====================================================================== ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 10, NUMBER 3 MARCH 2010 ISSUE #74 ======================================================================= =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * Touring Shows -- Productions under the Big Top * Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre * Venue Shows -- Arena & Seasonal Productions o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets * Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub * Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Flickr * Gatherings -- CirqueCon & More! .) NOTE: Special CirqueCon 2010 Event Updates! o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Historia -- Cirque du Soleil's History o) Fascination! Features *) "Cirque in Your Ear (Part 2 of 2)" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) {Issue Exclusive} *) "Cirque du Soleil Unveils VIVA ELVIS!" By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Banana Shpeel Open House {Feb.05.2010} ----------------------------------------------- As reported through Theater Mania and Cirque du Soleil's Facebook pages, the company of Banana Shpeel is set to participate in an open house on February 10th at New York City's Beacon Theatre. Information regarding festivities follows in this excerpt from TheaterMania: # # # The festivities will get underway at 4:30pm with the unveiling of the show's marquee at the theater. Performers will arrive, accompanied by musicians, to greet fans. In addition, the first 100 guests who arrive with a banana will win two complimentary tickets to the show. The bananas will be donated to Life Center, a local New York homeless shelter. At 4:45pm, the Banana Shpeel cast will lead the public into the theater for the Open House with an exclusive sneak peek at the show's creative process in the newly-restored Beacon Theatre. Guests will see rehearsals on stage, make-up demonstrations, costume displays, and take photos with costumed performers. Local restaurants and businesses will provide complimentary snacks. {SOURCE: Theater Mania} A Rotten "Banana"? {Feb.10.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Wow, Michael Riedel of the New York Post, wrote a scathing review of Banana Shpeel today and from the way he describes the situation, the show has gone from bad to worse. # # # What's set to open Feb. 25 at the Beacon Theatre is no minor accident. It is, according to several people working on the $20 million production, a "train wreck," a "catastrophe," a "nightmare" and, not to put too fine a point on it, "one of the worst shows you've ever seen." Performers and writers have been fired (only, in some cases, to be rehired the next week); rehearsals are chaotic; the director, David Shiner, is described as "clueless"; and Madison Square Garden Entertainment, which owns the Beacon and has shoveled $10 million into this fiasco, is furious. Last week, [Guy Laliberte] beamed himself down to New York to check up on the revised "Banana Shpeel." He didn't applaud at the end. In fact, sources say, he thought the show was worse. # # # Uh-oh... Read the full article here: < http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/ bad_banana_turns_rotten_jhe0Lag60IaHhsWRUfFvRL > {SOURCE: New York Post} CDS Worried About DubaiWorld? {Feb.10.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Is anyone at Cirque du Soleil worried about the pending sale of its shares by Dubai World? According to Pat Donnelly of the Montreal Gazette, the answer is NO. # # # For two reasons. Number one, he doesn't believe it's going to happen. "To me, it's still a rumour," he said. Second, and even more important, "They can't sell us to anybody without Guy Laliberté's approval," he said. "We're well protected. That's why you're talking to a very calm man. Guy still owns over 80 per cent of the company, so he decides what to do." # # # There are many options open regarding the 20% Dubai World owns, including the possibility of Cirque buying back its shares. Read the original article here: < http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/letters/Sale+ rumours+worry+Cirque+Lamarre/2537973/story.html > {SOURCE: Montreal Gazette} Banana Shpeel Delayed Again? {Feb.15.2010} ----------------------------------------------- According to Variety.com, the debut of Cirque du Soleil's newest venue production - Banana Shpeel - in New York City has been pushed back yet again. Previews will now begin Wednesday, March 17th. Why? # # # Latest delay is attributed to the fact that creatives, who are busily reworking the production, need more time to integrate new performance elements. # # # See the original article here: < http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118015263.html? categoryId=15&cs=1. > Tour 2010 Creation Team Announced! {Feb.17.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil released information pertaining to Cirque2010 yesterday through it's Facebook page. Check it out! # # # Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to introduce the creation team for its next touring show, premiering in Montreal next spring, followed by Quebec City. Directed by Robert Lepage, Cirque 2010 (working title) is a show about creation myths and the evolution of the human species. This will mark Robert Lepage's second collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, following KÀ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which has just celebrated its fifth anniversary. Including Robert Lepage, the Cirque 2010 team consists of 13 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix: Robert Lepage - Director Versatile in every form of theatre craft, Robert Lepage is equally talented as a director, scenic artist, playwright, actor and film director. His creative and original approach to theatre has won him international acclaim and shaken the dogma of classical stage direction to its foundations, especially through his use of new technologies. Contemporary history is his source of inspiration, and his modern and unusual work transcends all boundaries. Neilson Vignola - Director of Creation A long-time collaborator of Robert Lepage, Neilson Vignola has worked as stage manager, production manager and staging assistant in the theatre, opera and circus worlds. With Cirque du Soleil, he has previously participated in the creation of KÀ, DELIRIUM and ZAIA. Carl Fillion - Set Designer Highly sought after by directors on both the Quebec and international theatre scenes, Carl Fillion has worked alongside Robert Lepage on over a dozen productions. Parallel to his work as a designer, Carl has taught set design at the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Québec and the National Theatre School of Montreal. Cirque 2010 marks his first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Kym Barrett - Costume Designer Kym Barrett began her career on the Australian theatre scene as a costume and set designer. In cinema, she was responsible for the costumes in the popular Matrix trilogy. She also designed the costumes for the movies Three Kings, Red Planet, Gothika and Monster-in-Law. Cirque 2010 marks her first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Bob & Bill - Composers Bob & Bill (Guy Dubuc and Marc Lessard) have previously worked on several Cirque du Soleil albums and special events, but this is their first time as composers for a show. They have produced numerous albums for artists such as Pink Floyd, Monica Freire and Luck Mervil. They have also worked as arrangers and musicians on albums by Daniel Bélanger, Daniel Boucher, Kevin Parent and Zachary Richard, to name just a few. In addition to overseeing the musical direction of various Quebec television shows, they have designed sound and musical effects for the X- Box and Playstation consoles and video games in 2003. Jeffrey Hall - Choreographer As co-artistic director of PPS Danse, Jeffrey Hall has worked with Pierre-Paul Savoie, Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon. He has also acted in the plays Café des Aveugles and Le Dortoir as well as in their movie adaptations. Le Dortoir, adapted for the big screen by François Girard, has been highly acclaimed. Jeffrey has also worked with renowned Quebec theatre directors such as Gilles Maheu, Marie Brassard and Robert Lepage. At Cirque du Soleil since 2005, Jeffrey has worked as the Artistic Coach on LOVE and Acrobatic Choreographer for ZAIA, and has also coached artists in general training. Étienne Boucher - Lighting Designer While Étienne Boucher is fond of the theatre, he also creates lighting designs for dance, musicals and opera productions. His work has earned him several nominations at the Soirée des Masques awards. In 2007, he won a Masque for his lighting designs for Du vent entre les dents (directed by Martin Faucher) and La Dame aux camélias (directed by Robert Bellefeuille). Étienne has also worked with Sylvain Émard, Brigitte Haentjens, René Richard Cyr and Robert Lepage. Cirque 2010 is his first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Pedro Pires - Projections Designer Pedro Pires has a background in plastic arts, special effects and 3D graphics. He has worked with François Girard on The Red Violin as well as on The Sound of the Carceri, for which he won an Emmy and a Gemini award. Pedro has worked closely with Robert Lepage on numerous occasions prior to Cirque 2010. This is his first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Jacques Boucher - Sound Designer While studying bass and classical music at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec, Jacques Boucher also played in a number of rock bands. He has worked in sound since 1984. In addition to his ten years as head sound technician at Quebec City's Théâtre Capitole, Jacques has worked as sound technician for various Quebec artists, including Richard Séguin, Laurence Jalbert, Diane Dufresne and Bruno Pelletier. Jacques then became an expert in sound design for musicals and special events, including Robert Lepage's Moulin à Images and the Cirque du Soleil show to mark Quebec City's 400th anniversary in 2008. Florence Pot - Acrobatic Performance Designer With a university degree in physical activity and sports psychology, Florence Pot worked as a gymnastics coach and choreographer before joining Cirque du Soleil as Acrobatic Talent Scout and then Head Talent Scout. In 2006, she took part in the creation of ZED as Acrobatic Performance Designer, a role she takes on once more with Cirque 2010. Pierre Masse - Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer Pierre Masse has had the opportunity to work in just about every area of the performing arts and to be involved in major productions with the Opéra de Montréal, the Grands Ballets Canadiens, Les Misérables and Céline Dion. With Cirque du Soleil since 1996, he has taken part in the creation of Quidam, Varekai, Zumanity, KÀ and CRISS ANGEL Believe. Cirque 2010 is his first show working as Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer. Nathalie J. Simard - Make-up Designer After a short stint in art school, Nathalie J. Simard soon became immersed in the world of street arts in Old Quebec. A self-taught artist with great curiosity and passion, Nathalie has developed her craft at many festivals and special events that have taken her all over the world. While travelling, Nathalie founded Kromatik, a company that specializes in make-up for strolling performances and street arts. Cirque 2010 marks her first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Cirque 2010 will be presented on the Quays of the Old Port of Montreal as of April 22 and at the Port de Québec as of July 22. For more info, visit http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirque2010 LVRJ Previews VIVA ELVIS {Feb.19.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Mike Weatherford of the Las Vegas Review Journal stepped into the Aria theater recently to preview Cirque du Soleil's VIVA ELVIS and here's a little of what he has to about the production... # # # The voice is familiar. The music? Not always. You won't hear much meddling with the lean rockabilly sound of "Mystery Train." But "Jailhouse Rock" sidesteps into hip-hop and "Got A Lot O' Livin' to Do!" ventures into Zeppelin-esque guitar rock. The creators of "Viva Elvis" do not deny taking inspiration from a popular remix of "A Little Less Conversation," which caught on via a Nike ad after the original resurfaced in the "Ocean's Eleven" remake. Since "Viva" is also biographical, the creative team decided a few songs could take an outside perspective, voiced by the four live female singers. Being freed from having to match time or key signatures of the records opened the door to dramatic reinterpretation: "King Creole" goes reggae; "One Night With You" gets a wispy Norah Jones feel, with Presley coming in as a ghostly backing vocal. But preview audiences reminded the directors why Elvis hits are seldom covered. He was the show, and the songs lose traction without him. # # # Read more of the article here: < http://www.lvrj.com/neon/viva-elvis-84765132.html > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal} Cirque's High-Wire Act {Feb.19.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Steve Fress of Portfolio.com takes an interesting look at Cirque du Soleil's recent activities - its triumphs and its "failures" - and places them in perspective. From the article: # # # For the first time, Cirque has a bona fide dud of a show in Las Vegas, attendance is underwhelming for its production in Macau, and critics are already sharpening their knives over two new shows due to open this month, one in New York and another in Vegas. A development deal with Dubai World isn't playing out as expected largely because Dubai World's development activities have been, uh, complicated by its financial implosion. Yet somehow-per the company's name-it's always sunny inside the office at Cirque's international headquarters of cheerful Cirque CEO Daniel Lamarre. Not only is he undeterred by setbacks that he's largely unwilling to acknowledge as setbacks, but he is laying plans for even more rapid growth for the company that could make the brand as ubiquitous as, say, Disney on Ice. By the summer of 2011, the company expects to have opened resident shows for two of the world's most famous venues, Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan and the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, and still the machine in Montreal will continue to churn at high gear. "I can easily see Cirque developing two to three new shows a year," said Lamarre, brought in as chief operations officer in 2001 by owner Guy Laliberte after helming Canada's top TV network with the express mission of accelerating the company's growth. "To produce three shows a year, it means I have to have nine shows in the making. Right now I've got 2010, 2011, and 2012 planned out." # # # Read more of the article here: < http://www.portfolio.com/industry-news/advertising- marketing/2010/02/19/cirque-du-soleil-expands-with-elvis- vaudeville-shows/ > {SOURCE: Portfolio.com} The Press on VIVA ELVIS {Feb.23.2010} ----------------------------------------------- The press have had a lot to say about VIVA ELVIS's premiere - check it out! KLAS-TV BLOG Viva Elvis! World Premiere at Aria (Pictures & Review) < http://blogs.lasvegasnow.com/entertainment/2010/02/viva-elvis- world-premiere-at-aria-pictures-review/ > CNN NEWS 'The King' Makes a Triumphant Return to Las Vegas in the World Premiere of VIVA ELVIS < http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/ NY58306.htm > CHICAGO TRIBUNE 'Viva Elvis' by the Cirque du Soleil at Aria in Las Vegas: The authorized King < http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/ 2010/02/viva-elvis-by-the-cirque-du-soleil-the-authorized- king.html > ABC NEWS Cirque Du Soleil's "Viva Elvis" Outfabs Beatles < http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory? id=9904054%3Cbr%20/%3E > MONTREAL GAZETTE Cirque du Soleil offers tribute to the King < http://www.montrealgazette.com/Cirque+Soleil+offers+ tribute+King/2590554/story.html > TORONTO STAR Cirque's Elvis: That's all right < http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/theatre/article/768870-- cirque-s-elvis-that-s-all-right > MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE Just 'Too Much' Elvis in Vegas circus show < http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/84867592.html? elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU > LAS VEGAS WEEKLY Cirque repackages rock 'n' roll icon in 'Viva Elvis' < http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/feb/20/cirque- repackages-rock-n-roll-icon-viva-elvis/ > LA TIMES Cirque du Soleil 'Viva Elvis': It has the glitz, but does it capture Presley's Soul < http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/02/cirque-du- soleil-viva-elvis-it-has-the-glitz-but-does-it-capture- presleys-soul.html > LAS VEGAS SUN Elvis Presley is back in Viva Elvis < http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/20/elvis-presley- back-emviva-elvisem/ > ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) TOURING - Under the Big Top {Corteo, Dralion, Koozå, OVO, Quidam & Varekai} o) RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, ZAIA, ZED, Believe & VIVA Elvis} o) VENUE - Arena & Seasonal Productions {Saltimbanco, Alegría | Wintuk, Banana Shpeel} NOTE: .) While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate touring dates and locations available, the information in this section is subject to change without notice. As such, the Fascination! Newsletter does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of these listings. .) Dates so marked (*) are not official until released by Cirque du Soleil. For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit our website < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. --------------------------------- TOURING - Under the Big Top --------------------------------- Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=39 > Cirque 2010: Montréal, QC -- Apr 22, 2010 to Jul 11, 2010 Québec City, QC -- Jul 22, 2010 to TBA Amsterdam, NL -- Oct 8, 2010 to Dec 18, 2010 (*) London, UK -- Jan 5, 2011 to Feb 13, 2011 (*) Madris, ES -- Feb 24, 2011 to May 1, 2011 (*) Barcelona, ES -- May 12, 2011 to Jul 17, 2011 (*) Gijon, ES -- Jul 28, 2011 to Aug 28, 2011 (*) Zurich, CH -- Sep 16, 2011 to Nov 6, 2011 (*) Lausanne, CH -- Nov 17, 2011 to Dec 18, 2011 (*) Corteo: Fukuoka, Japan -- Feb 11, 2010 to Apr 4, 2010 Sendai, Japan -- Apr 21, 2010 to Jun 6, 2010 St. Petersburg, Russia -- Jun 26, 2010 to Aug 8, 2010 Kazan, Russia -- Aug 21, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010 Moscow, Russia -- Oct 29, 2010 to Dec 12, 2010 Dralion: New Tour Coming Soon! Koozå: San Diego, CA -- Feb 25, 2010 to Mar 28, 2010 Portland, OR -- Apr 9, 2010 to May 23, 2010 (*) Seattle, WA -- Jun 3, 2010 to Jul 11, 2010 (*) Vancouver, BC -- Jul 22, 2010 to Sep 5, 2010 (*) Houston, TX -- Sep 23, 2010 to Oct 31, 2010 (*) Miami, FL -- Nov 18, 2010 to Dec 26, 2010 (*) Ovo: San Jose, CA -- Feb 4, 2010 to Mar 21, 2010 New York, NY -- Apr 9, 2010 to Jul 4, 2010 Hartford, CT -- Jul 15, 2010 to Aug 15, 2010 (*) Boston, MA -- Aug 26, 2010 to Oct 3, 2010 (*) Washington, DC -- Oct 14, 2010 to Nov 28, 2010 (*) Atlanta, GA -- Dec 17, 2010 to Feb 13, 2011 (*) Quidam: São Paulo, BR -- Feb 26, 2010 to Apr 11, 2010 Porto Alegre, BR -- Apr 22, 2010 to May 16, 2010 Buenos Aiers, AR -- May 28, 2010 to Jun 20, 2010 Santiago, CL -- Jul 2, 2010 to Aug 8, 2010 Lime, PE -- Aug 22, 2010 to Sep 19, 2010 Bogota, CO -- Oct 9, 2010 to Nov 21, 2010 Varekai: Manchester, UK -- Feb 25, 2010 to Mar 21, 2010 (*) Munich, DE -- Apr 1, 2010 to May 2, 2010 (*) Cologne, DE -- May 13, 2010 to Jun 6, 2010 (*) Frankfurt, DE -- Jun 17, 2010 to Jul 18, 2010 (*) Oostende, BE -- Jul 29, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010 (*) --------------------------------- RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre --------------------------------- NOTE: (*) Prices are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise noted. (*) Ticket prices exclude the 10% Live Entertainment Tax, the $7.50 per-ticket processing fee, and sales tax where applicable. Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=40 > Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): o Category 1: $109.00 / $54.50 o Category 2: $99.00 / $49.50 o Category 3: $79.00 / $39.50 o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50 o Category 5: $60.00 / $30.00 (Limited View) 2010 Dark Dates: o March 10 o May 8 - 12 o July 7 o September 4 - 8 o November 3 "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices: o Orchestra: $150.00 o Loggia: $130.00 o Balcony: $99.00 o Limited View: $93.50 2010 Dark Dates: o April 14 - 18 o June 13 o July 4 o August 11 - 15 o October 10 o December 8 - 21 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2010 Ticket Prices (adults) / (child 3-9): o Category 0: $120.00 / $97.00 o Category 1: $105.00 / $85.00 o Category 2: $85.00 / $69.00 o Category 3: $69.00 / $56.00 o Category 4: $55.00 / $45.00 2010 Dark Dates: o March 23 o May 25 - 28 o June 1 - 4 o July 27 o September 21 - 24 o November 16 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday through Sunday Dark: Monday & Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices (18+ Only!): o Duo Sofas: $135.00 o Orchestra Seats: $99.00 o Upper Orchestra Seats: $79.00 o Balcony Seats: $69.00 o Cabaret Stools: $69.00 2010 Dark Dates: o March 9 o April 6 - 11 o June 15 - 16 o July 13 - 14 o August 3 - 8 o September 14 o October 12 - 13 o November 30 o December 1 - 14 2010 Added Performances: o March 11th o June 17th o July 15th o September 16th o October 14th o November 29th o December 30th KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): o Category 1: $150.00 / $75.00 o Category 2: $125.00 / $62.50 o Category 3: $99.00 / $49.50 o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50 2010 Dark Dates o March 30 - 31 o June 1 - 8 o September 7 - 11 o November 16 - 17 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices: o Lower Orchestra: $150.00 o Upper Orchestra: $130.00 o Lower Balcony: $99.00 o Middle Balcony: $93.50 2010 Dark Dates: o April 8 - 12 o June 10 o August 5 - 9 o October 7 o December 3 - 13 ZAIA: Location: Venetian, Macao (China) Performs: Every Day, Dark: Wednesday One to Two Shows Daily - Times Vary 2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 2-11): o VIP Seating: MOP$ 1288 / MOP$ 1288 o Reserve A: MOP$ 788 / MOP$ 394 o Reserve B: MOP$ 588 / MOP$ 294 o Reserve C: MOP$ 388 / MOP$ 194 2010 Dark Dates: o March 29 - 30 ZED: Location: Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo (Japan) Performs: Varies One to Two Shows Daily - Showtimes vary 2010 Ticket Prices (Non-Peek / Peek Time): o Category 1 ("Premium"): ¥15,000 / ¥16,000 o Category 2 ("Stage-Side"): ¥12,500 / ¥13,500 o Category 2 ("Center"): ¥12,500 / ¥13,500 o Category 3 ("Wide View"): ¥9,500 / ¥10,500 o Category 4 ("Value"): ¥7,500 / ¥7,800 2010 Dark Dates: o Not Available BELIEVE: Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted into the theater. 2010 Ticket Prices (all): o Category 1: $160.00 o Category 2: $125.00 o Category 3: $99.00 o Category 4: $79.00 o Category 5: $59.00 2010 Dark Dates: o April 13 - 17 o May 25 o June 1 o July 6 - 10, 13 - 17 o October 12 - 16 VIVA ELVIS: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm Preview Performances: December 18th to January 28th 2010 Ticket Prices (Previews / Regular) o Category 1: $149.38 / $175.00 o Category 2: $128.75 / $150.00 o Category 3: $108.13 / $125.00 o Category 4: $86.68 / $99.00 2010 Dark Dates: o March 17 - 25 o May 11 - 13 o July 14 - 29 o September 14 - 16 o November 17 - 25 -------------------------------------- VENUE - Arena & Seasonal Productions -------------------------------------- Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=251 > [Arena Shows] Saltimbanco: Torino, IT -- Mar 3, 2010 to Mar 7, 2010 Pesaro, IT -- Mar 10, 2010 to Mar 14, 2010 Bologna, IT -- Mar 17, 2010 to Mar 21, 2010 Florence, IT -- Mar 24, 2010 to Mar 28, 2010 Stuttgart, DE -- Mar 31, 2010 to Apr 4, 2010 Bremen, DE -- Apr 7, 2010 to Apr 11, 2010 Valencia, ES -- Apr 14, 2010 to Apr 17, 2010 Santiago, ES -- Apr 21, 2010 to Apr 25, 2010 San Sebastian, ES -- Apr 28, 2010 to May 2, 2010 Sheffield, UK -- May 20, 2010 to May 23, 2010 Liverpool, UK -- May 26, 2010 to May 30, 2010 Glasgow, UK -- Jun 2, 2010 to Jun 6, 2010 Manchester, UK -- Jun 9, 2010 to Jun 13, 2010 Birmingham, UK -- Jun 17, 2010 to Jun 20, 2010 Newcastle, UK -- Jun 30, 2010 to Jul 4, 2010 Dublin, IE -- Jul 7, 2010 to Jul 11, 2010 Nottingham, UK -- Jul 21, 2010 to Jul 25, 2010 London, UK -- Jul 28, 2010 to Aug 1, 2010 Hamburg, DE -- TBA Dortmund, DE -- TBA Berlin, DE -- TBA Munich, DE -- TBA Alegría: Hoffman Estates, IL -- Mar 3, 2010 to Mar 7 2010 Cedar Rapids, IA -- Mar 10, 2010 to Mar 14, 2010 Champaign, IL -- Mar 17, 2010 to Mar 21, 2010 Omaha, NE -- Mar 24, 2010 to Mar 28, 2010 East Lansing, MI -- Mar 31, 2010 to Apr 4, 2010 Cleveland, OH -- Apr 7, 2010 to Apr 11, 2010 Highland Heights, KY -- Apr 29, 2010 to May 2, 2010 St, Louis, MO -- May 05, 2010 to May 9, 2010 Kansas City, MO -- May 12, 2010 to May 16, 2010 Salt Lake City, UT -- May 19, 2010 to May 23, 2010 Fresno, CA -- May 27, 2010 to May 30, 2010 Sacramento, CA -- Jun 02, 2010 to Jun 6, 2010 Rio Rancho, NM -- Jun 9, 2010 to Jun 13, 2010 Cypress, TX -- Jun 16, 2010 to Jun 20, 2010 St. Paul, MN -- Jun 23, 2010 to Jun 27, 2010 Toronto, ON -- Jun 30, 2010 to Jul 4, 2010 Winnipeg, MB -- Jul 22, 2010 to Jul 25, 2010 Regina, SK -- Jul 27, 2010 to Aug 1, 2010 Saskatoon, SK -- Aug 4, 2010 to Aug 8, 2010 Edmonton, AB -- Aug 11, 2010 to Aug 22, 2010 Kelowna, BC -- Aug 25, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010 Kamloops, BC -- Sep 1, 2010 to Sep 5, 2010 Victoria, BC -- Sep 8, 2010 to Sep 12, 2010 Tacoma, WA -- Sep 15, 2010 to Sep 19, 2010 Spokane, WA -- Sep 22, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010 Honolulu, HI -- Oct 15, 2010 to Oct 31, 2010 Boise, ID -- Nov 4, 2010 to Nov 7, 2010 Stockton, CA -- Nov 10, 2010 to Nov 14, 2010 Phoenix, AZ -- Nov 17, 2010 to Nov 21, 2010 Tucson, AZ -- Nov 24, 2010 to Nov 28, 2010 Portland, OR -- Dec 1, 2010 to Dec 5, 2010 Oklahoma City, OK -- Dec 23, 2010 to Dec 26, 2010 [Venue Shows] Wintuk: Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City (USA) Wintuk's 2009 Season has drawn to a close. See you next winter! Banana Shpeel: Location: Beacon Theater, New York City (USA) Schedule: Performances from February 25th through May 30th; Days of the week and times vary. 2010 Ticket Prices (Regular Performances): [TBA] o Premium: $199.00 single / $199 group o P1: $110.00 single / $75.00 group o P2: $85.00 single / $60.00 group o P3: $65.00 single / $45.00 group o P4: $45.00 single / $39.00 group 2010 Ticket Prices (Previews): [March 17th through TBA] o Premium: n/a o P1: $89.00 single / $55.00 group o P2: $65.00 single / $55.00 group o P3: $45.00 single / $45.00 group NOTE: Prices include $4.50 facility fee. There is no children's pricing. ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE'S SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub o) Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, Youtube & Flickr o) Gatherings -- CirqueCon & More! --------------------------------------- CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub --------------------------------------- Recently CirqueClub went through a dramatic transformation - refocusing and rebranding their efforts through their web page. Currently a "Beta Version" of the website is up to experience for a short while, but upgrades and new features will be rolling out soon. In the meantime, brighten your comptuer in Cirque du Soleil stype with some new wallpapers (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque- club/goodies/wallpapers.aspx) and enjoy new behind-the-scenes videos (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/photos- videos/videos.aspx). Facing the Elements of KÀ {Feb.02} FOR MANY YEARS NOW, KÀ HAS CHANGED THE LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT WORLD. ON FEBRUARY 3, THE SHOW WILL CELEBRATE ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. TO UNDERLINE THIS GREAT MILESTONE, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT HELP CREATE THIS UNBELIEVABLY ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE EVERY NIGHT. Storm - The Storm is the scene in which, to escape the Archers and Spearmen, the Nanny drags the Twin Sister onto a boat and they escape by sea, only to encounter a massive storm that capsizes their vessel. The specially designed boat structure weighs almost 1,800 pounds and the rocking and turning movements are completely manipulated by the artists onboard. Since the opening of the show, this scene has not undergone any major changes. Snow - For the Mountain Tribe scenes, snow machines and fans float very fine soap suds through the air to make a very convincing snowfall. Lightning - Lighting and video projections are two important elements in the show. KÀ has over 3,600 lighting fixtures. As for the projections, they are a mix of computer-generated effects and human input. To create the interactive projections that follow an artist's movement in some scenes, the artists are captured by an infrared-sensitive camera and their movements are tracked by a computer. Sand - In the Wash-up on the Shore, the beach is created using 2,000 pounds of granular cork. Also in this scene are human- sized puppets designed to accentuate the acrobatic proficiency of the performers while maintaining the animals' natural movements. Thunder - To fill the KÀ Theatre with sound takes 524,150 total watts of amplifier power pumping an intricately layered mix of sound effects and music to 4,774 loudspeaker drivers in 2,139 cabinets. Every seat in the KÀ Theatre has two speakers built into its headrest, which allows sound effects to be targeted, manipulated and customized to any of 16 seating zones. As for the music, it is played by 8 musicians. Fire - During the pre-show, approximately 120 fireballs are discharged. These fireballs measure 30 feet in height and reach temperatures of 1,200°F. Ground - There are five stage lifts used to create performance space and move props and artists during the show. The stage lifts move a maximum of 25 feet from bottom to top. The largest lifts cover 1,400 square feet each. Blizzard - During the Blizzard scene, the Tribesmen show off their climbing prowess by manually ascending 50 feet to join their fellow tribespeople on the mountaintop, as created by the Sand Cliff Deck tilted past vertical to 100 degrees. Fog - Many of the fog effects in KÀ are created using liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature of approximately -300°F. By mixing it with hot water, a low fog effect is created. KÀ has a 13,000 gallon storage tank for liquid nitrogen. Energy - The great energy that spectators feel each time they see the show comes from 75 incredible artists, 195 wonderful technicians and 19 great operations people. ELVIS is Back in Las Vegas! {Feb.10} Viva ELVIS Premieres at ARIA Resort & Casino(tm) in Las Vegas. On this historic day, where Elvis makes an exceptional comeback in Las Vegas, we share with you a few comments from the creators of our new show to hit the Vegas Strip... LINK /// < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque- club/news/2010/news20100219.aspx > 25 Visions of Cirque! | Part One of Ten {Feb.05} Hear from three of Cirque du Soleil's growing number of personalities - Mike Newnum (who joined Cirque in 2003), Dawn Doran (who joined Cirque in 2004), and Karen Gay (who joined Cirque in 1998) - in this installment of "25 Visions of Cirque!" Read More: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque- club/news/2010/news20100205.aspx World Premiere: D-Day for ELVIS {Feb.26} It's not quite noon yet, but the Viva ELVIS theatre is already buzzing. Journalists have been invited to meet the show's creators and take a backstage tour. Meanwhile, the Aria Hotel is also buzzing because of a visit by President Obama. But that's another story for another day. Read More: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque- club/news/2010/news20100226.aspx > Sky Changing on Mystère {Feb.28} After 16 years and 7,641 performances, the sky structure on Mystère was replaced with aluminum trussing during the January dark. The old sky was experiencing stress fractures that had to be re-welded in several locations. The new sky was engineered by Nolan Engineering Services (NES) and built by Total Structures. The old sky weighed in at 7,150 lbs while the new sky weighs 5,000 lbs. The old sky structure was dismantled by our crew and hauled away by Desert Recycling LLC. Mystère received a check in the amount of $2,283.16 for recycling the structure. This money was then donated to ONE DROP - Project Haiti. Read More: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque- club/news/2010/news20100228.aspx > --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Flickr --------------------------------------------------- --- [ ALEGRIA ] --- {Feb.05} "Cirque's Alegria dazzling stagecraft comes to Joe Louis Arena" Read The Windsor Star's review of the Detroit premiere of Alegria! LINK /// < http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/Cirque% 20Alegria%20dazzling%20stagecraft%20comes%20Louis% 20Arena/2524969/story.html > {Feb.11} Did you know...that it takes 9 hours and over 80 technicians to put up the Alegria set? FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=184360 &id=38543815745&ref=mf > --- [ BANANA SHPEEL ] --- {Feb.11} Wow the Blizzard of 2010 couldn't stop the Banana Shpeel Open House at the Beacon Theatre. Over 1,000 people attended including banana toting fans who lined up four hours before the event. Guests at the Banana Shpeel Open House were photographed with performers from the show! FOTO [127] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=186406 &id=153330866799&ref=mf > {Feb.12} Check out the video on Broadway.com from the Banana Shpeel Open House in New York. LINK /// < http://www.broadway.com/shows/banana-shpeel/buzz/new- yorkers-go-bananas-cirque-du-soleils-banana-shpeel/ > {Feb.15} Dance Magazine features Banana Shpeel Choreographer Jared Grimes in the February issue. FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4746864 &id=153330866799 > {Feb.22} MEET THE CREATORS: Make-up Designer Eleni Uranis uses her skills as a painter to create the unique looks for Banana Shpeel. She starts by painting on photos of the performers' face to explore ideas and color palettes. Eleni has been with Cirque du Soleil since 1989 and designed the make-up for the shows Wintuk and ZED. FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4805827 &id=153330866799 > --- [ KÀ ] --- {Feb.06} Last night the founder of Cirque du Soleil, Guy Laliberté, paid us a visit to congratulate everyone on 5 wonderful years. We also presented him with a gift - a star named after his ONE DROP Foundation. Happy Birthday, KÀ! FOTO [2] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=185184 &id=31527171928&ref=mf > {Feb.09} Hello KÀ fans! Our friends at G4 were kind enough to share some clips from the "Inside KÀ" special which aired last month, so in case you didn't catch it, here's a quick peek at what you missed. We'll have some other clips coming in the next few days. Enjoy! | G4 Presents "Inside KÀ by Cirque du Soleil" - Backstage VIDEO [0:57] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1211355131239&ref=mf > {Feb.12} The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue has taken over Las Vegas this week, and model Julie Henderson spent some time at KÀ yesterday getting a taste of what it takes to be in the show. We'll let you know when the full segment will air on E! Entertainment, so keep checking back! FOTO [18] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=186948 &id=31527171928&ref=mf > {Feb.13} Hello KÀ fans! Ready for clip #2 from the "Inside KÀ" special? All of our artists are airbag certified, so in order for Alison Haislip from G4 to be able to participate in the trainings we arranged, she needed to learn how to fall too. It's not as easy as it looks! | G4 Presents "Inside KÀ by Cirque du Soleil" - Airbag Training VIDEO [0:59] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1214869019084&ref=mf > {Feb.18} One of the things at KÀ we think is really cool is all of the unique technology we use to support what our human artists do on stage. In fact, we are downright geeky proud about it, so it's nice when we find someone else to geek out with. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at KÀ's technology from a fellow geek at WIRED.com! LINK /// < http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/02/cirque-du- soleils-sophisticated-ka-evolves-with-new-tech/ > {Feb.26} Hello, KÀ fans! Sorry for the lack of posts this week, do you still love us? We love you, and to prove it, here's another clip from "G4 Presents: Inside KÀ." Starting May 1, Continental Airlines (through June 30) and Cathay Pacific (through July 31) will be showing "Inside KÀ" on their in-flight entertainment package. ...Let us know if you see it, and send us a postcard! | G4 Presents "Inside KÀ by Cirque du Soleil" - Battle Wall VIDEO [1:44] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1225527085529&ref=mf > --- [ KOOZA ] --- {Feb.25} LEARN how we operate the kitchen on wheels in the KOOZA village! LINK /// < http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/25/ cooks-serve-cast-crew-family-150/ > {Feb.26} Cirque du Soleil's Extreme Thrills Return Thursday with Kooza on NBC in San Diego, interview with artistic director Adam Miller! LINK /// < http://www.nbcsandiego.com/around-town/events/ Cirque_du_Soleil_s_Extreme_Thrills_Return_Thursday_ with_Kooza_San_Diego.html > --- [ LA NOUBA ] --- {Feb.01} La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil Brad Auerbach's review of La Nouba (January 2010) in EntertainmentToday.net. LINK /// < http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/ view/902/28/ > {Feb.04} Check out Anthony and Melanie performing their act as The Juggler and the Green Bird on Ellen!! Their performance was flawless!! VIDEO /// < http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2YK9tR/ ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/02/anthony-gatto-worlds- greatest-juggler-0204.php/r:t > {Feb.24} "Splurging on Cirque La Nouba at Downtown Disney for our last night. That show is mind-blowing, breath-taking, amazing, unbelievable, and beautiful, and I am so glad that we went." - Stephanie, 2/23 post on her blog (Thanks for great review, Stephanie!!) --- [ LOVE ] --- {Feb.01} Congratuations to us! "All Together Now" the documentary on the making of LOVE took home the Grammy for the Best Long Form Music Video. This is the 3rd Grammy win for LOVE! {Feb.04} Pics from the 2010 Grammy Awards! | THE BEATLES AND CIRQUE DU SOLEIL DOCUMENTARY 'ALL TOGETHER NOW' WINS GRAMMY AWARD Los Angeles, California - January 31, 2010 - At today's 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards, 'All Together Now,' the feature-length documentary about the making of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil(r) won the GRAMMY for Best Long Form Music Video. FOTO [3] /// < http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-beatles-love- by-cirque-du-soleil/pics-from-the-2010-grammy awards/318966520179 > {Feb.09} We are still gleaming from our Grammy win! LINK /// < http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/ Giles%20Martin%20high%20Grammys%20LOVE/2519959/ story.html > {Feb.12} The old big top that Cirque du Soleil first used in the Mirage parking lot 20 years ago for "Nouvelle Experience" is now going to Haiti, to replace their destroyed government buildings! Donated circus tents could shelter Haiti's government - CNN.com LINK /// < http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/02/11/ haiti.circus.tents/?hpt=T2 > {Feb.25} Check out what our new friend Austin Powell thinks of Viva ELVIS and The Beatles LOVE - our the two best ROCKING shows in Vegas!!! LINK /// < http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Blogs/ index.html/objID971187/blogID/ > --- [ MYSTERE ] --- {Feb.06} Hello, Mystère fans! We received a wonderful e-mail from a guest this week, with a photo of artist Ross Gibson (you might know him as Red Bird). Enjoy! "Please, Please, Please send our appreciation to Ross (Red Bird) in Mystere. He made our 12 year old daughter, Monasita's dream come true on Thursday after the show by ...taking a photo with her and signing her program. Thank you for all of the awe and excitement your shows have brought into our lives." FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? pid=4584341&id=18155469918 > {Feb.09} Here's a few pictures of Mystère cast and crew out and about! FOTO [3] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=182386 &id=18155469918&ref=mf > {Feb.12} Hello Mystère fans! You've been very patiently waiting for the new trailer, and as your reward, here is the official world premiere - you guys get to see it first! Enjoy! VIDEO [1:00] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1213896074761&ref=mf > {Feb.18} On Valentine's Day, Mystère had the honor of hosting a wedding proposal. Las Vegas resident Tony Hurtado popped the question to his girlfriend of 13 years, Elaine Stowers in front of cast, crew and a full house. Thankfully she said yes! He said "I'm in love with her, and I wanted to share it with everyone." Everyone together - 1... 2... 3... AWWWWWWWWWWW!!! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=185244 &id=18155469918&ref=mf > {Feb.27} Mystère was honored to be invited to participate in a media event representing Las Vegas in Mexico City. It was a very busy three days, but here's a small idea of all of the fun things we did. Enjoy! FOTO [40] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=187678 &id=18155469918&ref=mf > --- [ "O" ] --- {Feb.02} A fact that would put Jersey Shore to shame! To style the wigs used in "O", more than 23,500 ounces of hairspray have been used! {Feb.04} Cirque du Soleil is the subject of the "Pop Five" on USAToday.com today! Guess what show is #1! LINK /// < http://content.usatoday.com/communities/popcandy/ post/2010/02/todays-pop-five-mikevs-favorite-cirque- du-soleil-shows/1 > --- [ VAREKAI ] --- {Feb.26} Varekai by Cirque du Soleil Now playing in Manchester, UK ! LINK /// < http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_ and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8537000/ 8537518.stm > --- [ VIVA ELVIS ] --- {Feb.02} Fun fact for today: the Jailhouse Rock set weighs 90,000 lbs. {Feb.11} Viva Viva Elvis! - TIME | www.time.com | Cirque du Soleil's fizzy evocation of the man and his music restores the King to his Vegas throne. LINK /// < http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/ 0,9171,1963746,00.html > {Feb.12} Cirque du Soleil: Colonel marshals Elvis troupers - Salt Lake Tribune | www.sltrib.com | Las Vegas " When Logans Garrett Eugene Case, Jr., signed on to play the role of Elvis Presleys manager Colonel Tom Parker in a new Vegas show, at first he thought he had landed a small part. LINK /// < http://www.sltrib.com/travel/ci_14381394 > {Feb.18} Check out this incredible behind the scenes look at Viva ELVIS! LINK /// < http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/showbiz/2010/02/18/ lkl.behind.viva.elvis.cnn?iref=allsearch > {Feb.22} Win a trip to Vegas to see Viva ELVIS! LINK /// < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/promo/2010/viva- elvis/elvis-contest.aspx > {Feb.22} Viva Elvis -- Theater Review LINK /// < http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film- reviews/viva-elvis-theater-review-1004070043.story > {Feb.23} Opening night gifts from our sister shows on The Strip were presented to the cast and crew today. FOTO [4] < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=146984 &id=167136344108&ref=mf > {Feb.24} Check out the cool cab tops! FOTO [2] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=146885& id=167136344108&ref=mf > {Feb.25} Celebrities in attendance at our Blue Carpet event: Priscilla Presley, Ryan Seacrest, Wynonna Judd, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, Justin Long, Peter Facinelli and Jennie Garth, Chris Noth, Christina Hendricks, Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed, Regis and Joy Philbin, Criss Angel, Taye Diggs, Holly Madison, Perez H...ilton, Grant Show, Jonathon Togo, William Fichtner, Aaron Paul, Malin Akerman, Jeff Probst and Sheetal Sheth, Rita Rudner, Carrot Top, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Keir O'Donnell, Lo Bosworth, Scott Weiland, Giuliana and Bill Rancic, Sarah Roemer, Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres, Brian Baumgartner, Angelica Bridges and Sammy Shore | Photos by Ethan Miller FOTO [13] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=147340& id=167136344108&ref=mf > {Feb.25} Check out the following video on FOX NEWS! VIDEO /// < http://video.foxnews.com/v/4029948/elvis- immortalized-in-vegas/?playlist_id=87249 > ------------------------------------------- GATHERINGS: CirqueCon, Celebri & More! ------------------------------------------- CirqueCon: < http://www.CirqueCon.com/ > Update #11: Friday, February 26, 2010 -------------------------------------- Greetings, Cirque Passionates! Wooow, look at that! In just 60 days from now we'll be gathering again for yet another fun-filled Cirque celebration! There are still a great number of things for us to accomplish behind the scenes until that day arrives, so with that in mind let me get right to the update - things are moving quickly! In This Update... o) DO YOU HAVE YOUR CIRQUECON 2010 MEMBERSHIP? Planning to join us in either New York City, Montréal or both? Don't forget about your CirqueCon 2010 Membership! Without a paid membership we will be unable to produce one of our CirqueCon badges for you and your family, cover the costs of printing our programme book or guarantee you a spot in any of our activites. Remember, in order to take part in any activity Cirque du Soleil may have in store for us, you must have a CirqueCon badge to identify you with our group. Unfortunately, we will be unable to let you participate without it! Becoming a member of CirqueCon 2010 is easy! We only ask a nominal membership fee of $20.00 per household to cover planning, research and expenses for the event. And we have two convenient ways for you to become a member! See our MEMBERSHIP page for further details: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/member.htm > o) BANANA SHPEEL TICKETS - DONE DEAL Our special group offer on selected category tickets for BANANA SHPEEL in New York City has ended as of February 24th, and there will not be an extension. We wish to thank everyone for their participation and quick response. At this time we are unable to take any further orders for BANANA SHPEEL tickets. Should you wish to join us at either BANANA SHPEEL and OVO in NEW YORK CITY or TOUR 2010 (rumored to be named TOTEM) in MONTRÉAL, please purchase your tickets directly with Cirque du Soleil, which you can do using the following links: BANANA SHPEEL: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ banana-shpeel/tickets/new-york.aspx > OVO: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ ovo/tickets/new-york.aspx > TOUR 2010 (TOTEM): < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ cirque-2010/tickets/montreal.aspx > There are still great seats left, so come join us! (Normal pricing by Cirque du Soleil applies). o) ONE DROP PARTY INVITE? Interested in helping out the environment while at the same time rubbing elboes with some of Cirque du Soleil's elite? You can! CirqueCon, through Rodolfo Elizondo, was extended an invitation to attend LA SOIRÉE ONE DROP, a benefit show and party benefiting Guy Laliberte's ONE DROP foundation, which is being held the evening of Friday, April 30th. He's looking at the "Friends of One Drop" package, which has a number of privileges, they are: - A reserved seat in the Prestigue section to attend TOUR 2010 (TOTEM), directed by Robert Lepage. (This is a Category 1 ticket). - An exclusive invitation to the HAPPENING that will crown this night's breathtaking performance, with access to the VIP area reserved for Guy Laliberté and his main associates from Cirque du Soleil and ONE DROP. Here, you may snack on a variety of hors d'oeuvre and sip the drinks of your choice. - And, surprise gifts! The event will be sure to awaken your senses and captivate your imagination. For this event, we recommend "Cirque Chic" reflecting the casual style, creative spirit and festive atmosphere of Cirque du Soleil. The pacakge costs $7,500 and is awarded 10 tickets. That's just $750 per Passionate! If he is unable to secure 10 spots, individual tickets may be purchased at $900.00 each. Please contact Rodolfo Elizondo [rodoel@gmail.com] directly for further information regarding the benefit party. o) WELCOME TO MONTRÉAL CIRQUECON PARTY Can't afford to attend the One-Drop benefit party? Don't fret - although it is an interesting prospect, neither can we! Therefore, CirqueCon will hold a "Welcome to Montréal" Cocktail Party to be held out of our joining hotel suites at the Marriott Spring Hill to welcome all Passionates to our second home - among the quays of the Old Port. An exact time for our welcoming party has not yet been determined. we'll let you know shortly! o) ACTIVTY & EVENT REMINDERS! Due to the nature of our event this year - three shows in two cities - we have a number of official CirqueCon events taking place, which we'd like to take a moment to remind everyone about: We'd love to see everyone at our official Group Meals in both New York City and Montréal - the Amsterdam Ale House in New Your City and Restaurant du Vieux Port in Montréal. We'd also love to see you at Dallas BBQ in New York City before we take in OVO! For information pertaining to costs involved, restaurant locations, or even a peek at the menus, use the links below, which will take you to our website: NEW YORK CITY | Dallas BBQ: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/social-NYC.htm#magicbus > NEW YORK CITY | Amsterdam Ale House: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/social-NYC.htm#meal > MONTREAL | Restaurant du Vieux Port: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/social-YUL.htm#meal > And, of course, don't forget to RSVP with us at our headquarters hotels - both are now ready to take your reservation! We have two wonderful hotels near our primary event locations this year. For New York City, we're going to be staying at "On the Ave", a boutique hotel across from Central Park in Upper West Side (just two blocks from the Beacon Theater). In Montréal, we're proud to once again stay at the Marriott Spring Hill Suites Vieux Port, which served us so well for CirqueCon 2005. Please see the HOTELS section of our website for further details. CIRQUECON HEADQUARTERS HOTELS: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/hotel.htm > And although we've come to New York City for spectacles by Cirque du Soleil, who says we can't take in a musical on Broadway too? Therefore, we've dedicated TUESDAY, APRIL 27th as our night to be on the Great White Way, so please enjoy its various theatrical and musical offerings. Do whatever interests you; the night is yours! Most of the CirqueCon staff will be seeing Disney's THE LION KING at Minskoff Theatre near Times's Square, which you're very welcome to join us for - who knows who we might see there tonight! Contact the theater box office directly to purchase tickets. Doors open at 6:30pm; show begins at 7:00pm. For information on DISNEY'S THE LION KING, please visit their official website: < disney.go.com/theatre/thelionking/ broadway/ >. Tickets avaialble through the website should you be interested in joining us there! o) MEMBER STORIES - WE'D LOVE TO HERE'EM! Have a story to tell about last year's CirqueCon event in Monterrey, or perhaps 2008's in Tokyo, or a recent experience attending a Cirque du Soleil show? We'd love to hear them! We're looking to publish a few of our Passionate's adventures with us (or with Cirque du Soleil) in our 2010 Programme Book. So if you have a great story, please email your stories to us at newyork@cirquecon.com today! # # # That's it for this update. Come join us as we take on Manhattan (and Quebec!) at CirqueCon 2010! ======================================================================= COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= o) DIDYAKNOW - Facts at a Glance about Cirque o) HISTORIA - Cirque du Soleil History --------------------------------- DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque --------------------------------- o) The Tatami Deck is another major performance space used in KÀ. It measures 30x30 feet and weighs between 75,000 to 100,000 pounds. o) The stage of Delirium is 104 feet long by 20 feet deep with musical and acrobatic action occupying the entire scene at all times. o) A unique system of pre-recorded, animated and manipulated live images keeps up with the musical tempo and insures the audience of Delirium is alert. o) The state-of-the-art lighting system for Mystère includes 924 circuits with individual 2.4 kW dimmers. o) There are 800 lighting cues in Mystère. o) The Mystère lighting and electrical grid is 80 feet above the stage. o) The Mystère stage measure is 120 feet wide by 70 feet deep. o) The Dralion trapeze is set up by the artists themselves. Once they've carried it from the wing to the stage, it is ready for use in two minutes' time o) The bamboo poles used in Dralion are 16 feet long (the height of a two-story building) and weigh 16 pounds each. o) In Dralion, the band of blue cloth used in the pas de deux act is 60 feet long. o) At the back of the stage of ZAIA, the "Star drop" measures 12,221 sq. ft., or 121' X 101'. o) The music of ZAIA was not inspired by any specific country, but is rather a blend of musical genres melding into a brand-new culture for the show. o) Some 300 props were created for ZAIA, including 30 lanterns, 20 telescopes, 18 megaphones and 22 bicycles. o) Most songs of ZAIA are sung in an imaginary language inspired by Hindi phonemes. ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque du Soleil History ------------------------------------ * Mar.01.1988 -- Le Cirque Reinvene opened Santa Monica (third time) * Mar.01.2008 - -Corteo opened San Diego, California * Mar.04.1999 -- Quidam European Tour Began in Amsterdam * Mar.04.1999 -- New Tour Name Released -- Dralion * Mar.04.2005 -- Quidam opened Melbourne * Mar.04.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Little Rock, AK * Mar.04.2009 -- Quidam opened Belfast, UK (Temporarily Arena) * Mar.04.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Youngstown, OH * Mar.05.2004 -- Saltimbanco opened Lyon * Mar.05.2009 -- Alegría opened Dubai, UAE * Mar.06.1997 -- Alegría opened Amsterdam * Mar.06.2001 -- Alegría opened Melbourne, Australia * Mar.06.2002 -- Dralion opened Los Angeles * Mar.06.2003 -- Alegría opened Houston * Mar.06.2003 -- Varekai opened Atlanta * Mar.07.2007 -- Madison Square Garden Show "Winter Tale" Announced! * Mar.07.2007 -- Saltimbanco "Arena Tour" Announced! * Mar.08.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Shreveport, LA * Mar.09.1995 -- Saltimbanco opened Amsterdam (European Tour Began) * Mar.10.2006 -- Dralion opened Geneva * Mar.11.1994 -- Saltimbanco Japan Tour Began (ends 9/11) * Mar.11.2007 -- "O" celebrated its 4000th performance [Sunday, 10:30pm] * Mar.11.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Louisville, KY * Mar.12.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened San Antonio, TX * Mar.12.2009 -- Cirque Dubai 2010 is once again delayed until 2010 * Mar.12.2009 -- Quidam opened Newcastle, UK (Temporarily Arena) * Mar.13.2003 -- Dralion opened Raleigh * Mar.14.1999 -- Alegría: Le Film showcased in Santa Barbara * Mar.14.2003 -- La Nouba celebrated 2000th Performance [Friday, 6:00pm] * Mar.14.2006 -- Varekai opened Portland * Mar.15.1998 -- Mystère celebrated 2000th Performance [Sunday, 7:30pm] * Mar.15.2006 -- Saltimbanco opened Santiago, Chile * Mar.15.2007 -- Varekai opened Canberra, Australia * Mar.17.2003 -- IBM and Cirque come together in 3-Year Partnership * Mar.17.2005 -- Dralion opened Barcelona, Spain * Mar.18.1999 -- Saltimbanco opened Sydney, Australia * Mar.18.2004 -- Varekai opened San Diego * Mar.18.2009 -- Quidam opened Birmingham, UK (Temporarily Arena) * Mar.18.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Laredo, TX * Mar.19.2002 -- Saltimbanco Extended CD Released (BMG/CDS Musique) * Mar.19.2006 -- Quidam opened Long Beach * Mar.19.2009 -- Cirque Unveils new Casting MySpace Page * Mar.20.2007 -- Quidam opened Seoul, South Korea * Mar.21.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Corpus Christi, TX * Mar.22.1996 -- Alegría Japanese Tour (until Sep. 8, 1996) * Mar.22.2005 -- Zumanity CD Released (CDS Musique) * Mar.22.2007 -- Corteo opened Houston * Mar.22.2007 -- Cirque Luxor (Criss Angel) Announced! * Mar.23.1993 -- Nouvelle Expérience CD Released in Canada (RCA/Victor) * Mar.23.1999 -- Alegria: Le Film CD Released in Canada (RCA) * Mar.23.2000 -- Alegría celebrated 2000th performance [8:00pm/Biloxi] * Mar.24.1998 -- Cirque Collection CD Released in US (RCA/Victor) * Mar.24.2002 -- Cirque performed at the 74th Academy Awards * Mar.24.2004 -- "The Bar at the Edge of the Earth" opened * Mar.25.2004 -- Alegría opened Atlanta * Mar.25.2009 -- Quidam opened Manchester, UK (Temporarily Arena) * Mar.26.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Wichita, KS * Mar.28.1995 -- Alegría opened New York City * Mar.28.2009 -- "O" Honored Earth Hour 2009 * Mar.29.1994 -- Mystère CD Released in Canada (RCA/Victor) * Mar.29.2002 -- Quidam opened Charlotte * Mar.30.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened New York City * Mar.30.2000 -- Quidam opened Valencia, Spain * Mar.31.2009 -- Quidam opened Dublin, Ireland (Temporarily Arena) ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= Within... o) "Cirque in Your Ear (Part 2 of 2)" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) {Issue Exclusive} o) "Cirque du Soleil Unveils VIVA ELVIS" By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials -------------------------------------------------------------- "Cirque in Your Ear (Part 2 of 2)" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) {Issue Exclusive} -------------------------------------------------------------- Last month we talked about audio podcasts that occasionally feature Cirque du Soleil, focusing on KNPR's State of Nevada public-affairs show. This month we feature a podcast-only show that occasionally features Cirque elements. Las Vegas, Nevada-based Steve Friess is a freelance writer who writes for a number of major publications. He blogs about Las Vegas on a regular basis at < http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/ > He also produces two podcasts, The Petcast (focusing on pets), and The Strip Podcast with husband Miles Smith which focuses on Las Vegas happenings. Archives of the podcast can be found at < http://www.thestrippodcast.com/ > (You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.) The podcasts follow a standard format; "Vegas hot topics" between Steve and Miles at the beginning with the interview in the middle. The beginning banter can take awhile to get through but it's worth it. Friess' interview style is that of an interested conversationalist, who always does his homework and asks interesting questions of his subjects. The candid answers he gets to some tougher-than-usual questions can be fun to hear. Many of his interviews form the basis of articles Fress later writes (and are referenced in show notes below each show.) Note that some of the podcasts contain explicit language, mostly from the hosts; the iTunes archive has them marked. The shows are archived (though not very well organized) in reverse chronological order. Shows from Jan 1, 2008 to current are on the first page, with shows from November 24, 2005 to December 31, 2007 on a second page available from a link at the top and bottom of the first page. (There are even older shows on a third page linked from the bottom of the second, but there are no Cirque-specific shows there). Here's a list of their Cirque-related shows, in chronological order by original airdate. THE STRIP PODCAST - Steve Friess and Miles Smith 01/19/2006 - The fun Joey Arias, original Mistress of Seduction at Zumanity talks about his early days in NYC. He also dishes on the original Man2Man couple of Silverhut & King, about surprising the Hilton sisters at the Premiere, and what kinds of rewards a job like this can provide. 05/11/2006 - Franco Dragone - The always interesting Dragone talks about going back to Cirque shows and shaking them up to bring emotion back to the performers. Steve also gets him to discuss Cirque's first meeting with Caesars Palace. Dragone also talks openly about Le Rêve (which at that point had been opened a year) touching on the negative reviews and what the pregnant women in the first performances of the show actually meant. Finally he talks about the "A New Day" show with Celine Dion and its development. 05/25/2006 - Cirque VP of Creation Gilles Ste-Croix has a funny story about the LOVE premiere and Guy Laliberte getting stopped by security. They also discuss his upbringing, the impact the Beatles had on a young Ste-Croix, and the "symbolism of 4" in the show. He also breaks the news (quite some time before it was officially announced) about the Elvis show at Aria. 06/08/2006 - George and Gilles Martin, discussing the Beatles and LOVE - Recorded about the same time as the KNPR interview we mentioned last month. Done for an article that Friess wrote focusing on their working relationship, the conversation naturally steers towards the two of them and their process and dynamic. Goes into a bit of detail about how the musical soundscape was first developed. 12/14/2006 - George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison discusses LOVE. The reclusive Harrison doesn't give many interviews so this is a coup. There is a tantalizing tidbit about Guy's Grand Prix parties early on. She also discusses an early potential location for the show (London Battersea Park?). She discusses guarding George's legacy, and hearing and seeing the show while keeping George in mind. 10/18/2007 - Two discussions about performing in Cirque shows in separate interviews with "O" original cast and creation artist, Russian swing diver Anastassia Dobrynina and "Mystere" bungee and Korean plank performer Margalee Drolet. The "O" interview discusses creation and Franco Dragone's irritation with the extensive automation, and also features some soundboard audio from the show. The Drolet interview talks about working in the Cirque environment and coming back to the show after maternity leave. 06/26/2008 - Kyle Stokely, a 12-year old performer in LOVE. Also re- listing of the George and Gilles Martin interview. Stokely talks about how he got the part, what he does in the show, and what life is like as a young performer. He also talks about the famous people he's met as a cast member, including the surviving Beatles. 11/18/2008 - Guy Laliberte! - A short interview recorded outside (so Laliberte could smoke). Friess asks some good questions about Criss Angel, Cirque's dominance on the strip, and the investment in Cirque by Dubai. Though short Laliberte speaks frankly. 03/10/2009 - A special video episode covering a day of Cirque Dance Auditions in Las Vegas. First focusing on teaching the candidates a section of dance from "Come Together" they perform it as a group and in groups of 4 in the audition studio. Then comes improve, where they are given a word and presented with previously-unknown music and must react to it (an improve here based on the word "Chaplinesque" is fun). The 9:20 video notes just 60 of the 400 dancers auditioning were accepted. 02/08/2010 - Cirque President Daniel Lamarre - This long interview, recorded when Freiss was in Montreal to do a profile of Cirque discusses a wide range of topics, and Freiss isn't shy about asking tough probing questions. In a fascinating discussion, Lamarre talks matter-of-factly about Cirque's business plans, the problems (and possible solutions) with Banana Shpeel, Believe, and Zaia. He talks about expanding into the "proscenium theater" market and the Kodak LA show. He also breaks news about a show going into Radio City Music Hall, and how the Dubai show is now on more or less permanent hold. Highly recommended! 02/15/2010 - Franco Dragone (again!) - Another fascinating conversation with the compelling Belgian director. Here Franco talks about the history of why he left Cirque and what he thinks of their expansion plans (not his style). He mentions he thinks Believes problems are in the writing, and talks about the challenges of working with Celine Dion and not overpowering her with the Dragone "brand." He also talks about an upcoming arena show he's working on based on "Kung Fu Panda" and his incredibly expensive Macao show "House of Dancing Waters." Another highly recommended episode. In the last month, we also caught a new Cirque-specific podcast on KNPR < http://www.knpr.org/son/archive/index.cfm >: 02/22/2010 - Viva Elvis debut - A discussion with members of the cast. Though the interviewer could have been stronger, there is a good discussion of the costuming, visiting Graceland, and the story of Elvis' older brother. The wardrobe guy is dominant and comes off very polished. Reuben Pavel - Head of Wardrobe Marla Lowery - Dancer Dea Norberg - Singer Kit Chatham - Percussionist And if you know of any other audio interviews of Cirque, let me know by sending me an email to tourdemondo@yahoo.com and I'll list them in a future installment! ------------------------------------------------------- "Cirque du Soleil Unveils VIVA ELVIS" By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials {Feb.19.2010} ------------------------------------------------------- VIVA ELVIS BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY VINCENT PATTERSON Cirque du Soleil, in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, a CKX, Inc company, is thrilled to unveil today its latest resident show Viva ELVIS(tm), at ARIA Resort & Casino(tm) at CityCenter in Las Vegas. Viva ELVIS, a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music, is a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley. Nostalgia, modernity and raw emotion provide the backdrop for his immortal voice and the exhilaration and beauty of his music. Created in the image of The King of Rock 'n' Roll - powerful, sexy, whimsical, truly unique and larger than life - the show highlights an American icon who transformed popular music and whose image embodies the freedom, excitement and turbulence of his era. Significant moments in his life - intimate, playful and grandiose - blend with timeless songs that remain as relevant today as when they first hit the top of the charts. Viva ELVIS focuses on the essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of Las Vegas: Elvis Presley. "On a creative level, it was extremely stimulating to draw our inspiration from this musical icon," said Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil. "Viva ELVIS showcases the raw energy and pure talent of Elvis and highlights the exhilaration and beauty of his music on a grand scale." "It makes perfect sense that Elvis should live on in Las Vegas, where his iconic status was cemented," said Robert F.X. Sillerman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CKX, Inc. "When we teamed with Cirque du Soleil, we knew that any show they created would match Elvis' larger-than-life presence. So we were pleased to open the vaults at Graceland and make available to Cirque du Soleil historic archival materials, recordings and concert footage that would help them create a show that will carry Elvis' legacy into the future." "An evolutionary destination designed to transform Las Vegas at its core, CityCenter is larger than life, just like Elvis himself," said Bill McBeath, President and COO of ARIA Resort & Casino. "We want to bring the element of fun to ARIA, the centerpiece of CityCenter. Viva ELVIS will bring the King of Rock 'n' Roll back to Las Vegas for millions of his fans and create a buzz that will enable his persona to attract untold numbers of new followers." "Elvis has always been in the forefront of new, contemporary entertainment and technology," said Priscilla Presley. "I believe Viva ELVIS continues this and reaches out and expands his legacy in a new, creative and exciting way." "The show's acrobatic elements, set designs and other artistic components are part of an overall creative vision designed to showcase the timeless music of Elvis, his unique voice and unequaled talent as a performer," said Gilles Ste-Croix, Senior Vice-president of Creative Content and New Project Development at Cirque du Soleil. "The unique strength and power of Elvis was in his voice," said Vincent Paterson, the show's Writer and Director. "I was greatly inspired by the originality and complexity of this musical legend. What I tried to paint, in all humility, is the show he might have created today." THE CREATIVE TEAM ----------------- Artistic Guide Guy Laliberté Artistic Guide Gilles Ste-Croix Writer and Director Vincent Paterson Director of Creation Armand Thomas Musical Director and Arranger Erich van Tourneau Set Designer Mark Fisher Costume Designer Stefano Canulli Acrobatic performance Designer Daniel Cola Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer Guy St-Amour Lighting Designer Marc Brickman Image Content Designer Ivan Dudynsky Sound Designer Jonathan Deans Choreographers Bonnie Story Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo Mark Swanhart Catherine Archambault Props Designer Patricia Ruel Makeup Designer Nathalie Gagné SET DESIGN, ACROBATIC EQUIPMENT AND PROPS ----------------------------------------- The lines between scenery elements, acrobatic equipment and props in Viva ELVIS are not always clear - and that, according to designer Mark Fisher, was a deliberate choice. The design of the Elvis Theater has a conventional proscenium layout reminiscent of an opera house. The stage is wide and the backstage area and wings are vast. They have to accommodate the large-scale set elements and the need for speed in changing scenes imposed by the rapid pace of the show. The sides and the rear of the stage are fixed areas while the center is composed of 16 platforms, separated into 12 sections which can rise to a height of ten feet. Depending on the scene, the platforms may at various times in the show support performers, singers, dancers or set elements. The widest platform measures 18 feet by 80 feet and is raised by four powerful motors 26 feet below the stage. In the image of the King of Rock 'n' Roll "Elvis has transcended reality and become a kind of mythic figure," says Mark Fisher. "So his reappearance in Las Vegas has to be done on a scale that reflects that status." Mark Fisher's designs illustrate many of the most significant events in the life and career of Elvis, notably for the following scenes: Show Opening Scene The opening number features a giant jukebox. The chrome and gloss black structure is 70 feet wide and 22 feet high with dance platforms on two levels. It incorporates a 50-foot tall video screen. The gigantic Blue Suede Shoe that appears on the stage is 29 feet long, weighs 7,000 lbs and is made of steel and fiberglass. Got A Lot of Livin' To Do The set for the Got A Lot of Livin' To Do features seven trampolines and the whole structure was inspired by Elvis' love of fairgrounds, which he would visit with his friends after hours. The structure weighs some 30 tons and takes up the full 78-foot width of the stage, is 23 feet deep and 32 feet tall. Jailhouse Rock The challenge for Mark Fisher was to come up with a set for Jailhouse Rock that would reference the iconic set used in the film, but at the same time be original and fresh. He based his new design on the technical requirements for a circus art called "marche inversée." The structure incorporates ten tracks for acrobats to walk upside down, attached by their feet, while dancers perform right side up on other levels. The 82,000-pound set is 60 feet wide, 45 feet deep and almost 40 feet tall. Up to 36 artists appear on it at the same time. Viva Las Vegas Used in the last few songs in the show, this set captures the glamor of Las Vegas with a huge ceremonial staircase as its central feature. Pavilions on the sides house the musicians, and decks above the pavilions serve as stages for the dancers, jugglers and other circus artists. To complete the glamor and provide the show with a climax, there are two beautiful gold-leaf sculptures of Elvis in iconic poses from the peak of his popularity in Vegas. The predominant color of the whole set and theatre is gold in a reference to the baroque era as well as to Elvis' own identification with gold as the universal symbol for the wealth of kings, and as a stylized reference to all of his gold records. Acrobatic equipment - larger than life Given its larger than life scale - as befits a show about Elvis - some of the acrobatic equipment could be considered part of the set design, too: * A tubular aluminum structure measuring 45 feet by 18 feet that supports two acrobats who represent Elvis and his twin brother who died at birth, is instantly recognizable as a guitar. * A huge 15,000-pound structure that consists of five fixed bars and two sets of parallel bars on three levels, does not so much dominate the stage as blend with Mark Fisher's overall design for the Return to Sender sequence, which represents Elvis's army training. * Two large hoops - symbolizing Elvis and Priscilla's engagement rings - are seven feet in diameter. Two acrobats perform on each hoop. "'Larger than life' are the watchwords that inspired our acrobatic approach to Viva ELVIS," says Daniel Cola, the show's Acrobatic Performance Designer. A few more details * The superhero characters and the set for Got A Lot of Livin' To Do were inspired by the Marvel comics that Elvis had read since he was a boy. * The giant lasso used in the Western sequence is 40 feet long, and three giant "cowboys" representing Elvis complete the decor. They are made of fiberglass and measure 35, 31 and 17 feet high. * The American flag used in the Return to Sender scene is made of genuine long underwear and boxer shorts, and has only 48 stars because Elvis entered the service in 1958, the year before Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the Union. * The wedding cake is a scale replica of Elvis and Priscilla's wedding cake. * The curtain and the stage floor are decorated with golden disks that recall the 151 Elvis Presley albums, singles and EPs that went gold, platinum or multi-platinum in the USA. THE COSTUMES ------------ The Rock'n'Roll Rebel Elvis Presley defined the image of the Rock'n'Roll rebel in the '50s and '60s, first with pink and black suits, then with leather jackets, black pants, a pompadour hairstyle and a casual manner. This iconic image, which embodies all the excitement, turbulence and the ideal of freedom of the era, is still on the cutting edge 50 years later. Flirting with the look of the Elvis years The Viva ELVIS costumes are inspired by Presley's life, his entourage, his concerts and his films. The fabulous imagination of '50s and '60s America, which was expressed through the cinema, advertising and magazines of the time, was a source of inspiration for costume designer Stefano Canulli. But his work is neither a reproduction of stereotypes and details of the period, nor is it a retro aesthetic. "I flirted with the look of the Elvis years through an approach that is both classic and graphic," says Stefano. "I brought to it a contemporary touch that reflects the vitality of the era. I've borrowed from 1950s design and sublimated it to create a world of eclectic Technicolor lines to come up with a dynamic fantasy that highlights the body." Costume Closeups * Offset printing was used to create the anatomical patterns on the comic book superhero-inspired costumes in the Got a Lot of Living To Do number. * The Western scene, features printed solid colors on a sponge mesh fabric that is rarely used for clothing, but extremely useful for its properties of rigidity and flexibility. The cuts are emphasized with contrasting colors, while the cowgirls' costumes feature fake fur tutus in a cowhide pattern. * Synthetic paper material was used to create the romantic 'letter dresses' of the late '50s. * The striped prison uniforms in the Jailhouse Rock scene were given a futuristic look with silver piping. Production Details * For the first time at Cirque du Soleil, some of the costume accessories use flocking - coating a surface with fibers to give it the appearance of velvet. * For the final scene of the show, almost all the artists are wearing a variation of the famous Elvis jumpsuit. There are approximately 50 of them, using a total of 250 yards of fabric in a fiery kaleidoscope of colors. Each is decorated with embroidered images that evoke the world of Elvis - objects, food, animals, personal effects and so on. * Urethane foam wigs recreate the Elvis hairstyle in a Japanese manga comic strip interpretation. * The showgirls' costumes are decorated with colorful feathers printed on transparent acetate to create the illusion of a plume of crystal feathers. * The costumes are ornamented with some 100,000 crystals. * The show calls for more than 450 pairs of shoes and 150 custom wigs. * There is a total of nearly 400 Viva ELVIS costumes, employing some 1,500 components such as shoes, wigs and dresses. THE MUSIC --------- Viva ELVIS highlights the music of an American icon who changed rock and roll forever. Elvis Presley created an art form for the masses with his voice, his movements and his provocative image as the herald of adolescent rebellion in the 1950s and 1960s. His music was an explosive mixture of rhythm and blues, gospel, country and the music of the South that brought rock and roll to the forefront of popular music. Evoking the spirit of Elvis in a contemporary perspective By creating a reinterpretation of the music of Elvis, Cirque du Soleil set out to present the songs of the King of Rock 'n' Roll in a contemporary form that evokes the spirit of Elvis in every way. "What would the songs of Elvis be like if he were doing them for the first time today?" asks Musical Director and Arranger Erich van Tourneau. "With all humility, I set out to evoke the soul and the spirit of Elvis Presley, while building a bridge between his music and future generations of fans." A fusion of Southern music and the culture of rock The styles of Viva ELVIS move from Delta blues to rockabilly, soul to gospel, through Dixie and Southern folk music. Some of the songs even evoke garage rock and punk, steeped in waves of hip-hop and urban music. But one thing is certain and remains consistent: the sound of Viva ELVIS is pure rock. Tapping into the rich catalog of Elvis One of the biggest challenges was to establish a balance in the selection of songs. The score had to include enough of Elvis's hits but not be a simple "best-of" playlist. Some of the songs were chosen to fit the narrative of the show, but above all it was Presley's boundless energy and his disarming charisma that dictated van Tourneau's choices. "I wanted to highlight his rebel side, recall his sexy and provocative facets and seize the powerful and charismatic Elvis you see in the documentary Elvis '56 and Elvis, the television broadcast of his 1968 comeback concert," he says. One thing's for sure: choosing thirty songs from such a rich catalog of work by the greatest songwriters of the era was as delicate a task as it was challenging. Sampling and textures Armed with tens of thousands of samples of Elvis's voice, Erich van Tourneau, assisted by Ugo Bombardier, often wove several sequences and colors into the same songs, sometimes changing the key. In creating his remix, Erich was looking to accentuate and boost the emotional charge of the songs. For example, he incorporated ragga rhythms into King Creole, and urban and hip-hop sounds into Blue Suede Shoes. But in all such cases, the watchword was to be respectful of the spirit of the original recordings. The voice of Elvis The live singers in Viva ELVIS are all female; the only male voice is that of Elvis himself - on the grounds that only Elvis could possibly do justice to Elvis when it came to portraying his vitality and seductive charm. Isolating his voice on the original recordings was a major technical challenge, because his voice and the instruments were almost always recorded on the same tracks. A few more details * Before starting work, Erich van Tourneau and Ugo Bombardier reviewed and recorded 914 authorized and unauthorized albums and countless films, concert recordings, interviews and home recordings - a job that took more than 3,000 hours! * 17,765 samples of Elvis songs - the raw material of the show - were made during the process of creating the musical score. * In addition to the four female singers, the team of nine musicians consists of a drummer, a bassist, two guitarists, a pianist, a trombonist, a saxophonist, a trumpeter and a percussionist. SCENE DESCRIPTION ----------------- BLUE SUEDE SHOES One of the seminal songs that propelled Elvis to fame, Blue Suede Shoes opens the show with raucous abandon, featuring a dynamic ensemble of 30 dancers and 24 acrobats boogying, bouncing and flying through the air. A giant jukebox adorns the stage until a giant blue suede shoe rolls on. The eight-piece band and four female singers energize a showcase filled with Elvis imagery, colorful graphics and vintage footage of euphoric fans. DON'T BE CRUEL This number pays tribute to Elvis' fantastic recording career and the sheer volume of his work. Twenty-four dancers take the stage for the classic song, featuring glittering images of flying gold records on eight LED panels, and six enormous RCA and Sun gold records lowered from the rafters. ONE NIGHT WITH YOU An epic-sized guitar, a symbol of Elvis' love of music and his larger- than-life persona, serves as an imaginary playground for Elvis and his twin brother Jesse Garon, who died at birth. The song is a duet between a female singer at a piano and Elvis himself. ALL SHOOK UP Gospel music was at the very core of Elvis' artistry. This powerful rendition of an Elvis classic, performed by one of the singers in a rich setting of colorful stained glass imagery, lends the dance number a Southern revival feel. SAVED Elvis loved singing gospel more than any other musical genre. In fact, each of his three Grammys was for a gospel recording. This euphoric number combines dance with acrobatics. GOT A LOT OF LIVIN' TO DO Full of thrills and daring feats, Got A Lot Of Livin' To Do is a trampoline number inspired by street acrobatics and Elvis' fascination with comic books, amusement parks and superheroes. Seven acrobats in stylized superhero costumes defy gravity in a stunning cavalcade of synchronized jumps, leaps and bounces. HEARTBREAK HOTEL A ballad of love, sorrow and separation, Heartbreak Hotel features four dance couples - the men dressed as army officers and the women wearing airmail envelope dresses. They are torn between loyalty to country and their emotional ties to their loved ones. LOVE ME TENDER A duet sung by Elvis and a female singer is underscored by a montage of still photographs and newsreel footage of Elvis' two years in the army. RETURN TO SENDER Boot camp as performance art - a large ensemble cast of dancers, acrobats and marching band musicians puts on a dizzying array of hip hop moves, and high-bar calisthenics. Backed by a gigantic American flag made of whimsical stars and stripes, the sharp, compelling movements are emblematic of precision, pride and patriotism - all highly distinctive characteristics of Elvis himself. ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT This aerial pas-de-deux features a soldier and his girlfriend in a dreamy ode to their love and devotion - and their efforts to stay together during his tour of duty by writing to each other. WESTERN SCENE Musicians gather around a campfire in a reference to the style and camaraderie of the '68 Comeback Special, and perform a medley of songs on acoustic instruments while two cowboys spin their guns and twirl their lassos in a playful routine. BURNING LOVE A cascade of movie clips pays homage to Elvis' Hollywood career. The live band rocks the house and punctuates classic dialogue delivered by the King. BOSSA NOVA A young guy triumphantly shows off at a party by building a tower of eight chairs and topping it off with a one-arm handstand. KING CREOLE New Orleans sets the tone for this lusty rendition of the title song from one of Elvis' best-loved films. It's Reggae, it's Calypso, it's Cajun, and above all it's fun as a female singer is accompanied by Elvis in a visual feast of stop-action film clips and dance. JAILHOUSE ROCK Jailhouse Rock marked the pinnacle of Elvis' movie career. It's also the centerpiece of Viva ELVIS. A dramatic, mysterious entrance gives way to a high-octane dance and acrobatic fusion performed to the pulsating beat of the familiar anthem. In a tribute to the original film sequence, the iconic prison set is dramatically updated in a number that flips the world upside down. IT'S NOW OR NEVER The sensuality of the tango and the sophistication of a lounge song connect with the audacity of an innovative pole performance featuring eight female performers and the four men they seduce. CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE Home movies of Elvis and Priscilla's courtship lead into footage of their marriage ceremony. A singer performs a duet with Elvis atop a replica of their wedding cake to accompany graceful ballet dancers and roller-skaters. LOVE ME/DON'T Two seven-foot hoops - scale replicas of Elvis and Priscilla's engagement rings - descend from the grid for two couples to perform a sensual cerceaux act to a rocking arrangement of Love Me. A female singer and guitarist join the party for Don't. VIVA LAS VEGAS Showgirls wearing colorful plumes parade down the central staircase of a spectacular stage set framed by two gold Elvis statues. All the other cast members are wearing shimmering reinterpretations of classic Elvis jumpsuits as a medley of songs pays tribute to the glitz and sparkle of Elvis' Vegas years. SUSPICIOUS MINDS Suspicious Minds opens with a soulful riff and builds to a thunderous finish. A couple caught in a trap of passion and anger express their feelings for each other in an energetic acrobatic dance. Once the duo is reconciled, the set fills with performers emerging at the top of the staircase in fringed jumpsuits, recreating Elvis' signature stage moves. HOUND DOG The entire cast brings the show to an unforgettable finale with a dynamic, modern celebration of the song that marked Elvis' rise to fame. ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly newsletter, available through subscription via Yahoo! Groups or on the World Wide Web in text format at the newsletter's website: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. To subscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination- subscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To unsubscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To Subscribe via Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News) use the following: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >. To view back issues, or other online Newsletter content, please visit us at: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. 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! Newsletter Volume 10, Number 3 (Issue #74) - March 2010 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2010 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. { Mar.07.2010 } =======================================================================