======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) T h e U n o f f i c i a l C i r q u e d u S o l e i l N e w s l e t t e r ------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.CirqueFascination.com ------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================================================= VOLUME 7, NUMBER 6 NOV/DEC 2007 ISSUE #56 ======================================================================= Bonjour et bienvenue! Welcome to another exciting edition of Fascination!, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. Inside this issue we have all the latest news and sightings posted to the Fascination! Web throughout the months of November and December. You'll find some great information on Cirque's newest show announcements (Kodak 2010) and an update on many of Cirque's future shows! In our Features, Keith Johnson takes a look at a survey Cirque du Soleil emailed him on about the Delirium tour, which we find fascinating. And Ricky Russo takes you into the world of La Nouba in a very special way: by reliving an experience he had in 2004 during La Nouba's 5th Anniversary. There's also our entries in the DidyaKnow and column to enjoy, and our Cirque milestone listings. Be sure to check out the Itinerary section for any last-minute changes to tour stops and extensions – especially the new information pertaining to 2008 dark dates for all Las Vegas productions! I invite you to visit our website for the latest news, rumors and information about Cirque du Soleil. What you're reading here is only a collection of what was posted daily on the Fascination website for a specific period of time (in this case July, August and September.) Formore current information about Cirque du Soleil's activities, please visit < www.cirquefascination.com >. And if you're interested in having our daily postings sent directly to you, don't hesitate to take advantage of our Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed! Simply use the following URI with your favorite email/news program: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >. - Ricky "Richasi" Russo =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings o) Compartments -- Information on Tour, Online & on-Screen * Télémagik -- Cirque du Soleil on Television * Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information o) Columns -- Behind the Curtain * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Historia -- Cirque du Soleil's History o) Fascination! Features * "A Penny for Your Thoughts (A Survey)!" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) * "Faire La Nouba!" (CirqueCon 2007) By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) * "Performance Space: La Nouba" (CirqueCon 2007) By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Cirque explores "extra (charge)" services {Nov.09.2007} ------------------------------------------ We first saw these on Cirque Tribune (thanks Taylor!). They are short videos explaining possible concepts for some "value added" services Cirque is considering providing ticket purchasers and Cirque Club members - for an extra fee, of course. They came as part of an internet survey sent to selected individuals which explained these concepts and solicited feedback. Check them out - Cirque may take them back any time now. < http://webcast.pecunia.tv/cirquedusoleil/pfplayer.aspx? clipid=sl-cs-001 > < http://webcast.pecunia.tv/cirquedusoleil/pfplayer.aspx? clipid=sl-cs-002 > Cirque Goes Hollywood {Nov.19.2007} ---------------------------- Now here’s one that blindsided us all… According to CBS Online, Cirque du Soleil will open a resident show in Hollywood, California by 2010. From the release: (CBS) HOLLYWOOD Cirque du Soleil will open a new, $100 million production at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood in 2010, the group’s founder announced Monday. The unnamed show will focus on Hollywood’s role in the history of film. Seventy-five performers will put on the show 368 times a year as part of a 10-year agreement between Cirque du Soleil and the CIM Group, which owns the Hollywood & Highland Center where the Kodak Theatre is located. Read more at this link: < http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_323174720.html > {SOURCE: CBS NEWS} Cirque Programme Takes Top Honours {Nov.23.2007} ----------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil's "O" souvenir program book took top honours this year at the Unisource NUARS awards! What's the NUARS awards? It's a recognition that celebrates excellence in the design and production of corporate brochures in Canada. This year Cirque was honored in recognition of using 100% post- consumer Astrolite PC 100 paper and for its design. This honor is shared with Datachrome, the printing company used. Congrats Cirque for winning and going Green! Wintuk Inspires New Workout {Dec.06.2007} ---------------------------- Cirque du Soleil’s "Wintuk" is currently wowing the crowds at Madison Square Garden, and inspired by the show, a taste of the performance is also moving to the gym. NY1 Health & Fitness reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report. Read more about this at the following: < http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=19&aid=76160 > {SOURCE: NY1} Zumanity HOOPS Wins Internet Awards! {Dec.09.2007} ------------------------------------- The Zumanity online game "Zumanity Hoops" (www.zumanityhoops.com) was awarded two awards for excellence recently at the W3 Awards and at the Las Vegas Interactive Marketing Association. What is the W3 Awards? From their website: "Sanctioned by the International Academy of Visual Arts, the W³ is the first major web competition to be accessible to the biggest agencies, the smallest firms, and everyone in between. In addition to honoring great Websites and Web Marketing programs, this year the W³ will also honor the best in web video, reflecting the explosion of video content created exclusively for the internet. Now you can prove all the interactive and web work you do is award winning." What is the Las Vegas Interactive Marketing Association? From their website: "The Las Vegas Interactive Marketing Association (LVIMA) was founded in 2004 for the purpose of providing education and networking services to the digital community of Las Vegas. Since launch we've provided a number of events targeted at providing Las Vegas marketers with insight and information about current trends in online advertising and how to harness these trends to generate stronger ROI for their campaigns." Cirque took a Silver at the W3 awards and the prize for Best Viral Creative in 2007 from the LVIMA. Sculpture Opening at Redesigned "O" Lobby {Dec.11.2007} ------------------------------------------ Fellow art fans; check this out! From the Vegas Eye, a blog about the happenings in Las Vegas: The sculptures of Richard MacDonald featuring circus and performance artists will be exhibited and available for purchase in the newly redesigned "O" Theatre lobby at the Bellagio hotel, set to open December 22nd, 2007. The gallery is born out of a relationship between Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil, and Richard MacDonald, a master of figurative sculpture. MacDonald feels that he and Laliberté are "similar in life long creative goals." His work focuses on the spectrum of performing life, capturing a fleeting moment in time and immortalizing the grace, strength, joy and discipline of dancers and acrobats. His work shares the creativity and imagination that fuels Cirque du Soleil and conveys MacDonald’s sense of energy and passion. "The art of Richard MacDonald reveals the infinite beauty of the human body. The characters he creates are playing forever in the theatre of life," says Laliberté. Read more about this in a December 10th post on The Vegas Eye: < http://thevegaseye.com/home/2007/12/10/sculpture- richard-macdonald-opening-at-o-theatre-lobby-1222.html > {SOURCE: The Vegas Eye Blog} Cirque Releases New Kooza DVD {Dec.13.2007} ------------------------------ The Cirque Du Soleil boutique releases a new DVD documentary that looks at the creative process of KOOZA called "A Thrilling Ride through KOOZA". Embark on a journey that starts at the humble beginnings of some of Cirque’s creative pioneers as they share personal voyage – and a few revealing anecdotes - that highlight the multiple stages of the creation of a live show. Meet the clowns and acrobats that bring KOOZA to life as these audacious performers discuss their experience and share a few insights into this daring acrobatic show - from studio rehearsals to the big top rising, to the world premiere in Montreal! To view and order this product check out the CDS store! LaNouba Celebrates the New Year! {Dec.13.2007} --------------------------------- Are you looking for something special to do over the holidays? Well, if you are going to be near the Orlando, FL area you could spend an evening with La Nouba… Performances are held from Tuesday through Saturday at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and great seats are available. Moreover, a special performance is planned to ring in the New Year. This New Year’s Eve celebration features a champagne toast, a souvenir program – with exclusive insert commemorating the event – and a fantastic finale created just for this special evening! For more information on this special event, call the Walt Disney World Resort at (407) 939-7600. Or visit the LaNouba CDS webpage. Cirque Takes To the Air {Dec.13.2007} ------------------------ Flying on Delta recently, we found a program of Cirque music on one of our aircrafts music channels. The approx. 45 minute program was described in the Delta Magazine "Sky" as follows: CHANNEL 10 - CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - Join Delta On-Air for an unscheduled stop in Las Vegas and a personal tour of all five Cirque do Soleil spectaculars currently running on its stages. o) From Mystere: Egypte and Kalimondo o) From O: Tzelma, Africa and Remous o) From Zumanity: The Good Thing, Meditation, Piece Of Heaven and Zum Astra o) From Ka: Love Dance and O Makunde The program was accompanied by a French Canadian narrator telling a bit about the shows and the music. No music from LOVE was featured, likely because the Beatles songs didn’t fit conceptually with the rest of the program. We’ve also heard of a program dedicated to music from Cirque’s touring shows. {SOURCE: Delta Sky Magazine} The Beatles LOVE Nominated for Grammy's {Dec.15.2007} ---------------------------------------- The Beatles LOVE album drew two nominations for the 50th annual Grammy Awards this week. The mix-mashed album was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Medium and Best Surround Sound Album. The Grammy winners will be announced February 10, 2008 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Catch the award show on the CBS Network in the United States. Delirium 6th in World Tour Grossing Stats {Dec.17.2007} ------------------------------------------ Delirium, Cirque du Soleil’s first arena-based show that features cirque-based presentation with remixed songs from Cirque’s musique catalogue, is in the top 10 grossing world tours this year according to Billboard’s 2007 "Year in Music and Touring" issue, which hit the stands on Friday, December 14th. So, where exactly did Cirque fall? According to the press release... The Police reunion trek led all tours in 2007, with a gross that has passed $212 million and is still climbing. […] Another heavy-hitting international arena/stadium outing was Genesis’ Turn It On Again tour. Selling out stadiums in Europe and arenas in the United States, Genesis’ 46 shows grossed a staggering $129 million. Third for the year was Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveShow tour, which took in $126.8 million and drew more than 1.6 million people worldwide. The top 10 is rounded out by Kenny Chesney ($71.2 million), Rod Stewart ($70 million), Cirque Du Soleil’s Delirium ($59.4 million), Roger Waters ($53.2 million), Tim McGraw/Faith Hill ($52.3 million), Christina Aguilera ($48.1 million), and Rascal Flatts ($41.6 million). Congratulations Delirium for becoming the 6th highest grossing tour of 2007 with $59.4 million in ticket sales! Read the rest of Billboard’s press release here: < http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp? ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071213006110&newsLang=en > {SOURCE: Billboard} Cirque reaches out to Bloggers? {Dec.21.2007} -------------------------------- According to this recent post in the Business Blog Consutling blog, Cirque du Soleil marketing is trying something new: it is reaching out to bloggers by providing them free tickets to KÀ and Mystère in the hope that they would, in turn, compile a review of their show experience. Read about this here: < http://www.businessblogconsulting.com/2007/12/cirque-du- soleil-does-killer-outreach-to-bloggers > {SOURCE: Business Blog Consluting} Saltimbanco Performer Falls, Injured {Dec.21.2007} ------------------------------------- According to News Talk Radio CJAD in Montreal, a performer for Cirque’s restaged Saltimbanco arena show fell last night and was injured. From their website: The Cirque du Soleil show at the Bell Centre last night was halted for a time after an accident involving some acrobats. One miscalculated a mid-air manoeuvre and fell on another - that athlete fell 15 metres to the concrete floor below. The show was halted for about 20 minutes while an ambulance crew tended to the injured acrobat. Read the original release here: < http://www.cjad.com/news/565/640274 > {SOURCE: CJAD News} An Update on Future Projects {Dec.24.2007} ----------------------------- The "Anonymous Cirquester" strikes again and passes along some interesting bits of news related to our favorite Circus, Cirque du Soleil: o) Dubai 2010 starts its creation process in January 2008 for a premiere in late 2010 or early 2011. o) Macau 2008 is currently behind schedule. Construction on the theater is to blame, it is six weeks behind. o) Macau 2009 is going to be a reinvention of the variety show, according to creative sources. o) Elvis 2009 is going well. Musical framework for the show is almost complete with 32 tracks selected from "The King’s" catalogue. o) Cirque du Soleil is currently evaluating projects for resident shows in New York City (to accompany Wintuk) and once again in London. o) Cirque management is also evaluating another resident show project for Las Vegas. (Could this be Mandalay Bay?) o) ... and a touring show in Asia in 2010. o) And Cirque is designing the Canadian Pavilion concept at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Thanks once again "Anonymous Cirquester" for passing along some great information! Alegría in Korea? {Dec.31.2007} ------------------ According to the Korean Times this morning, Cirque du Soleil is scheduled to bring Alegría to South Korea in October 2008: "Alegria" presented by world-famous Canadian circus troupe Cirque Du Soleil which brought Quidam to Seoul’s stage in 2007, will take to the stage on the big top theater in October. Read the original release here: < http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/ 12/135_16435.html > {SOURCE: Korea Times} ======================================================================= COMPARTMENTS -- INFORMATION ON TOUR, ONLINE, AND ON-SCREEN ======================================================================= o) ITINÉRAIRE - Tour/Show Information ================ ITINÉRAIRE ================ NOTE: The information presented below is for historical purposes only. For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit our website < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. [Touring Shows] Alegría: London, UK -- Jan 5, 2007 to Feb 11, 2007 Barcelona, Spain -- Feb 22, 2007 to Apr 29, 2007 Saint-Denis, France -- May 10, 2007 to July 15, 2007 Gijon, Spain -- Jul 26, 2007 to Aug 26, 2007 Curitiba, Brazil -- Sep 14, 2007 to Oct 7, 2007 Brasília, Brazil -- Oct 19, 2007 to Nov 11, 2007 Belo Horizonte, Brazil -- Nov 22, 2007 to Dec 16, 2007 Rio de Janiero, Brazil -- Dec 27, 2007 to Jan 27, 2008 Sao Paulo, Brazil -- Feb 7, 2008 to May 4, 2008 Porto Alegre, Brazil -- May 15, 2008 to Jun 8, 2008 Corteo: Atlanta, Georgia -- Dec 15, 2006 to Jan 28, 2007 Dallas, Texas -- Feb 9, 2007 to Mar 11, 2007 Houston, Texas -- Mar 22, 2007 to Apr 29, 2007 Columbus, Ohio -- May 11, 2007 to Jun 10, 2007 Denver, Colorado -- Jun 22, 2007 to Aug 5, 2007 Los Angeles, California -- Aug 23, 2007 to Oct 28, 2007 Orange County, California -- Nov 8, 2007 to Dec 23, 2007 San Diego, California -- Jan 11, 2008 to Feb 3, 2008 Portland, Oregon -- Mar 4, 2008 to Mar 30, 2008 Seattle, Washington -- Apr 24, 2008 to May 18, 2008 Vancouver, BC -- Jun 12, 2008 to Jul 6, 2008 Calgary, Alberta -- Jul 31, 2008 to Aug 10, 2008 Ottawa, Ontario -- TBA St. Petersburg, Florida -- TBA Miami, Florida -- TBA Dralion: Neuss, Germany -- Dec 7, 2006 to Jan 7, 2007 Tokyo, Japan -- Feb 7, 2007 to May 6, 2007 Sendai, Japan -- May 23, 2007 to Jul 8, 2007 Osaka, Japan -- Jul 25, 2007 to Oct 14, 2007 Nagoya, Japan -- Oct 31, 2007 to Jan 6, 2008 Tokyo, Japan -- Jan 25, 2008 to Mar 2, 2008 Fukuoka, Japan -- Apr 23, 2008 to Jun 15, 2008 Koozå: Montreal, Quebec -- Apr 19, 2007 to Jun 24, 2007 Quebec City, Quebec -- Jul 5, 2007 to Jul 29, 2007 Toronto, Ontario -- Aug 9, 2007 to Oct 21, 2007 San Francisco, California -- Nov 16, 2007 to Jan 20, 2008 San Jose, California -- Jan 31, 2008 to Apr 16, 2008 Hartford, Connecticut -- Apr 1, 2008 to Apr 20, 2008 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- May 8, 2008 to May 25, 2008 Chicago, Illinois -- June 26, 2008 to July 27, 2008 Boston, Massachusetts -- TBA Quidam: Dubai, UAE -- Jan 4, 2007 to Feb 28, 2007 Seoul, South Korea -- Mar 20, 2007 to Jun 3, 2007 Shanghai, China -- Jun 28, 2007 to Aug 26, 2007 Guadalajara, Mexico -- Oct 12, 2007 to Oct 21, 2007 Mexico City, Mexico -- Nov 16, 2007 to Dec 30, 2007 Monterrey, Mexico -- Jan 17, 2008 to Jan 27, 2008 Lisbon, Portugal –- April 2008 Varekai: Auckland, New Zealand -- Jan 5, 2007 to Feb 18, 2007 Canberra, Australia -- Mar 15, 2007 to Apr 8, 2007 Melbourne, Australia -- Apr 19, 2007 to Jun 24, 2007 Adelaide, Australia -- Jul 5, 2007 to Aug 4, 2007 Perth, Australia -- Aug 17, 2007 to Oct 17, 2007 Antwerp, Netherlands -- Oct 30, 2007 to Dec 2, 2007 London, UK -- Jan 10, 2008 to Feb 3, 2008 Amsterdam, Netherlands -- Feb 29, 2008 to May 4, 2008 Antwerp, Belgium -- Oct 25, 2007 to Dec 2, 2007 London, United Kingdom -- Jan 6, 2008 to Feb 3, 2008 Amsterdam, Netherlands -- Feb 29, 2008 to May 4, 2008 Berlin, Germany -- Jun 5, 2008 to TBA Vienna, Austria -- Sep 26, 2008 to TBA Dusseldorf, Germany -- TBA [Arena Shows] Delirium: Detroit, Michigan - Jan 24, 25 & 27 Grand Rapids, Michigan - Jan 31, Feb 1 & 2 Moline, Illinois - Feb 7 & 8 Minneapolis/St-Paul, Minnesota - Feb 9 & 10 Fort Wayne, Indiana - Feb 14 & 15 Chicago, Illinois - Feb 17, 18 & 19 Kansas City, Missouri - Feb 21, 22 & 23 Ames, Iowa - Feb 24 & 25 Green Bay, Wisconsin - Feb 28 Peoria, Illinois - Mar 1 & 2 Madison, Wisconsin - Mar 4 Indianapolis, Indiana - Mar 7, 8 & 9 Wichita, Kansas - Mar 12, 13 & 14 Oklahoma City, Illinois - Mar 15 & 16 Charlotte, North Carolina - Mar 21 & 22 Birmingham, Alabama - Mar 24 & 25 Shreveport, Louisiana - Mar 27 Batton Rouge, Louisiana - Mar 28 New Orleans, Louisiana - Mar 29 & 30 Raleigh, North Carolina - Apr 1 & 2 Miami, Florida - Apr 4, 5, 6 & 7 San Antonio, Texas - Apr 20, 21 Corpus Christi, Texas - Apr 22 Monterrey, Mexico - Apr 27, 28, 29 & 30 Saint Louis, Missouri - May 4, 5 & 6 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - May 10, 11, 12 & 13 Spokane, Washington - May 16 & 17 Salt Lake City, Utah - May 19 & 20 San Diego, California - May 23, 24 & 25 Glendale, Arizona - May 26 & 27 Little Rock, Arkansas - May 31 Nashville, Tennessee - Jun 1 & 2 Greenville, South Carolina - Jun 6 & 7 Atlanta, Georgia - Jun 8 & 9 Charleston, South Carolina - Jun 10 Richmond, Virginia - Jun 12 & 13 Buffalo, New York - Jun 15, 16 & 17 Albany, New York - Jun 19 & 20 Washington DC - Jun 22, 23 & 24 Machester, New Hampshire - Jun 26, 27 & 28 Boston, Massachusetts - Jun 29, 30 & Jul 1 Rotterdam, Netherlands - Sept 13, 14, 15 & 16 Hamburg, Germany - Sep 18 & 19 Helsinki, Finland - Sep 22, 23 & 24 Stockholm, Sweeden - Sept 27, 28 & 29 Oslo, Norway - Oct 1 & 2 Mannheim, Germany - Oct 5 & 6 Manchester, United Kingdom - Oct 8 & 9 Birmingham, United Kingdom - Oct 10, 11 & 12 Sheffield, United Kingdom - Oct 13 & 14 Munich, Germany - Oct 19 & 20 Vienna, Austria - Oct 22 & 23 Prague, Czech Republic - Oct 26 & 27 Budapest, Hungary - Oct 30 & 31 Cologne, Germany - Nov 2 & 3 Zurich, Switzerland - Nov 5, 6, 7 & 8 Pesaro, Italy - Nov 10 & 11 Milan, Italy - Nov 13, 14, 15 & 16 Turin, Italy - Nov 18, 19, 20 & 21 Lisbon, Portugal – Nov 28, 29, 30, Dec 1 & 2 Madrid, Spain – Dec 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 Valencia, Spain – Dec 13, 14, 15 & 16 Barcelona, Spain – Dec 19, 20, 21 & 22 Saltimbanco: London, Ontario - Jul 31, Aug 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 Ottawa, Ontario - Aug 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 Halifax, Nova Scotia - Aug 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19 St. Johns, Newfoundland - Aug 23, 24, 25 & 26 St. John, New Brunswick - Aug 30 & 31, Sep 1 & 2 Syracuse, New York - Sep 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - Sep 12, 13, 14, 15 & 16 Greensboro, North Carolina - Sep 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23 State College, Pennsylvania - Sep 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30 Norfolk, Virginia - Oct 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 East Lansing, Michigan - Oct 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 Peoria, Illinois - Oct 17 & 18 Champaign, Illinois – Nov 9 & 10 Green Bay, Wisconsin – Nov 13, 14 & 15 Dayton, Ohio – Nov 21, 23, 24 & 25 Montreal, Quebec - Dec 19 – 30 2008 Dates: Quebec City, Quebec - Jan 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 Chicoutimi, Quebec – Jan 16, 17, 18 & 19 Detroit, Michigan – Jan 23, 24, 25, 26 & 27 Cleveland, Ohio – Jan 29, 30, 31 & Feb 1 Memphis, Tennessee – Feb 20 & 21 Charlottesville, Virginia – Feb 26, 27, 28, 29 & Mar 1 Little Rock, Arkansas – Mar 4, 5 & 6 Shreveport, Louisiana – Mar 8 & 9 San Antonio, Texas – Mar 12, 13, 14, 15 & 16 Laredo, Texas – Mar 18 & 19 Corpus Christ, Texas – Mar 21 & 22 Edmonton, Alberta – Jun 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Jul 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 Toronto, Ontario – Aug 13 – 24 Hamilton, Ontario – Aug 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31 [Resident Shows] NOTE: (*) Prices are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise noted. (*) Price reflected in brackets [] is inclusive of 10% Las Vegas Entertainment Tax where applicable, but does not include Sales Tax. La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tue through Sat, Dark: Sun/Mon Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2007 Ticket Prices (adults) / (child 3-9): o Category 0: $121.41 / $96.92 o Category 1: $105.44 / $84.14 o Category 2: $86.27 / $69.23 o Category 3: $69.23 / $55.38 2007 Dark Dates: o January 14 to 22 o March 18 to 20 o May 30 to June 4 o July 29 to July 31 o September 23 to October 1 o November 25 to 27 2008 Dark Dates: o January 22 to 26 o March 25 o May 20 to 24 o May 27 to 312 o July 29 o September 23 to 27 o November 18 Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - o Saturday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm o Sunday: 4:30pm & 7:00pm o Monday - Wednesday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2007 Ticket Prices: o Category 1: $95.00 [$104.50] o Category 2: $75.00 [$82.50] o Category 3: $60.00 [$66.00] 2007 Dark Dates: o January 4 to 19 o February 4 o March 21 o May 3 to 11 o July 11 o September 1 to 7 o October 31 2008 Dark Dates: o January 3 to 18 o February 3 o March 12 o May 1 to 9 o July 9 o September 4 to 12 o November 5 o December 24 "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm 2007 Ticket Prices: o Orchestra: $150.00 [$165.00] o Loggia: $125.00 [$137.50] o Balcony: $99.00 [$108.90] o Limited View: $93.50 [102.85] 2007 Dark Dates: o April 9 to 17 o June 10 to 12 o August 6 to 14 o October 7 to 9 o December 3 to 18 2008 Dark Dates: o February 10 o April 7 to 15 o June 8 o August 11 to 19 o October 12 o December 8 to 23 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm 2007 Ticket Prices (18+ Only!): o Sofas: $129.00 USD [$141.90 USD] (Sold in pairs) o Seats: $99.00 USD [$108.90 USD] (Lower Orcestra) O Seats: $79.00 USD [$86.90 USD] (Upper Orchestra) o Balcony: $69.00 USD [$75.90 USD] o Stools: $69.00 USD [$75.90 USD] 2007 Dark Dates: o February 4 o April 2 to 10 o June 4 to 6 o August 1 to 7 o October 15 to 17 o December 4 to 19 2008 Dark Dates: o Feburary 3 o February 19 & 20 o April 6 to 14 o June 9 to 11 o August 3 to 11 o October 14 & 15 o December 1 to 16 KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Fri through Tue, Dark Wed/Thu Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2007 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): NOTE: Category locations change based on Early vs Late Show o Category 1: $150.00 [$165.00] / $75.00 [$82.50] o Category 2: $125.00 [$137.50] / $62.50 [$68.75] o Category 3: $99.00 [$108.90] / $49.50 [$54.45] o Category 4: $69.00 [$75.90] / $34.50 [$37.95] 2007 Dark Dates: o January 9 to 22 o March 20 o May 15 to 19 o July 17 o September 11 to 15 o November 13 2008 Dark Dates o January 13 to 28 o March 16 to 19 o May 11 to 19 o July 13 to 16 o September 7 to 15 o November 2 to 4 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:30pm 2007 Ticket Prices: o Lower Orchestra: $150.00 [$165.00] o Upper Orchestra: $125.00 [137.50] o Lower Balcony: $99.00 [$108.80] o Middle Balcony: $93.50 [$102.85] o Upper Balcony: $69.00 [$75.90] 2007 Dark Dates: o January 18 o February 11 and 12 o March 5 o April 19 to 23 o June 14 o August 16 to 20 o October 11 o November 29 and 30 o December 1 to 10 2008 Dark Dates: o February 3 & 4 o February 11 o April 1 to 9 o May 12 o June 12 o July 29 to August 6 o October 9 o December 2 to 17 Wintuk: Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark Monday/Tuesday Multiple Shows Daily - Wednesday: 2:00pm, 7:30pm Thursday: 11:00am, 7:30pm Friday: 2:00pm, 7:30pm Saturday: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm Sunday: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm 2007/2008 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 2-12): Wednesday & Sunday: o Category 1: $99.00 / $89.55 o Category 2: $65.00 / $59.95 o Category 3: $40.00 / $36.45 Thursday, Friday & Saturday: o Category 1: $200.00 / $180.45 o Category 2: $110.00 / $99.45 o Category 3: $75.00 / $67.95 o Category 4: $50.00 / $45.45 Previews for the 2007 season will be presented from November 1 to 4. The official season will run from November 6, 2007 to January 6, 2008. ======================================================================= COLUMNS - BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= Within... o) DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque o) HISTORIA - Cirque du Soleil History o) CIRQUETECH - The Technical Side of Cirque ================================= DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque ================================= DidyaKnow? - "Facts to Celebrate Varekai's 2000th" {Nov.09.2007} --------------------------------------------------- Varekai's 2000th performance was Friday, October 5th in Perth, Australia (the 4:00pm performance if you're curious) and in celebration of this feat Cirque du Soleil tallied a few facts-at-a- glance regarding the show, which was (of course) anonymously passed on to us. Enjoy! o) The tour has visited 38 cities in Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand and travelled over 60,000km o) Over 6,700 local temporary employees have been hired o) Over 450,000 bags of popcorn & over 550,000 bottles of water consumed o) Over 50,000 bottles of champagne and 1,000,000 canapés have been served to the 250,000 Tapis Rouge guests o) The show has seduced over 4.4 millions spectators o) The Tour Services Department has rented over 3,000 apartments; transported over 11,000 suitcases; booked over 2,400 plane tickets o) The site has used almost 20km of rope for the different tents and over 20km of electric tape!!! o) The kitchen has served over 800,000 meals o) The show has used over 130 ropes for the trapeze act, 30,000 pounds of dry ice, and over 2,000 green LED lights for the fireflies o) The physiotherapists have taped over 15,000 ankles, used over 20,000 rolls of tape, and given over 14,000 treatment sessions o) Over 1,500,000 red petals have fallen from the Varekai sky and will continue to fall... {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} DidyouKnow? - Larger than Life Trickster? {Nov.23.2007} ------------------------------------------ DidyouKnow that visitors to the CN Tower recently were treated to a 15 by 10 meter painting of the Trickster, Jason Barrent's character in Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA? The painting was done by Toronto artist Bill Wrigley (www.billwrigley.com) in celebration for another of Cirque's feats: the breaking of a world record! Cirque succeeded in breaking the record for Highest Circus Act Ever Performed when Julie Bergez, Natasha Patterson and Dasha Sovik performed their contortion act on the glass-floor observation deck of the tower, 342 meters (1122 feet) above ground! The record was later confirmed and certified by Guinness World Record officials on October 3rd. Check out this feat on YouTube: < www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxMB_wahEVE > DidyouKnow? - Cirque at EPCOT? {Dec.07.2007} ------------------------------- DidyouKnow that on Friday, October 5th, Walt Disney World unveiled a new "O Canada" video at the Canadian Pavilion at EPCOT? Prior to the presentation, La Nouba artists Justin Osbourne, Pawel Beigaj, Witek Beigaj, Stephane Bayol and Melanie Bayol entertained diners at a VIP breakfast. The new film is narated by Canadian actor and Comedian Martin Short and is an updated look at Canadian life. You'll also find a little snip about Cirque du Soleil, so when you're next in Orlando check out the new film at EPCOT! DidyouKnow? - Saltimbanco Celebrates 100th! {Dec.14.2007} --------------------------------------------- The newly launched arena tour of Cirque du Soleil's 1992 production "Saltimbanco" has reached a very important milestone - it celebrated it's 100th performance! This very special show took place on November 29th during its run in Colorado Springs and, as luck would have it, according to Cirque that milestone coincided with the 4,500th overall performance of Saltimbanco. Whoa! Congrats to all past, present and future performers of Saltimbanco! May the light shine forever! DidyouKnow? - KOOZA in the streets? {Dec.21.2007} ------------------------------------ DidyouKnow that on December 2nd, Yury Shavro and Diana Aleschenko from KOOZA performed their unicycle act at the opening of the 26th San Jose Holiday Parade? The performance was also broadcast live on the local NBC station (NBC 11) throughout the San Francisco and San Jose area. How cool! ==================================== HISTORIA: Cirque du Soleil History ==================================== [November] * Nov.01.1996 –- Alegría opened Hong Kong * Nov.01.2004 -- "20 Years Under the Sun" Book Published * Nov.02.2004 –- Region 01 DVD Release: Fire Within and La Nouba * Nov.02.2006 –- Saltimbanco opened Rio de Janiero, Brazil * Nov.03.1999 –- Quidam opened Madrid, Spain * Nov.03.2005 –- Quidam opened Hong Kong * Nov.04.2001 –- Dralion wins 3 Emmys: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Musical Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program * Nov.04.2004 –- Quidam opened Brisbane * Nov.04.2004 –- Varekai opened Dallas * Nov.05.2002 -- Varekai CD released in Canada (BMG/CDS Musique) * Nov.05.2002 –- NBC purchased BRAVO, Official Network of Cirque in US * Nov.05.2004 -- Dralion celebrated its 2000th performance [Madrid, Spain] * Nov.06.2003 –- Alegría opened San Francisco * Nov.07.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened Frankfurt * Nov.07.1997 –- Alegría opened Dusseldorf * Nov.07.2002 –- Varekai opened San Francisco * Nov.07.2002 –- Varekai canceled in San Francisco due to Wind Gusts * Nov.06.2002 –- Quidam opened Tampa Bay * Nov.08.1987 -- Cirque Réinventé (Vol 1) CD Released (Nâga) * Nov.08.1994 -- Cirque Réinventé CD Released in US (RCA/Victor) * Nov.08.1994 -- Mystère CD released in US (RCA/Victor) * Nov.08.2007 –- Corteo opened Orange County, California * Nov.09.1999 -- Dralion CD released in US (RCA/Victor) * Nov.09.2006 –- Varekai opened Brisbane * Nov.10.1992 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened in Las Vegas * Nov.10.1995 -- Saltimbanco opened Vienne * Nov.11.2005 –- Corteo opened San Francisco * Nov.12.1996 -- Mystère Live CD released in US (RCA/Victor) * Nov.12.1998 –- Alegría opened Frankfurt * Nov.13.2002 –- Dralion opened Phoenix * Nov.13.2003 –- Cirque presented at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto to Honor Prime Minister Jean Chrétien * Nov.15.1993 -- "Cirque du Soleil" 10th Anniversary Book Published * Nov.16.1995 -- Alegría opened Atlanta * Nov.16.2001 -- Dralion opened Dallas * Nov.16.2007 –- Quidam opened Mexico City, Mexico * Nov.16.2007 –- Koozå opened San Francisco, California * Nov.17.2005 –- Saltimbanco opened Guadalajara * Nov.18.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Atlanta * Nov.18.2005 –- Dralion opened Bilbao * Nov.19.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened Atlanta * Nov.19.1998 -- «O» CD Released in Canada (RCA/Victor) * Nov.19.2001 –- Region 01 DVD Release: Inside La Nouba * Nov.19.2002 -- Alegría premiered on Bravo at 8:00pm EST * Nov.20.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened San Diego * Nov.20.1997 –- Quidam opened Houston * Nov.20.2006 –- Diesel Marketing (Cirque Website) becomes Sid Lee * Nov.21.1993 -- Nouvele Expérience closed in Las Vegas * Nov.21.2006 –- LOVE CD Released in US (Capitol Records) * Nov.22.2001 -- Quidam opened London * Nov.22.2005 –- Saltimbanco opened Mexico City * Nov.22.2007 –- Alegría opened Belo Horizonte, Brazil * Nov.24.1998 -- «O» CD Released in US (RCA/Victor) * Nov.25.1999 -- Saltimbanco opened Singapore * Nov.25.2004 –- Saltimbanco opened Lille * Nov.26.2004 -- KÀ Premiered (Preview Performances Begin) * Nov.28.1989 –- Cirque Réinventé opened Phoenix * Nov.28.2002 –- "Run Before You Fly" documentary premiered on BRAVO * Nov.28.2003 –- Saltimbanco opened Valencia * Nov.29.1991 –- Nouvelle Expérience opened Atlanta * Nov.30.2000 –- Dralion opened Atlanta * Nov.30.2002 –- "Fire Within" premiered on ArTV in Canada * Nov.30.2003 –- "SOLSTROM" premiered on CBC * Nov.xx.1999 –- Region 01 DVD release: Alegría: Le Film * Nov.xx.2001 –- Quidam celebrated 2000th performance [Zurich] [December] * Dec.01.2005 –- Varekai opened St. Petersburg, Florida * Dec.02.1999 -- Dralion opened Irvine, California * Dec.03.2002 –- Cirque abandoned "Complexes Cirque" project * Dec.04.2001 –- NY-NY announced as next new Cirque show site. * Dec.04.2003 –- Varekai opened Ponoma * Dec.04.2004 –- Varekai celebrated 1000th performance [Saturday/Dallas] * Dec.05.2001 -- Alegría opened Perth, Australia * Dec.07.2006 –- Dralion opened Neuss, Germany * Dec.10.2006 –- Curtain fell on Saltimbanco – Rio de Janiero, Brazil. * Dec.15.2000 –- Quidam opened London * Dec.15.2006 –- Corteo opened Atlanta * Dec.16.1999 -- Alegría: Le Film premiered in Singapore * Dec.16.2001 –- Dralion celebrated its 1000th performance [1:00pm/Dallas] * Dec.17.2002 -- Varekai Split-Track CD Released (BMG/CDS Musique) * Dec.19.2005 –- "O" wins "Best of Show" at "The Trippies – 1st Annual Readers Poll Awards" at Las Vegas travel guide site VegasTripping.com * Dec.20.2004 -- "Dreams of the Solo Trapeze" Book Published * Dec.20.2005 –- "A Taste of Cirque du Soleil" entertainment showcase for Celebrity Cruises announced * Dec.23.1998 -- La Nouba premiered at WDW (Preview Performances) * Dec.24.1993 -- Mystère premiered at Treasure Island * Dec.24.2003 –- Quidam opened Tokyo, Japan * Dec.26.2001 -- Dralion celebrated 1000th performance [Wed, 1:00pm/Dallas] * Dec.27.2000 –- Region 02 DVD Release: Quidam * Dec.27.2007 –- Alegría opened Rio de Janiero, Brazil * Dec.28.1989 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Phoenix, Arizona * Dec.31.2004 –- Quidam opened Auckland ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= Within... o) "A Penny for Your Thoughts (A Survey)!" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) "Faire La Nouba!" (CirqueCon 2007) By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) o) "Performance Space: La Nouba" (CirqueCon 2007) By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) ------------------------------------------------------ "A Penny for Your Thoughts (A Survey)!" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) {Nov.06.2007} ------------------------------------------------------ "Cirque du Soleil needs your input," trumpeted the heading of an email my wife Lucy and I received back in 2006 from Survey@ Cirquedusoleil.com. We had recently seen Delirium during its pass through Seattle, and the body of the message continued, "You have been selected to participate in an online survey that we are conducting over the next two weeks where we would like to know your thoughts about your visit to Delirium. … It should take you no more than 10 minutes to complete. Your feedback is extremely important to us! Your answers will remain confidential and anonymous. … Click on the following link to start the survey: …We’re counting on your participation …" Delirium?! The greatest divider of Cirque fan opinion? You want our thoughts?? How could we refuse?! We have heard of other general surveys Cirque has done, including one which showed product and show concept designs (an early rendering of Delirium and a Cirque-themed resort hotel among them) and asking participants if they would be interested in same. That one we would have loved to take, but no one who participated thought to print it out. So though we knew they did some opinion research, we weren’t expecting any "survey"-type emails from Cirque to come to us, being long-time involved fans. Their time and effort would have been better spent, we figured, getting the opinions of someone who might or might not go to a show, as opposed to fans who are guaranteed seat fillers. But the nature of randomness pointed its finger at us and we couldn’t resist. And we made sure to print off every page so we could give you a look at some of Cirque’s opinion research! What follows is the survey we participated in, in the order the questions occurred. Depending on our answers, the survey took us in different directions which other people who answered the same questions differently might not have gotten. And we may not have gotten some of the questions others did. Upon clicking the link supplied in the email, an introductory screen greeted us with, "Welcome to the Delirium survey!" with instructions on how it would work. The survey started simply, asking if we had attended Delirium in Seattle, whether this was our first time at a Cirque show, and which others we might have attended. Then came the first "money" question: "On a scale of 1 to 10 please indicate your level of satisfaction with Delirium." They provided a 10-point scale, with 1 being not at all satisfied, and 10 being very satisfied. This mechanism for scoring would follow throughout the survey. "How did you hear about Delirium?" They gave a number of choices including: TV ads, radio ads, newspaper/magazine ads, movie ads, poster, flyer, magazine/newspaper article, TV news report, Cirque email, promoter email, Internet, friends/relatives, from buying CD, and other. They also wanted to know if we visited the Delirium website before purchasing tickets. "Which two statements best apply to your motive for attending Delirium? - I was curious to see another type of show from Cirque du Soleil. - Heard so much about it that I had to see it for myself. - It seemed like a cool show. - It’s the first time a Cirque du Soleil show has come to my town. - High interest in seeing a Cirque du Soleil show. - It’s the first Cirque du Soleil show I have the opportunity to attend. - Other motive" (Here as with many later "open ended" questions they left a box to write a free-form response.) "Before attending Delirium, how different or similar did you expect it would be compared to other Cirque du Soleil shows?" The choices were very different, somewhat different, somewhat similar, very similar, and don’t know. The survey then asked how our tickets were purchased, their price, and who attended. "Please rate the following elements: (providing a 1 to 10 scale for each) – music, show direction (staging), number of acrobatic performances, video projections, quality of the acrobatic performances, choreography, sound quality, level of originality, opening act, costumes, and lighting." "Identify the two moments or parts of the show that you liked the most?" They provided a fill-in space, and check boxes for "enjoyed the whole show" and "don’t know." Then they flipped the question around and asked for the two moments we liked the least. "Would you say Delirium met your expectations or differed from what you expected?" The choices were met expectations, differed in a good way, and differed in a bad way, with a follow-up fill-in box asking why. "How would you describe Delirium (check all that apply)? - A show with an important dance component. - A show with less acrobatic elements than other Cirque du Soleil productions. - A show with important multi-media elements. - A "typical" music concert but with a Cirque du Soleil twist. - Can not really describe it but would just say you have to see it. - A typical Cirque du Soleil show with strong acrobatic elements. - A show where music is centre stage. - Don’t know." "Are there any other statements you would use to describe Delirium?" For this there was a fill-in box. "Thinking only about the show itself, what age group is Delirium intended for?" It grouped the ages into under 12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, and over 55. "Considering the price you paid would you say Delirium provided (great value, good, fair, poor value)?" (On a scale of 1 to 10) "How likely are you to recommend Delirium to a friend or relative?" The survey then showed the Delirium poster and asked if we had seen it. We were asked how much we agreed with the following statements (on a 1-10 scale): - "This advertising is different from typical Cirque du Soleil show advertising. - Made me want to know more about Delirium. - Adequately represents Delirium. - Made me want to see Delirium. - Made me believe it was a different Cirque du Soleil show. - Overall I like this advertising." "Would you say that seeing Delirium changed your opinion of Cirque du Soleil (greatly changed in a good way, slightly good way, did not change, slightly changed in bad way, greatly changed in a bad way)?" "Here’s a series of statements that could be expressed in reference to Cirque du Soleil. For each statement, please indicate whether you totally agree, somewhat agree, disagree somewhat, or totally disagree. - Being a Cirque du Soleil fan means I am part of an exclusive group. - I would rather experience a Cirque du Soleil show that dares to be different and be underwhelmed than see one that is more predictable yet enjoyable. - Cirque du Soleil is best described as entertainment. - Sometimes Cirque du Soleil show content makes me uncomfortable. - Cirque du Soleil has no peer, nothing compares to it. - A Cirque du Soleil show must first and foremost be entertaining. - Cirque du Soleil has lost its originality these last few years. - When I attend a Cirque du Soleil show what I feel is more important than what I see. - Cirque du Soleil is becoming more and more popular and I don’t like that. - If you see more than one Cirque do Soleil show, you realize that it’s somewhat repetitive and it doesn’t surprise you as much. - Cirque du Soleil is a brand that reflects my personality. - The acrobatic performance is the most important part of a Cirque du Soleil show. - Cirque du Soleil is not really a circus. - Cirque du Soleil shows are characterized by an incomparable attention to detail." The survey wound down by asking some demographic questions: how long a Cirque Club member, favorite radio/TV/newspapers, gender, age group, education, income, marital status, household members and their ages, and zip code. "Cirque du Soleil might consider pursuing this study with certain respondents. If so, would you like Cirque du Soleil to contact you again by e-mail? Depending on the project, it may involve payment for your participation." Of course we said yes! But we were never contacted. "This is the end of the questionnaire. We thank you very much for taking the time to answer it. You can now click on the "Submit" button to close the questionnaire and save your answers." Submit, we did. The screen blinked, and that was it. We answered the survey honestly, giving them our unfiltered feedback on Delirium, a show which in our opinion strays so far from the Cirque du Soleil show "norm" that we wouldn’t recommend it as a first show for "new" Cirque fans. We haven’t heard from them since, but perhaps Someday... (Thanks to LouAnna Valentine and Barb Lewis for help with this article.) ------------------------------------------------------ "Faire La Nouba!" (CirqueCon 2007) By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) ------------------------------------------------------ Once upon a time... A door opened and two worlds collided. Dreams clashed with reality. The mundane mixed with the marvelous. It was no longer possible to tell where one world began and the other ended. This new place was called La Nouba. On December 23, 1998, just a few short weeks after the Las Vegas premiere of «O» (Cirque du Soleil’s second resident show), the lights dimmed, the audience hushed and a shock of electric excitement filled the air in the La Nouba Theater for the very first time. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, and a vigorous production schedule that saw the birth of three shows in the span of seven months. On June 2, 2004, Cirque du Soleil together with the Walt Disney Company celebrated La Nouba's 5th Anniversary in a bona fide festive manor, and yours truly was invited along to join in the fun. Imagine my surprise when I returned home from CirqueCon 2004 in Vancouver to find an invitation from a Publicist and PR representative with La Nouba, waiting patiently in my email's inbox. Naturally I didn’t miss the opportunity to party it up with the folks at La Nouba. It was an evening filled with thrills, laughter and fun, and I would like to share my party experience with you while at the same time providing an overview of the show, its performance space and everything else in between. And while these events took place a little over three years ago, I couldn’t imagine a better way to bring all of you, our CirqueCon members, into the festivities that may await you this weekend! faire la nouba! # # # Begin a Tale -------------- “La Nouba, presented by Cirque du Soleil exclusively at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, is celebrating five amazing years! We would be very honored if you could join us! You are invited to join us for the 9pm performance of La Nouba on June 2, 2004, followed by a celebration with the cast and crew! Thank you for your continued support of Cirque du Soleil. We look forward to seeing you at La Nouba!” I left for Downtown Disney on the 2nd full of excitement, unsure of exactly what to expect upon my arrival. The air crackled with electric excitement; I was anticipating the experience so much so that my palms were damp with sweat. What would it be like? Would something special be announced during the show? What would happen afterward? Would I really get to meet the cast? What kind of party will it be? All these questions and more surfaced in my mind as I walked from Downtown Disney’s parking lot to the area of La Nouba’s beautiful free-standing theater. Upon arrival I immediately located the media check-in table located along the backside of the theater, and made my way over. For all my talk, when I walked up to the press agents, I was at a loss for words. Concerned was more like it, because I really didn't know under what pretence they had me placed on their list. I wasn’t official “media” in the true sense of the word (unlike many of the other folks there) so I was a little curious, and spoke with trepidation. I needn't have worried; my credentials were already on hand in an envelope marked with my name. The credentials consisted of a basic colored lanyard with an elongated ID Tag featuring a black background with a headshot of one of the Les Cons at the top and “Celebrating 5 years! La Nouba June 2004” underneath in varying font sizes and varieties. Below that the space for my name and as soon as my eyes brushed over what they printed I couldn’t help but smile: “Richasi” was on top in bold and below that my real name: “Ricky Russo.” Too cool! An itinerary sheet accompanied the credentials, which detailed the evening’s events as follows: 5:30pm Show Seating Time 6:00pm to 7:30pm Special La Nouba Performance 8:00pm to 10:00pm Dinner at BET Soundstage Club, Pleasure Island 10:00pm to 1:00am Post Production Party, Bongo’s Cuban Café, 2nd Floor. This was but a fraction of what the press and other honored guests were able to experience throughout the day, as I found out. It was unfortunate I wasn't able to come earlier, but I was extremely happy and honored just to be considered, mind you. Here's what I missed: 11:00am Celebration Moment, Cirque du Soleil Theater Exterior 12:00pm to 1:30pm Behind-the-Scenes lunch with the Cast 1:30pm to 4:00pm La Nouba Media Experiences It was really that last one I was the most interested in. I wondered: what exactly were the media allowed to do? Were they given backstage tours? (Most definitely.) Were they allowed on stage? (Possibly.) Did they get to try their hand in some acts? (Surely not... right?) Wrong! While I must take this with a grain of salt, I learned about all the special “goodies” the press were able to take part in during that Special Media Experience time I missed by talking to a newspaper writer out of the Tampa Bay area. Not only were members of the press able to take backstage tours and climb up into the rafters and see the scaffolding, but also received the opportunity to tumble on the FastTrack! He regaled me with tales of some of the media personnel who were overanxious to try, and some who were just too frightened to attempt it. As for me, if I had been there, I think you know what I would do. I would be all over that FastTrack in a heartbeat! Though I have no formal training (ok, I have absolutely no training at all), I think just being given the opportunity to tumble would have been more than enough. What an experience, no? Before long it was time to enter the theater -- the pre-show was about to begin, so I took my seat in Section 204, Row HH, Seat 10. The view from this seat was spot on, dead center, right behind the soundman by a few rows. I couldn't have asked for a better seat on such a short notice... Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy... ------------------------------ “Ladies and Gentlemen - welcome to Cirque du Soleil. During this performance smoke effects will be used, but these are harmless to your health. The use of video equipment, and especially flash cameras, is strictly prohibited because of the danger it presents to our acrobats. In case of an emergency, please stay calm and proceed to the nearest exit – here, here, here, and here. The ushers will direct you. And now, sit back, relax and enjoy… La Nouba!” The lights dim down and the audience becomes still now; a shock of electric excitement filled the air as any previous vociferations come to a sharp end. And then the unforgettable sound of a lone trumpet fills the theater, as the Festival of Characters enter, one by one, and introduce themselves to us. The Trumpeter, himself a prince in this fairy tale, brings with him a wonderful medley of personae and a signature melody that warms the heart. We’re introduced to L’Oiseau, the colorful green bird; Les Danseurs, a man and woman in love; the Flying Man, who will soar into our hearts on a band of red silk; the Balancer, colorfully dressed from head to toe, complete with a cat’s tail; an Acrobat in Red, forever tumbling, he stoke the party; Le Promeneur, shuffling about with an ever present smile; and the Titan, a menacing, threatening man. They vanish as quickly as they come, and once again the theater falls lifeless, and dark. The quiet is disturbed, not by the harrowed scream of a demented creature or of a maiden in distress, but of the chime of a doorbell. Ding dong. Ding dong. The door creeks open, a column of light shines through, outlining the form of a lady, a rather round and lifeless creature, whose job it is to clean and sweep the floors around her. She is the cleaning lady, representing the every day man or woman, no doubt. But as she goes about her duties, oblivious of the world she has entered, the creatures of this fantastical realm are beginning to stir. The Green Bird tiptoes behind her; sensing a movement, she turns but there’s nothing to be found. But then… startles at a man riding a bicycle upside down across her field of vision. And before her eyes (and ours) more and more weird and wonderful apparitions begin to materialize: two sleepwalking fools canter by; a small train pulls in to station, and the cries of a hungry, estranged wolf mix with the howls and sirens of warning to announce the coming clash of dream and nightmare. Unable to hold back any longer, the insane world of La Nouba pours forth and spills upon the stage before us. Startled, we all peer at the newcomers as they stream steadily from the opened door. Caught up now as she is in their world, we march forward to their militaristic tune. Fantasy and reality are merging before our eyes and we are lost to make heads or tails of either. La Nouba is an unforgettable journey through this universe - at once threatening and exhilarating, frightening and familiar. La Nouba is the story of all stories, the site of all mysteries, where dreams and nightmares sleep side by side. La Nouba is memory, individual and universal. It beckons to us, challenges us to uncover passions we thought we'd lost long ago. Here, anything is possible. La Nouba contains two types of families or groups and throughout the ride the magic and fantasy of the colorful Cirques (circus people) clash with the monochromatic world of the Urbains (urbanites). But as in fables, it is not so much this contrast as the interplay between these two groups which sparks our curiosity and feeds our imagination. From this encounter is born fear and ecstasy. From this encounter is born La Nouba. Roue allemande (German Wheel) What started as a popular gymnastics exercise in Germany has become a crowd-pleasing act for Cirque du Soleil. Six-and-a-half feet in diameter, the wheel consists of two metal hoops joined at six points. Identical twin brothers turn and spin the wheels while performing gravity-defying somersaults and acrobatics. Though both were featured in Cirque du Soleil’s Nouvelle Expérience, this is the first time they are performing together as a duo. Funambule (High Wire) The Funambule act takes place on a 90-foot, half-inch wide steel wire. With remarkable balance and precision, a high wire walker ascends to a height of 34 feet above the stage as his partner descends from the theater’s eighth level to the fifth on a diagonal wire. The performers’ breathtaking maneuvers include head balancing, and death defying somersaults. Using two different types of bicycles, one of the high wire walkers executes a wheelie and later crosses the wire while carrying another artist on his shoulder. This amazing team is comprised of three acrobats who are life-long students of the discipline. Diabolos The diabolo, or Chinese yo-yo, is a children’s game first introduced into the realm of the arts in Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam. This entrancing act features four young Chinese performers. Holding two sticks linked by a string, they slide, juggle and toss a musical wooden spool while performing flips in the air. Demonstrating increasingly difficult maneuvers, the artists attempt to outdo each other in dexterity and ingenuity. Vélos (Cycles) This act gets rolling with a BMX wizard whose difficult maneuvers never fail to mesmerize the public. His technical twists, gymnastic turns and spins on one wheel are highlighted in incredible tricks such as G-turns, boomerangs and megaspins, all accompanied by lots of footwork. The second half of the act features yet another artist whose feats are equally astonishing. His hard-to-believe stunts include riding over obstacles without ever putting his feet down, jumping off high platforms, hopping up and down steps and into the audience on one wheel, and even jumping over an artist and a guest before literally plunging into the bowels of the stage. Cadre aérien (Aerial Cradle) The aerial cradle looks like a door and is a perfect example of equal- opportunity strength and agility. This amazing athletic display features elements of traditional circus aerial cradle with a unique and special difference – the male and female artists take turns supporting one another 34 feet above the stage. Ballet air et soie (Aerial Ballet in Silk) In a stunning display of grace and strength, the artists become one with the ribbon of red fabric that cradles them. This breathtaking aerial dance requires immense agility and flexibility, and allows the performers a wide latitude of acrobatic and artistic expression. Equilibre sur chaises (Balancing on Chairs) Rokardy’s chair act was created exclusively for La Nouba, and integrated in the show on January 24, 2003. The artist stacks furniture he has found in the imaginary attic of La Nouba in order to light a chandelier, which mysteriously rises just beyond his reach every time he tries to get to the last candle. Rokardy defies gravity and the laws of physics as he balances precariously on a stack of six chairs, two books, and a baby carriage atop a table elevated 16 feet in the air. When he finally manages to reach the chandelier, Rokardy, who is now 34 feet in the air, surprises his audience with a unique hand balancing image, before lighting the last candle. Grands volants (Flying Trapeze) Four pendulum-like swings, on two different levels, carry a team of perfectly synchronized aerialists 53 feet above the stage. This innovative bi-level rigging enables the trapezists to create a visually arresting exhibition of rhythm and athleticism. Timing is key when all four trapezes are swinging in tandem and the aerialists switch places – barely inches away from colliding. Power Track/Trampoline This act in La Nouba takes ordinary trampoline and power track performance to a new level. The stage is set on fire in this high- energy acrobatic display of phenomenal timing and spatial awareness. All too soon the production came to a close, but it would be an ending not soon forgotten. For during the final stanza and last curtain call hundreds of multi-colored balloons fell from the heavens, released by the “Fabulous Figures” that dance their whimsical dance about the tops of the theater; everyone in the audience was covered! Balloons were floating, hands were clapping, and whistles were blowing and through it all I stood, misty-eyed, reveling in it all, as the phrase “La Nouba 5th Anniversary” was projected on the asylum wall. It was truly a birthday bash. But the show was just one act of a three-ring circus that night. Kungaloosh! Kungaloosh! ------------------------- One after another the audience members jumped from their seats, hands clasping together in appreciation of yet another mind-boggling performance of Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba at the Cirque Theater in Downtown Disney West Side. A deafening roar flooded the house as the artists of the nights performance filled the stage; an admiration of their mastery. Up in their roost the musicians rocked on as if their very life depended on it; their song filling the theater with a sense of festivity. And in this moment hundreds of balloons fell from the rafters, raining a celebratory cry upon us all. It was June 2nd, 2004; La Nouba was celebrating its 5th Anniversary and the inmates of the asylum were ecstatic. I was one of the last to leave the theater as most of the ensemble with credentials was told to stay behind. We would personally be escorted to the next item on the itinerary, but I felt a little lost. Many people began chatting around me to obvious acquaintances or friends, leaving me to my lonesome. Some even began to leave on their own and I wasn't sure where to be or what to do. I probably looked dense sitting in my seat, or standing gazing idly at the La Nouba 5th Anniversary projection on the set, but I didn't care. I had just observed one of the best performances of La Nouba I could remember and I was still misty-eyed and overwhelmed. Eventually it was my turn to check out of the asylum. As I rounded the theater and once again came to a stop outside the Boutique, I pulled out the agenda and looked it over, thinking about what was coming next – the Dinner and Post Production party. Living in Orlando I've visited Disney World quite often and have seen parties ushered across the parks with a uniformed cast member's red baton waving in the air, with a curiosity to know their destination. I never thought I would be one of those people until I rounded the theater's boutique. At that very moment more than one uniformed Disney representatives with red batons greeted us and led us through the gates of Pleasure Island to the BET Soundstage Club, where we would be wined and dined like kings and queens for the next two hours. As I entered the club I was immediately struck by its stark decor. Sleek, stylish and contemporary, the BET Soundstage is multi-leveled (you enter from the top floor) and consists of two moderately sized rooms, a full bar and a performance stage. Since this was my first time at the club I wasn't sure what I would find, however I expected more of a hip-hop theme rather than the Jazz, Rhythm & Blues and Soul that the club is more styled for. Both rooms were cleared and set up with an alternating display of sit down tables for those who wanted to eat, and standing tables for minglers to set their drinks upon. As I came round to one of the standing tables I was instantly offered a glass of red wine, which I took straight away. And why not? I was as much a guest here as the rest of the lot, and before long, the entire media ensemble filled the club. Not everyone came mind you, but a good share did and whoever decided to come was looking for a feast. And they were not to be disappointed. Chefs were on hand to serve some of the most scrumptious and mouth watering dishes I've ever had: the most tender roast beef and juicy vegetables, succulent seasoned chicken with potatoes au-gratin, and delicious shrimp pasta with bread... to name but a few selections. And let's not forget the deserts, which were a chocoholic's dream! Chocolate “Mouse” Martini's, wonderful fudge brownies, triple chocolate chip cookies and even tiramisu. There were of course other types of deserts, but those concoctions seemed to have slipped my chocolate-overloaded mind. The meal was accented with more wine, good company, and a documentary about La Nouba's five years. Since I didn't know anyone at the dinner I stayed to myself and watched the video presentation, which was displayed on multiple flat-panel screens around the club. The video was pretty standard fodder -- shots of performers in and out of makeup, running through their routines, interview snippets from cast and crew, music from the show, and various other materials -- but it kept me from going insane, really. About an hour into the dinner I met a group of IT professionals from Disney, who asked me repeatedly if I worked for the company. I said no but understood their inquiry since I had worn a Disney polo shirt to the event. But it was nice to mingle with these folks since I, too am an IT professional, and boy did they have stories to tell. I also met Bob Mervine, staff-writer for the Orlando Business Journal, who was gracious and interested to hear my Cirque du Soleil fan-exploits. He and I, along with the nice young lady who had accompanied him, began to discuss Cirque at length. We were soon joined by a man whom I will only say was a Disney employee with a corporate credit card. He had other ideas for fun that night. That fun would be had in the next club over -- the Adventurer's Club. For those uninitiated, the Adventurer's Club presents a unique interactive experience in a setting reminiscent of the fictional 1930s adventurer club. Old time pictures of African safari's, jungle exploration in Asia or mountain scaling in India litter the wall with other paraphernalia of the avid adventurers. “You are a visitor to the Adventurers Club on New Years Eve 1937,” the storyline goes, “when the Club holds an open house for the purpose of recruiting new members. You will be invited to become initiated as a Club member and participate in the various activities that are held that evening...” It's been said that one should think of the Adventurer's Club as a theater that is presenting a play, only you're the star of said play. My adventure began down in the Main Salon, where a full bar is accessible. The entertainment here is more “off the cuff”, improv, and raw than in other clubs. You never know exactly what's going to happen when you enter this establishment, which is something I certainly found out as the evening progressed. Originally the three people I met at the dinner wanted to come over for a drink, so I followed because I didn't want to be left alone (I normally don't drink), but who would have thought I'd end up on the floor professing my desires for “'ol Babylonia”, a mask, hanging on the wall? Right... where's my drink now? Rum and Coke, coming up! The first few minutes of my foray into the Adventurer's Club were rather subdued. I was actually at ease since I'd been to this particular club one other time so I knew exactly what kind of trouble one could get into here. But I kept things light, played along with the cast and had a good time chatting with my newfound friends. Before long, however, the Maid character found herself lodged between the nude legs of a full statue of Zeus, positioned in the center of the Main Salon. “Oh, look,” said the Maid. “I seem to be in a bit of a spot.” Oh my yes, she was. You never know exactly what any of the characters will say or do at any given moment in time. I made the mistake of catching the Maid's eye and bantering back and forth with her, as she commented on her predicament. How could I stay silent with her head between Zeus' legs? She was a prime target for my warped sense reality and dry sense of humor. A few moments later, however, the wall above me began to come alive and with it a nasally voice filled the room. “Oooh! Oooh! Oooh ancient Babylonia,” the cast chanted. This sealed my fate. I was now about to be initiated. The Maid snatched me from my bar stool and pulled me in line with Babylonia, a hanging mask fixed to the wall. When its eyes and mouth started to move I got nervous and thought, “Oh lord... What exactly is going to happen here?” A moment later another gentlemen brandishing a bottle of Corona was swept up beside me and it was apparent that he too was going to be part of the fun and games. Whether he liked it or not, I might add (and he did not). Now, picture little 'ol shy me standing in front of a group of onlookers as I look up at Babylonia on the wall, wondering what on earth possessed me to come to the Adventurer's Club? I knew whatever they had in store for me wasn't going to be pretty. I'm sure they'd make me make a fool out of myself. Darnit, why did I have to tease the Maid? And at the thought of this my ears started burning. “Oh, my subjects,” said Babylonia with great effort. “Greet me! Greet me like you would a passionate lover! Greet me with great affection!” I did the only thing I could think of to do... I got down on my knees and bowed, humbly. Babylonia was ecstatic! One point for me. Babylonia put the two of us through our paces. First, she made us show off our manly bodies, not by stripping naked right there in the Salon but by assuming the pose of Zeus' statue: arms stretched out, legs slightly askance and muscles bulging (second point to me, though, no muscles to bulge). Secondly, I was forced to use my wisdom of words and profess my undying love to Babylonia, telling her how I'd ravish her, hold her and keep her safe. And thirdly, with scores of people watching us unabated, Babylonia made us dance for her. Oh, not a slow- dance to be sure; how about swinging hips and pelvic thrusts? Talk about embarrassment; I was crimson. But it was fun! I returned to the bar after a roaring round of applause from the onlookers and sat amongst my new friends. Did I need that drink now? Oh yes... Kungaloosh! Kungaloosh! The partying and drinking continued over at Bongo's Cuban Cafe, where we waited for the cast and crew of La Nouba to show up after their second performance. Here I was completely out of my element, wandering around with my newfound friends until we lost each other. Soon, the likes of the Bilodeau brothers (German Wheel), Yuri Maiorov (Aerial Ballet in Silk), Carlos Moreira (Aerial Cradle/Character), Krystian Sawicki (Le Titan), and many, many other members of the cast and crew came to live it up; to party! And live it up they did! The party was still going when I turned to leave, around midnight. I was tired and overwhelmed but extremely happy. I had an amazing night that would not have been possible except by the generosity of Cirque du Soleil and those behind the scenes at La Nouba. And for that I want to say thank you for allowing me to participate in La Nouba's 5th Anniversary celebration. It was a blast! And perhaps you’ll have similar adventures here at CirqueCon 2007: Orlando! Live it up! faire la nouba! ------------------------------------------------------ "Performance Space: La Nouba" (CirqueCon 2007) By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) ------------------------------------------------------ The La Nouba performance space is a collaboration of four entities: Cirque du Soleil, Scéno Plus, Walt Disney Imagineering and the Rockwell Group. All four worked together to design and construct what would be Cirque du Soleil’s first (and currently only, but that will change shortly with the construction of the Tokyo 2008 project) freestanding theater built exclusively for their needs. Armed with a budget between $20 and $30 Million (USD), Scéno Plus designed the approx. 75,000 square-foot (7,000 square-meter) drum-shaped theater that is a wonderful testament to both structure and beauty and a shining example of ingenuity and design. Let us take a peek into this amazing performance space, shall we? On the outside, the Cirque Theater is like a “castle” standing prominently on the shores of its kingdom, in this case on the shores of Village Lake in Downtown Disney’s West Side. The structure, accented in white Teflon-coated canvas fabric, stands approximately 160 feet tall from the concrete sidewalk to the tops of its spires. Atop the theater rests the namesake of the company in big blue lettering and even higher still, the castle is topped with four fluttering flags featuring the famous sun logo of Cirque du Soleil. And while the outside is something to marvel, the interior is no less so. On the inside of this concrete-canvas behemoth, on the second floor, rests its performance space. Like many of Cirque’s theaters, the first thing you’ll notice upon entering is the set and out-in-the-round stage. The set, which has been referred to as an “Elizabethan-style” stage due to its symmetrical style, is said to be reminiscent of a well-traveled path or trail. While that may be true, many see the insane nature of an asylum, and certainly that too is true. That asylum-esque nature is created with a 60×200 foot trellis construct made of PVC panels and scrim, which allow for wonderful projection and shadow play conjuring up uncanny images of Orwellian reminiscence. The wonderful backdrop is overshadowed by mountainous outcroppings, jetting up from the floor on either side. These rocks stand approximately 60-feet tall and are constructed of hard steel, but padded using wood and bleached velour (a velvet-type material.) Even the showroom seats are abound with detail; modeled after old- fashioned auditorium chairs, these seats are steel and wood constructed and covered in red velvet. They were built by American Seating of Grand Rapids, Michigan especially for La Nouba. But look up from your red-colored seats and see the seven cloud-like “Fabulous Figures” that decorate the ceiling of the showroom; their whimsical dance about the tops of the theater forever captured. These “figures” are manufactured out of copper tubing and wrapped in mesh and measure approximately 30-feet in length. You may not know, though, that these fanciful leapers were designed by Michel Crête, the set designer. You may spot the musicians next, resting upon two platforms housed in the 75-foot towers rising on either side of the stage. Separated but not disconnected from the performance, these musicians play the various notes of La Nouba’s live music. They do so by staying connected via a complex audio system that allows each musician to speak with the bandleader, their other band mates and take direction if something were to happen. Usually the tick of a metronome is heard throughout their setup to keep everyone on the same beat and time. The platforms themselves are nothing more than steel planks welded together (among other various pieces) and contain an external elevator (which performers rise and lower from during the show. The stage has many technological achievements also. The retractable Power Track, as it is called, is 60 feet in length and fully automated, which means computers control the retraction (at 2- feet-per-second) of this enormously powerful trampoline. But don’t let that quick retraction fool you into thinking the floor is light; it’s not, it weighs over 10,000 pounds! The Power Track was specially designed by Cirque du Soleil (and Paco Corp.) to allow the performers to jump higher and faster than ever. The PowerTrack is the next evolution of the FastTrack as seen in Alegría. Ironically the PowerTrack became so popular that it was installed in Alegría, taking the old FastTrack’s place. The stage comes alive during the performance by a set of elevators commonly referred to as lifts. There are five in all, resting just below the stage surface. The ascent and descent of these lifts are controlled by numerous motors (45 in all!) that must be in complete working order for the lifts to even function. The five lifts themselves rise to a maximum height of 16-feet; the center stage lift is also capable of descending 16-feet below the stage for a 32-feet range of motion! And they each have a 3,000 pound weight capacity. The stage itself is protected by an impact-resilient material called “Mondo Sport Floor” applied over wood in order to avoid injuries to the acrobats and dancers. Two télépheriques (or tracks) installed along the back wall of the stage are 78-feet (24-meters) above the ground and are capable of moving props, scenery and acrobatic equipment during the show at 4- feet-per-second. These tracks provide an easy system for moving objects in and out of view of the spectators. You’ll find various strange props, lights and chairs gliding by throughout the various acts including “The Grand Monument,” a 40×30 foot structure of aluminum and painted scrim. The set is fully automated as well. The 25×60-foot Trapeze Net (designed by Doug Kiddell of Cirque du Soleil), for example, is protracted and retracted by eight motors, including two 40-horsepower tensioning winches with up to 5,000 pounds of force. Not one soul comes out to set up or tear down the trapeze net. Additional set pieces are operated using a motorized counterweight system, such as: the trampolines (which descend from the ceiling), the flying doors (of which there are 9), the petite fenêtre volante (or New York Window,) two pedestal platforms and the four trapeze grips. The JR Clancy Company of Syracuse, New York installed the 44-line set rigging system and 35 of the winches used for these props. The lifts were designed and installed by Showmotion of Connecticut in partnership with Disney Ride and Show Engineering. Westsun Scenic Edge, Inc. of Winnipeg actually designed and installed the computer control system, which makes the space come alive using a Windows NT based program called Dynatrac. With fixed tiered seating in a 180-degree semicircle around the stage, the auditorium has neither a proscenium arch nor an architectural ceiling, which makes it similar to many of Cirque’s other theatrical ventures. To some, the first glimpse provides the image of a traditional big top; to others, it is Cirque du Soleil’s greatest achievement. Regardless of how you see it, it is a one-of-a-kind structure for Cirque du Soleil in that it’s Cirque’s first stand-alone theater complex, but also a self-contained Cirque world. What do I mean? For the first time, a show space, ticket booths and Boutique (which Scéno Plus also designed) are housed directly in the same complex. {Sources: Cirque du Soleil Press Room and the Cahners Magazine Division of Reed Publishing USA Nov 1999 - Abby Bussel} This excerpt is a special rewrite of an earlier article series entitled “The Houses of Cirque,” published in the Fascination! Newsletter in June 2003. (fin} ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Compendium Volume 7, Number 6 (Issue #56) - Nov/Dec 2007 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2007 Ricky Russo, published by Vortex/RGR Productions, a subsidiary of Communicore Enterprises. No portion of this newsletter can be reproduced, published in any form or forum, quoted or translated without the consent of the "Fascination! Newsletter." By sending us correspondence, you give us permission (unless otherwise noted) to use the submission as we see fit, without remuneration. All submissions become the property of the "Fascination! Newsletter." "Fascination! Newsletter" is not affiliated in any way with Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil and all its creations are Copyright (c) and are registered trademarks (TM) of Cirque du Soleil, Inc., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement intended. { Jan.03.2008 } =======================================================================