======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Issue #20 - April 2003 "Live to Cirque; Cirque to Live" ======================================================================= Bonjour et bienvenue! Spring is definitely in the air and what a season to be celebrating our 20th issue. Of course the celebratory efforts might be more exciting if it weren't for the fact that the world is largely engrossed in the Middle East conflict. The "Fascination! Newsletter" offers no opinion on the conflict, but as Editor I have to wonder about the sanity of people who rename things like "French Fries" to "Freedom Fries" just because there is a French connection. Don't people realize that French Fries are actually Belgian? But I don't bring that up to poke fun or even sensationalize the whole affair. I bring it up because Cirque du Soleil is in a position to be faced with a backlash from those it depends upon. Cirque du Soleil is French for "Circus of the Sun," and as many fans know things French are being touted as objects of disgust and contempt. How will this affect Cirque du Soleil, a French-Canadian (and I emphasize the CANADIAN part) company, I wonder? At this stage no one can say for sure but my observations of Cirque conclude that they are largely unaffected. The world of Cirque du Soleil continues to be ever active with the premiere of Quidam in Japan, Saltimbanco throughout Europe, and Alegría, Dralion and Varekai snaking their way across the United States. We've seen two big premieres since our last issue: Celine Dion had her "new day" in Las Vegas and Cirque 2003 got a name - "Zumanity." This month you might want to take note of the recent changes to Dralion's itinerary as Tampa, Nashville and Cincinnati were removed in favor of Columbus, Ohio and Mexico City. And tickets are now on sale for Alegria's Northwestern stops in Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. But that's all inside, plus more! - Ricky ============ Contents: ============ * Cirque Buzz: News, Rumours & Sightings * CirqueTV: Cirque du Soleil On-Screen * Oyez, Oyez!: Cirque Online * Itinéraire: Tour/Show Information * Historie: This Month in Cirque History * Anniversarie: Birthday Wishes to Cirque Alumni * Le Spectacle: "O, the 'Zumanity'" (By: Ricky Russo) * Cirque Musique: "Composers du Cirque" (By: Paul Roberts) * Behind the Curtain: "The Techie Geek: New Title? And Stuff? What?" (By: Jen Waldman) * Le Spectateur: "Congratulations! You Are Already a Winner! (By: Steve Gordon and Bonna Nicholson w/Keith Johnson) * Beyond the Big Top: "Illustration!" -- Série Part 4 (By: Ricky Russo) * Parting Quote * Next Issue * Subscription Information * Copyright & Disclaimer ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ: NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= "O"-No! Ticket Prices Raised ---------------------------- It is heralded as being "beyond circus, beyond theater," but soon it may be beyond the reach of some fans. In preparation, it seems, for the debut of Zumanity at New York-New York Hotel Casino, Cirque du Soleil has modified the performance schedule and ticket prices for the aquatic production "O." Effective June 27th the ticket prices for the show will be higher and representative of a three-tiered system (all prices in U.S. Dollars): Orchestra Section 103: $136.00 ($150.00 w/tax) Orchestra: $113.00 ($125.00 w/tax) Balcony: $90.00 ($99.00 w/tax) Limited View: $85.00 ($93.50 w/tax) Current ticket prices for "O" are $110.00 ($121.00 w/tax) for all Orchestra sections, $90.00 ($99.00 w/tax) for all Balcony sections, and $85.00 ($93.50 w/tax) for Limited view seats. Fans coping from the steeper ticket prices must also contend with a change in performance schedule. Beginning June 30, 2003 performances will be from Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm and 10:30pm. There will be no performances on Monday and Tuesday. This represents a change from its current performance schedule of Friday through Tuesday at 7:30pm and 10:30pm with no performances on Wednesday and Thursday. The schedule modifications also bring a few special notices. The first, a change to the "Dark Days" calendar -- August 10- 13,2003, October 12-15,2003, December 1-16, 2003. The second, a special notice that there will be some Tuesday performances -- August 5, 2003 and October 7, 2003 at 7:30pm and 10:30pm. [Source: Bellagio; Roderick; Ricky Russo] Cheval Theatre Liquidation -------------------------- Cheval Theatre, the tented touring show featuring horses created by former Cirque Director of Creation Gilles Ste-Croix, is now being liquidated. The show stopped operating after its Las Vegas engagement citing current US economic conditions. They're selling everything, the tents (holds 2000 people, perfect for some small circus startup), costumes, props and sets, lights, sound equipment, even the horses! Too bad. Check out the inventory at < http://vvv.cirai.com/cevaltheatre/ >. [Source: Cheval, Roderick; Keith Johnson] La Nouba Online --------------- You can get La Nouba Online! Tickets, that is... It seems that Cirque du Soleil and Ticketmaster (who has teamed up to provide tickets for their permanent shows in Vegas) will soon be presenting online ticket options for La Nouba. While you can't actually buy tickets yet (at press time) it appears they are testing the system. Find out more information at La Nouba's Ticketmaster page: < http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/ 0D00366BA5F8CDA9 >. [Source: Ticketmaster; Ricky Russo] Rumors on Tour -------------- We haven't seen an official press release about negotiations between Cirque du Soleil and MGM Mirage, but rumor has it that Mystère has had its contract renewed for six years, which will extend the show until 2009. This extension, however, may come with some changes. Rumors have hit Cirque du Soleil fandom that the energetic High Bar act, first seen in Alegría, may soon be replaced with a Flying Trapeze act and that the Aerial Cube, performed by Paul Bowler, will be replaced by the Flying Man, performed by Alexandyr Dobrynin from Alegría. (Fans may remember that in 1993 Mystère opened with a Flying Trapeze act and that Michel Matorin previously performed Aerial Cube.) The new word from Alegría is that after the second North American Tour, which is still scheduled for another year, it's rumored to be visiting the Land of the Rising Sun - Japan. And it might have a new "Power Track" act to go with it. Rumor has it that Cirque wishes to replace the current Fast Track with a Power Track act. Alegría's current itinerary is taking it through the Northwestern corner of North America, but it should be heading back out east soon! Stéphanie Gasparoli will soon join the cast of Varekai to perform an Aerial Hoop/Contortion act. Gasparoli's "Duplex Swinging Trapeze" act has won three awards: Bronzes at the Piste aux Espoirs in 1996 and Wuqiao Festival in 1997, and Silver at the Festival du Cirque de Demain in 1998. She studied five years at the École Nationale de Cirque, having graduated in 1998. Gasparoli's Aerial Hoop will be a back-up act to Olga's Hand balancing. And while we're discussing Olga, rumors continue to spread about her leaving. It is suggested she will be leaving Varekai after the Los Angeles run. Quidam is soon to get a new Cloud Swing artist and, the rumor mill says, the show is now being seriously considered to make stops in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. And, last issue we reported that Saltimbanco was going to journey to Paris to reintroduce Cirque du Soleil there. It seems the winds have changed and Saltimbanco will not be the show to represent Cirque to the Parisians. The last time Cirque du Soleil had a presence in Paris was with Le Cirque Reinvente in 1990. [Sources: Anonymous'; Ricky Russo] Entertainment Engineering at UNLV --------------------------------- In response to the growing need to give their graduating students the necessary skills to apply complex machinery to theatrical shows, the University of Las Vegas (UNLV) has created an Entertainment Engineering course program to meet those needs. New and in pilot for the Spring 2003 semester, UNLV is taking up the challenge to break out in a new field. The program, a dual listing between Theater and Mechanical Engineering, is described as "[involving] exploration of the application of technology to enhance the entertainment values of venues. Most of the required work will focus on learning about design tools and processes, or it will involve actual design experiences for a variety of venues." Students attending the Entertainment Engineering course at UNLV will still be responsible for attending lectures and creating formal presentations (both oral and written) but will also have the opportunity to go on-site with companies and productions in Las Vegas that specialize in a variety of technology-based theatrics - including a tour of Cirque du Soleil's "O." "What we have tried to do is marry the theater with engineering and technology, which has really taken Las Vegas by storm," said Brackley Frayer, as quoted in the Las Vegas Sun. Frayer is an associate professor for theater at UNLV and will be taking the reigns of the course. Interested? Sign up for the credited classes at the University of Las Vegas (www.unlv.edu) using course numbers: THA-410X, THA- 793 within their Theater program or MEG-495, MEG-795 in their Mechanical Engineering program. [Source: Las Vegas Sun; UNLV; Ricky Russo] Cirque does Region 02 --------------------- Since Cirque du Soleil's back catalog was re-released on VHS and DVD back on October 31, 2001, fans around the world have asked for DVDs to be released in other regions besides Region 01 (USA/Canada). On February 7, 2003, three titles were released to Region 02 DVD in Japan: Saltimbanco: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=TSDD-27265 Quidam: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=TSDD-29380 Dralion: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=TSDD-29404 The releases are in NTSC video format and contain the same programming as their Region 01 counterparts. The Region 02 encoding on these DVDs will allow them to function in Japan, Europe and the Middle East. Cirque du Soleil has previously released part of its catalog in other regions: Region 02: Dralion (June 6, 2002) and Quidam (December 27, 2000); Region 04: Quidam (1999) and Dralion (2001) [Source: CD Japan; Ricky Russo] Performance: Illegal? --------------------- Did you know that when Cirque du Soleil stopped in Minnesota to present Alegría the spectacle was illegal? That's right! Minnesota has a statue that bans circuses anywhere in the state while the State Fair is on (from late August through Labor Day) and Alegría happened to be visiting Minneapolis-St Paul at the same time. "Well, technically, it would be illegal," said Jerry Hammer, the Fairs General manager in an article by the Associated Press. "Maybe they're only half a circus," he said, in apparent reference to Cirque's theatrical flair and absence of animal acts. A year in jail and a fine of up to $3,000 awaits violators, but don't despair, a committee in the state House is considering a repeal of the 1933 "anti-circus law" so that "Cirque du Soleil can rest assured its next Minnesota performance will be strictly legal." [Source: Associated Press; Ricky Russo] ======================================================================= CIRQUE TV: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ON-SCREEN! ======================================================================= * CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FIRE WITHIN ----------------------------- Network: BRAVO Footprint: United States Website: www.bravotv.com Note: Times Eastern/Pacific General Schedule: Monday: 8:00pm & 8:30pm Tuesday: 12:00am & 12:30am Wednesday: 7:00pm & 7:30pm Thursday: 1:00am & 1:30am Saturday: 12:00pm @ 12:30pm Odd Times: April 1st (Tuesday): 7:30pm April 6th (Sunday): 12:00pm April 14th (Monday): 11:00pm & 11:30pm April 20th (Sunday): 5:00am & 5:30am April 21st (Monday): 11:00pm & 11:30pm May 4th (Sunday): 4:30am * VAREKAI IN LATIN AMERICA ------------------------ Network: HBO Latin America Footprint: South America, Central America Website: http://www.hbo-la.tv/sinopsis.asp?prog=GMG081540 April 12th: 6:30pm HBO East 8:30pm HBO West April 15th: 4:00pm HBO East 6:00pm HBO West April 21st: 6:30pm HBO East 8:30pm HBO West April 24th: 12:15pm HBO East 2:15pm HBO West April 28th: 1:00pm HBO East 3:00pm HBO West * UPCOMING -------- - Run Away with Cirque Week (Bravo): June 2nd through 5th - Fire Within Marathon (all 13 episodes) - June 14th! - Varekai US Premiere (Bravo): June 14th at 8:00pm ======================================================================= OYEZ, OYEZ(*)!: CIRQUE ONLINE ======================================================================= This Month at Cirque Club (By: Keith Johnson) ------------------------- There hasn't been too much activity that we've seen at CirqueClub this month. The only new news items discuss openings of shows in Tokyo, Atlanta, and Houston. Other than that, all we were able to find this month was a small but welcome addition to the Multimedia-Music-Varekai information, a track-by-track breakdown of what music on the Varekai CD goes with which acts in the show. Though the fans had this figured out on discussion boards months ago, it's good to see Cirque acknowledging this need for information about their CD's. We hope they add this information to their other soundtrack CD's. On the Web (By: Ricky Russo) ---------------------- 1) < http://www.clownaction.com/ > You've seen them in Alegría and "O" - they're Dima and Iyrna, long time Cirque du Soleil clowns who have run amok! While they are no longer with Cirque du Soleil their website is full of information regarding the duo that has been together for more than 10 years. Check out their bios, pictures and even some of their current projects! 2) < http://www.portfolios.com/zoom.wga?User_number =bjackson&imagecount=10 > From illustrator Barry Jackson comes this surreal image depicting characters and themes from Quidam. 3) < http://www.jimbevan.com/ > Who is Jim Bevan? Why he's the current bandleader for Quidam! Check out his site to learn more about him, past gigs and what he's currently doing (as if we didn't know!) 4) < http://www.stevenragatz.com/ > This is the online home of Steven Ragatz. Fans of Cirque will remember him as 1/3 of a manipulation act created by Michael Moschen for Mystère and Quidam. Learn about where he's has been, where he's going and just where to find him! 5) < http://www.janswinkels.com/theatre/circus/cirque_du_soleil/ main.html > I implore you to paste this in your browser window, for you will be rewarded with some wonderful photography by Jan Swinkels, who actually did some spots for the Quidam programme! Want to see more of Jan Swinkel's work? Visit her index page at www.janswinkels.com! [Thanks to Katie Valadez!] 6) < http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2002/Jun-09-Sun- 2002/living/18893962.html > An article by the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the divers in "O." This is a great little piece about what goes on under the water and how the divers are used in the show! ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE: TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= [Touring Shows] Alegría: * Houston, Texas -- at George R. Brown Convention Center Dates: Mar 6, 2003 to Apr 13, 2003 * Austin, Texas -- Next to George R. Brown Convention Center Dates: Apr 24, 2003 to May 11, 2003 * Calgary, Alberta -- Currie Barracks on Parade Square Dates: June 4, 2003 to June 29, 2003 * Vancouver, BC -- On Concord Pacific Place Dates: July 10, 2003 to July 27, 2003 * Seattle, Washington -- Next to Renton Boeing Plant Dates: August 21, 2003 to September 14, 2003 * Portland, Oregon -- SW Moody Avenue (South of Marquam Bridge) Dates: October 2, 2003 to October 26, 2003 * San Francisco, California: Fall 2003 Dralion: * Raleigh, North Carolina -- at Triangle Town Center Lot Dates: Mar 13, 2003 to Apr 5, 2003 * Baltimore, Maryland -- at Harbor Point Dates: Apr 11, 2003 to May 4, 2003 * Montreal, Quebec -- at Jacques-Cartier Pier Dates: May 15, 2003 to Jun 15, 2003 * Hartford, Connecticut -- Market Street (I-84 and I-91) Dates: June 24, 2003 to July 6, 2003 * Columbus, Ohio: Summer 2003 * St. Louis, Missouri: Summer 2003 * Mexico City, Mexico: Fall 2003 * London, United Kingdom: Royal Albert Hall Dates: January 9, 2004 to February 1, 2003 Quidam: * Tokyo, Japan -- at Yoyogi Stadium in Harajuku Dates: Feb 7, 2003 to May 5, 2003 * Nagoya, Japan Dates: May 21, 2003 to Jul 6, 2003 * Osaka, Japan Dates: Jul 19, 2003 to Aug 31, 2003 * Fukuoka, Japan Dates: Oct 22, 2003 to Dec 7, 2003 Saltimbanco: * Bilbao, Spain -- at Zorrozaurre Dates: Feb 26, 2003 to Apr 6, 2003 * Geneva, Switzerland -- at Plainpalais Dates: Apr 18, 2003 to May 18, 2003 * Cologne, Germany -- at Cologne-Deutz Dates: June 5, 2003 to June 29, 2003 * Oostenade, Belgium -- To Be Determined Dates: Jul 24, 2003 to Aug 17, 2003 * Zürich, Switzerland -- Glatt Shopping Center Dates: Sep 19, 2003 to Oct 19, 2003 Varekai: * Atlanta, Georgia -- at Cumberland Galeria Dates: Mar 6, 2003 - Apr 13, 2003 * New York, New York -- at Randall's Island Park Dates: April 24, 2003 to June 15, 2003 * Chicago, Illinois -- at the United Center Dates: July 17, 2003 to August 17, 2003 * Los Angeles, California: Fall 2003 * Orange County, California: Fall 2003 [Resident Shows] La Nouba: * Two shows Nightly - Tuesday through Saturday. * Times: 6:00pm and 9:00pm * Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando. * No performances Sunday and Monday. * 2003 Dark Dates: - March 23rd through 25th - May 11th through 25th - July 13th through 16th - September 7th through 9th - October 26th through 29th - December 7th through 15th Mystère: * Two shows Nightly - Wednesday through Sunday. * Times: 7:30pm and 10:30pm * Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas. * No performances on Monday or Tuesday. * 2003 Dark Dates: - March 2nd through 5th - April 13th through 15th - June 2nd through 10th - August 3rd through 6th - October 5th through 8th - December 1st through 16th "O": * Two shows Nightly - Friday through Tuesday. * Times: 7:30pm and 10:30pm. * Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas. * No performances on Wednesday or Thursday. * 2003 Dark Dates: - April 21st through 24th - June 18th through 26th - August 10th through 13th **UPDATED** - October 12th through 15th **UPDATED** - December 1st through 16th **UPDATED** * NOTE: Beginning June 30, 2003 - performances will be from Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm and 10:30pm. There will be no performances on Mondays and Tuesdays. ======================================================================= HISTORIE: THIS MONTH IN CIRQUE HISTORY ======================================================================= * April 04, 2001 -- Dralion opened in New York * April 05, 1996 -- Saltimbanco opened in Amsterdam (again) * April 05, 2001 -- Quidam opened in Antwerp, Belgium * April 06, 2000 -- Dralion opened in San Jose, California * April 08, 1988 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened San Francisco * April 08, 1998 -- Quidam opened New York City * April 11, 1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened New York City * April 11, 2003 -- Dralion opened Baltimore, Maryland * April 18, 2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Geneva, Switzerland * April 13, 1989 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Miami, Florida * April 18, 2002 -- Dralion opened San Diego, California * April 20, 2001 -- Saltimbanco opened Nagoya, Japan * April 21, 1994 -- Alegría premiered in Montréal * April 22, 1999 -- Dralion premiered in Montréal * April 22, 2003 -- Zumanity Officially Announced * April 23, 1992 -- Saltimbanco Premiered in Montréal * April 23, 1996 -- Quidam premiered in Montréal * April 24, 2002 -- Varekai premiered in Montréal * April 24, 2003 -- Varekai opened New York City * April 24, 2003 -- Alegría opened Austin, Texas * April 26, 2002 -- Saltimbanco opened Barcelona, Spain * April 27, 2000 -- Mystère performed 3000th Performance (10:30pm) * April 29, 1997 -- Quidam opened in Santa Monica (again) * April 30, 1999 -- Alegría: Le Film Premiered in Québec ======================================================================= ANNIVERSAIRE: BIRTHDAY WISHES TO CIRQUE ALUMNI! ======================================================================= * April 02, 1973 -- Dessy (Singer/La Nouba) * April 02, 1979 -- Elena Shapornaya (Fast Track/La Nouba) * April 04, 1972 -- Sheetal Gandhi (Character/Dralion) * April 04, 1973 -- Carlos Marcio Moreira (Character/La Nouba) * April 04, 1982 -- Isabeau Prolx Lemire (Singer/La Nouba) * April 08, 1972 -- Colin Gee (Clown/Dralion) * April 11, 1975 -- Cinthia Beranek (Triple Trapeze/Varekai) * April 17, 1982 -- Justin Sullivan (Fast Track/Alegría) * April 18, 1962 -- Valery Kleft (Clown/"O") * April 18, 1978 -- Amrapali Ambegaokar (Character/Dralion) * April 20, 1967 -- Marco Lorador (Hand to Hand/Mystère) * April 21, 1961 -- Gabriel Chamé Buendia (Clown/Quidam) * April 23, 1963 -- Matthew Baker (Fritz/Quidam) * April 26, 1955 -- Rene Bazinet (Clown/Saltimbanco) * April 26, 1962 -- Virginia Imaz Quijera (Cleaning Lady/La Nouba) * April 26, 1976 -- Raquel Karro (Triple Trapeze/Varekai) * April 27, 1962 -- Karl Sanft (Fire-Knife/Alegría) * April 29, 1969 -- Andrezej Piechota (Hand to Hand/Saltimbanco) * April 30, 1980 -- Colette Morrow (Aerial Pas de Deux/Dralion) ======================================================================= LE SPECTACLE: "O, the 'Zumanity'" (By: Ricky Russo) ======================================================================= For months fans have been speculating about the new Cirque du Soleil production at the New York-New York Hotel-Casino on the Las Vegas strip. Now at least some of the speculation is over - what to call it? "Zumanity!" The fervor began on the evening of March 17th when an article appeared in USA Today (< http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030317/ 4952750s.htm >) came to light featuring the title of the show, amongst the gifts that would be handed out to the presenters at the Academy Awards. The gift was an "invitation for two to the international gala premiere of Zumanity ... on Sept. 20 and a two-night stay at the [New York-New York Hotel Casino]." Zumanity [zü'manite] is described as "an intense visit to a world where human inhibitions are both unveiled and discarded, where style and intense sensual passion share an uncommon stage." Cirque recently offered this definition of the word: "n. n. Neologism dating from 2003, contraction of the words "zoo" and "humanity." 1. A human zoo. 2. A new form of eroticism which blends dance movement, acrobatics and beautiful bodies with the sensual caress of the human voice and the pulse of exotic rhythms. 3. An exploration that awakens the most primal urges in human beings." On February 27th, Cirque du Soleil registered the domain < http://www.zumanity.com/ > and placed a dual English/French language teaser site online. You can sign up to be on a mailing list to receive updates about the show in either HTML or Text format, however you must be 18 years old to participate (if you're not, you'll be directed back to the CDS website). The 18-year age limit has caused quite a stir within Cirque du Soleil fandom, dividing the age groups for the first time since Cirque's debut. What will this mean for Cirque du Soleil and its fans is not yet known, but the discussion is a heated one. So, what can we expect out of Zumanity? An interesting array of performances that may include Rhythmic Gymnasts (to perform in a duo act), a Middle Eastern dancer (for an exotic dance act), a Drag Queen (transvestite), a Body Builder (strong man) and "virile" male and "voluptuous" female dancers - with clowns, singers, and a sensuous atmosphere. One of the acts, we believe, will be a solo-contortion act performed in water. The artist, Natalia Vasyliuk, recently performed at the Festival du Cirque de Demain in 2002. Nicolai Tchelnokov (Adagio Trio, Saltimbanco) is the artistic counselor of this act. Spymonkey, the Brighton(UK)-based theater group, may be providing their talents to place their writer/director Cal McCrystal in the directors' seat for the show's clown acts. McCrystal recently worked with Cirque du Soleil on Varekai, producing and creating the clown acts seen in the show. Four Spymonkey regulars will provide the storyline for the acts: Aitor Basauri, Stephan Kreiss, Petra Massey and Toby Park, with the assistance of Andrew Watson (Director of Creation for "Zumanity") and René Richard Cyr (Writer/Director). Consequently, Spymonkey is also working on a new TV series in conjunction with Cirque du Soleil Images that is to be filmed this spring. Word comes from Chartattack, a Canadian musical website/magazine, that Cirque du Soleil has chosen homegrown Kinnie Starr (< http://www.kinniestarr.com/ >) to vocalize Zumanity. Starr is described as a "hip-hop slam poet/freaky beatnik dance rocker" and seems rather perfect for this production. Learn more about Canadian sensation Kinnie Starr at her website (link above). The costumes for Zumanity had remained a mystery until fans received their first look at sketches on April 4th. Zumanity's alert mailing list emailed out two items: a definition and a link. That link produced four interesting and provocative sketches of what costumes may look like when the shows premiere. There is a strong man, bare- chested wearing a fuzzy-pink stole; a Drag Queen, which resembles Erik Karol (the ex-singer from Dralion) in a way; a leggy young woman in a trench coat; and Cher (*grin*). You can see these sketches (if you're over 18) at: < http://zumanity.com/en/costumes/index.html >. And don't forget to sign up for Zumanity's mailing list for future updates! Cirque du Soleil took over a theater at the New York-New York Hotel Casino previously built for Michael Flatly's Lord of the Dance production (that has since moved on to the Venetian). For months Cirque du Soleil has been working on re-creating the theater in their image. "We took over the theatre 18 months ago," explains Ménard as quoted in the Toronto Star, "and tore everything out to rebuild it in cabaret style. The theatre is always a key element in our resident shows, almost a character. And this one will be much more intimate." And they mean it. Seating for Zumanity will include a wide variety of options from "love seats to barstools". "We want to offer people options," said Ménard You can sit way back high up a stool and be a voyeur, or you can be a participator right down in front. Maybe you want to lounge in the middle with your partner, letting it inspire you. Very warm, very cozy." Zumanity, a provocative exhibition of human sensuality, arousal and eroticism, opens July 31st at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. An official announcement by Cirque du Soleil is scheduled for April 22nd. "We're here to evoke, invoke and provoke," says Cirque du Soleil, and that's exactly what they're doing. Continue the discussion on www.cirqueforum.com or through our sister Cirque du Soleil Yahoo! Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cirquedusoleil/ [Sources: Cirque du Soleil, USA Today, Spymonkey, Toronto Star, Svetlanta, Wayne Leung, Martin Frenette; Ricky Russo] ======================================================================= CIRQUE MUSIQUE: "Composers du Cirque" (By: Paul Roberts) ======================================================================= The soul of Cirque du Soleil is its music. The audiences' emotions are subliminally controlled by the sounds that accompany the performances. In Cirque du Soleil's near twenty-year history, there have mainly been three composers, who are as much alike as they are different. In the very beginning, Cirque featured a traditional circus-like band with a multitude of brass instruments and percussion, but they wisely felt the need for something different. Composer and keyboardist René Dupéré began writing what many consider to be a New Age score using a lot of synthesizers and rarely any vocals. In the second production, "La Magie Continue," a hint of the future appeared in the accompaniments to the ballerina-contortion act with its dainty near- classical music piece and the trapeze act with an upbeat pop-rock song. As each new production matured, so did the music. "We Invent the Circus" added guitars and "Nouvelle Experience" added bass guitar (previously played on synthesizer), cello, and even the first song using an imaginary language. But the turning point occurred with "Saltimbanco" when a vocalist became not only a featured aspect in the music, but also the show. Francine Poitras became Cirque du Soleil's first lead singer and the influences of this show remain today. "Saltimbanco" has many energetic songs that director Franco Dragone referred to as Barock music, a combination of Baroque and Rock, but the performers' passion created a surprising warmth. "Mystère" features a global feeling with influences from all over the world. René enlisted Luis Perez to provide "Sound Illustrations" that provide the sensation of nature. The meshing of synthesizers and ancient instruments became a standard in Cirque du Soleil's music. The next production, "Alegrìa," is Cirque du Soleil's most successful soundtrack, nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocal(s) category. René Dupéré's Cirque du Soleil swan song combines Old World charm with New World enchantment. Many songs possess the tenderness of sixteenth century waltzes while other songs provide the powerful thrust of modern-day sonatas. Even though Mr. Dupéré left Cirque du Soleil in 1994, his influences remain to this day. The composing reigns were turned over to the capable hands of Benoit Jutras, who played keyboards in early shows and then "Mystère." Benoit had actually composed previously. The first CD included four songs written by Benoit, but his first large project occurred during the revamping of "Mystère" in the mid-nineties that resulted in a "Mystère Live" CD. This CD combined songs from the original soundtrack (composed by Dupere) with his new compositions. An early Cirque du Soleil song, "Entracte," featured an operatic vocalist named Martine Brisson. Martine and Benoit have another collaboration that appears in Benoit's first full project: "Quidam." These two are mother and father to the first "Quidam" singer, Audrey Brisson-Jutras! "Quidam" offers a glimpse of the versatility in Benoit's writing. There are classical influences, pop-music impressions, electronic gyrations, and even Zydeko (Cajun) grooves. To me, the quintessential soundtrack of Cirque du Soleil is "O." Benoit created some of the most incredible music in existence that combines Kora (African Harp), Erhu (Chinese Violin), Cello, Medieval Woodwinds, Bagpipes, and Colombian Guitar along with traditional keyboards, percussion, and bass. The expressive vocals of Toumany Kouyaté and Roxane Potvin, who is Benoit's sister-in-law, enhance the heavy World Sound. The soundtrack is a perfect liquid complement. "La Nouba" is one for the urban youngsters. With hip-hop beats and even some rap, Benoit provided a great score to accompany the "Generation-X" show in Disney's Downtown. The band is mostly a Cirque du Soleil standard with keys, percussion, violin, bass, and guitar; but bandleader Benoit Glazer also plays trumpet quite a bit. "La Nouba" is the first show to include a countertenor male vocalist. Benoit Jutras' final two Cirque du Soleil projects catered to the big screen. "Alegría le Film" includes songs from the original soundtrack and pop songs that could easily be radio airplay hits. Vocalist Irene Marc sang several tunes in English, which is an unusual format for Cirque. It's a shame that marketing never tried to pursue any commercial outlets. The IMAX film "Journey of Man" soundtrack featured a more orchestrated side of Benoit's writing and once again the title song should have received airplay. The last song on "Journey of Man," "Trip Hop," is a microcosm of what Benoit Jutras provided in his Cirque du Soleil career. With its Gregorian chants, electronic noises, sitars, hip-hop, and Taïko drums, Mr. Jutras left his mark in the end. As the century came to a close, the world of Cirque du Soleil came to an abrupt change. Nearly the whole creative team for the last six shows departed along with a few key high-powered executives. President Guy Laliberté had a lot of hiring to do, and to his credit the new composer fit in nicely. Violaine Corradi took over the writing chores and as her rare solo CD, "Passages" proved, she had the necessary surreal ambience to fulfill her destiny. I was skeptical until I bought "Dralion" the day of its release. Upon hearing the opening percussion, sitar, and voice of Cirque du Soleil's second countertenor, Erik Karol, in "Stella Errans" I became excited and enjoyed the "new direction." Even though "Dralion" features a lot of Asian aspects, Middle East overtones are present throughout the soundtrack. But then the closing song "Kamandé" jumps out with Scottish-like bagpipes. Like Rene and Benoit, Violaine digresses from the common theme. With the latest production, "Varekai," Violaine continues with many Middle Eastern themes, but she also throws in several Latin-beat songs. The CD featured the first "outsider" as British producer/musician, Nitin Sawhney, came aboard. The breeding of European Electronica and World Music provides the most unusual Cirque du Soleil CD to date. Ms. Corradi took bold steps to go beyond anything heard before and it worked. The three composers' similarities are revealed in ballad songs such as Rene's "Querer," Benoit's "Rêve Rouge," and Violaine's "Ballare"; upbeat danceable songs such as Rene's "Saltimbanco," Benoit's "Rivage," and Violaine's "El Pèndulo"; and traditional circus-like songs such as Rene's "Irna," Benoit's "La Nouba," and Violaine's "Gitans." Their differences - Rene's early European influence, Benoit's modern pop influences, and Violaine's various Middle East influences - represent the diversity found in all aspects of the world of Cirque du Soleil. With Cirque's twentieth anniversary approaching, maybe all three composers could unite to create an extraordinary tribute to the musical history of Cirque du Soleil. ======================================================================= BEHIND THE CURTAIN: "The Techie Geek: New Title? And Stuff? What?" (By: Jen Waldman) ======================================================================= The Techie Geek talks about something that isn't technical at all. Hi! I've received several excellent technical questions and am in the process of researching the answers to them, but this month's column is in response to a question that many of my friends asked me. As many of you probably know, Dralion is coming to Baltimore, and several of my friends were interested in ushering. I couldn't participate due to schedule conflicts, but as I used to be a "professional usher" (yes, I made my living from it), my friends asked me for suggestions, and I thought it might be a useful column as well. This is not a "How To Ace the Cirque Interview," just some general pointers on the ushering process. During the interview process: Be completely truthful about your existing schedule. This seems like an obvious one, but sometimes people want the jobs so much that they will keep quiet about their classes on Wednesday nights. When I applied, the employers at Adecco were looking for people who could do three eight-hour shifts per week. I asked them if it was okay to do twice as many four-hour shifts (for instance, if every morning is busy but every evening is free) and they agreed that such a plan was also acceptable. The employers also encourage you to interview even if your schedule is more restrictive, for if the pool of "good" potential ushers is small in any area, they may be willing to accept a different type of working schedule. A note about customer service: ""The Customer is Always Right" is a good adage, but isn't always applicable to a given situation. If you, as an usher, are dealing with a patron who insists that you compromise or ignore those rules which your employer has given you (i.e. someone insists that a few flash photographs of the aerialists won't hurt) and is unwilling to cooperate with you at all, contact your supervisor. As an usher, you also should not have to put up with any sort of "abuse" from patrons. I put that word in quotes because it should go without saying that just as you are not allowed to hit patrons, patrons should not be allowed to hit you! Ushers should also not have to put up with patrons screaming at them, calling them names, etc. This sort of thing does not happen often, but it can happen. In such cases notify your supervisor immediately. I mentioned above patrons taking photographs. Many people bring cameras into the Theater under the assumption that they will not get caught snapping photos. Be vigilant and catch them. Not only is it dangerous for the performers, it violates copyright laws. If a person is caught taking pictures, sometimes a warning is sufficient to deter them. Sometimes the camera needs to be confiscated until the end of the show. This goes for video cameras and audio recording devices too. Ushers have the right to put a stop to such recording at the shows. Exercise that right. Know what is going on in the audience. If someone suddenly leaves, they may be ill or need help. Pay attention to the audience so if something does happen, the proper supervisors can be notified immediately. When an elderly patron falls and it is a half-hour before anyone notices, this doesn't reflect well on the Front of House staff. Cirque du Soleil's shows are amazing, but don't get so caught up in them that you forget your duties. You have a job to do, that's why you're there. Another note about customer service: Leave your bad day at the door. You do not have to be best friends with every patron you see, but a bit of friendliness goes a long way. Smile. Be gracious and helpful. Show the patrons to their seat. Answer any questions and address any concerns they might have. If you don't know the answer, find out or refer them to a person that does know. Even if you hear the same question 26 times in 10 minutes, each patron who asks it deserves respect. After all, it is a new question to them. These are just a few things that I learned in my years of ushering, but I found them extraordinarily helpful. If the ushering service is done well and with a good attitude, the supervisors may remember you positively and hire you again! Even if they don't you can take pride in the fact that you did your job well. Ushering is not always an easy job, but it can be a very rewarding one both professionally and personally. Enjoy! P.S. And don't pet Guide Dogs. Just a reminder. ======================================================================= LE SPECTATEUR: "Congratulations! You Are Already a Winner! (By: Steve Gordon and Bonna Nicholson w/Keith Johnson) ======================================================================= In these days of "millions will enter, one will win" contests and lotteries, it's nice when someone you know actually wins a contest. Especially, in our case, if the contest involves Cirque du Soleil. Steve Gordon and wife Bonna Ncholson are just such Cirque winners, and here they let us in on their experience. We had never seen Cirque du Soleil live until we took our first trip from Miami to Walt Disney World in September of 2000. The four-night package we had purchased included (in addition to Disney passports and other assorted knick-knacks) two "Flex Features" for each of us. With the Flex Features we could choose two attractions or activities from a specially-selected list of Disney World's features. A number of them looked attractive, but which to choose? The front desk clerk knew just what to say when we queried him. "Why don't you go see the Cirque du Soleil?" Being intrigued, the next day we found ourselves outside the Cirque ticket office with tickets to that nights 6pm show. We had seen a few Cirque shows on TV and thought them spectacular, but until that Friday night's performance had never been able to comprehend the magnificence of Cirque. 90 minutes of La Nouba later we were totally freaked out! We just couldn't believe how great it all was, the music and acts blending together into one incredible experience. Upon our return home we searched for more information on Cirque and their other shows. We were surprised to find out they also had shows in Las Vegas. But how could they be better than "La Nouba?" we wondered. Little did we know we were soon to find out! In October of 2000 we were overjoyed to learn that one of Cirque's touring shows, Dralion, was coming to Miami early in 2001. Of course we immediately got tickets the moment they went on sale. Then, on Sunday, December 4th, the Miami Herald announced "The Cirque Du Soleil Holiday Fantasy Contest!" The prizes made us salivate. Third prize was VIP tickets and a limo ride to see the Dralion Miami premiere. Second prize was even better, a 2-night stay at Disney World and tickets to La Nouba. But the Grand Prize was the best; 2 nights at Treasure Island in Las Vegas, VIP tickets to Mystère, and round-trip airline tickets! The contest was simple - find three small Dralion Dragon stamps hidden throughout the Sunday edition of the Herald and send them in along with an entry blank. My wife Bonna found them easily and we quickly sent it in, both believing we had a winning entry. Saturday morning December 23rd, Bonna received an early morning call from a lady at the Miami Herald, announcing that we to be the recipients of an early Christmas present. Not only did were we winners in the Holiday Fantasy Contest, we had won the Grand Prize, the Las Vegas vacation! We were flabbergasted!! But now that we had won we needed to decide on when we wanted to go, and start making arrangements. This we did after the first of the year, and told the Herald lady we wished to leave on March 22, 2001. But could we stay a few extra days in Vegas (paid for at our own expense of course) so we would take in more of Vegas (and Cirque's "O")? This sounded like a possibility to the Herald lady, so she arranged the flights while a woman from Cirque headquarters in Montreal arranged the hotel and tickets. Once those arrangements were made, it was time to get tickets for "O". But unfortunately, for the nights we were there the show was Sold Out. What to do? A quick call to our contact at Cirque Montreal; could she help us get seats that we would pay for? She assured us it was no problem and that seats would be waiting. March was our "Cirque Month." We marveled at our second show, Dralion, and noted it closed on March 21st, the day before we were to leave for Las Vegas. Finally the big day arrived, and we anxiously walked the concourse of the airport on the way to our 8am flight. In the waiting area we spied a man wearing one of those black and orange Cirque T-shirts only Cirque employees get. We just had to ask him his name and what he did for them. He very politely introduced himself as Richard Oberbacher, Musical Director for Dralion! He was on his way to Vegas for a short break before Dralion opened in New York City. We had to laugh when he asked us (now die-hard Cirque fans) if we had seen Dralion during our Miami run. We then regaled him with the tale of winning the contest and our Grand Prize trip. Upon arriving in Vegas we checked into the Treasure Island and picked up our tickets, "O" on Friday night and Mystère on Saturday. We were heady with anticipation when we entered the "O" theater and took our seats, which thanks to our Montreal Cirque contact were 12th row center! A few minutes before the show started, a tall but strangely familiar figure passed in front of us on the way to his seat. It was Richard! He was seeing "O" for the fourth time, and sat right next to us. What are the odds of that? We had a fun time catching up with our "old friend" Richard. We'll never forget our "Cirque Month." Three Cirque shows in three weeks, Cirque overload! The real Cirque du Soleil Experience! See, real people DO win. ======================================================================= BEYOND THE BIGTOP: "Illustration!" -- Série Part 4 (By: Ricky Russo) ======================================================================= Michael-Thomas Poulin. You might not recognize the name but you've seen the work, even if you don't recognize it as his. This month we continue our efforts to investigate the treasures that lie within classic Cirque du Soleil programmes by taking a look at Cirque's one time illustrator: Michel- Thomas Poulin. Poulin, skilled in design, pencil drawing and painting, studied at the Universite Laval in Quebec City. Throughout his career he's taught graphic design and photography. In 1988, collaboration between Poulin and Cirque produced a series of twenty paintings inspired by the onstage and backstage antics of Cirque and its performers. These paintings were exhibited in Los Angeles and Montreal. But it isn't his teaching skill, nor his studies at the Universite that interest me; it's what he's created for Cirque. At the age of 30, Poulin put his background in graphic arts and silk- screening to work for Cirque du Soleil, then an upstart circus that was a collection of street performers who came together to put on a show. His affair with Cirque began in 1985, when he created the standard poster for that year's tour, and it continued through to 1994 with Alegría's tour. Michel-Thomas Poulin may not be a household name, or even be recognized by Cirque fans, but he has arguably created some of the most recognizable Cirque du Soleil images and illustrations to date. Let's explore them! "Le Chapeau Vert" ----------------- Simply known as "The Green Hat," this illustration was created in 1985 and became the standard poster for that year's tour of Cirque du Soleil in Quebec. Like its name, the illustration features as its main image an artist with a red nose and a white-painted face wearing a green hat, that I must say is similar in style and shape to Peter Pan's hat! To the left is another breathing fire; that I assume is to illustrate Guy Laliberte's Fire Breathing Act. Joining these artists is a woman walking across a tightrope on her tiptoes using a blue umbrella for balance, and a set of musicians. The image was featured in various places - as a poster, a button and the front/back cover images of the 1985 tour programme. "Boule de Cristal" ------------------ The "Le Magie Continue" tour is captured in color by a presentation named "Crystal Ball." This illustration appeared as the standard poster for the 1986 tour, yet, it did not appear as the cover of its programme. The "Crystal Ball" painting features the likeness of clown Ben La Barouette in his trademark red hat holding out his left hand as if beckoning us to come see the show. Hovering just above his left hand is a small blue crystal ball, which is featured throughout the tour, if only briefly. Ben La Barouette is set against a dark background of blues and whites with a blue and yellow stripped big top of Cirque du Soleil far off in the distance (in the lower left of the image). "Le Roi des Fous" ----------------- The "King of Fools" graces the standard poster of the 1987 tour. Sometimes referred to simply as the "Jester," this painting is probably the most recognizable of all classic Cirque posters. It features a rendition of the King of Fools character from Le Cirque Reinvente clad in one of Michel Crete's multicolored costumes. The character is rendered as if the artist just leapt in the air! The image is dominated by a darkened sky with the blue and yellow striped big top off in the distance, in the lower left of the image (in fact, this is roughly the same image and placement of the big top that appeared on the 1986 tour poster.) The "King of Fools" illustration could be seen on a variety of items throughout the tour, from buttons to hats to stationary, but you'll also find it as the cover of the original VHS and Laserdisc releases of "We Reinvent the Circus" and on the original 1987 CD from NAGA Productions. It never officially became the programme cover for the US Tour; however, it did appear as the standard image for "Fascination," the 6-month special tour that combined Reinvente with Nouvelle Experience for Japanese audiences in 1992. "Éléphant" ---------- An illustration, called "Éléphant, appeared on the 1987 tour programme and at first glance it has absolutely nothing to do with elephants, or Cirque du Soleil. But after taking another look one finds that the background image is indeed a poster that represents a series of images from a more traditional circus, which includes elephants. The foreground, however, is an energetic looking clown dressed in a white suit with his face covered in white and yellow paint. Putting the two together wouldn't seem to make much sense but what is actually happening in the image is relatively simple: the clown of the new circus is bursting through the poster of the traditional circus and thus creating a wonderful image of what Cirque du Soleil is all about. You'll find this image on the 1987 programme. "Nouvelle Experience" --------------------- The 1990s brought Cirque into a new realm with a show that was destined to push the realm of circus arts and theatrical presentation. The illustration features images of clowns of all shapes and sizes; many of them you'll recognize as representations of the Flounes, Madame Corporation and Le Grand Chambellan. For the longest time I couldn't understand why the image is blurred the way it is - artistic license? In fact, while artistic license is part of the solution, my eyes (and thus yours) haven't been able to see the full poster Poulin created in many years. The full poster not only features the blurred images of the mentioned characters but the device used to illustrate WHY they're blurred to begin with - they're in motion! The full image features at its bottom left a fiery yellow-orange sun (representing Cirque du Soleil) with the artists rocketing from the brilliance of the sun at breakneck speed. This is seen when you open one of these old programmes; the point-of-view of the original poster is more or less head-on with the four characters speeding away from the sun. The original poster image made its way onto the 1990 programme for Nouvelle Experience. The cropped image, however, has been seen on all other merchandise to date - including the CD, original VHS, and the 1991 and 1992 (at the Mirage) programmes. "Saltimbanco" ------------- Michael-Thomas Poulin attended some of the very first rehearsals and meetings, which he used as inspiration to create six different illustrations. In 1992, he signed the colorful poster that serves as Saltimbanco's figurehead - the Cavalier, which is inspired by the rosace in Michel Crete's set design. Saltimbanco's rosette is a colorful disk that appears as the design for the floor space as well as the relief that appears overhead. The final version, which we now enjoy today, was created using acrylic inks and crayons and featured the famous big yellow and blue big top and the remote-controlled chair. Poulin also provided other colorful images of the many characters seen throughout the show. These illustrations were sprinkled within the 1992 and 1993 programmes of the show. The image of Saltimbanco has changed slightly through the years to a poster design that is all yellow, but it still features the famous illustration by Poulin. "Chambellan, Jr" ---------------- For Mystère, Mr. Poulin is credited with multiple designs. The first is the original pink mask that adorned both the programme and T-shirt designs from 1993 to about 1996. This mask is reminiscent of the Asticot characters, the Chinese Poles artists, who are double-faced. This image also appears on the original Mystère studio CD that was released in 1994. The second design also appeared about the same time the double-face mask was used, it is referred to as "Chambellan, Jr.". Chambellan, Jr. exist in two varieties, which I classify by the direction his nose points. He is a colorful figure adorned in blues, yellows, greens, and reds. His is somewhat an enigmatic face, unsure and unknown. His eyes are piercing and bear into our very soul. The first rendition of this image is seen from 1993 until 1996 and feature his nose pointed to the right. The second, and most current, rendition of Chambellan has his nose pointed to the left. He has also gotten a bit more colorful through the years, but there's still no mistaking the purpose of this image - it is as mysterious as the show it represents, and that's what Mystère is all about. "Alegría" --------- Poulin's last work for Cirque du Soleil came in the form of Alegria's thought-provoking bird-like image. Who can mistake the wonderful image of a bird in flight. But unlike most birds, this angelic character is adorned with two human eyes in the center of its wings. It's a simple design and yet very very complex in meaning. This image has appeared on everything associated with Alegría from its original CD to its programmes. Only recently, like Saltimbanco before it, has Alegría's standard image changed to incorporate a new feature that only serves to enhance the overall image. To me, the cream colored "floor" on which the Alegría mask rests on reminds me of a white sandy beach, and the first image that comes to mind when I see it is Alegría at Beau Rivage. But, did you know the image predates the 2000 release? I have been able to track the illustration as far back as 1996, as it appeared as the template for a 500-piece puzzle released for the show in Hong Kong. Today, you'll find this new illustration everywhere - including the new programme, CD, and VHS/DVD of the show. It has officially become the 2002 tour poster and more important, the new image of Alegría. Beyond Cirque ------------- After Alegría, Michel-Thomas Poulin and Cirque du Soleil parted ways, but he's turned up over the years to illustrate some art for three albums that are non-Cirque related: * "Intuition" by Francois Carrier, a 1998 release where Poulin worked on the paintings that appeared in the CDs booklet. Interestingly enough, the Bass player on the album, Pierre Côté, appeared on the Cirque albums for Quidam and Alegria: Le Film. * "La Musique de mon disque" by Pierre Tanguay ("The Music of my Disc"), a 2000 release that is described as "Heavy New Age" music. UPC: 771028107926 * "Plinc! Plonc!" by Jean Derome, Pierre Tanguay ("Live aux Soirées de musique fraîche de Québec"), a 2001 release featuring live renditions of the music of Quebec. UPC: 771028109228 It is safe to say that Michel-Thomas Poulin's legacy with Cirque du Soleil is secured. He has created some of the most striking artwork for Cirque, most of which is still seen today! Not bad for a boy from Sherebrooke (Quebec) who put the finishing stroke on his first painting by age 12. And, for the record, Quidam and "O" were illustrated by François Chartier, La Nouba by Graphème Communication-Design (photo manipulation), Dralion by Heïdi Taillefer and Varekai by Michael Dalpé (photo manipulation). ======================================================================= PARTING QUOTE ======================================================================= "Failure can be just as big as success" - Luc Lafortune (Nouvelle Experience 1990) ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly newsletter, available only through sub- scription. To subscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination- subscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To unsubscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To view back issues, please visit our Yahoo! Group address at: < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CirqueFascination/ >, login using your Yahoo! ID (required) and select the Files menu option. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at: < CirqueFascination- owner@yahoogroups.com >. Have a comment, question or concern? Email the Fascination! Newsletter staff at: < CirqueFasincation-owner@yahoogroups.com >. We are anxious to hear any and all comments! ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= "Fascination!" is Ricky Russo, Keith Johnson, Paul Roberts, Jen Waldman and Wayne Leung. "Fascination! Newsletter" Copyright (c)) 2003 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.