-dor-as, it’s difficult to pronounce. I have been on the show for thirteen years. When the circus first called me and I was about to sign my contract, the first thing I asked was “how many shows a week? How many times will we be on stage?” They said eight or ten times. I was so honored! Super! That meant that I was going to start working with the Cirque and doing this act ten times a week! If all I had to do was perform the act, and all I have to do is focus on what is happening on here (the stage). I am the queen! Each night when I do my act in this show, I am nervous, but happy. Every night I feel so lucky that I can dance onstage. I’ve traveled all over the world, visited a hundred and forty- eight cities. I’m sure you’d agree that it was hard work, but it was so rewarding. Carmen Ruest: The Bolas community is quite small in the world of circus. Saltimbanco has set up a small milieu for girls and boys. In the beginning of Saltimbanco, under the Big Top, the bolas number starred two girls who manipulated the bolas, and one boy who played the keyboard and drums. Later, the girls were alone with only music from the band. When we started the arena shows, we decided to have a mixed duo of bolas: a boy and a girl. At the beginning of their act, they both play Argentinean drums. That was such a nice improvement. It lit a fire onstage! Adriana Pegueroles: You couldn’t go onstage thinking that was going to be the same act over and over again. You had to be ready every time, concentrate, have fun, and be able to touch that person way in the back, you see? It will be the same tonight. Of course, it will be more emotional but I don’t want to think about that. This is not a finale. Why should it be a finale? No, no, no, no… Carmen Ruest: In the beginning, under the Big Top, the girls wore headdresses, which made some movements with the boleadoras strings impossible. Then I said “Girls, let your hair down. Let’s go!” Adrianna was very happy with the decision because she could do her trick of passing the string through her hair, and that was difficult to do. Adriana Pegueroles: I feel that I am so lucky to have had these thirteen years because this is the type of act I had been hoping for since I was very young. This is the biggest gift of my life. I wish the same to every artist. Video Production Crew: Director Eric Chaussé; Assistant to the Director, interviewer and researcher: Héloïse Binette; Cirque du Soleil { SOURCE: CirqueSpotlight, Youtube | http://youtu.be/RcEGUCuw0aQ } Cirque Remembers Guillot-Guyard {Jun.29.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- From Cirque’s Twitter Feed: Sarah “Sasoun” Guillot-Guyard will forever be in our hearts and part of the KÀ family. Today, and every day we remember her spirit & talent. Robin Leach – “Nene Leakes is ‘Having a Ball’” {Jun.30.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Reality-TV star Nene Leakes of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is a firebrand when it comes to orchestrating a “make-believe orgy” for a male police officer and a female schoolteacher. She couldn’t have been happier with the odd coupling that she recruited from the audience at Sunday night’s early performance of “Zumanity” at New York-New York. For her first time of working on the Strip, NeNe is guest hosting as the Mistress of Sensuality as part of Cirque du Soleil’s 30th anniversary and the 10th birthday of “Zumanity.” She is Cirque’s first-ever celebrity guest star. Her 10-show run ends Tuesday, and she’s been having a ball. “I’ve enjoyed every moment,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s been going really well, and we’ve had a lot of fun. It is tough and demanding and running all over the stage and the theater. Of course I was nervous starting out, but that’s me with everything I do live on a stage. Now, though, we’re into it, and it’s smooth as can be.” It was obvious when I watched Sunday night that NeNe was having fun and reveling in every moment of her onstage antics. Fashion fans, take note: NeNe not only wears extremely hot and high sexy strappy shoes, but also some extraordinary and dramatic costumes by designer and couturier Gilbert Chagoury showing off plenty of leg and cleavage in sliced-away gowns and the shortest of short black latex, vinyl and leather skirts. There were no flubs in her performance. Despite plenty of scripted and ad-lib dialogue, not one hiccup at all. NeNe coos the words, which ooze her obvious love of sexy hijinks. NeNe was comfortable as the Mistress of Sensuality, orchestrating the erotic, adult production of acrobatics, X- rated comedy and milk-bath fantasies. She loved the attention that she received — not only from male fans in the audience, but also from the tight-body and hot handsome hunks in the dance cast who pawed at her towering legs. “Zumanity” is Cirque’s most controversial and cutting-edge show, dealing with sexuality, topless nudity and dark fantasies. Don’t miss the beautiful acrobatics of the two female lovers in the oversized-glass swimming pod. NeNe said it best: “This is an experience I will never forget.” You have tonight and Tuesday’s four performances to catch her in her glory having a ton of fun. NeNe’s success marks upcoming modernization changes to “Zumanity,” and Cirque officials have confirmed that it will enable them to add guest stars in the future to “Zumanity” and its other Las Vegas productions. { SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun | http://goo.gl/7BQgyy } ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem & Kurios} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Quidam, Dralion, MJ Immortal & Varekai} o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, Believe, Zarkana, MJ ONE & JOYÀ} 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: Boston, MA -- May 29, 2014 to Jul 6, 2014 Washington, DC -- Jul 31, 2014 to Sep 21, 2014 Atlanta, GA -- Oct 3, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 Miami, FL -- Dec 11, 2014 to Jan 25, 2015 Houston, TX -- Feb 12, 2015 to Mar 22, 2015 Corteo: Buenos Aires, BR - Jun 6, 2014 to Aug 3, 2014 Santiago, CL -- Aug 19, 2014 to Oct 5, 2014 Koozå: Port Aventura, ES -- Jul 11, 2014 to Aug 30, 2014 Warsaw, PL -- Sep 17, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Düsseldorf, DE -- Nov 6, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 London, UK -- Jan 6, 2015 to Feb 19, 2015 Kurios: Montreal, QC -- Apr 24, 2014 to Jul 13, 2014 Quebec City, QC -- Jul 24, 2014 to Aug 17, 2014 Toronto, ON -- Aug 28, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 San Francisco, CA -- Nov 14, 2014 to Jan 18, 2015 Seattle, WA -- Jan 29, 2015 to Mar 22, 2015 Ovo: Osaka, JP -- Jul 17, 2014 to Nov 2, 2014 Nagoya, JP -- Nov 20, 2014 to Feb 1, 2015 Fukuoka, JP -- Feb 20, 2015 to Apr 5, 2015 Sendai, JP -- Apr 23, 2015 to Jun 7, 2015 Totem: Vancouver, BC -- May 15, 2014 to Jul 6, 2014 Auckland, NZ -- Aug 22, 2014 to Sep 28, 2014 Syndey, AU -- Oct 28, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 Melbourne, AU -- Jan 21, 2015 to Feb 15, 2015 Brisbane, AU -- Apr 10, 2015 to Apr 26, 2015 Adelaide, AU -- Jun 11, 2015 to Jul 5, 2015 Perth, AU -- Jul 31, 2015 to Aug 16, 2015 ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Quidam: Tel Aviv, IL -- Aug 7, 2014 to Aug 16, 2014 Athens, GR -- Sep 20, 2014 to Sep 28, 2014 Thessaloniki, GR -- Sep 30, 2014 to Oct 5, 2014 Zurich, CH -- Oct 16, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Rome, IT -- Oct 22, 2014 to Oct 26, 2014 Bologna, IT -- Oct 29, 2014 to Nov 2, 2014 Florence, IT -- Nov 5, 2014 to Nov 9, 2014 Pesaro, IT -- Nov 12, 2014 to Nov 16, 2014 Milan, IT -- Nov 19, 2014 to Nov 23, 2014 Turin, IT -- Nov 26, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 Paris, FR -- Dec 2, 2014 to Dec 7, 2014 Lille, FR -- Dec 10, 2014 to Dec 14, 2014 Lisbon, PT -- Dec 18, 2014 to Dec 28, 2014 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES -- Jan 3, 2015 to Jan 11, 2015 Bratislava, SK -- Feb 5, 2015 to Feb 8, 2015 Minsk, BY -- Mar 26, 2015 to Mar 29, 2015 Dralion: San Sebastian, ES -- Jul 3, 2014 to Jul 6, 2014 Santiago de Compostela, ES -- Jul 10, 2014 to Jul 20, 2014 Granada, ES -- Jul 23, 2014 to Jul 27, 2014 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ES -- Aug 2, 2014 to Aug 10, 2014 Bilbao, ES -- Aug 17, 2014 to Aug 24, 2014 Palma de Mallorca, ES -- Aug 28, 2014 to Sep 6, 2014 Albany, NY -- Oct 2, 2014 to Oct 5, 2014 State Collge, PA -- Oct 8, 2014 to Oct 12, 2014 Wilkes-Barre, PA -- Oct 15, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Charlottesville, VA -- Oct 20, 2014 to Oct 26, 2014 Sault Ste. Marie, ON -- Oct 29, 2014 to Nov 2, 2014 Fort Wayne, IN -- Nov 5, 2014 to Nov 9, 2014 Bloomington, IL -- Nov 12, 2014 to Nov 16, 2014 Cedar Rapids, IA -- Nov 19, 2014 to Nov 23, 2014 Duluth, MN -- Nov 26, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 Kamloops, BC -- Dec 24, 2014 to Dec 28, 2014 Prince George, BC -- Dec 31, 2014 to Jan 4, 2015 Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour: Oklahoma City, OK -- Jul 22, 2014 to Jul 23, 2014 Dallas, TX -- Jul 25, 2014 to Jul 26, 2014 Lafayette, LA -- Jul 29, 2014 to Jul 30, 2014 Cedar Park, TX -- Aug 5, 2014 to Aug 6, 2014 Houston, TX -- Aug 8, 2014 to Aug 9, 2014 Mexico City, MX -- Aug 20, 2014 to Aug 24, 2014 Guadalajara, MX -- Aug 28, 2014 to Aug 31, 2014 Varekai: Providence, RI -- Jul 1, 2014 to Jul 6, 2014 Indianapolis, IN -- Jul 24, 2014 to Jul 27, 2014 Brooklyn, NY -- Jul 30, 2014 to Aug 3, 2014 Cleveland, OH -- Aug 6, 2014 to Aug 10, 2014 Erie, PA -- Aug 13, 2014 to Aug 17, 2014 Atlantic City, NJ - Aug 20, 2014 to Aug 24, 2014 Newark, NJ -- Aug 27, 2014 to Aug 31, 2014 Portland, ME -- Sep 3, 2014 to Sep 7, 2014 Philadelphia, PA -- Sep 10, 2014 to Sep 14, 2014 Orlando, FL -- Sep 17, 2014 to Sep 21, 2014 Estero, FL -- Sep 24, 2014 to Sep 28, 2014 Highland Heights, KY -- Oct 16, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Roanoke, VA -- Oct 22, 2014 to Oct 26, 2014 Hershey, PA -- Oct 29, 2014 to Nov 3, 2014 Columbia, SC -- Nov 5, 2014 to Nov 9, 2014 Hampton, VA -- Nov 12, 2014 to Nov 16, 2014 New Orleans, LA -- Nov 19, 2014 to Nov 23, 2014 --------------------------------- 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 2014 Dark Dates: o July 9 - 11 o September 4 - 12 o November 5 - 7 Added performances in 2014: o December 26 "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o August 4 - 12 o October 5 o December 1 - 16 Added performances in 2014: o June 3 o December 29 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o July 20 - 22 o September 14 - 22 o November 2 - 5 o December 7 - 9 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o August 20-September 4 o October 21 o December 10-18 KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: o July 19 o September 21-29 o December 2 Added performances in 2014: o August 31 o December 28 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: o July 29 - August 6 o October 2 o December 2 - 17 Added performances in 2014: o August 12 o December 31 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. 2014 Dark Dates: o September 1 - 8 o November 9 - 17 ZARKANA: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: o July 15 o September 3 - 11 o November 4 Added performances in 2014: o August 7 MICHAEL JACKSON ONE: Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two Shows Nightly: 7:00pm and 10:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o July 24 - 31 o September 24 - 26 o November 13 - 28 Added performances in 2014: o August 29 o December 26 JOYÀ: Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday One/Two Shows Nightly: 9:00pm (Weekdays) 7:00pm & 10:15pm (Fri, Sat & Holidays) Premiere will be held on Saturday, November 8th at 9:00pm Prices: o) VIP Show Dinner & Champagne [RED] — $MXN 2,970.00 o) Show Dinner and Champagne [BLUE] — $MXN 2,178.00 o) Show and Champagne [GREEN] — $MXN 1,452.00 o) Show Only [ORANGE] — $MXN $1,056 o) High Stools (Show Only) [PURPLE] — $MXN 858.000 ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter --------------------------------------------------- {Compiled by Keith Johnson} ---[ AMALUNA ]--- {Jun.03} Amaluna is celebrating 30 years of dreams by bringing Cirque du Soleil BACK to the streets! Tomorrow, a group of artists from Amaluna – currently playing at the Marine Industrial Park in Boston until July 6 – will take to the streets of Harvard Square to delight and entertain passers-by. Amaluna characters will be taking over Harvard Square from 12pm to 2pm on Wednesday afternoon, be sure to come check us out! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/aWRGkt > {Jun.11} It's a beautiful day for a Duck Tour! Just hitting the streets now. First stop... The New England Aquarium! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/2hpXk1 > {Jun.11} Kisses for all at the New England Aquarium! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5T1lUI > {Jun.11} Learning how to speak like a 'Proper Bostonian' with the locals at Quincy Market... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ab6foW > {Jun.13} HAPPY NATIONAL SEWING MACHINE DAY! (Who knew?!) We hope you are celebrating appropriately! Perhaps a weekend trip to see the beautiful, weird and wonderful costumes and magic of Amaluna. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KOL8KP > {Jun.14} It is also National FLAG Day today! Wow! So many holidays to celebrate... Cirque du Soleil has over 4,000 employees worldwide, representing close to 50 countries. Does anyone know how many nationalities are represented in the cast of Amaluna (Answer: 17) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/2BQi5Y > {Jun.16} Happy 30th Anniversary Cirque du Soleil! Boston Mayor, Martin J. Walsh, has declared Monday June 16 as the official day of Cirque du Soleil, urging all of his fellow Bostonians to join him in recognizing 30 years of dreams and artistic talents in the City of Boston! Mayor Walsh attended the Boston Premiere of Amaluna two weeks ago and was astounded by the beauty, strength and grace of the performers. What an honor! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/J7GQec > {Jun.17} Amaluna is continuing to celebrate 30 years of dreams by bringing Cirque du Soleil BACK to the streets! TOMORROW, a group of artists from Amaluna – currently playing at the Marine Industrial Park in Boston until July 6 – will take to the streets of Harvard Square to delight and entertain passers-by. Amaluna characters will be taking over Harvard Square from 12pm to 2pm on Wednesday afternoon, be sure to come check us out! {Jun.18} Here we are at Harvard Square! Come down and see us, Boston! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/9rlspE > {Jun.18} Chalk art, fierce women, handstands and furry friends! Not to mention cupcakes, clown noses and amazing music... Thanks Harvard Square! We had a great time! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/wP1yiX > ---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]--- {Jun.12} See if you can spot LOVE in CNN's look at how Cirque du Soleil athletes stay in shape! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/dAUFeX > {Jun.21} Exclusive view from the top ... of the Big Top ! LINK /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EmhY0C786Q > {Jun.29} Our #1 fan was surprised with a visit to Cirque du Soleil's headquarters in Montreal. Thank you, everyone! Our CirqueClub just reached 4 million fans! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/1yVl2RQ > ---[ CORTEO ]--- {Jun.03} Primer dia en Buenos Aires con los artistas. Gino, la gallina de Corteo ya fue firmada por los artistas y pronto estara con uno de ustedes! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kMuCXM > {Jun.05} Empieza nuestra etapa en Buenos Aires!! Hoy en nuestro ensayo general recibimos la visita varias escuelas de circo! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/HToaPj > {Jun.14} Hoy, 14 de junio... ¡es el Día Mundial del Malabarismo! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/lDKczu > {Jun.16} Cirque du Soleil is celebrating its 30th anniversary! Here's how Corteo by Cirque du Soleil crew put some Cirque in their day to celebrate! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/wUcaM4 > {Jun.19} Los artistas de #Corteo recorrieron Argentina en sus días libres. Quedáron completamente enamorados de ElCalafate. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/EDrSlk > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZJgfvc > {Jun.21} Esto es lo que ocurre cuando los técnicos preparan clases de ciencias en la escuela de Corteo. ¡Ahí va! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/hpCccm > {Jun.25} Libre como el viento... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/oVrbyR > {Jun.26} Estoy en Radio Pop haciendo una entrevista! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZA0bac > {Jun.29} La fiebre del Mundial arrasa con Corteo! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/xwAzIx > ---[ DRALION ]--- {Jun.01} Last Thursday, the cast and crew of Dralion celebrated the 1000th Arena performance. We want to thank Creative Cakes Ireland for their amazing and very tasty cake. Congratulations to everyone! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/p2vuLn > {Jun.04} From the top of the The O2 Arena in #London, the cast and crew of #ralion are ready to take the city by storm! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Gl6lgo > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/AIttJR > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/UhUHQh > {Jun.06} This New Year's Eve celebration will start with performances of Dralion at the CN Centre in Prince George, British Columbia. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/nc6mKO > {Jun.11} While the artists are preparing for the show, our Wardrobe team are doing the last touch ups on shoes, costumes and headpieces. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5jhor5 > {Jun.12} The Dralion cast is getting ready to follow the World Cup. Will you be part of the action? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/tLioWM > {Jun.15} Selfie Sunday! Can you recognize these characters? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0jqjQQ > {Jun.26} Our Âme Force characters are ready to take over the stage in San Sebastian Only one week to go before Dralion opens at the Velodromo de Anoeta. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/h8zP0O > ---[ KÀ ]--- {Jun.03} The epic adventure is coming for you. Be prepared. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/jxJ2Vb {Jun.10} Many artists glue Austrian crystals to their faces as part of their make-up. We definitely have a lot of faces that sparkle in our show! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/mHigNi > {Jun.18} An epic tale where love conquers all. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/21mqLi > {Jun.26} Step into something epic. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vuKR1e > {Jun.29} A path must be chosen. Our arrows point to where. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Z75ZfQ > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {Jun.03} RELIEF SUPPORT: spearheaded by Kooza Musician, Miron Rafajlovic, the cast and crew of KOOZA came together to support the relief efforts from the flooding in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia. In justa few days, €950 in cash, 600 liters of potable water and collected several boxes of cleaning supplies, hygienic products and baby food/clothes /toys for the victims! BRAVO! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/n3ouNx > ---[ KURIOS ]--- {Jun.05} A beautiful day of interviews for Michel Laprise to Québec! KURIOS did look forward to move to the Port of Québec from July 24. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/QOWG5Q > {Jun.10} The characters from KURIOS went on a little photo session adventure in the Old Port of Montreal. Did you see this publication in the 24 Heures newspaper? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/jeo80s > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/8Ogjhf > {Jun.14} Did you know you could visit the backstage area and meet with some artists of Kurios when you get our "Behind the scene" package? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/LO5sbw > {Jun.16} KURIOS is celebrating Cirque du Soleil 30th anniversary with this timeless song! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/JivKgH > ---[ LA NOUBA ]--- {Jun.03} The wardrobe department handles over 3,000 costumes and headpieces every day. Does your wardrobe “measure up” to ours? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/8bLVgN > {Jun.24} Are you heading to Orlando? We saved you some really great seats: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/xdX6q1 > {Jun.28} The size isn’t what matters. It’s the journey you take with it that does: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GvHOz0 > ---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]--- {Jun.04} There's no denying we have some of the best fans in the world! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/oJCdcj > {Jun.16} Celebrate Cirque du Soleil 30th anniversary by making your day Cirque du Soleil! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/N66AN1 > {Jun.23} One of our fans created this amazing drawing! Do you know what act it represents? (Answer: Thriller) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/dwEfY7 > {Jun.27} Our MJ IMMORTAL Fan of the Night in Lincoln had some great moves! Tonight and tomorrow night we're performing in the Chicago area at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. Come on out and dance the night away! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/MvDx4H > {Jun.30} We wish a fond farewell to two IMMORTALS that have been an integral part of this journey - Acrobat Harvey Donnelly and Company Manager George Agbuya - and continued success in their next ventures! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ct3oVS > ---[ MJ ONE ]--- {Jun.02} Your lively presence makes the Ghouls green with envy. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/eeKRcg > {Jun.09} Heaven will be glad you came: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ftuJWn > {Jun.12} Come to a place that you may have never seen before: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/66pfdK > {Jun.20} The Muse’s guitar shoots 30-foot streams of pyro. We like to amplify things around here. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/MIeYcP > {Jun.24} Let go of all doubt, and bring out courage from within. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/riQQvN > {Jun.28} Grab hold of greatness. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yrHy5s > ---[ MYSTERE ]--- {Jun.17} Pure Cirque: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CpHhfj > {Jun.21} Ready. Set. Go. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GDqp2o > {Jun.30} Your inspiration to fly: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CFKNM0 > ---[ "O" ]--- {Jun.07} Take a timeless journey through different worlds: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yVJC0p > {Jun.19} Dip your toes into a whimsical world of wonder & surrealism: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/2JMcd1 > {Jun.23} It’s time to make magical memories. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/cE1ePK > {Jun.26} Between wind and water. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/WtfqlO > ---[ OVO ]--- {Jun.21} Hello Tokyo! There’s a buzz in the air and it’s the buzz of the insects of OVO saying Sayonara Tokyo! On Sunday, June 29th, the mysterious egg will appear for the last time in the insect community of OVO in Odaiba. It is time for us to hit the road. Next stop: Osaka where we premiere on July 17. There are still good seats available for the final week of shows. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/i9hWcj > {Jun.27} Today is a sad day for OVO. We are saying goodbye to 7 of our friends. To Sébastien, Marta, Rob, Anne-Marie, Marie-Claude, Li Wei & François-Guillaume we say THANK YOU!!! We will miss you all and we wish you good luck with your new projects. Au revoir!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Y2Ai6j > {Jun.27} 3 more shows before we say Sayonara Tokyo!!! Our insects are still full of energy... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/z5qOdB > {Jun.28} Au revoir Tokyo! It has been an amazing 6 months but it's time for us to go. We want to thank the 500 000 fans who came to see us. You guys were absolutely fantastic! We hope to see you all again soon! Sayonara! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/dIb0fc > {Jun.30} OVO has probably the best fans in the world. A group of 4 fans designed 12 different boxes of chocolate; 1 for each act. This is by far the most amazing gift we ever received. Ritsuko-san, Midori-san, Shoko-san & Urara-san Arigato Gozaimasu! Osaka de aimasho! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/pd7uSu > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {Jun.01} Now that's flexibility LINK /// < http://goo.gl/19Qm9S > {Jun.05} Bravo Quidam for 1000th shows in Arena! Thank you Red Radish Supper Club for baking us a lovely cake to highlight the event. Can you guess how many cities we performed in since we opened in Vancouver back in March 2011? Quidam performed in 135 different cities since the Arena aventure started. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/fbJ1aP > {Jun.11} This week Quidam is celebrating its 6000th performance! To celebrate, members of Quidam's team were asked what they felt about it and what they were doing back in 1996: o) Patrick, Original Acrobat LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vrrv1N > o) Rosita, Head of Wardrobe LINK /// < http://goo.gl/jOEYXW > o) Luc, Original Crewmember LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vvQGTK > o) Josée, Original Cast Member LINK /// < http://goo.gl/RZhQ8I > o) Craig, Head of Automation LINK /// < http://goo.gl/xm8mne > o) Brigitte, Travel & Lodging Coordinator LINK /// < http://goo.gl/hz8n9x > o) Cory, German Wheel Artist LINK /// < http://goo.gl/WEUpJ9 > {Jun.16} Spice up your day with Cirque du Soleil to celebrate our 30th anniversary! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/cbYl1H > ---[ TOTEM ]--- {Jun.05} We asked the cast of TOTEM to describe Vancouver in one word! Catch us at Concord Pacific Place through July 6! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Bf5z7e > {Jun.08} TOTEM is paying tribute today to Ante Ursic who has participated in the creation and played the Tracker character since Opening Night in 2010! After close to 1,500 performances, Ante is now moving on to new adventures! Good luck in your new projects Ante - we will miss you!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/chpnE6 > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/1QGF44 > {Jun.13} Celebrate 30 years of Cirque du Soleil next week in Vancouver! Stop by Pacific Centre Plaza on Monday, June 16 at 12:30pm for a short Hoop Dance performance from TOTEM followed by photo opportunities with some characters! Don't miss our anniversary free fireworks presentation on Satuday, June 21 at 10:30pm at Plaza of Nations! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/7FsiZk > {Jun.14} Happy World Juggling Day from Thom Wall, one of the new TOTEMites!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IJLNof > {Jun.16} Our amazing Singer from TOTEM is wishing happy 30th anniversary to Cirque du Soleil! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/np244Y > {Jun.16} The Green Frogs and our Amerindian Dancer are getting ready for our 12:30pm performance at Pacific Centre Plaza in downtown Vancouver celebrating our 30th Anniversary! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/bscLRy > {Jun.16} And its a wrap! Thank you to everyone who attended and to Mayor Gregor Robertson for declaring June 16, 2014 the Cirque du Soleil Day in Vancouver! Photo credit: Crystal Kwon LINK /// < http://goo.gl/JDJTRN > {Jun.27} There was a lot of action backstage at TOTEM this week! We are gearing up for our upcoming New-Zealand/Australia tour with the photoshoot of our new souvenir program! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kslVMq > ---[ VAREKAI ]--- {Jun.11} We hosted a special sneak peek of Varekai at the Erie Art Museum yesterday! Check out some of our photos of the event! A special thanks to the entire staff of the museum for etting us borrow your space! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/q2uyaJ > {Jun.16} Case of the Mondays? Turn that frown upside down and celebrate Cirque du Soleil 30th anniversary! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/wdyp6w > {Jun.25} Check out our brand new trailer! What do you think? LINK /// < http://youtu.be/BLRZs78vqCQ > ---[ ZUMANITY ]--- {Jun.27} NENE LEAKES debuts tonight as the “Mistress of Sensuality”! Watch her pleasure-ful performance for a limited engagement. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KF5Rhr > {Jun.30} Friday was our first sensual show hosted by NeNe Leakes. Don’t miss out on this limited engagement from June 27 to July 1. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/75qWWc > ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) "The Tech Behind LIGHT Nightclub - A Summary" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) "KURIOS Official Character & Act Descriptions" By: Cirque du Soleil Press Materials o) "We Are All Quidams - Celebrating 6,000 Performances" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- "The Tech Behind LIGHT Nightclub - A Summary" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- As we mentioned a few issues back, at Fascination! we like to clue our readers in to interesting articles about Cirque du Soleil and its shows that appear in various printed, video, and online media. Back in March we summarized one such article discussing the stage technology of Michael Jackson ONE. Just a short three months later they published another one, this time focusing on Light nightclub at Mandalay Bay, where Cirque is pioneering in-club acrobatic performance. As with the other article, it requires the potential reader to subscribe to the online edition (though that is free) in order to view the archived article. And it's just too much audio-visual technobabble for us to recommend going to the trouble. Instead, we take the most interesting bits and quote them here! The article appeared in the February, 2014 issue of Lighting and Sound America magazine (start5ing on Page 54). You can find the entire original article, including a breakdown of the equipment in the club by subscribing (and accessing the electronic copies of back issues) at www.lightingandsoundamerica.com . The article, entitled, " The Speed of Light: A New Vegas Club Mixes Lighting, Sound, Projections, and Performance Into a Non-stop Parade of Effects” by Louis M. Brill goes into great detail about the audio, video, lighting and projection content involved in Cirque’s first nightclub partnership. We found some interesting quotes and facts among the highly-detailed listing of equipment within. To whit: (the remainder of this article are direct quotes from that article) The presence of Light at Mandalay Bay [on the south end of the Las Vegas, Nevada strip, the same casino/resort that houses Cirque’s latest resident show, Michael Jackson ONE] is the convergence of several premier entertainment organizations, including the Light Group, a leading hospitality, development, and management company; Moment Factory, of Montréal, Canada, which provides the extravagant background visual effects throughout the club; Cirque du Soleil, also of Montréal, which presents the nightly aerial acrobatics over the dance floor; and John Lyons Systems, of Hollywood, California, which provides the audio-visual entertainment that beams out every night during showtime. Light is operated by Light Group and is described by Guy Laliberté, Cirque du Soleil’s founder as, “the ultimate theatrical night club experience that will serve as a laboratory of artistic possibilities.” While all of the entertainment aspects of Light are important, its audio-visual infrastructure is the spine on which everything else hangs. John Lyons Systems installed the infrastructure. Its founder, John Lyons, currently owns and operates five nightclubs around the US including the renowned Avalon Hollywood. John Lyons Systems designs and installs audio-visual entertainment systems for all his nightclubs and other nightclubs. [A Club Description] Light is 38,000 square feet of drinking, dance, and DJ entertainment. Its front-of-house space is composed of huge (almost floor-to-ceiling) LED screens located left and right of the DJ booth. A smaller LED screen is found in front of the DJ booth. Below the latter, a speaker chamber is filled with compact front-of-house speakers. Facing the speakers is a large dance floor surrounded by table booths; overhead is a mezzanine with more table booths. Effects gear includes two Artistry In Motion Mini Blaster confetti cannons, eight Antari SD200 snow machines, six Antari Z1000iii and four Z-1020 fog machines, 18 Martin Professional Jem Hydra fog systems, two Look Solutions Unique2 hazers, and 24 Elation AF-5 fans. [The “Acro Wall”] One especially unique visual/theatrical effect is the front-of-house LED/rear projection screen, which hides a small stage behind the rear projection screen. Set next to the LED displays is a second special set of screens made of a translucent polycarbonate material that serves as a front and rear projection screen, a vertical stage, and the theatrical space all in the same location. With Cirque performers climbing on and bouncing off the polycarbonate wall, it's known as the Acro Wall. Because of its translucency, it also acts as a theatrical scrim. The Acro Wall is placed on either side of the DJ station. Each wall is 20 feet tall by 30 feet wide and fitted with tiled Lexan polycarbonate panels covered with a white translucent 3M Scotchcal perforated window graphic film (IJ65) with a 50% transparency projection surface. More than just a projection space, the Acro Wall also serves as a staging area for immersive visual effects with Cirque performers. The Acro Wall is actually a set of walls that act as a hollow chamber; behind them is an enclosed performance space. The space also features winches in the ceiling to lower and lift backdrops and props. On the back wall, Lyons says, “we have two large roller scrims that are rear- lit by 2,000 RGB nodes. When in the down position, this creates a rear backdrop that presents a glowing depth behind the performance space. When rolled up, it reveals a high-output matrix of pattern and color, creating a fourth dimension with the Acro Wall.” Lit from the back, the Acro Wall becomes a theatrical scrim and a window into the magical manipulations of vignettes by Cirque du Soleil performers. [The Visual Effects] Sakchin Bessette, partner and creative director at Moment Factory, says one challenge is matching video and LED brightness levels across two disparate display formats. “When our content is going through video projectors, sometimes we have to boost up the contrast and brightness to get brighter images. In this case, our video presentation, with its translucent screens, competes with the LED screens, so we have to adjust each display platform accordingly. We also have to be aware of the performers and their lighting needs, the overall ambient house lighting, and other lighting situations as they come up. So we work with the house lighting designers in setting up the overall visual presence for each evening.” Bessette adds, “Nightclubs are dynamic environments, as each night is different, as are the DJs, the projected images, the performers, and the audience. However, despite these differences, we still need to have a visual presentation that somehow syncs up with the DJ and the surrounding club environment. To make our visual presentations really work, we integrate the architecture, the lighting, the amazing Cirque du Soleil performers, and their Acro entrances as they appear. Ultimately, it's about pacing, which starts slow with a house warm-up, and, as the DJs begin their shows, builds up the club's energy as the visuals follow along with a more upbeat and dynamic presence, the VJs work very closely with the artistic directors from Cirque in preparing a program for each night and adapting it to the flow of the nightclub.” He adds, “To build this visual library, so far we've done almost 20 video shoots, which has given us more than 1,000 video clips that have been edited into a large array of concepts and storylines, and each nights visual presentation is drawn from all that material.” [Breaking the Fourth Wall] What separates Light from other nightclubs is the injection of live theater into a pre-existing nightclub environment as a new kind of clubbing ambience. Given the various performance vignettes, the venue becomes a 360° stage. Leu Strope, managing director of Light, says that Cirque du Soleil is very cognizant of the fourth wall, “and we always strive to bust it as much as we can. At Light, we perform in and around the club all the time. When you enter, you're greeted by some of our character performers. When you're on the dance floor, there are aerial performances going on over your head and across and behind the Acro Wall. We have parades in the club aisles, and our various Cirque characters are wandering around the club. With the visual effects, the Acro Wall, and the proximity to the audience, it’s as much of the sensory and visual experience as we can sustain to bring our Cirque presence as close to the audience as possible.” Lyons adds, “With everything at Light put into motion, it is presenting a seismic shift in defining what a nightclub should be.” Bessette says, “Does this all work? We know it does because of how the audience reacts. What we see every night we're open is a big party with people getting sweaty, dancing, hands in the air, and they're all smiling and jumping around and letting go. When we see that, we know we’ve succeeded.” ---------------------------------------------------------- "KURIOS Official Character & Act Descriptions" By: Cirque du Soleil Press Materials ---------------------------------------------------------- In our May 2014 issue we reviewed Cirque du Soleil's newest big top production - KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities - bringing our views of the characters and acts to you. These descriptions, however, are from what we felt and read at the time. Cirque du Soleil has its own interpretation and although ours may be close, this is how they describe the characters and acts of this fantastic new show: /// CHARACTERS -------------- Mr. Microcosmos An authority figure, Mr. Microcosmos is the leader of the group. This serious chap is the embodiment of technological progress; his world is sturdy and evokes the steam train, massive building structures, the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais. This is man as a microcosm, running on his own steam and traveling in his own self-contained, self- subsisting ecosystem. Full steam ahead! Mr. Microcosmos is a portly man, a kind of mechanical Obelix (a character from the French comic book series The Adventures of Asterix), but instead of holding a tiny dog in his arms, he lugs around a small lady in his belly wherever he goes, and he’s hardly aware of it. Mini Lili She represents Mr. Microcosmos’ unconscious mind, his intuitive self, his fragile and poetic side. Mini Lili is a painter, an actress and a poetess. She lives inside her host’s overcoat. Through the door in his belly, you can catch a glimpse of the furnished interiors of the little lady’s abode, complete with armchair, chandelier and other necessities of the Victorian home. Nico the Accordion Man The perfect handyman, Nico is a little shy, a tad awkward, and extremely sensitive. Nico’s accordion costume allows him to bend way down or stand way up so he can be at eye level with absolutely everyone. Klara the Telegraph of the Invisible Klara can receive alpha waves by turning on her heels and pointing her hoop skirt in various directions. She has a language of her own and symbolizes our obsession with telecommunications during the golden age of the railroad when the telegraph and the gramophone were invented. The Kurios Since there is so much work to be done before his dream becomes reality, the Seeker surrounds himself with a brigade of assistants including the Winch kurios and Suction Cup kurios. These quirky robots were built from scraps and recycled parts by the Seeker himself. These imperfect, dysfunctional creatures have the distinct smell of metal, leather and the unbridled imagination of their creator. /// ACTS ------------- Chaos Synchro 1900 A locomotive pulls into the train station and lets off a motley group of passengers straight from the 19th century: eccentrics, acrobats, a juggler, percussionists and dancers in their Sunday best. In a fusion of acrobatics, percussion and choreographies, they create inside the cabinet of curiosities a festive ambience that radiates freedom and charm. Russian Cradle Duo A strongman and a porcelain face doll awakened by an electrical discharge emerge from their musical box and jump to life. The two artists climb on top of an apparatus 4 m above ground. In a number based on mutual trust, the catcher turns into a human trapeze and flings his partner in the air where she performs more and more intricate somersaults. Aerial Bicycle An acrobat jumps on her acrobatic bicycle suspended in midair and hangs on in a variety of positions – on the handlebar stem or on the wheel, by a foot or by an arm. She even settles onto the seat, hands on the handlebars and feet on the pedals… but she and her bike are upside down! Invisible Circus An oddball ringmaster directs a miniature circus with invisible artists. Ranging from teeterboard to high diving to riding a unicycle on a tightrope, the acts all materialize in our minds by the sheer power of visual and sound effects – a poetic and comedic nod to the traditional circus arts. Contortion Four deep-sea creatures that embody electric eels inside the Seeker’s cabinet come to life in this stunning, fast-paced and fluid contortion act. The wriggling artists execute a series of incredible pyramids and figures at an astonishing pace using the Mechanical Hand as a platform. Upside Down World Dinner guests are stunned by the telekinetic powers of one of their table companions who can make a chandelier suspended above their heads move. Another guest challenges him by piling up chairs in an attempt to reach the chandelier. All of a sudden, the group realizes that their exact double exists in a parallel universe right above them where the same scene is unfolding… but upside down! In this original chair-balancing act, they will compete against each other through feats of ingenuity and daring to achieve their ends. Rola Bola A fearless Aviator who happens to be an expert in the discipline of rola bola makes a soft, graceful landing in his small propeller plane, which he will use as a platform. Balanced on his impressive, tottering structure, the artist and his cylinders and planks rest on a platform built into a trapeze Washington. The suspended apparatus moves up and down and swings in a long pendulum motion – an incredible feat requiring an extraordinary sense of balance. Acro Net Above a vast ocean, underwater creatures pirouette, bounce and rebound on a net that covers the entire stage. Their street-style performance is mixed with pure trampoline techniques. The net is tuned so that the artists standing on the surface can use their legs to modulate the amplitude of the bouncing motion, at times creating a slingshot effect that propels their teammates almost to the top of the big top. Hand Theatre In this moment imbued with simplicity and poetry, an artist uses only his fingers to tell a story that is filmed and projected in real time on a hot-air balloon that serves as a screen. The finale of the tiny characters’ adventure unfolds in the audience! Aerial Straps “Siamese twins” hanging in the air from straps are separated at last when they fly high above the stage in a series of acrobatic figures, sometimes as a pair, sometimes solo. The two artists soar to impressive heights and crisscross above the stage while performing synchronized figures that require flawless timing. Banquine A group of 13 artists perform spectacular sequences of perfectly synchronized acrobatics and human pyramids that showcase the amazing agility of the human body. In addition to standing three and four high on each other’s shoulders, the artists take off, somersault and crisscross in the air on three levels: the ground, a monolith positioned centre-stage, and in the audience. ---------------------------------------------------------- "We Are All Quidams - Celebrating 6,000 Performances" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- Quidam: “It could be anyone, anybody,” the show’s programme observes. “Someone coming, going, living in our anonymous society. A member of the crowd, one of the silent majority. One who cries out, sings and dreams within us all.” This is the quidam that Cirque du Soleil is celebrating. In this world, the one who cries out is Zoë, a young girl who fumes because she believes she's seen everything there is to see, experienced all there is to experience. For her, the world has lost all meaning. Her anger, sharp and unforgiving, shatters her little world and soon she finds herself in the universe of Quidam. Here, she is not alone, for she is joined by a joyful companion (Karl/Fritz/Target) and a more mysterious personage (John) who will attempt to seduce her with the marvelous, the unsettling, and the terrifying. Directed by Franco Dragone, this production is more thoroughly scripted than Cirque’s previous shows, integrating performance and theatricality to a greater extent than ever before, drawing on the emotional relationships between the performers within the troupe. “This show highlights our frailties and our anguish in the face of the new millennium that lies before us. It also underlines differences, conveying positive feelings and resentment and confronting our dreams with our nightmares. Like preceding creations, it conveys emotion, but it is also more raw, more intense, more dramatic, and more personal too," Franco Dragone said. The creative team pulled out all the stops to create this unique show that combines artistic performance and new technology. A show fit for the new millennium, they thought, in which people would find their proper place and adapt to a new world. To celebrate Quidam reaching 6,000 shows, we take a look back... /// FULL CIRCLE "By the time we got to making Quidam, we were ready to take a risk to move away from the fantastical characters we'd been dealing with until then. We became interested in the faceless mass. You may know 100 people well, but the rest of the 6 billion people on the planet are quidams: they're anonymous to you. And yet, my experience with Cirque made me realize you can recognize individuals in that mass. Because Cirque du Soleil is so international, Sydney and Russia have become more than places to me: they have become places where people I know are from. The world has become more human." - Franco Dragone (Spectaculara) For the most part, the creative team behind Quidam is the same that brought us Cirque du Soleil's main productions. Dominique Lemieux created the costumes, Michel Crête designed the set, Debra Brown did the choreography and François Bergeron was the Sound Designer. The team would not be complete without Luc Lafortune and his lighting magic. There are also a few new names in the credits this year: Andrew Watson, Artistic Director, and Benoît Jutras, who composed the music. The Music --------- "The little girl who plays Zoé in Quidam has a real challenge, because she has to go from singing very tremulously and uncertainly to singing with a strong, full voice." - Benoît Jutras (Spectaculara) Created by Benoît Jutras, the music of Quidam is of remarkable dramatic intensity. Drawing on influences that range from classical music to the most eclectic and contemporary sounds, Jutras's music accompanies, envelopes and accentuates the magic of the show. And for the very first time at Cirque du Soleil, the voices of a man and a child add texture and unique color to the music. The man in question is Mathieu Lavoie, and the child is none other than the composer's daughter, Audrey Brisson-Jutras. Eleven years old and a singer and musician in her own right, Audrey accompanied the troupe during its long travels throughout North America. "When it came time to cast the role of Zoé, we ended up choosing my daughter,” Jutras reminisces. “It was tough, because I had been touring for years, and now, here she was going on tour for the next four years. At the premiere, I was there as both father and composer, so it was doubly nerve-wracking.” The Costumes ------------ At the start of the creative process, costume designer Dominique Lemieux explored the many worlds of everyday life. The fabrics and textures used in Quidam reflect the variegated hues of a megalopolis inhabited by street people. Working in close cooperation, the costume designer and the director have created characters and costumes that reflect the performer personalities. Guided by the need to present each performer as a unique individual, Dominique designed approximately 250 costumes (500 costume items, 30 hats, 20 real-hair wigs and 200-300 hand-painted shoes) that let the personality of each of the performers come through. Each artist has between two to seven costumes apiece and each costume is specifically designed for that artist (with at least two spares of every costume). For example, the costumes of the Banquine troupe are the same design, but in different colors. At first, they are more colorful, representing characters in real life, but later the colors become muted, representing life after war or tragedy. "Quidam is an exploration of the everyday. Robert Doisneau was a wonderful source of inspiration for how the characters move and express their being. The surrealists Magritte and Delvaux were a guide in choosing the color scheme for the show, and also inspired how feeling and emotion are represented in it. In Quidam, a young girl experiences loneliness, anonymity, and alienation. She's dressed in orange, the color of action. But she's surrounded by grey everywhere, and red, the color of love, anger, and death." - Dominique Lemieux (Spectaculara) Eighty percent of the fabrics used in the show’s costumes are custom dyed. These fabrics are usually white and are hand-dyed and printed in custom colors shop. Basic costume and lining materials include leather, jute, linen, crepe, wool, velvet, Lycra, and 42 varieties of silk and 30 varieties of cotton from England, France, Italy and California. Around the world, fabrics have been woven and knitted to the specifications of Cirque’s Costume Workshop. They were then processed by dyers using a number of dyeing, printing, airbrush, and tie-dyeing techniques. Personae -------- "When I designed the make-up for Quidam, I was inspired by Dominique Lemieux's sketches, but also by the artists' faces. I worked directly on their faces, trying to help get the emotion we wanted out of them. For each character, we did a phenomenal number of tests, and ended up with boxes and boxes of photos." - Nathalie Gagne (Spectaculara) The Family (Mom, Dad & Zoë) --- Zoë is an average little girl. She is bored, yet curious, and she longs for the fun and excitement she believes lies just beyond her reach. She is lost amidst a world where she finds no meaning. She is frustrated and disillusioned and is swept up into the universe of Quidam. Zoë's Mother conveys an air of absence and alienation. Inside her lie fear, frustration and desire but she will soon rediscover the intense feeling of being alive through pain and courage, play and love. Lost behind his newspaper, ensconced in his den, Zoë's Father is completely, though unwittingly, self- absorbed. His white shoes are the only indication of a hidden personality. John --- With his tragically spare hairdo and comically svelte frame, John is a different kind of ringmaster. Part game-show host and part substitute teacher with his own renegade lesson plan, John is our eerie yet charming guide through the world of Quidam. Karl/Fritz/Target (Le Cible) --- The Target is a living, human bulls- eye, fired at by everyone. Perhaps it is his gentle nature and kindness which leave him so vulnerable. Ironically, he remains light- hearted and happy. With an infinite smile and moving with grace, he chooses to live in empty space, present and absent at the same time, a companion to the lost girl for a little while. Quidam --- The Quidam may have stepped out of a surrealist painting or been conjured up out of Zoë's imagination. He is anonymous-he is everyone, and, at the same time, he is no one. Les Égarés --- Les Égarés are lost individuals who gather together in the streets and abandoned buildings of Quidam. They sublimate their suffering, transforming it into something magical and inspiring. Boum Boum --- Boom-Boom, a bald guy with gloves for hands, is aggressive and physically fit. He brings forth the rumble of thunder and the flash of lightening with just the clash of his hands, showing us some of the more unpleasant sides of Quidam though protecting us at the same time. His ear piercing roars of disgust will grab your attention. And yet, he is lifeless, as though his body lives on only because his soul refuses to leave it. The Aviator --- The Aviator has skeletal wings, but doesn't look quite ready to take off. Perhaps he doesn't know he has wings. Perhaps he knows, but can't fly. Perhaps he has tried and failed. Or perhaps he simply wants to escape this world and its problems. Les Chiennes Blanches --- Les Chiennes Blanches are the silent chorus, the nameless and the faceless. They are the dehumanized, mechanical crowd, simultaneously leading and following. Les Clowns --- Meet the Maclomas, an outrageous trio of screwball clowns, a living comic strip. This French trio (a team for more than 20 years) is baroque, eccentric and Fellini-esque in its approach. Their art is rooted in taunts and grotesque provocations, a taste for the absurd, and unpredictable (and irresistible) scenarios. Their performance is a riotous celebration of fearsome, subversive imagery and imagination. Merciless and terrifying, these clowning iconoclasts take cruelty to new extremes, while bringing to Quidam purity, poetry and tenderness. The Set & Stage --------------- Quidam’s set design is stunning. Evoking a monolithic structure like a train station or an airport concourse where people constantly come and go, the minimalist set was created within five months by a team of expert technicians from Cirque’s workshops. In every city, some 40 hours of work by about 50 technicians are required to erect the sets under the blue-and-yellow Big Top. One of the production's most spectacular features is an overhead conveyor known as the téléphérique. Its five rails, made entirely out of aluminum, are constructed in seven 19-foot sections for a total length of 120 feet, almost the entire interior surface span of the Big Top. The idea for the conveyor came from Set Designer Michel Crête, who was looking for a new way of bringing artists on stage or into their aerial positions without cables obstructing the audience’s view. Each rail supports two trolleys which travel the length of the system: one brings the acrobatic equipment, performers and props from a backstage platform dubbed “the garage” and the other raises or lowers them to the appropriate height once they arrive at their designated points, which could be over the stage or above the heads of the audience. "For all of our shows up to this one, we had to work around the acrobats coming into the middle of the set and getting rigged up, and then climbing, trying to make it look organic and natural. We wanted to avoid that this time, so we designed a system of tracks on which they could make their entrance. That led to the idea of making the set itself a train station, which was just right. A train station's anonymous, and cold, and it's a kind of crossroads, too. It's a place of decision." - Michele Crête (Spectaculara) The 387 square-foot stage (known as a trompe-l'œil floor), built from perforated aluminum panels that have been custom drilled, folded, structured and covered with a rubber-like flooring from Mondo, is illuminated from above and below and appears at times metallic while others incandescent. Changes in the lighting – contrasts in hues, angles and light beams – can instantly transform the mood of a scene from comedy to tragedy. Though the phrase originates in the Baroque period, when it refers to perspectival illusionism, trompe-l'œil dates much further back. It was (and is) often employed in murals. Instances from Greek and Roman times are known, for instance in Pompeii. A typical trompe-l'œil mural might depict a window, door, or hallway, intended to suggest a larger room. Trompe-l'œil, in the form of "forced perspective," has long been used in stage-theater set design, so as to create the illusion of a much deeper space than the actual stage (think: matte painting). In fact, the term is French for “deceive the eye” so it makes sense. The 21 metric ton revolving stage reflects an ever-changing, unpredictable world. The 34-foot diameter turntable can turn in two directions, in different speeds and can support up to 50 people. There are more than 200,000 perforations, which allows light to surpass from below. /// THE EXPERIENCE "With Quidam, we started out wanting to do something very down- to-earth, and ended up with something surrealistic. Every night, the spectator comes in to watch people dream." - Gilles Ste- Croix Quidam offers audiences a variety of acts where high-caliber acrobatic performance goes hand-in-hand with the magnificent beauty of aerial, high-flying, balancing and manipulation acts. In store for spectators are the German wheel, Banquine, Spanish webs, Diabolo and Aerial Contortion in Silk. Also on the program: a hell-raising trio of crazy clowns who take cruelty to the limits while lending a touch of purity, poetry and tenderness to the show. PROLOGUE In typical Cirque du Soleil fashion, the show begins while the audience is still gathering. Our guide for the evening, "John," greets the audience as they come through the door, playing with their hair, stealing their tickets, eating their popcorn, and generally causing a nuisance. He is followed by a troupe of characters dressed head-to-toe in white, hooded suits. Of course this group picks an unwilling volunteer from the audience, takes him backstage and brings him out dressed as one of them. John harasses him a little and sends him back to his seat. As the house lights go dim, John takes the stage and plays snippets of songs on an old transistor radio - snippets of songs from previous Cirque productions, at which he sneers and turns up his nose. He reads us our instructions for the evening - no smoking, no pictures, and the like - and then leads us through this incredible story for the next two hours. The show opens on the young girl at home with her parents seated in typical family pose. The father reads the paper, the mother stares vacantly into space, Zoë tries to entertain herself and engage her parents. A knock at the door brings a character straight from a Magritte painting - a headless man, Quidam, carrying an umbrella, who drops his hat in the center of this family scene. Interest piqued, Zoë picks up the discarded hat and places it to her ear, listing for the fantastical, the ethereal. Compelled then to place the hat upon her head, she does so. Thunder rolls, lightning flashes, and the family are carried away in one of the most amazing feats to occur under the Big Top. In blissful ignorance, the parents are carried off still in their chairs, seemingly unaware of what is taking place around them. At the same time, our young heroine's guides to this fantastical world are introduced - John, who we have already met, and Fritz, an always- smiling, impish character. These two cohorts carry the young girl through adventure after adventure... GERMAN WHEEL Although it is a very popular gymnastic exercise in Germany, Quidam makes the German wheel look like a game. The wheel, two meters in circumference, consists of two metal hoops joined at six points. The Wheel rolls into place in what was the living room, and Chris Lashua (the original artist) nonchalantly carries it through a series of rolls, twists, turns and spins that defy explanation. It flips from side to side, and returns to a straight vertical. It rolls across the stage at dizzying speeds. He guides this huge apparatus through varying tricks in a display of athleticism unlike anything seen before - some even with his hands held calmly behind his back. Fascinated, spectators observing this strange pair wonder whether wheel or acrobat is in control. Are they adversaries or allies? The mystery remains unsolved. DIABOLOS As the show progress, the Quidam's world becomes more fantastical, more chaotic, and more beautiful. After the German Wheel rolls off, the troupe returns to the stage running, leaping, dancing across it with the young girl, Zoë, taking in all she can. Her parents appear, still in oblivion, her father with his head pushed through the newspaper lost in the confusion. Performers traverse the stage in a chorus of Zoë look-alikes, teasing her and John alike, while the remainder of the troupe comes on with varying sizes of drums - from small, tinny snare drums to the large, thundering taïko drums, now an essential part of any Cirque production. Through this group come the four young girls (Qing Liu, Xiaojing Liu, Yu Wang and Meng Xie) carrying their Diabolos, or “Chinese yo-yo”, who perform a quartet of juggling by tossing them across the revolving stage, forming pyramids and seemingly impossible uses of the ropes and spinning tops. In one of the most beautiful uses of the stage, at the end of the act, the four girls spin their tops up ropes hanging from the ceiling of the tent, from which drop in synchronization streamers of white and blue. The audience holds its breath as the four performers attempt to outdo each other in dexterity and ingenuity. This act won the Gold Medal at the 1995 Festival du cirque de demain in Paris. AERIAL CONTORTION As the Diabolo girls run off, again our troupe of performers comes through as we watch the Father traverse the tent suspended from the giant track, seemingly walking on air. As our eyes gaze toward the top of the tent, a cocoon of red silk comes from behind the orchestra at the front, and the amazingly beautiful Isabelle Vaudelle performs the Aerial Contortion in Silk. Not only is it an athletically astonishing act, but in context it was so hauntingly beautiful, performed to "Let Me Fall" from the soundtrack, but sung in Cirquish language. Moving with grace and delicacy, Isabelle Vaudelle becomes one with the columns of red fabric that supports and cradles her. To haunting music, contortionist and cloth intertwine, separate and embrace again. The translucent fabric occasionally hugs the body of the performer, creating a stunning effect that touches the artist in each of us. This act, which requires strength, flexibility and agility, won Isabelle the silver medal at the XXIIIe Festival du cirque de demain in Paris, where she represented Cirque du Soleil. SKIPPING ROPES Do you remember when a sure sign of spring was the sound of children jumping rope? Drawing its inspiration from dance, acrobatics and the art of manipulation, Cirque du Soleil has transformed this familiar child's game into a unique circus act. As a trio of Mother look- alikes, all dressed in red, come to carry Isablle off after her performance, they are followed by the remainder of the troupe who begin a languid Skipping Ropes section - at first a simple display of athletic prowess, led by two soloists - then morphing into an eclectic, energetic display of skill and timing as the entire troupe performs together. The video shows a nice shot from the ceiling of the tent in an almost Busby Burklee display of symmetry. AERIAL HOOPS Three aerial hoops whirl above the stage. Each on her own hoop or all three on the same, Geneviève Bessette, Martyne Dubé and Émilie Grenon- Emiroglou pivot and twirl through the air. The hoops, suspended from the overhead track, whirl in a blur as the trio of performers manipulate and climb over them. With intense synchronization and precision the performers twirl the hoops and stop them on cue, using the air and the stage to propel them around. You will never forget this breathtaking aerial ballet. MANIPULATION More than mere jugglers, Jean Besnard, Patrick McGuire and Steven Ragatz manipulate a ball and wave-shaped metal forms with utmost dexterity. The ball will hypnotize you as it endlessly appears and disappears right before your eyes. Although this act looks easy, it requires superhuman precision and concentration. Michael Moschen, well known for his original manipulation acts, developed this act especially for Cirque du Soleil. ELEVATED HANDBALANCING A suspended platform swings back and forth under the spotlights. The audience, immediately captivated, is irresistibly drawn to the gracious silhouette of a young hand-balancer. Perched on the platform, Olga Pikhienko moves through a series of precarious balancing positions of ever-increasing difficulty. This is one of the most typical "circus" acts in Quidam, but was also one of the most virtuoso performances. SPANISH WEBS After her leaving the stage, our guide John returns in his hilarious display of marksmanship with a set of darts. He wears a target on his head and tosses darts in the air to land on the target. Of course he misses, to our great amusement, and leaves the stage in a howl of agony as the overhead track brings a series of ropes onto the stage, each with a performer attached, high over our heads. And thus begins the incredible Spanish Web act, with acrobats climbing up and down the ropes, tying them around their bodies and flying through the air. In the live performance, the climax of this act was the character of Fritz, constantly wanting to be involved and meeting everything with a smile, climbing the ropes as the porter on the ground begins to spin the rope. Fritz flies off, attached to the main rope only by his ankle, flying and laughing hilariously over heads. Additionally, the character of the Father was a principal soloist in the Spanish Webs act, portrayed by Daniel Touchette. He was the one who originally tied the rope in many loops around his body, ultimately letting it roll him precariously down to the ground. As a part of the story, this act began the transformation of the Father character into a more open, carefree person. VIS VERSA / STATUE After the Spanish Webs have left the stage, our friend John returns and performs a fun juggling act with a ball and a hat stand to the incomparable singer Yma Sumac's "Gopher." It is a light-hearted moment of frivolity and fun in this crazy mixed-up world of Quidam. A recurring element of Quidam is the nameless, faceless, ubiquitous characters dressed from head to toe in white medical-looking suits. These characters come in and out of the show, as they had participated with John at the very beginning, in various ways. After John leaves the stage they come rolling out in a group, form a clump in the middle and out of their midst come the next two performers to do the Statue or Vis Versa act. Reminiscent of similar acts in other Cirque shows, this duo balancing act is a Cirque trademark, particularly beautiful in Quidam as a counterpoint to some of the more frantic performances. Never losing contact, two strong, flexible performers move almost imperceptibly, assuming positions impossible without an impeccable sense of balance. The audience is captivated by the sensuality of the performance by Marie-Laure Mesnage and Yves Décoste. Like martial artists enthusiasts, these two performers call on their sensitivity and powers of concentration in their quest for perfect harmony. Their act is testimony to the natural beauty of the human body. CLOUD SWING Trapeze and Spanish web techniques combine in the explosive and dangerous cloud swing – another act unique to Quidam. Spectators thrill as Swiss performer Petra Sprecher calmly carries off spectacular acrobatics, dives and contortions at a hellish pace. The trapeze artist electrifies the audience, won over by her strength and virtuosity. It is a much more 'violent' performance than that of the Vis-Versa, and plays an important counterpoint to the slower elements of the show. At one extended point of the swing, she seemingly falls off the trapeze, attached only by a small guide-wire to her leg. But from the audience's perspective it looks like she's falling off completely. She regains her balance and continues flawlessly. BANQUINE The final act of Quidam is the Banquine, an incredible balancing and acrobatic act involving the whole troupe. They toss each other madly about the stage forming towers of four people high, and in daring jumps from one group to the other, landing on only the joined hands of the porter. This performance was also used in Cirque's IMAX Journey of Man film. It is, perhaps, the signature act of Quidam and features performances completely unlike anything else. Banquine is an Italian acrobatic tradition whose origins go back to the Middle Ages. EPILOGUE Banquine of course leads to the resolution of the show, with Zoë uniting with her joyful parents. The Quidam appears again and takes back his hat, proving that the magical world is really the world we live in and that all these fantastic experiences are part of it as well. /// THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES... Quidam has, over the years, evolved as Cirque du Soleil itself evolved. The show’s make-up became more elaborate, singers came and went, and, of course, a couple acrobatic numbers and clown teams pivoted in and out. Let’s take the clowns for instance. While many of us equate Quidam with the Les Maclomas clown team (no doubt because they’re the trio featured on the show’s DVD recording), they weren’t the original clowns in the show. For the first North American Tour (1996-1998), we had Kotini Jr (Yellow) and Alosha (Red). The Red Clown was a crotchety, mean old clown who didn't care whose feelings got hurt. He tormented Zoë in the beginning of the tale but by the end, befriended her. He walked with a limp and was downright gloomy. The Yellow Clown, in contrast, was likeable enough but not too bright. The two were crude and sometimes unwanted, but found a way into the narrative never-the-less. Les Macloma were introduced during the European Tour and stuck around through the Second North American Tour (2002) and into the Japanese Tour (2003) before retiring. The clowns, Red, White and Yellow, were a sight to see and their antics, no less... anitc! From floating around the stage in hot-air balloons made from boxes to playing musical notes on balloons! After their retirement the Les Macloma were replaced by Les Don Quijotes, a trio who built upon the Les Macloma legacy by performing their characters and numbers. Les Don Quijotes didn’t last nearly as long however, and were replaced by the Toto & Voki duo. Toto and Voki changed up Quidam's clown routines by bringing back one of David Shiner's best acts - the "Film Scene" (as seen in "Nouvelle Experience") - and introducing what would become a crowd-favorite in "The Car", which featured the participation of a female audience member. Neither clown continued with the show’s arena conversion. The current clown brings a more contemporary vision of clowning. With subversive, crazy audience participation numbers, he tells his own story, bringing to Quidam the joyful, burlesque, and liberated language of clown. “This colorful, brash, and crazy world reminds us that the circus is forever a universal spectacle.” Or so says Cirque du Soleil. Of course, the clowns wouldn’t be the only performers to come and go, and coming with the changes a new Quidam. John Gilkey (“John”) left Quidam after the end of the original North American Tour, to be replaced by Mark Ward – who has gone on to play the character of “John” for far longer than the original creator! (Consequently, John Gilkey returned to Quidam to take part in the show’s filming in 1999, returning to his titular character. Mark Ward, who had been performing “John”, was shuffled to the character of “Quidam” during the filming instead.) Another trio to leave the show was the Manipulation artists. The Manipulation act was originally created by Michael Moschen for Cirque du Soleil's resident show Mystère at Treasure Island Las Vegas; however, during Quidam’s creation, the act was removed from Mystère and sent out on tour. Manipulation was only seen during the first North American Tour (1996-1998) and has not been seen in a Cirque production since. Their performance was not replaced; rather, a juggling act was retained en reserve in case another main act could not perform. There were special occasions when acrobatic numbers not normally associated with Quidam, or were associated with other Cirque shows, came in on a temporary basis. Elena Lev’s Hoops Act was brought to Quidam due to a performance shuffle brought about by the conception of Varekai, for instance. Olga Pikhienko, who originated and performed the Hand-balancing act, was leaving to perform in Varekai. This left a space in the Quidam roster to be filled. And thus Elena Lev, who had left Alegría during its Asia/Pacific run (2001-2002), joined Quidam during its second North American Tour (2002) bringing her famous Hoops act with her. Lev’s number in Quidam was virtually the same as performed in Alegría, with a couple of exceptions: first, Elena wore Olga’s costuming themed for Quidam, and second, performed her act to the more up-tempo hand- balancing song already in the show. At the end of the Second North American Tour (Dec 2002), Elena Lev left Quidam and the hand-balancing discipline was returned with a rotating roster of different performers through the years. * * * Yes, Quidam has undergone many changes in its eighteen-year history – performers have come and gone, acts have been replaced time and again, clowns have left and come back and left again – but perhaps the show’s biggest shakeup came on November 21, 2010 – the day it ceased to be a touring show under the big top. Like Saltimbanco, Alegría and Dralion before it, Quidam would close on that date and be converted into an Arena-only traveling production, hitting up secondary and tertiary markets across North America and Europe. In doing so, like its predecessor converts, Quidam would lose more than a little of its luster, some said it lost its soul. Which is an interesting comment to ponder; especially so when Quidam originally surprised spectators and attracted considerable criticism when it first launched. That’s right! Cirque du Soleil answered these charges by saying Quidam was not an "Alegria Plus" or "Super Saltimbanco", but an animal all to its own. Perhaps the show is best summed up in the words of the title song from the Soundtrack - "There's nothing left, there's nothing right, there's nothing wrong. I'm one, I'm two, I'm all yet none of you. The truth, the lies, the tear, the laughter, the hand and the empty touch. Here I am, alone, waiting for the curtain call." ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Volume 14, Number 7 (Issue #126) - July 2014 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2014 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. { Jul.06.2014 } =======================================================================