======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 ======================================================================= Issue #34 "Is Anybody Reading This?" June 2004 ======================================================================= We're off and running again! Wow, it's been an exciting and busy month since last we spoke, and we're just now catching our collective breaths here at Fascination! We had such fun at CirqueCon Vancouver 2004 that it's been hard to get back to work and focus on what we should be doing -- reporting on it! For those who missed it, CirqueCon Vancouver 2004 was the first ever (that we're aware) organized Cirque du Soleil fan meeting, and it was held over Victoria Day weekend. Over 30 fans from all across the North American continent showed up to not only revel in our friendship, but also take in the magnificent production Quidam. This month Keith takes a stab at the first half of our story by describing what it took to put this gathering together. And we'd love to hear other point-of- views! In other recent news: Magdelena VandenBerg, public relations manager for "Mystere", will soon be leaving her post for Amsterdam, where she will serve as Cirque's European Marketing manager. She'll be replaced by John McCoy, who is relocating from the PR firm KirvinDoak Communications. Also, I want to make you aware of a new forum dedicated to Cirque du Soleil -- Cirque Tribune! It's not fully online yet, but you can see a teaser at < http://www.cirquetribune.com/ >. It's run by Jeff Tolotti and will be a fine addition to the online fandom. Those of you who are fed up with the message posting problems on the Yahoo Group can soon rejoice! Last, but certainly not least, it's almost time for the debut of Cirque Magic, the "online chapiteau featuring the best" of Cirque du Soleil music. Check out this new streaming radio project at < http://www.live365.com/stations/dnmoriarty >. We hope you enjoy this issue of Fascination! If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email them to us using the following address: < CirqueFascination-owner@yahoogroups.com >. - Ricky =========== CONTENTS =========== * Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings * CRQ-TV -- Cirque on Television * CRQ.NET -- Cirque du Soleil Online * Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * La Presse: Recent Cirque du Soleil Press Releases 1) "Soleil de Minuit: A Celebration" 2) "Cirque Sought by Television Broadcasters Worldwide" 3) "Zumanity's New Sinful Pleasures" * Télémajik: "La Nouba Under the Lens" By: Wayne Leung - Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) * At the Boutique: "Behind the Mask" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) * Special Engagement: "CirqueCon Vancouver 2004: Before the Adventure Began" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) * Parting Quote * Subscription Information * Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Cirque Appeals Trademark Decision --------------------------------- In December 1999, the Dream Merchant Co., (aka Cirque du Soleil), sued Florida based Cirque Inc. in federal court accusing the company of trademark infringement, trademark dilution and unfair competition practices. Cirque du Soleil's claim was that Cirque Inc.'s productions were too similar and confused patrons by using the moniker "Cirque." Cirque Inc. disagreed with this view, arguing that "Cirque", which means "circus" in French, was a generic term and therefore not subject to trademark. The motion brought by the Dream Merchant Co. was denied and the court therefore ruled that Cirque du Soleil could not lay claim to the term "Cirque", which the company felt had become synonymous with its brand and a protectable trademark. According to the Las Vegas Sun, on April 30th Cirque du Soleil appealed that decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. [Source: Las Vegas Sun; Ricky Russo] Cirque Celebrates 5 Years at WDW -------------------------------- On June 2, Cirque du Soleil celebrated the fifth anniversary of the debut of La Nouba, a show created for Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney West Side and performed in a theater built expressly for the show. The show conveys the French phrase "faire la nouba," which roughly translates to "live it up." After over 2,500 performances and 3.5 million spectators, what does a show like this do to celebrate? Festivities occur over the next six months and include: July - A photo gallery situated inside the theater showcases images from behind the curtain and captivating moments with Cirque du Soleil performers. This display was created by accomplished photographers Yuri Maiorov, better known as La Nouba's flying man, and Jean-Francios Bedard, a musician in the show. August - La Nouba recognizes its own performers who have competed at world-championship levels, as well as aspiring young performers. Cirque du Soleil coaches will invite Central Florida children to a special workshop training session. September - The sounds of La Nouba take center stage. The talented musicians who set the mood for the show with provocative music will stage a jam session at Downtown Disney. November - The team shares its artistry with guests attending the annual Festival of the Masters art show November 12-14 at Downtown Disney. [Source: MousePlanet.com] Cirque du Submarine -------------------- Perhaps we live in a Yellow Submarine after all. Over the past year Fascination! has eluded to a possible new production that would bring together the talents of Cirque du Soleil with that of The Beatles, by turning the psychedelic animated film "Yellow Submarine" into a stage musical. The production, which was originally scheduled to debut in London's West End, has now been green-lit and will now have its premiere in the vacant Sigfried & Roy Theater at the Mirage Casino/Resort in Las Vegas! The "Yellow Submarine" production will take the Cirque strip tally to five, but don't expect the show until at least 2005! [Source: Las Vegas Review Journal; Ricky Russo] Cusick Case, Part 27 -------------------- We saw another article that had some new tidbits about the fallout from the Matthew Cusick settlement. A recent article in the Las Vegas Business Press had the following to add. Cirque reportedly offered Cusick four different show jobs after the ruling by the U.S. EEOC that his discrimination claims had validity. "For him, it was too little too late," said corporate spokeswoman Marie-Claude Menard. To help it comply with the settlement (detailed last issue), Cirque "hired Rejean Thomas, a leading expert on HIV and blood pathologies, to travel to the company's various sites to give cast, crew and management two-hour courses about the nature of HIV and other blood diseases, such as Hepatitis C. Thomas has visited the three Las Vegas shows and made two-hour presentations at each." "For Cirque, the feeling is more remorseful over a human tragedy it caused, one that showed the potentially dire consequences of ignorance in this day and age. "It is the first time Cirque was hit with a controversial management decision," Menard says. "That hurt, and I mean it hurt people's impressions. I think most people have understood. It is a trust factor and I believe it will come back. We don't have a pattern or history or culture of being that kind of company. We have to remember not to forget. People won't let us forget it." [Source: Las Vegas Business Press; Keith Johnson] 20 Years Under the Sun ---------------------- We now have more complete details on the Cirque 20th Anniversary Book. Thanks to our kind source at Abrams books, we were faxed a copy of the page of their Fall 2004 catalog in which the book is described. "Cirque du Soleil: 20 Years Under The Sun - An Authorized History" by Tony Babinski, Designed by Kristian Manchester. More than 300 illustrations in full color, 352 pages, 9-1/4" X 11- 1/4". ISBN 0-8109-4636-X, EAN 978081094636-1. The catalog page says Mr. Babinski "is a writer, filmmaker, and musician based in Montreal. From 1994 to 2000 he co-produced, co-wrote, and scored a series of award-winning experimental films." Mr. Manchester, "also based in Montreal, is an art director with the Diesel design firm." (Diesel is the company that handled Cirque's latest website design.) To quote the page: "Cirque du Soleil has become an international theatrical sensation, having thrilled the imaginations of more than 40 million people with its innovative circus experience. In 20 years, Cirque du Soleil skyrocketed from a troupe on the streets of Montreal known as "The High Heels Club" to a circus extravaganza involving 2,400 employee worldwide and some 500 artists performing in more than 130 cities around the globe in active productions that are both on tour and permanently on view in Las Vegas and Orlando." "With unprecedented access to Cirque du Soleil members in the telling of their story - including its founder, Guy Laliberté - Cirque du Soleil: 20 Years Under The Sun is the first retrospective to chart the history of this extraordinary cultural phenomenon from its humble origins to its remarkable international success. With 300-plus full-color illustrations that feature all of the company's dazzling productions - among them Saltimbanco, Mystère, Varekai, and "O" - this exceptional volume captures Cirque's magic on the printed page with the visual brio for which the company is widely renowned. The release of this book is set to coincide with Cirque du Soleil's 20th anniversary." "Exceptional" is right! The book will be released in November, with a hefty price tag of $50.00 USD ($75.00 CDN)! [Source: Harry N. Abrams Books, Keith Johnson] CIRQUECON 2005 - Get Ready! --------------------------- Even before the beginning of the wild weekend that became CirqueCon Vancouver 2004, fans were asking us, "What are you going to do *next* year?" Now that Vancouver is under our belts (and thanks to Cirque du Soleil was so successful), we've started to think about another gathering. And we can say that, YES there will be another CirqueCon. We've talked with Cirque du Soleil, they've talked with us, and we've agreed to look into possibilities on our respective "sides of the aisle." So we are happy to be able to say -- CirqueCon Montreal 2005, "The Second Unofficial Gathering of Cirque du Soleil Passionates" is on! But before you go buying your airplane tickets, please keep this in mind. The new show will debut in Montreal, Quebec, Canada about the same time of the year Varekai did, mid-late April, 2005 (sometime around April 20). No official date has been set - heck, they haven't even come up with a name yet! Tickets for the debut Montreal run will go on sale sometime in the next three months. We'd also like to continue some of the "traditions," -- the Programme, A CD, the "Cocktail Hour", full-color name badge, research and phone calls -- though they may take different forms or be more or less than what we did in Vancouver. While our attendees expected none of these things, they were fun to create as a "Surprise." We had a lot of fun doing the planning, research, and producing the items, but the costs were borne solely by Ricky, Jeff, LouAnna and Keith. In talking with our attendees afterward, we found there were some who felt the "extras" (especially research) weren't what they needed or wanted from us. Others suggested it might be more fair to spread the financial burden amongst our members who are the beneficiaries of our efforts, while keeping a close eye on costs. We've listened! And we've created a two-tier "membership" structure that we think will please both groups. STANDARD MEMBERSHIP - For our "Full Meal Deal" membership we are asking for a nominal "Membership Fee" of $10.00 per member/address to help us cover planning, research, expenses and "extras." Any leftover amount will be rebated back to the members after the weekend. Additionally, if a member has to cancel prior to the weekend, their membership fee will be refunded on a pro-rated basis. (We're not in this to make a profit, folks, just cover our costs!) What will the $10.00 "buy" you? Basically, what folks got for Vancouver: Planning and help with hotel rooms, one program packet per membership, periodic emails and status reports, help with attractions, questions, and research. If you have any questions or concerns about memberships, please contact us at the email at the end of this article. BASIC MEMBERSHIP - Is absolutely free! We'll just need some basic information from you to start. After that, we'll advise you of any plans Cirque has for us, and that's it! You're as much a "member" as anyone else, but you won't owe a thing, and we won't be bugging you with emails. You're free to make whatever plans suit you. Our plan for Montreal will be about the same as our "model" for Vancouver: A Friday through Sunday timeframe, a modest bed and breakfast(s) or hotel for our Standard members to serve as our "headquarters", at least one group meal (most likely Saturday afternoon), and one "official" show (The evening show on Saturday) that everyone in the group would buy their own tickets for. The level of interest we get may determine what we can do, and not necessarily in a beneficial way. We may have to limit things to "the first XX people to sign up" for example. We won't be able to promise anything from the Cirque Du Soleil side (a tour of the International Headquarters has been a popular request) until much later in the planning process. It's also possible that, for whatever reason, we may not be able to do anything with them at all, though currently they are receptive. If we schedule something for which we can only offer limited spaces, preference will be given to the order in which members signed up, regardless of whether they are Standard or Basis Members. So that's what we can say right now - we're going to do it! We don't have "official" first-show or ticket on-sale dates yet - as soon as we know something for certain, we'll let our members know first. Stay tuned and stay interested, but don't get your hopes up *too* high. I think that private Q&A session with Guy Laliberte idea will be out of the question. If you would like to become a Member of CirqueCon Montreal 2005, please send an email to tourdemondo@yahoo.com. We'll be glad to forward you details! ======================================================================= CRQ-TV -- CIRQUE ON TELEVISION! ======================================================================= * CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: SOLSTROM -------------------------- Network: Bravo - United States -- Sunday's at 7:00pm -- < http://www.bravotv.com/Cirque_du_Soleil:_Solstrom/ > * Episode 4: "Rock-n-Roll" * Episode 9: "Childhood" May 02 at 7:00pm Jun 06 at 7:00pm May 03 at 1:00pm Jun 07 at 12:30am May 05 at 3:30pm * Episode 10: "Construction" * Episode 5: Jun 13 at 7:00pm May 09 at 7:00pm Jun 14 at 12:30am May 10 at 1:00am Jun 20 at 11:00am May 12 at 3:30pm * Episode 11: "Puppets" * Episode 6: Jun 20 at 7:00pm May 16 at 7:00pm Jun 21 at 2:00am May 17 at 1:00pm Jun 27 at 11:00am May 19 at 3:30pm May 23 at 11:30pm * Episode 12: "The Games" Jun 27 at 7:00pm * Episode 7: "Disguises" Jun 28 at 1:00am May 23 at 7:00pm Jul 04 at 11:00am May 24 at 1:00am May 26 at 3:30pm * Episode 13: "Cosmic" May 30 at 11:00am Jul 04 at 7:00pm Jul 05 at 12:30am * Episode 8: "Traveling" Jul 11 at 11:30am May 30 at 7:00pm May 31 at 1:00am Jun 02 at 3:30pm Jun 06 at 11:30am * CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FIRE WITHIN ----------------------------- Network: Vitaya - Belgium (Europe) -- Thursday's at 9:00pm Network: Odyssey Television - Australia -- Wednesday's at 9:30pm Network: Bravo - United States * Episode 1: * Episode 8: Jun 23 at 5:30am Jun 05 at 6:30am Jul 27 at 5:30am Jul 14 at 5:30am * Episode 2: * Episode 9: Jun 30 at 5:30am Jun 06 at 6:30am Jul 28 at 5:30am Jul 19 at 5:30am * Episode 3: * Episode 10: Aug 01 at 5:30am Jun 10 at 5:30am Jul 21 at 5:30am * Episode 4: Jul 05 at 5:30am * Episode 11: Jun 12 at 6:30am * Episode 5: Jul 23 at 5:30am Jul 05 at 5:30am * Episode 12: * Episode 6: Jun 14 at 6:30am Jul 09 at 5:30am Jul 24 at 5:30am * Episode 7: * Episode 13: Jun 03 at 5:30am Jun 16 at 5:30am Jul 13 at 5:30am Jul 25 at 6:30am * NOTE: Check your local listings for complete information. Schedule is subject to change. ======================================================================= CRQ.NET -- CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ONLINE ======================================================================= This Month in Cirque Club (By: Keith Johnson) ------------------------- There's a contest going on! Cirque Club members (in Australia, anyway) can enter to win a Grand Prize of six tickets to the Sydney Quidam premiere on August 12, as well as passes to the Premiere party! There are also 30 Quidam CD's available as additional prizes. Cirque Club has also started a "20th Anniversary history" series of articles, with two installments tracing their history up to 1997 There are also featured articles on the New York premiere of Alegría, Saltimbanco's arrival in Milan, and a look at the history of contortion with a spotlight on two contortionists from "O". The Press Room has sprung to life after several months of inactivity. This month alone they've put out Press Releases on the new Cirque/Celebrity Cruises alliance, and two others we reprint below. In Cirque Club marketing messages: Anne-Josee wrote about Saltimbanco's premiere in Milan: -- "Saltimbanco's cast and crew enjoyed a dazzling opening night in Italy! Just last week, Saltimbanco celebrated its first-ever Italian premiere in Milan. More than 2,000 guests from the international entertainment, fashion and sports world took their seats under the white Grand Chapiteau to discover the magic of Cirque du Soleil. Several famous figures were spotted mingling on the red carpet, including Franco Dragone (Saltimbanco's director), F1 star David Coulthard and fashion celebrity Naomi Campbell, some of the biggest Italian soccer players, and designers Roberto Cavalli and Giorgio Armani. Several Italian television celebrities were also on hand, smiling for the paparazzi that arrived in flocks to snap pictures of the event. The cast and crew were excited to perform in Milan, and enjoyed the enthusiastic applause from the Italian audience." Varekai cast member Karina wrote about their impending departure from Phoenix: -- "...Although our visit has been short, my colleagues and I have had the chance to explore the local hot spots, sightsee, and above all, soak up Phoenix's endless supply of sunshine. I don't think it has rained even once! Unfortunately the time has come for us to start packing up for the trek towards our next destination: Denver! I will never forget the smiling faces and welcoming smiles of our new friends in Phoenix. Thank you for making our stay such a special one." Dralion crewmember Maria-Eve talked about leaving Amsterdam: -- "Over our three-month stay in Amsterdam we have experienced almost three seasons: the freezing wind of winter, the green leaves of spring and the long days of summer. Perhaps three months doesn't sound like a very long time for some, but for nomads like us, it's a rare occasion to live life at a regular pace. But in addition to the change of seasons, we have also been witnesses to life unfolding. Let me explain! The Dralion site is surrounded by canals. And where there are canals, there are ducks! On our way to and from the Grand Chapiteau, we were able to watch the parents gather twigs to make their nests, lay their eggs and then care for their newborns. But there's one duck family in particular that comes and visits a few times a day for a quick snack. This mallard mommy and her seven babies were adopted by Dralion. The family quickly understood our operations, and took care to use the employee entrance. We did have a dog that regularly visited us during our stay in Mexico, but a duck family? That was a first! We all have many stories to tell about our stay in Amsterdam and many reasons to return. I can't help but wonder if there will be seven grown ducks waiting for us next time the circus comes to town! And how many more ducklings?" Finally, Anne-Josee wrote about Alegria's leaving Vancouver -- "...the Quidam cast and crew are looking forward to a well-deserved break before we begin the trek to our next tour stop: Calgary! From the moment we first set up our blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau in downtown Vancouver at Concord Pacific Place, local fans warmly embraced Cirque du Soleil. Among them, we cannot forget a special group of 30 "Cirque Passionates" who traveled from several different corners of North America to meet in Vancouver and attend Quidam. There are so many stories to tell and so many reasons to return to Vancouver! We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for a five-week whirlwind adventure filled with cheers, tears and applause. As our adventures with Quidam continue, a little piece of Vancouver will remain with us always." ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= Note that any information in brackets [] is UN-official information and subject to change. [Touring Shows] Alegría: * New York City, New York -- Randall's Island Park Dates: May 6, 2003 to June 27, 2004 * Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Avenue of the Arts Dates: July 8, 2004 to Aug 8, 2004 * Toronto, Ontario -- Ontario Place Dates: Aug 19, 2004 to Sep 26, 2004 * Tokyo, Japan: Dates: Oct 29, 2004 to Jan 23, 2005 * Fukuoka, Japan: Dates: Feb 9, 2005 to Apr 3, 2005 * Nagoya, Japan: Dates: Apr 20, 2005 to Jun 12, 2005 * Osaka, Japan: Dates: Jun 25, 2005 to Aug 10, 2005 Dralion: * Vienna, Austria -- Prater - Rotundenplatz Dates: Jun 3, 2004 to Jul 16, 2004 * Antwerp, Belgium -- Gedempte Zuiderdokken Dates: Aug 12, 2004, to Sep 19, 2004 * Madrid, Spain -- TBA Dates: Oct 15, 2004 to Nov 21, 2004 * London, England -- Royal Albert Hall Dates: Jan 6, 2005 to Jan 30, 2005 Quidam: * Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- Currie Barracks Dates: June 24, 2004 to July 25, 2004 [May extend to August 1, 2004] * Sydney, Australia -- The Showring, Fox Studios Dates: Aug 12, 2004 to OPEN * Brisbane, Australia -- Kingsford Smith Drive Dates: Nov 4, 2004 to TBA * Auckland, New Zealand -- TBA Dates: Dec 31, 2004 to OPEN * Melbourne, Australia -- TBA Dates: Mar 4, 2005 to OPEN * Adelaide, Australia -- TBA Dates: May 12, 2005 to OPEN * Perth, Australia -- TBA Dates: June 30, 2005 to OPEN Saltimbanco: * Gijon, Spain -- Puerto de Musel / Muelle de la Osa Dates: June 25, 2004 to TBA * Frankfurt, Germany -- Next to the Jahrhunderthalle Dates: Aug 20, 2004 to Sep 5, 2004 * Rome, Italy -- Viale Cristoforo Colombo Dates: Oct 7, 2004 to Oct 24, 2004 * Lille, France -- TBA * Manchester, UK -- TBA * Birmingham, UK -- TBA Varekai: * Denver, Colorado -- Pepsi Center Dates: Jun 3, 2004 to Jul 22, 2004 * Boston, Massachusetts -- Suffolk Downs Dates: Jul 27, 2004 to Aug 22, 2004 [May extend to Sep 5, 2004] * Washington, DC -- Grounds of RFK Stadium Dates: Sep 16, 2004 to Oct 10, 2004 [May extend to Oct 24, 2004] * Dallas, Texas -- Fair Park Dates: Nov 4, 2004 to Dec 5, 2004 [May Extend to Dec 19, 2004] * Houston, Texas -- TBA * Austin, Texas -- TBA * Pittsburg, Pennsylvania -- TBA * Baltimore, Maryland -- TBA * Hartford, Connecticut -- TBA * Columbus, Ohio -- TBA * Detroit, Michigan -- TBA * Miami, Florida -- TBA [Resident Shows] La Nouba: * Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm * Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday * Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando (USA) * 2004 Dark Dates: -- March 14th - 17th -- August 22nd - 25th -- May 2nd - 5th -- October 17th - 20th -- June 20th - July 5th -- December 5th - 13th Mystère: * Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm Beginning June 13th: Except Sundays; 4:30pm and 7:30pm * Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday Beginning June 9th: Wednesday - Sunday, Dark Monday/Tuesday * Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) * 2004 Dark Dates: -- April 6th, 9th -- October 3rd, 6th -- May 31st - June 8th -- November 28th -- August 23rd - 31st "O": * Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm * Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark Monday/Tuesday * Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) * 2004 Dark Dates: -- April 19th - 27th -- October 11th - 13th -- June 21st - 23rd -- December 6th - 21st -- August 9th - 17th Zumanity: * Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm * Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday * Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) * 2004 Dark Dates: -- April 18th - 21st -- October 10th - 13th -- June 6th - 12th -- November 28th - 30th -- August 15th - 18th -- December 1st - 20th ======================================================================= DIDYAKNOW? -- FACTS ABOUT CIRQUE ======================================================================= * According to Cirque du Soleil, the new MGM Grand show (who's name has yet to be officially announced, but many rumors abound) is said to be the costliest entertainment production to date, with construction and stating costs of more than $180 million! "O", Cirque du Soleil's second resident Las Vegas show, cost only $90 million. * As reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal: Cirque's chief executive Guy Laliberte sent Guy Caron, director of creation, to Los Angeles to meet with Pixar, the company that produced the highly successful computer-animated feature films "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo." The magnitude of the technical challenge lies in this one statistic: The MGM Grand show has about 275 automation axes, compared to 85 in "O." * Did you know that Cirque du Soleil won the Golden Sheaf Award at the 2000 Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival in Saskatchewan, Canada? Cirque was nominated in the Music Video category for the video "Love Leaves Someone Behind," produced by Lyn Charlebois. ======================================================================= LA PRESSE: Recent Cirque du Soleil Press Releases "Soleil de Minuit: A Celebration," "Cirque Sought by Television Broadcasters Worldwide," and "Zumanitiy's New Sinful Pleasures" ======================================================================= Soleil de Minuit: A Celebration ------------------------------- Two homegrown cultural institutions, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and Cirque du Soleil, are joining forces to celebrate their anniversaries and show their thanks to the people of Quebec, to whom they owe so much of their success. Next July 11, as part of the Grand Evénement General Motors at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the streets of Montreal will be transformed into a place of music and art, a celebration paying tribute to the 20 years of Cirque du Soleil and the 25 years of the Jazz Festival. The free show will get underway at 9:00 p.m. and be aired on both CBC Television and Radio-Canada's French-language television starting at 9:30 p.m. "Our ties with L'Equipe Spectra go back to our beginnings," said Guy Laliberté, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cirque du Soleil. "The Jazz Festival had already existed for five years when Cirque was born. The festival's international profile, its mixing of cultures and the way in which it takes over the streets have always impressed me. Alain Simard and André Ménard have succeeded in making it one of the most popular events in the world. We share the same passion: developing two of Quebec's greatest natural resources, creativity and culture. I liked the idea of this free show right away because it will take place in the very heart of the city, right in the street! It will also be an excellent showcase for the music we have created over the last 20 years." Alain Simard, President of L'Equipe Spectra and Founder of the festival International de Jazz de Montréal, is just as delighted with the anniversary show: "It is a little like a coming-together of the sun, which symbolizes Cirque du Soleil, and the moon, which represents jazz. This once-in-a-lifetime event will take place here, in Montreal, on July 11. Soleil de minuit will be a major milestone in both of our histories. We conceived of this celebration as a gift to the public and a token of our affection for the people of Quebec, as well as a tip of the hat to the tribute we paid to Cirque du Soleil's music in 1995-without a doubt the most memorable event in the Festival's history. Cirque du Soleil has always been an inspiration for us, and we are proud to be able to share its magic with festival-goers. We also wanted to honour Cirque du Soleil for its remarkable success on the international stage, and especially for its limitless creativity which continues to dazzle spectators all around the world." Soleil de minuit - Created by Victor Pilon and Michel Lemieux, Soleil de minuit is the story of an idealistic and visionary dreamer who lives alone with his old-style gramophone and, at times, has premonitory dreams. Eager to celebrate the conjunction of the sun and the moon, he sends out thousands of invitations to the four corners of the globe, and tribes of musicians and circus performers answer the call. Soleil de minuit is a poetic eclipse, a joyous gathering, a tribute, and a celebration where musicians, circus artists and the public are all guests of honour. A live performance and a television program - In order to let as many people as possible join in the celebration, Soleil de minuit will also be aired on CBC and SRC television on July 11. Vincent Gagné, Cirque du Soleil's Vice-President of Multimedia, and Luc Châtelain, Vice- President of the film and television division at L'Equipe Spectra, are the program's executive producers. "It is a big challenge, but a very exciting one! This will be our first live shoot. We are expecting a record audience and over 130 circus artists, entertainers and street performers on stage, as well as 60 musicians. We hope to be able to capture all the emotion and excitement of this magical celebration," explained Vincent Gagné. "We started working on this project a year ago, and Radio-Canada and CBC showed an immediate interest. As a partner of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and Cirque du Soleil, SRC/CBC wanted to be a part of this major cultural happening and to celebrate this historical moment with us," declared Luc Châtelain. The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal - Now getting ready for its 25th edition (from June 30 to July 11, 2004), the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal presents approximately 500 concerts each year, three-quarters of which are free of charge. More than 2,000 musicians from close to twenty countries are warmly welcomed by nearly two million enthusiastic festival-goers from around the planet. Over the years, the Festival has become the international rendezvous for the world's jazz community and has helped launch a number of careers. Not only have its founders' dreams been widely surpassed, but all signs point to continued success for the Festival for years to come. Cirque Sought By Broadcasters Worldwide --------------------------------------- More than ever, Cirque du Soleil's television presence is having an impact on the organization's worldwide activities. Whether it is the demand for productions by Cirque du Soleil Images, Cirque du Soleil's multimedia division, or partner and media interest in Cirque du Soleil content, television is playing a key role in the organization's growing visibility. In 2004 alone, Cirque du Soleil-related television programs will air on eight networks (Bravo, CBC's French network SRC, Rai, TF1, A2, BBC, NBC, Channel 9) in more than ten countries (including France, Italy, Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Belgium and Switzerland). An estimated 40 million viewers will see these programs, which total almost 65 hours of content. "Our presence on television networks around the world hasn't stopped growing, and it's leading to other requests. The widespread accessibility of the Cirque du Soleil brand has allowed us to make substantial inroads in developing new markets for our shows. It has also helped us to pursue our wish to introduce as many people as possible to 'the Cirque du Soleil experience' and to showcase our expertise internationally," declared Daniel Lamarre, Cirque du Soleil's President and Chief Operating Officer. The T.V. series "Solstrom," currently shown on the U.S. network Bravo, is a major ratings success for Cirque du Soleil's partner and broadcaster of choice. The series can also be seen on the SBS network in Australia. "Solstrom" has been sold in other countries as well, and will air in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia, Finland and Romania, among others. Passengers on airlines including Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Lanchile Airlines, Aero Mexico and Air Canada will be able to enjoy the series during their flights. In December 2003, BBC1 aired a 90-minute special called "Dale's Adventures with Cirque du Soleil," which was seen by almost 5 million viewers. It was the first time that a Cirque du Soleil resident show (La Nouba) had been featured in such a high-profile television program. La Nouba has now been filmed, and will be aired on the SRC network on May 30. Other countries will also have the chance to see La Nouba on television, since a number of foreign broadcasters have purchased distribution rights for the program. In 2004, variety shows from around the world have been clamouring for Cirque du Soleil. In January, the appearance of Varekai artists on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" was so popular with viewers that an encore performance was a must. During the week of May 10, the famous host of the program taped a show in Las Vegas and once again asked Cirque du Soleil to be a part of it. Viewers were treated to excerpts from Mystère and ZUMANITY on May 13 and 14. In Australia, a six-minute Cirque du Soleil act was presented at the Logies, an awards gala honouring the Australian television industry and its stars, on Channel 9. In Italy, it was Saltimbanco's turn to take the spotlight at the opening of the San Remo Festival, broadcast on Rai 1 last March. France also aired acts from Saltimbanco on television: first on the program "Vivement Dimanche," hosted by Michel Drucker on TF1 (in February), and then on Patrick Sébastien's program entitled "Le plus grand cabaret du monde" on France 2 (in March). Patrick Sébastien was so dazzled by the artists' performance that he rebroadcast the segment on his show in April. Finally, on May 2, Rai 3 presented a half-hour documentary featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Cirque du Soleil and its show Saltimbanco, attracting 600,000 viewers. In the works: a team from CNN's documentary unit is currently preparing a 30-minute special report on the Cirque du Soleil phenomenon. It will be aired this summer and again this fall on the entire CNN world network, as part of the program "People in the News." Cirque du Soleil has thrilled over 42 million spectators in almost 100 cities on four continents. With its International Headquarters in Montreal, the organization will be presenting 10 different shows around the world in 2004. Cirque du Soleil has been the recipient of such prestigious awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gemini, Félix, and the Rose d'or de Montreux. Zumanity's New Seven Sinful Pleasures ------------------------------------- For those who like to misbehave on the right side of the velvet rope, ZUMANITY will now be offering the chance to indulge in seven guilty pleaZures through one premiere seating package. ZUMANITY, ANOTHER SIDE OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, offers guests a new way to see the show with the introduction of Z PleaZure Package, an unparalleled seating experience featuring plush sofa accommodations and VIP treatment. Reinventing the art of seduction, Z PleaZure Package offers guests premium seating, exclusive VIP benefits, unlimited food and beverage...and "Z" experience of a lifetime. Tickets for Z PleaZure Package are priced at $195 and sold in pairs. The guilty pleaZures will include: Intimacy... Share "Z" experience in divine comfort by sitting in our sumptuous plush sofas for two. Foreplay... Get excited! You'll score privileged access to the theatre lobby one hour prior to show time and lose yourself in the following treats: Indulgence... Be pampered to your heart's content with personalized pre-show beverage service at your sofa. We'll feed your insatiable desire at our open bar featuring the delightfully sinful Zumanitini. Decadence... Spoil your taste buds with our succulent selection of aphrodisiac hors d'oeuvres, served in the lobby and at your sofa before the show. Extravagance... As a token of our affection, you'll receive a souvenir photo and an exclusive ZUMANITY memento. Desire... Yearning for some time with the gorgeous cast? You'll have the chance to get up close and personal with some of the outrageous ZUMANITY performers. ZUMANITY, ANOTHER SIDE OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL can currently be seen Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30PM and 10:30PM at the ZUMANITY Theatre in New York-New York Hotel & Casino. As of June 18, the show will be running Friday - Tuesday at 7PM and 10PM. For more information on the Z PleaZure Package, or to reserve yours now, visit www.zumanity.com, www.nynyhotelcasino.com or contact the ZUMANITY box office at 1-866-606-7111 or (702) 740 6815. Z PleaZure Package can also be purchased by visiting any of the MGM MIRAGE box offices. ======================================================================= TÉLÉMAGIK: "La Nouba Under the Lens" By: Wayne Leung - Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) ======================================================================= With Cirque du Soleil's rapid expansion into the world of audio/visual media, its partnership with Bravo and the ambitious marketing of its media division to overseas outlets, it seems that the supply of Cirque television programming cannot keep up with demand. Every one of Cirque's current touring productions has been filmed for television and now, for the first time ever, one of its resident shows goes under the lens. The decision to film La Nouba, the resident show at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is a bit of a surprise. Until recently the company had publicly stated that it would not film any of its resident productions while they were still playing, presumably due to contract stipulations with host companies and fear of lost revenue from lower ticket sales. But against the odds, Cirque du Soleil Presents La Nouba was broadcast on Sunday, May 30, 2004 on the Société Radio-Canada (the French language CBC in Canada). Before I proceed to review the program I have an admission to make. La Nouba is the only current Cirque production I have not seen live. I know, for shame! And I call myself a Cirque fan. My meager student budget, the three-in-one-Cirque City value of Las Vegas and my general aversion to all-things Disney has meant that I have never gotten around to seeing La Nouba, most of my comparisons will be made to the bits of La Nouba I have seen from the "Inside La Nouba: From Conception to Perception" documentary/infomercial video release of 2000. With the generally mediocre quality in the filming and editing of many other Cirque shows it comes as no real surprise that the quality of the La Nouba television special is hit-and-miss. The La Nouba video is produced by the same Cirque du Soleil Images team that produced the previous specials; Executive Producers Martin Bolduc, Vincent Gagné and Rocky Oldham and Producers Yolande Riccioli and Dorthy Dickie. It is directed by David Mallet (who also directed the videos for Quidam and Dralion) and co-edited by Nick Morris (who directed the videos for Alegría and Varekai). Consequently, the style of the filming and the editing is very familiar, which is not necessarily a good thing. It is often said that you have not seen a Cirque du Soleil show until you have seen it live on stage. The video productions are no substitute for the real thing. However, I understand that the videos are intentionally created as separate entities from the live shows and I am willing to give the directors some room for artistic exploration. Many fans have observed that the editing of the past few filmed Cirque shows is reminiscent of a music video. This is also the case with La Nouba; the editing is fast and the focus of the video shifts rapidly. However, given the fact that the stage is always alive and full of characters (more so in La Nouba than in most other Cirque shows) and that La Nouba is very much inspired by and created for the MTV generation, the music video-style editing seemed an appropriate stylistic choice for this film as well as being a necessary technique to keep up with the frenetic pace of the live show. As with previous videos the director sometimes makes use of trick- camera work in an attempt to put the spectator "in" the show; a flipping camera follows a tumbler down the power track, the German Wheel rolls over the camera and trapeze artists fly toward the camera with arms outreached as if the viewer were the catcher. Most of the gimmick camera angles provide a unique perspective of the acts and the director takes care not to overuse them. However, the same cannot be said of the instant-replay slow motion which is used profusely throughout the video. The editors also have an annoying habit of frequently cutting away from the main action; the opening parade scene is substituted by a montage of clips from the show the viewer is about to see, the Power Track and Trampoline finale is chopped up to include "flashbacks" of tricks the viewer has just seen. Slow motion is even used during some interstitial sequences for no apparent reason; slowing the ballet dancers down does nothing to improve the presentation of the show, and once an acrobat completes a trick it is replayed again up to three times in slow motion. I found this editing to be unnecessary and very distracting since cutting away from the live action disrupts the flow of the scene. Another gripe I have about the filming (and this is not exclusive to the La Nouba video) is the redesign of the show's lighting. From what I've seen of La Nouba the show has always appeared very dark; for the filming large arrays of extra lighting were used and the result is an overly bright, washed-out scene for most of the show. The dramatic contrasts between light and dark in the original lighting design are ruined and everything looks too bright. It also doesn't help that on several upward-looking angles spotlights shine directly into the camera. Despite the film's shortcomings there are definitely some positive aspects. La Nouba, being a resident show, is already a television- friendly 90-minutes in length, therefore the show is presented virtually in its entirety on the video. The performance itself is superb. Highlights include a new 3-person version of the high wire act, BMX bicycles and Aerial Cradle (two acts not featured in the "Inside La Nouba" video), an alternate version of the Diabolos act featuring three performers instead of the usual four (possibly an attempt to differentiate it from the very similar act already featured in the Quidam video) and a Power Track and Trampoline finale that is among the most spectacular acts ever created by Cirque du Soleil. The live arrangements of the music are spectacular and the score has never sounded better. I especially enjoyed Sisandra Lewis, the featured female singer, who possesses a voice as powerful as Zumanity's Lonnie Gordon and with the beautiful tonality of Varekai's Zara Tellander. But overall I feel that the video is lackluster and doesn't provide a good representation of the live show. It lacks the cinematic flair of the Quidam video and I honestly think that the filming of clips from the show for the Inside La Nouba documentary (directed by Eamon Harrington) were more evocative and effective at conveying the style, spirit and energy of the show. However hope is not lost! Some fans may recall that the original broadcast release of Varekai also had many rough edges that were thankfully smoothed over for the DVD release. Because La Nouba has a shorter running time than the touring shows there should be ample room on the upcoming DVD to include many extra features. Many scenes in La Nouba would benefit from the ability to view them from multiple angles. And more importantly, the original video for Varekai was re- edited for its DVD release greatly improving the flow and presentation. I'm hoping the same will be done for La Nouba and that what I have seen so far is merely a work-in-progress. ======================================================================= AT THE BOUTIQUE: "Behind the Mask" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ======================================================================= You might remember two issues back when we told you about the mask Cirque makeup artist Nathalie Gagne painted for sale at an Internet fundraising auction for The Hospice of Metro Denver. And the high bid? The mask ended up selling for more than $1,000.00 USD, easily in the "Top 5" of all the masks offered, according to the folks we spoke with. But what surprised us most was the man who purchased it and his plans for the mask, as he revealed in a talk with us. Don Wollenzien and his wife Marie have lived in the Denver area since 1960 and have a 34-year old son. Back in May, 2003 Marie was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, several hospital stays involving radiation and chemotherapy treatments failed to set the cancer into remission. It soon became obvious that she was in the last stages of her illness and needed a facility for her final days. The facility they chose was the The Hospice of Metro Denver. Sadly, Marie passed away in October, 2003. Marie always had a fondness for clowns. "My front bathroom is wallpapered in clowns," says Don. But neither of them was aware of Cirque du Soleil. When The Mask Project to benefit the hospice was announced, Don visited the website and looked through the offerings. Seeing the Nathalie Gagne mask, with its multi-colored hues and peaceful closed-eyes expression, Don thought, "Wow, that's something I think I want." According to Gagne (as discussed in the original Cirque Club article), the mask is imbued with inspirational bits from several Cirque shows: "From its bluish mouth, you will hear the colours of Quidam. Through its eyes, you will taste the blue of "O". With its long black eyelashes, you will be tickled by the soft caresses of Zumanity. Its yellowish and red colours will transport you into the kaleidoscopic world of Varekai and Mystère. Its bright red nose will recall the tenderness of Yuri, the Alegría clown. A small tear of joy is shed for memories of La Nouba, and the piece is set off with a few multi-colored feathers plucked from a future show, now growing within a fertile womb." You can see a picture of the mask at the following address: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/clubcirque/ news/news71.htm > It seemed to Don to be the perfect way to honor the memory of his late wife, while at the same time making a donation to a worthy organization. "As well as they treated her, it's well worth it." He started bidding in the mid $500.00 range, but wavered when the price began to escalate. But toward the end of the auction he decided to "go for it" and placed the high bid of $1,010.00. He has had it framed in a shadow box with mattes of red and blue. (The framing bill alone came to more than $350.00.) In a fitting tribute, the mask will hang on the wall of their family room next to the chair where Marie often sat. He has been gracious enough to photograph the finished framing work, you can view a couple of shots at the Photo section of the Fascination Yahoo Group page: < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CirqueFascination/ >. Login and select Photos, then Issue #34. What a story, and we're grateful to Mr. Wollenzien for taking the time to talk with us. One would not normally think that Cirque Du Soleil could provide the impetis for such a beautiful tribute. But it goes to show how the beauty and power of Cirque can bring peace and solice to a saddened household. ======================================================================= SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT: "CirqueCon Vancouver 2004: Before the Adventure Began" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ======================================================================= Part of the magic of Cirque du Soleil is how the artists make it look so easy. The audience sees only the final product - the act - not the years of practice leading up to it. But it's those years of practice that make the act work. It takes not only the artist, but coaches, teachers, parents, judges, physiotherapists - an entire team. And so it is with group excursions, like CirqueCon Vancouver 2004. It took more than one person to make it happen. It took a team. And that team has a story. Which starts in Summer 2003. Here at Fascination! a kind source had just supplied us with tour dates much further into the future than had yet been made public. This confirmed what we had already heard by rumor - that Quidam would bypass Asia after its year-long tour of Japan, and make stops in Vancouver and Calgary, Canada over late Spring 2004 before embarking on its year-long tour of Australia. This was quite significant for us, as it meant Quidam would be on the North American continent for only a short time before being overseas again, perhaps for years. Back in Newport News, VA, Jeff Tolotti was a frequent contributor to the Cirque du Soleil Yahoogroup. Soon after we had made the tour info public, Jeff posted an idea on the message board. What would people think about a group trip to see Quidam when it came to Vancouver? Several people soon responded that, indeed, they would be interested. The discussion then centered on which weekend would be best. A consensus started to gather around May 14-16, 2004, two weeks prior to the Memorial Day Holiday. But before we go further, a little background. My wife LouAnna (also known as "Lucy") and I have been involved in literary (non media- centered) science fiction convention planning for 20 years. We work on Convention Committees that meet throughout the year. We call our convention Norwescon and it occurs every year over Easter weekend, attracting 2,500 science fiction fans to Seattle. It's by no means the largest SF convention in America, but we're proud of it. Tons of research, phone calls, messages and meetings are the norm. There are myriad small details that need to be decided or acted upon. You can't just snap your fingers and make it happen. If you do your job well, all the time and effort spent beforehand are invisible to your attendees, who see only the finished product. On occasion, I've taken my experience in working on conventions and applied them to organizing group trips. I've done several including groups of SF fans going to world science fiction conventions, also known as "WorldCon," in Orlando, FL in 1988 and Anaheim, CA in 1992, with more than 20 participants for each trip. My job as Trip Coordinator was to do the research and planning, make the calls and photocopies, and provide a basic framework for the members. I learned that, as with conventions, no matter how hard you try you can't please everyone. Knowing that not everybody will be happy you try to please the largest number you can. After our trip to see Alegria in Vancouver in July of 2003, LouAnna and I knew the fun of a romantic weekend in a beautiful city. So we instantly knew we would have to do it again for Quidam. We also decided, since we had "enlightened" several of our relatives and friends to Cirque du Soleil that it might be fun if we enlarged our group a bit and invited them along. LouAnna's father ("Dad") was instantly enthusiastic. LouAnna also asked her Aunt Barb and Cousin Shelly, whom Dad would travel from his home base of Spokane, WA to Missoula, MT to pick up and bring to Seattle so we could spend the weekend together. In addition, my Best Man and his wife decided to join us. Erstwhile editor Ricky Russo also decided to fly from Orlando, FL to join us for the weekend. So from a small party of two we were quickly a party of eight. With a party that big, housing became an issue. For Alegria in Vancouver we stayed for the first time in a Bed and Breakfast. The B&B we chose was close to the Cirque tent site, a Victorian-style house in a quiet neighborhood. Though it was hot the weekend we went and the room had no air conditioning it was cozy, quiet and, yes, romantic. What fun it would be, we thought, if everyone stayed in rooms at one B&B. It would be fun, affordable, and homey. The rest of our party was amenable, but before we could make our reservation, Jeff posted his idea about a group trip on the YahooGroups Cirque discussion list. Without consulting my wife (a fact she now frequently reminds me of ), I posted privately to Jeff to tell him of our group, and that the weekend we were considering was one week hence, May 21-23. (Up to this point, I'll bet both groups thought they were the only ones!) I also told him of our plans to book rooms in a Bed and Breakfast. Would his group be interested in booking rooms together with mine if I could block them all for our use? It would, however, require them changing their weekend. He consulted with the group, who took to the idea. With the weekend decided upon, it became my responsibility to book the bed and breakfasts. Owners Paul Findlay and Leslie Lewington (www.dougwin.com) seemed receptive to the idea, but not at our original choice, Windsor House. They suggested their two other properties, Douglas House and Cambie Lodge, which it so happened were right next to each other on the same street! They would be happy to block out all the rooms in both houses for that weekend if we agreed to use those two properties. The plan was simple. I would have a hold on all the rooms, so no one would be able to contact the B&B directly. I would take reservations and keep track of them. At a point just after the first of the year, I would relay the information to Paul and Leslie, and inform the room holders to put the rooms in their names by getting in direct contact with the B&B. At some point in late March I would release my hold on the rest of the rooms, allowing the B&B to fill rooms not used by our members. Now that we had suddenly grown from a group of 8 to 16 or so, we were no longer just Jeff or my friends. We were a larger group, and with numbers come organizational issues. We decided to open our "group" up to others who might like to join. But what should we name ourselves? I had organized my other SF fan tours under the moniker "Tour De Mondo," but that didn't seem to fit. I also suggested "CirqueCon," an offshoot of the "-con" naming of SF conventions (Norwescon, Worldcon, etc.). That seemed to fit better. In order to convey the idea that this might be one in a series of events (if we might be so lucky as to survive our first attempt and actually want to have a second) we added the location and year to the name, making it "CirqueCon Vancouver 2004." Some time later, an emailer referred to our group as "Passionates." It sounded so much better than "Fans" or "Cirquies." We liked the word so much we subtitled the weekend, "The First Unofficial Gathering of Cirque du Soleil Passionates." So we had a weekend, a name, and a place to stay, but how would we get the word out? We needed a forum to describe our plan to anyone that wanted to see it at any time. Jeff had a solution for that; creating a webpage with the basic information! We came up with text concerning the trip and Bed and Breakfasts, with complete room descriptions, pricing (in American dollars including all taxes), and the procedure for booking a room. Jeff was also "on the ball" removing room listings as rooms filled. By the time we got the website up tickets had gone on sale to Cirque Club members. In addition to the webpage we felt we needed an outlet for "progress reports". So we asked Editor Ricky if he would add the Newsletter's sponsorship to the endeavor. He agreed, so CirqueCon Vancouver 2004 became "Sponsored by the Fascination! Newsletter." I proposed a simple agenda for the weekend, so that people could have the maximum amount of time to see the sites of Vancouver (several, it turned out, used the time to take in multiple viewings of Quidam, some as many as four!). I felt a group meal was a must, and had originally proposed it for Friday evening. In talking with our attendees and finding out when they would arrive in Vancouver, I found that several members wouldn't be arriving until very late on Friday or early Saturday. So the dinner got moved to Saturday afternoon at 4pm, prior to that evenings show. I looked for a place that could accommodate a group our size, while still allowing the option of separate checks, space to sit together, and a menu that was varied enough for different diets. We finally settled on the Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown, (http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/location_vancouver.html) the original restaurant in the franchise. They seemed willing to work with a group with our quirks and could get us fed in a reasonable amount of time. The question then became whether to schedule anything Friday evening. LouAnna and I worked on an idea of having a combination "Cocktail Hour" and "Show and Tell" session. Friday would probably be the only opportunity for us to share our finest Cirque collectibles with each other. LouAnna, ever the social hostess, wanted to put out a spread of meats, cheeses, candies (Aplets and Cotlets of course!) as well as some of the "Cirque du Rose" wine we had found. So she started planning the food spread, while I informed everyone to bring their collectibles. The Bed and Breakfast folks graciously allowed us to use the kitchen area of Douglas House for the gathering. Rooms started to fill. We eventually reached capacity at Douglas House (the "main" house) bolstered by mine and Jeffs folks renting six of the buildings eight rooms (three others technically attached to the house were actually in a commercial building next door). As they came on board, I spoke to each of our members by phone to bring them up to speed (and from what I heard later raised some of them (who worked swing or graveyard) out of their sleep, for which I apologize). They had various questions involving the rooms, payment, attractions and getting over the border. But the most often asked question was whether we might be able to do any "special Cirque things" during the weekend, such as a backstage tour or meeting a performer. Most questions were easy to answer. I started an e-mail mailing list and sent information on weather, traffic, how to cross the border and what kind of identification would be needed. Interestingly several members of the group, spurred on by Jeff, planned to fly into Seattle where they would rent vehicles and drive up. They did this because rates to fly directly into Vancouver seemed to be much higher than Seattle. As people started to commit, and our numbers quickly grew to 25, I started to think about aspects of my SF convention running experience that might apply. While it wasn't my intent to act as "activities director" I wanted to provide an outlet for people to express their interests for things to see in Vancouver. I've found that people in group tour situations tend to give in to the "will" of the most dominant people in the group and subjugate their own desires. Besides, it wasn't just one or two groups of friends, it was them plus several others unattached to the main "cliques." So I started a running list of attractions people were interested in, sending it back to the members on a regular basis. We also discussed how it might be nice to have some sort of permanent "souvenir" of the gathering. For SF conventions that comes in two forms. One is a "badge" worn to indicate that you're a member, or "part" of the convention. Since many of us had never seen each other before I thought it would be a good way to "break the ice." The other is a "Program Book" that serves as a "guide" to the weekend as well as a keepsake, with a schedule, articles and pictures. Ricky and Jeff responded positively to the Program Book idea. The badge was a different thing, as they both felt it a bit "geeky" for our group. They felt folks would not necessarily want to be visually identified as Cirque du Soleil fans. I got an even stronger reaction when I suggested we get lanyards so folks could wear the badges around their necks! We compromised on the badges, with Jeff providing a beautiful design with each persons name and state on them, and making the lanyards an option. As it turned out many members loved the badges, wearing them proudly around their necks with the lanyard! In addition to these items, Jeff had the idea to create a self- compiled CD that he would hand out to members. He wanted to share tracks from his collection of CDs by Cirque musicians outside of Cirque. He had tracks from Francesca Gagnon, Rene Dupere and Elise Velle, Joey Arias, and others that he planned to use. Unbeknownst to him, I had contemplated the same idea! My concept was to consolidate a number of pieces of "rare" Cirque du Soleil music that I had collected onto one CD. I wanted to share the first Cirque du Soleil vinyl 45 recorded by their first band La Fanfafonie, and tracks from a first version of the debut "Cirque Du Soleil" CD that didn't make it onto the second re-recording. I wanted to "fill in" missing music from Saltimbanco and Alegria using the limited-edition "Live!" CDs. And I wanted to share other "source" music and tunes influenced by Cirque, such as Josh Groban's version of "Let Me Fall." Upon finding out we both had the same idea, we decided to collaborate and create a two-CD set produced especially for CirqueCon Vancouver. In a mass CD exchange he provided me with better copies of some of the things I wanted, and I sent him several CDs that he had not aquired yet. We worked independently to compile, sequence, and master our respective CD's, with Jeff doing the final duplication and coming up with nice artwork for the covers and CD labels. The Program Book also began to take shape. With Jeff taking the lead as our Publications Coordinator, material started to be written. Ricky supplied a medley of articles about Quidam that had previously been printed in Fascination! Jeff provided another great effort in our color cover and wrote liner notes for his CD. He also handled the copying, collating and purchasing needed to make 40 copies of the Program Book a reality. (Though we thought we would only need 30 copies, we decided on a print run of 40 to be able to give away sets to interested parties we might meet. As it was, we ended up giving them all away!) I wrote up liner notes for my CD and "track facts" for both, as well as the "title" page (a bit of pseudo-Cirque program book channeling), an itinerary, and tour history and credits. (Unfortunately, in the last-minute rush to get things done I completely forgot to include our contact information as well as a copyright statement. Oh well...) Meanwhile, our costs began to mount. CD's, paper, copying, and phone calls cost money! We agreed that since we were doing these things for free for our new "friends" we wouldn't ask them to contribute to the costs. We kept track of them during the process and promised to somehow split the costs after the weekend was over. The question of "special Cirque things" was still elusive. We had made no promises in anything we had written or said, but through Fascination!, Ricky knew of some people we might be able to contact. We started making enquiries but didn't think we would be able to do much more than perhaps meet our Quidam drummer friend, BJ, after the show for a drink. That was before one fateful morning back in mid-April when, completely out of the blue, we received a message from Mr. Andre Belanger from Cirque du Soleil in Montreal. The message stated that he had heard about our efforts and wanted to see if there was a way Cirque du Soleil could work with us. This was totally unexpected, but could be the key to making the weekend special for our members. (In retrospect I think it was our numbers and high profile that caught Cirque's eye. If we hadn't had more than 25 enthusiastic attendees, or hadn't made our efforts public, I wonder if they would have been interested.) We decided Ricky would be the contact point between us and Mr. Belanger. Ricky responded that we would indeed be interested, and kept in contact while Mr. Belanger worked behind-the-scenes at Cirque. We had to keep it confidential until everything was confirmed and ready to announce, but the potential was exciting. After some time Mr. Belanger came back with some exciting news. He offered us a pre-show behind-the-scenes tour of the Quidam site and an after-show meet and greet/Q&A with some performers. In addition, he wanted a smaller segment of our group involved in a discussion about Cirque merchandising with Genevieve Bastien, a fellow Cirque employee who would be flying in from Montreal IHQ with Mr. Belanger for our weekend. As if the initial contact wasn't exciting enough, these proposed plans were even more so! As the final week before the vacation came into view, things started flying at a faster pace. We grew in number from 25 to 30 with some last-minute additions. Since I had released the rest of the Bed and Breakfast's rooms weeks before, and they had all been filled, new members had to make their own room arrangements. Jeff came up with the final designs for the badge and program covers. Final text made its way to Jeff for inclusion in the Program Book. Mr. Belanger confirmed the schedule of events for Saturday, which we excitedly released to our group that Monday. Wednesday evening, LouAnna's dad Cal arrived with Aunt Barb and Cousin Shelly. We had a bar-b-que and invited LouAnna's kids and our grandkids to a get-together. We planned to use the next day to tour Seattle with our relatives. Everyone was excited about the coming weekend. In another unexpected occurrence, Thursday morning I received an email from Gillian Morris at Dunn Mitchell Communications in Vancouver. They are Cirque's Vancouver PR firm and wanted to talk about our group and activities. For what reason I didn't know, but (since I wouldn't be near my computer that day) I left a phone message for her before leaving for our days activities. Just after reaching Pike Place Market (Seattle's farmers market) my cell phone rang. Ms. Morris? No, it was Ricky! Mr. Belanger had just contacted him, asking for the names of everyone in our group. It might be possible to "upgrade our tickets" but no promises. What could *that* mean? I had maintained a master contact list of all of our members but hadn't sent Ricky or Jeff the final version. So instead of enjoying Pike Place with LouAnna and our relatives, I was reading and spelling our members names to Ricky over the phone from my copy. Soon after that my cell phone rang again. This time it was indeed Ms. Morris, who had been made aware of our trip and wanted some basic information for a "Media Advisory" she would be creating. This "advisory" is sent out to media outlets as a "heads up," letting them know about coverage-worthy events. Unfortunately, when she called, we were right in the middle of ordering lunch at a Chinese restaurant in the Market! My being distracted from our group while chatting on the phone was not what LouAnna was looking for from me. I could also feel the costs mount as I talked, as the phones LouAnna and I use are on a per-minute plan (though with very reasonable rates through my work) since we only use them in emergencies. I gave Ms. Morris the information she needed to create the advisory. At the end of the conversation I asked, "Do you really think the media will come out to see little old us? We're just a bunch of Cirque du Soleil fans." Her voice had that tone of experience I should have heeded. "Oh Yeah," she said matter-of-factly. (I found out later that the "headline" of the Media Advisory she wrote was, "The Cirquies Come To Town!" This would be a bone of contention with many of our members, who reject the term as being too much like "Trekkies." Ms. Morris needed a quick and concise attention-grabbing headline and had created that title on her own. But it would become the basis for much of the coverage we would later get.) Friday morning came all too soon. With all of the party supplies, Cirque collectibles, and baggage for five people, both our cars' trunks were quite full. LouAnna, Dad, Barb and Shelly made their way north in one car, while I went to Sea-Tac Airport to pick up Ricky. There I was able to meet up with Jeff, who had arrived a bit earlier that morning and was waiting while the rest of his party flew in from other areas of the country. He had brought all the Program Books and finished CDs with him, and I would take them in my car to have them ready for the Cocktail Hour. While I was admiring the finished Program Book and complimenting Jeff, Ricky arrived. We all proceeded to my car and loaded the books and CDs into the back seat (which I would later come to regret). Ricky had packed lightly, only bringing a rolling backpack. As Jeff went back to wait for his other folks, Ricky and I proceeded to make our way northward, to enjoy what we knew was going to be an unforgettable weekend. Our fun started long before we caught sight of the Cirque tent. But that's another tale. ======================================================================= PARTING QUOTE ======================================================================= "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light, brining magic to life, we bow most humbly." -- "O" Programme ======================================================================= 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, and Wayne Leung. "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2004 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. =======================================================================