====================================================================== ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 4 APRIL 2010 ISSUE #75 ======================================================================= Bonjour et bienvenue! We present to you a very exciting issue of Fascination! First, and foremost, we're celebrating - it's our 75th issue! Who would have thought that we'd reach seventy-five issues when our first issue was published on September 1, 2001, but here we are! We're not sure what the future holds for us, but we think reaching this milestone is very exciting! Second, and as equally exciting, on Thursday, April 8th, Cirque du Soleil announced the title and details for its newest touring production - TOTEM - and it looks great! See all of the details currently available for TOTEM at press-time within and continue to check with us as new details develop. We'll also be there for the show's premiere so we'll be in the audience to deliver to you a first-hand account of the show! Besides TOTEM we have a couple of great articles for you this month. Rodolfo Elizondo, Mexican fan extraordinaire, chimes in with a review of Dralion's final Grand Chapiteau performances in Mexico City. And to celebrate the eve of CirqueCon 2010: New York City + Montréal, Ricky takes the opportunity to outline the previous CirqueCon adventure - CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey! Let's get started! Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > - Ricky "Richasi" Russo =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * 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 o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Historia -- Cirque du Soleil's History o) Fascination! Features *) "Cirque du Soleil unveils TOTEM" By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials *) "DRALION final show in Mexico City: A magical night!" By: Rodolfo Elizondo - Monterrey, NL (MEX) {Issue Exclusive} *) "Vive Apasionadamente! - CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey" By: Richard Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) {Issue Exclusive} *) "Elvis Sounds Good, and Here’s Why" By: Keith Johnson – Seattle, Washington (USA) {Issue Exclusive} o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= New La Nouba Juggler Deals in Volume {Mar.05.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Dewayne Bevel, Theme Park Ranger for the Orlando Sentinel, had a chance recently to sit down with Anthony Gatto, La Nouba’s newest act. # # # "You can say that I’m a technical numbers juggler, which means I just do a lot of stuff," he says. "I do routines with a lot of things in the air. A typical juggling act might start with three balls, and I start with five balls and a ball bouncing on my head, and build up from there." He simultaneously engages the audience, but that’s another challenge. "Jugglers, we spend the entire act looking away from them. You can only see our chin," he says. # # # Read more of the article here: < http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-theme- park-disney-cirque-juggler-gatto20100304,0,696577.column > {SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel} Banana Shpeel - Under New Management? {Mar.11.2010} ----------------------------------------------- BANANA SHPEEL PRODUCTION UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Producer gone bananas with revised performance schedule New York, March 10, 2010 - Marty Schmelky, producer extraordinaire of such box-offices smashes as The Phantom of the Banana; Annie Get Your Banana; Fiddler on the Banana; The Best Little Banana in Texas; Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Banana; and Gentlemen Prefer Bananas, announced today that he has closed the deal with Cirque du Soleil to allow Schmelky Productions to produce the new show Banana Shpeel. Under his management, Banana Shpeel will begin performances at the Beacon Theatre (2124 Broadway) on April 29, 2010, instead of March 17. "To the good people of New York and the entire tri-state area who have so wonderfully supported my shows for all these decades, my newest creation Banana Shpeel still needs more time to ripen. The truth is, my friends, that the bananas are still a little green," explains cigar-puffing Schmelky. "I am still holding auditions because Banana Shpeel has to be like me: bold, wacky and colorful." In describing the new show, Schmelky is moving in a new direction from his previous productions. "I’m mixing together different ingredients and we will showcase dance, comedy and circus arts in the fancy schmancy Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side." Those who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster for performances through April 28 will automatically be credited the ticket price and convenience charges. The credit should post to the credit card account within 7 to 10 business days. A special discount sent via e-mail will be offered to ticket holders of cancelled dates, which will be valid for performances starting April 29. For customer service inquiries, please go to www.ticketmaster.com/h/asktm.html. Banana Shpeel tickets for performances from April 29 through August 29, 2010 can be purchased at www.schmelkyproductions.com or www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-866-858-0008. Performance Schedule April 29 - May 16 Wednesday thru Saturday at 8pm Sundays at 3pm May 21 - August 29 Wednesday at 2pm & 8pm Thursday & Friday at 8pm Saturday at 2pm and 8pm Sunday at 2pm & 6pm {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} Cirque’s Social Media "Balancing Act" {Mar.17.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Jennifer Leggio from ZDNet recently took a moment to speak with Jessica Berlin, Cirque du Soleil’s social media manager, about her role with the company and how she manages Cirque du Soleil’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. # # # A bit of a pioneer for Cirque du Soleil, Berlin says that her current position was created after she became an advocate for giving bloggers the same access that Cirque would give to any mainstream media outlet. "I strongly believe that bloggers can tell the story of our shows better than anyone else because it’s not as formal as a magazine articles or as structured as something in the paper. It is someone’s first-person account of their experience and so many readers will trust their opinion on the show," Berlin said. More important, Berlin understands that the new influencers, or those who serve niche interest groups, might be better at driving awareness to the audience that Cirque wants versus some of the mainstream press. # # # Read more of the article here: < http://blogs.zdnet.com/feeds/?p=2551 > {SOURCE: ZDNet} CDS and Reebok Continue to "Fit to Flex" {Mar.17.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Montreal, March 17, 2010 - Following the worldwide success of JUKARI Fit to Fly™ Cirque du Soleil & Reebok today launch JUKARI Fit to Flex™, the second innovative workout to come out of the ground-breaking partnership between the leading women’s fitness brand and the world renowned entertainment company. JUKARI Fit to Flex™ is a dynamic and effective workout that uses the musicality and vibrant colors of Cirque du Soleil to bring fitness to life and create a visual spectacle of strong shapes and flowing movements. JUKARI Fit to Flex™ launches first in Montreal, Canada the home of Cirque du Soleil and will rollout in gyms in the USA and Europe from April and in Asia and Latin America later this year. JUKARI Fit to Flex™ is a dynamic and effective workout that uses the musicality and vibrant colors of Cirque du Soleil to bring fitness to life and create a visual spectacle of strong shapes and flowing movements. Women can explore and enhance their flexibility, muscle tone and coordination in a fun, instructor- led class with the help of the specially designed JUKARI Band™. The light-weight, elastic JUKARI Band™ offers gentle assistance in each of the unique moves which allows for a lengthening and sculpting full-body workout. Says Katrin Ley, Head of Women’s at Reebok: "JUKARI Fit to Flex™ is the perfect complement to that workout - once again we’ve merged Reebok’s expertise in and passion for women fitness with the stunning theatricality, excitement and innovation of our partner Cirque du Soleil. There is, quite simply, nothing else like it on offer at the gym." Sara Haley, Reebok’s Global Fitness Specialist for JUKARI Fit to Flex™, worked with Cirque du Soleil over the past year to create the workout. She said: " As part of an integrated fitness programme, women also want to improve and enhance their flexibility. As the creative inspiration behind the project, Cirque du Soleil played a crucial role in creating the program. As Lyn Heward, Creative Director of the Reebok-Cirque du Soleil program says: "This is a true partnership in the sense that each move in the JUKARI Fit to Flex™ workout has drawn its inspiration from the graceful yet powerful moves that Cirque du Soleil artists create with their bodies. With this goal in mind, we worked closely with Reebok to ensure that each exercise is accessible for all women." Says Mario D’Amico, CMO at Cirque du Soleil: "Our partnership with Reebok continues to grow from strength to strength as we merge the skills of both organisations - Cirque’s athleticism and elegance of movement with Reebok's knowledge of women's fitness trends and preferences." "Together, we have created striking new gym workouts that women have responded to in a phenomenal way which we are both proud to be a part of." {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} Cirque at Charlottetown Summerfest {Mar.31.2010} ----------------------------------------------- Over the next three years, the Special Events team at Cirque du Soleil will oversee the creation and production of an outdoor event designed especially for the new Charlottetown SummerFest. This festival is set to take place from June 30 to July 4, 2010. This exclusive event will be presented for the very first time this year and will be back for two more consecutive summers. This is also the first time that the Special Events team at Cirque du Soleil takes part in a Maritimes festival. "We want to add a little Cirque touch with a unique, customized production that will be presented only in Charlottetown," explains Yasmine Khalil, Special Events Director at Cirque du Soleil. "This event, designed especially for the festival, will be nothing like our usual shows." Maritimes audiences who have seen Cirque du Soleil shows in arenas will discover a new expression of creativity by the international artistic company. For several years now, the Special Events team at Cirque du Soleil has been producing original, custom-made artistic events for the general public all over the world. Working in so many different places, Cirque has shown its ability to adapt its creativity to any context. Be it a one-time performance or an event taking place over several weeks, the creative process is based on a desire to produce a unique artistic display. Inspired by the cultural, architectural or sometimes historical particularities of each event, the team offers high-quality, unifying experiences in a myriad of forms. The repertoire of the Cirque du Soleil Special Events team, which draws from a pool of multidisciplinary talents, includes one-of-a-kind festive gatherings. In Zaragoza, Spain, the daily Awakening of the Serpent parade amazed over 2 million visitors on the site of the 2008 World Expo. In Toronto, the team turned the sites of the 2009 edition of the Luminato festival into a picturesque meeting place between two colourful communities as more than 450,000 people watched on. In honour of the 400 th anniversary of Quebec City, the team celebrated the city's history with an original show event for over 90,000 people. In just one summer, more than 1 million spectators saw the Les Chemins Invisibles street event, which quickly became a cultural attraction in Quebec City. The special Cirque du Soleil event that will be part of Charlottetown SummerFest will be revealed at the start of the festival. {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} ======================================================================= 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 > 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 9, 2010 to Dec 12, 2010 Dralion: New Tour Coming Soon! Koozå: 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: 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 27, 2010 Santiago, CL -- Jul 10, 2010 to Aug 15, 2010 Lime, PE -- Aug 29, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010 Bogota, CO -- Oct 9, 2010 to Nov 21, 2010 NOTE: Begins Arena Tour after Bogota! Totem: Montréal, QC -- Apr 22, 2010 to Jul 11, 2010 Québec City, QC -- Jul 22, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010 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 (*) Varekai: 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 (*) Zurich, CH -- TBA Paris, FR -- TBA --------------------------------- 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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: 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 27, 2010 Newcastle, UK -- Jun 30, 2010 to Jul 4, 2010 Dublin, IE -- Jul 7, 2010 to Jul 18, 2010 Nottingham, UK -- Jul 21, 2010 to Jul 25, 2010 London, UK - Jul 28, 2010 to Aug 1, 2010 Hamburg, DE - Aug 19, 2010 to Aug 22, 2010 Dortmund, DE - Aug 25, 2010 to Aug 29, 2010 Berlin, DE - Sep 1, 2010 to Sep 4, 2010 Munich, DE - Sep 8, 2010 to Sep 12, 2010 Zaragoza, ES - Sep 22, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010 Granada, ES -- Sep 29, 2010 to Oct 3, 2010 Madrid, ES -- Oct 6, 2010 to Oct 10, 2010 Lisbon, PT -- Oct 13, 2010 to Oct 24, 2010 Prague, CZ -- Nov 12, 2010 to Nov 14, 2010 Alegría: 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 26, 2010 to May 30, 2010 Sacramento, CA -- Jun 2, 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 Quidam: Kingson, ON -- TBA Kelowna, BC -- TBA Montreal, QC -- TBA [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 April 29th through August 29; Days of the week and times vary. 2010 Ticket Prices (Regular Performances): [May 17th through August 29th] 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): [April 29th through May 16th] 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. Performance Schedule: o) April 29 - May 16 Wednesday thru Saturday at 8pm Sundays at 3pm o) May 21 - August 29 Wednesday at 2pm & 8pm Thursday & Friday at 8pm Saturday at 2pm and 8pm Sunday at 2pm & 6pm ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE'S SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub o) Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, Youtube & Flickr --------------------------------------- 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! Stay tuned for new and exciting features! --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Flickr --------------------------------------------------- --- [ ALEGRIA ] --- {Mar.05} Alegria does what Cirque du Soleil does best - Read all about what Chicago had to say! LINK /// < http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=363656 > {Mar.09} Meet the Cast! FOTO [4] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=186878&id=38543815745&ref=mf > {Mar.19} After the Champaign IL premiere, a local reporter compared Alegria to a Beethoven symphony and a Leonardo da Vinci painting! We are very proud of our team who continue to "aww" audiences all over the world! LINK /// < http://www.herald-review.com/news/local/ article_41d2ed72-2d50-11df-bb8b-001cc4c002e0.html > {Mar.24} Hello Omaha! We'll be premiering tonight... don't forget to get your tickets! Check out one of your very own KETV anchor, John Oakey, try out the fire-knife dance. VIDEO [2:40] /// < http://www.ketv.com/video/22929169/ index.html> > --- [ BANANA SHPEEL ] --- {Mar.03} What do the dancers of Banana Shpeel by Cirque du Soleil have to say about "making music with their feet?" It's definitely a new twist on dance! Check out the video! LINK /// < http://video.msg.com/Videos/MSG-Networks/ Behind-the-Scenes-Cirque-du-Soleil-s-Banana- Shpeel-New-Twist-on-Dance > {Mar.10} It’s true, we need more time to let Banana Shpeel by Cirque du Soleil ripen. And now I’m in charge of the show. I’m Marty Schmelky and I’ve produced lots of great shows in New York...Phantom of the Banana, Fiddler on the Banana, The Best Little Banana in Texas, and many others. Stay tuned! {Mar.10} At our Open House in February, I was feeling generous and gave out complimentary tickets for Banana Shpeel shows on March 18, 19 and 20. OOPS! If you have complimentary tickets for one of those shows, I’ll happily exchange them for another Banana Shpeel performance. With the new start date of April 29, unfortunately some Banana Shpeel performances were cancelled. I’m sorry to cause any inconvenience, but, believe me, that extra time will be worth it as we fine-tune the show. For those who bought tickets for shows from March 17 to April 28, please click below for information on your automatic refund and special discount offer. LINK /// < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/banana- shpeel/tickets/new-york.aspx > {Mar.11} Oops. They're long gone. You really have to hand it to the Cirque du Soleil. When faced with an intractable dilemma like "Banana Shpeel," every other theatrical producer in the known universe would have pulled the plug by now. LINK /// < http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_ theater_loop/2010/03/cirque-du-soleil-fires- itself.html > {Mar.22} We are in rehearsals six days a week and everyone is busy. But, sometimes the cast has downtime on stage as musical adjustments are made or new ideas are hammered out. FOTO [2] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=4548&id=100000790378451&ref=mf > {Mar.25} Every once in a while I let the performers out of the theatre for a quick dose of sunshine. Choreographer Jared Grimes is on the left with a few of the dancers in Verdi Park right by the Beacon Theatre. FOTO [20] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php? oid=153330866799&view=all > --- [ KÀ ] --- {Mar.16} Hello, KÀ fans! Sorry again for the lack of posts this past week, we've been on the road a lot in the last month trying to spread some Cirque du Soleil joy! Please enjoy this interview with one of our artists, which includes a little peek at a Battle rehearsal. VIDEO [2:12] /// < http://vimeo.com/10167135 > --- [ KOOZA ] --- {Mar.11} Check out the Review in San Diego! LINK /// < http://www.thedailyaztec.com/tempo/all-the-world- s-a-stage-cirque-du-soleil-s-kooza-masters-some- serious-clowning-around-1.2188379 > {Mar.19} Press Coverage - San Diego LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=162888&id=34324811338&ref=mf > --- [ LA NOUBA ] --- {Mar.17} Here, The Green Bird shows off her special skills! VIDEO [0:16] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1412054504357&ref=mf > --- [ LOVE ] --- {Mar.08} Check out this rad video of Robin turned "Walrus" from LOVE! VIDEO [1:14] /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgWRAWY7tfU > {Mar.11} We think pop music matters - and so should you! Check out this FABULOUS review of the LOVE Documentary "All Together Now" from PopMatters.com - enjoy! LINK /// < http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/ 121821-all-together-now/ > {Mar.30} Thank you to all of our friends who voted LOVE "Best Show in Las Vegas" for the 3rd year in a row! THANK YOU!!! LINK /// < http://bestoflasvegas.com/2010/hotels/best-show/ > --- [ MYSTERE ] --- {Mar.16} Hello, Mystère fans! Sorry for the lack of posts this past week. We decided it wasn't hot enough in Las Vegas last week so we took (a piece) of our show on the road. To Abu Dhabi! We had the privilege to perform as part of this year's Laureus World Sports Awards, which will be broadcast on TV in 178 countries in the coming months, so keep an eye on your local listings! (We'll let you know when we know too...) VIDEO [1:07] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1240046648509&ref=mf > {Mar.20} Marco and Paulo Lorador performed the Hand-to-Hand act from Mystère at the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi. It was a quick visit - most of trip was spent in the air - but here's a small glimpse of our two days in Abu Dhabi. Enjoy! FOTO [63] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=194192&id=18155469918&ref=mf > {Mar.24} Mystère served as the backdrop for a wedding fashion spread in the April issue of SoCal Scene Magazine. The magazine was looking for an "Alice in Wonderland" theme, so we painted our roses red and threw one mad tea party. Thankfully, no heads were lost in the process! FOTO [42] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=195256&id=18155469918&ref=mf > --- [ "O" ] --- {Mar.09} Did you know that "O" is the first show in Cirque du Soleil history to have a Columbian artist and a South Korean artist? {Mar.19} We had such a great time with the Canadian Olympic women’s bobsled team tonight! They brought their Gold Medals with them and mentioned how they want a future Cirque show to involve bobsledding so they can join in on the fun! You never know...! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? pid=3488297&id=26000574416 > {Mar.22} Cutie and "Star of Tomorrow" Alex Pettyfer talks about "O"! LINK /// < http://www.teenhollywood.com/2010/03/18/ exclusive-interview-vanessa-hudgens-and-alex-petty > {Mar.25} Artists from "O" playing around at the 9th Annual Run Away with Cirque du Soleil! FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? pid=3528644&id=26000574416 > {Mar.30} Read about our "Man on Fire" Ray Wold in the AARP Bulletin! Ray Wold started out as a juggler, honing his skills in San Diego’s Balboa Park. But then he turned to working with fire and is now a member of the Cirque du Soleil troupe. "I do all these tricks with fire," he says, and considers himself meticulous with his stunts. At 50, Wold is hot in other ways, too, running a clown and entertainment business in Las Vegas during the day and performing in Cirque du Soleil’s O five evenings a week. LINK /// < http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/reinventing/ articles/older_performers_take_center_ring_at_ the_circus.html > --- [ QUIDAM ] --- {Mar.21} Tickets are now available for our stop in Buenos Aires in May FOTO [15] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=168955&id=35752277045&ref=mf > --- [ SALTIMBANCO ] --- {Mar.12} Foto di corsi di formazione a Pesaro. LINK /// < http://multimedia.quotidianonet.ilsole24ore.com/? media=14702&tipo=photo&id=448001&cat_principale_page =1&canale=0&canale_page=1 > {Mar.21} Some photos taken in training last Wednesday in Bologna. LINK /// < http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2010/03/18/foto/ acrobazie_di_corpi_e_di_colori_in_citt_arriva_cirque _du_soleil-2732322/1/ > {Mar.26} More than 22,000 tickets sold in Firenze !! We love you !! --- [ VAREKAI ] --- {Mar.26} Cirque du Soleil is building up the Big Top inside of the Munich Olympic Stadium. Take a look on the webcam of the Olympic Stadium! FOTO [4] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=166450&id=30414380348&ref=mf > --- [ VIVA ELVIS ] --- {Mar.04} Here's an in depth look behind the scenes at the technology in the show. There was so much content, it will be continued in next month's issue! LINK /// < http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1mza7/ TPiFebruary2010Issue/resources/index.htm > {Mar.29} Here is part 2 of the Total Production behind the scenes story. Viva ELVIS is on page 40. LINK /// < http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1n6iq/ TPiMarch2010Issue127/resources/index.htm > --- [ ZAIA ] --- {Mar.11} Here's some behind-the-scene photos of our first ever Costume Workshop outside Montreal! Look at the fabulous colors of fabrics and threads they have! FOTO [6] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=154840&id=34277887388&ref=mf > {Mar.15} The TV crew of High Life Dubai an the beautiful host Uma Gosh Deshpande visited ZAIA last Saturday! Here see Uma doing her stand-up at the foyer of ZAIA theatre! VIDEO [0:17] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=105727089448438&ref=mf > {Mar.17} Chippendales at ZAIA Theatre! The boys took some time out of their busy schedule in Macau. Watched ZAIA and visited our artists backstage! FOTO [4] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=156545&id=34277887388&ref=mf > --- [ ZED ] --- {Mar.04} ZED girls celebrated the doll festival and had fun wearing kimonos! FOTO [8] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=205395&id=41326571163&ref=mf> {Mar.23} The first of 3 special performances at Tokyo Disney Sea's Dock Side stage with Banquine, Zed, the clowns, the satyres, the Shaman and 3 lasso artists. It was great fun! FOTO [15] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=212156&id=41326571163&ref=mf > --- [ ZUMANITY ] --- {Mar.18} Congratulations to Edie (aka Christopher Kenney) who won Best Local Theatre Director for CityLife’s "Best of the Valley" Awards. LINK /// < http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2010/03/18/ news/local_news/iq_34796102.txt > {Mar.24} Check out our latest review by 303 Magazine! | Losing my shirt in a Vegas casino has never once appealed to me. Witnessing acrobats and aerialists lose their shirts in a Cirque du Soleil production is a completely different animal. Zumanity, the only Cirque show with actual nudity, has been on my to-do list for years. Even before I worked with a former cast member on a performance for Denver’s Suite 200, it was on my radar. I finally lost my Zumanity virginity Sunday night. And it was good. Very good. Read More! LINK /// < http://www.blog.303magazine.com/?p=1795 > {Mar.24} SoCal Scene Magazine Photo Shoot FOTO [5] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=160311&id=13931088846&ref=mf > {Mar.31} We're proud to be named one of Las Vegas' sexiest shows, courtesy of Fox Vegas and John Katsilometes. Check the link below to see what other shows made the cut! LINK /// < http://www.fox5vegas.com/video/23014248/index.html > ======================================================================= 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 kitchen is the heart of the Corteo "village", serving over 300 meals per day, six days per week, and providing a meeting place for cast and crew. o) The Corteo kitchen comprises two containers, six tents and a dining room with seating for 100 people, plus an open-air terrace that can accommodate an additional 50 people. o) Seventy specialists worked more than 35,000 hours to produce the first full set of KÀ costumes at the Cirque du Soleil headquarters in Montreal. o) For the Wash-up on the Shore scene of KÀ, the beach is created using 350 cubic feet of granular cork from Portugal. o) Mystère first complete run-through took place on premiere night. o) All the images projected onto the sky during performances of Mystère are pictures taken of the original cast training in Montreal before coming to Las Vegas. o) Over 110 bounces on the trampoline and over 65 teeterboard jumps are executed during a single performance of Mystère o) If all the cable used on Mystère were laid end to end, it would stretch from Treasure Island on Las Vegas Blvd. to the California border. o) Eighty percent of the fabric used in Cirque du Soleil costumes is custom-dyed. Silk is the most-used fabric because it wears and dyes well. o) Roughly 60% of Cirque's artists come from a sports background (gymnastics, acrosport, diving, synchronized swimming, among others). o) About 5% of Cirque's artists have competed in the Olympic Games. o) Canadian artists represent about 25% of Cirque's artistic staff. o) The 25'-diameter Sphere of ZAIA moves on three axes. It consists of an exoskeleton and weighs 4,000 lbs. Its 6 projectors beam integrated images in a full 360-degree radius o) The ZAIA troupe includes 18 dancers and brings together very disparate styles: Romanian gypsy dancing, tango, jigs, wave, breakdancing and modern dance. ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque du Soleil History ------------------------------------ * Apr.01.2003 -- "Varekai: Cirque du Soleil" Book Published * Apr.01.2008 -- Koozå opened Hartford, CT * Apr.01.2010 -- Varekai opened Munich, DE * Apr.02.1998 -- Alegría opened Barcelona * Apr.02.2002 -- Name of "Cirque 2002" Announced - Varekai * Apr.02.2003 -- BRAVO announced Cirque Variety Series ("Solstrom") * Apr.02.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Mobile, AL * Apr.04.2001 -- Dralion opened in New York * Apr.04.2006 -- M.A.C. became Official Cosmetic Supplier * Apr.04.2006 -- Cirque inked 3-year TV deal in UK * Apr.05.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened in Amsterdam (again) * Apr.05.2001 -- Quidam opened in Antwerp * Apr.05.2005 -- Name of "Cirque 2005" Announced - Corteo * Apr.06.2000 -- Dralion opened in San Jose, California * Apr.06.2006 -- «O» selected "Favorite Production Show" by "What’s On, The Las Vegas Guide" * Apr.06.2006 -- Cirque outsourced IT Department to CGI Group * Apr.07.2009 -- Name of "Cirque2009" Announced - "OVO" * Apr.07.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Bremen, DE * Apr.07.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Cleveland, OH * Apr.08.1988 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened San Francisco * Apr.08.1998 -- Quidam opened New York City * Apr.08.2005 -- Saltimbanco opened Paris * Apr.08.2010 -- Name of "Cirque2010" Announced - "TOTEM" * Apr.09.2004 -- Varekai opened Pittsburg * Apr.09.2009 -- Quidam opened Sheffield, UK (Temporarily Arena) * Apr.09.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Nashville, TN * Apr.09.2010 -- Koozå opened Portland, OR * Apr.09.2010 -- OVO opened New York City * Apr.10.2007 -- Cirque announced Saltimbanco Arena Tour * Apr.10.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Des Moines, IA * Apr.10.2009 -- Dralion opened Melbourne, Australia * Apr.11.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened New York City * Apr.11.2003 -- Dralion opened Baltimore * Apr.11.2006 -- "The Spark" Book Published * Apr.11.2007 -- Name of "Cirque 2007" Announced - Koozå * Apr.13.1989 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Miami, Florida * Apr.14.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Valencia, ES * Apr.15.2008 -- APM Music Launches New Film Trailer Library with Cirque du Soleil Composers * Apr.15.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Moline, IL * Apr.15.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Huntsville, AL * Apr.16.2003 -- SOLSTROM began filming in Montréal * Apr.16.2009 -- Quidam opened Glasgow, Scotland (Temporarily Arena) * Apr.16.2009 -- Koozå opened New York City * Apr.17.2008 -- Name of "Cirque Luxor" Announced - "Criss Angel: BELIEVE" * Apr.18.2002 -- Dralion opened San Diego * Apr.18.2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Geneva * Apr.18.2006 -- Ground is broken on Tokyo Permanent Production * Apr.18.2009 -- «O» Celebrated 5,000th Performance [7:30pm] * Apr.19.2006 -- Cirque announced "LOVE" at The Mirage * Apr.19.2007 -- Varekai opened Melbourne, Australia * Apr.19.2007 -- Koozå Premired in Montréal * Apr.20.2001 -- Saltimbanco 2000 opened Nagoya, Japan * Apr.20.2005 -- Alegría opened Nagoya, Japan * Apr.20.2008 -- DELIRIUM’s final curtain call [London, UK] * Apr.20.2008 -- Quidam opened Lisbon, Portugal * Apr.21.1994 -- Alegría premiered in Montréal * Apr.21.2005 -- Corteo premiered in Montréal * Apr.21.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Santiago, ES * Apr.21.2010 -- Corteo opened Sendai, Japan * Apr.22.1999 -- Dralion premiered in Montréal * Apr.22.2003 -- Cirque announced "Zumanity" at NY-NY * Apr.22.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened North Charleston, SC * Apr.23.1992 -- Saltimbanco Premiered in Montréal * Apr.23.1996 -- Quidam premiered in Montréal * Apr.23.2005 -- La Nouba celebrated 3000th performance [Saturday, 9:00pm] * Apr.23.2008 -- Dralion opened Fukuoka, Japan * Apr.23.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Cedar Rapids, IA * Apr.23.2009 -- OVO premiered in Montréal * Apr.23.2010 -- Quidam opened Porto Alegre * Apr.24.1997 -- Quidam opened Santa Monica * Apr.24.2002 -- Varekai premiered in Montréal * Apr.24.2003 -- Alegría opened Austin * Apr.24.2003 -- Varekai opened New York City * Apr.24.2007 -- Name of "WinterTale" Released - Wintuk * Apr.24.2008 -- Corteo opened Seattle, Washington * Apr.24.2009 -- After 15 years, Alegría’s Big Top Tour Ends * Apr.26.2002 -- Saltimbanco opened Barcelona * Apr.26.2008 -- Artisans de I'maginarie: The World of Cirque du Soleil is staged in Omotesando Hills, Tokyo * Apr.27.2000 -- Mystère celebrated 3000th Performance [Thursday, 10:30pm] * Apr.27.2006 -- Alegría opened Rome * Apr.27.2006 -- Corteo opened New York * Apr.28.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened San Sebastian * Apr.29.1997 -- Quidam opened in Santa Monica (again) * Apr.29.2004 -- Varekai opened Phoenix * Apr.29.2004 -- Saltimbanco opened Milan * Apr.29.2009 -- Cirque announces new shows in NYC * Apr.29.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Lakeland, FL * Apr.29.2010 -- Alegría arena opened Highland Heights * Apr.29.2010 -- Banana Shpeel opened New York City * Apr.30.1999 -- Alegría: Le Film premiered in Québec * Apr.30.2003 -- Alegría celebrated 3000th Performance [8:00pm/Austin] ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= Within... o) "Cirque du Soleil unveils TOTEM" By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials o) "DRALION final show in Mexico City: A magical night!" By: Rodolfo Elizondo - Monterrey, NL (MEX) {Issue Exclusive} o) "Vive Apasionadamente! - CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey" By: Richard Russo – Orlando, Florida (USA) {Issue Exclusive} o) "Elvis Sounds Good, and Here’s Why" By: Keith Johnson – Seattle, Washington (USA) {Issue Exclusive} -------------------------------------------------------------- "Cirque du Soleil unveils TOTEM" By: Cirque du Soleil, Press Room Materials -------------------------------------------------------------- CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - TOTEM A FASCINATING JOURNEY INTO THE EVOLUTION OF MANKIND WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ROBERT LEPAGE ABOUT THE SHOW -------------- TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for any ancient civilizations. Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential. SHOW NAME --------- The word "totem" contains the idea of the order of species. We carry in our bodies the potential of all species, all the way to our desire to fly- like the thunderbird at the top of the totem pole. CAST AND ACTS ------------- The cast of TOTEM comprises 52 performing artists from 19 countries. The theme of evolution extended into the acrobatic acts, which were selected to reflect the evolution of human motor functions. CREATORS -------- Guy Laliberte -- Artistic Guide Gilles Ste-Croix -- Artistic Guide Robert Lepage -- Writer & Director Neilson Vignola -- Director of Creation Carl Fillion -- Set & Props Designer Kym Barrett -- Costume Designer Bob & Bill -- Composers & Musical Directors Jeff Hall -- Choreographer Étienne Boucher -- Lighting Designer Pedro Pires -- Image Content Designer Jacques Boucher -- Sound Designer Pierre Masse -- Acrobatic Equipment & Rigging Designer Florence Pot -- Acrobatic Performance Designer Nathalie J. Simard -- Makeup Designer SET DESIGN & PROJECTIONS ------------------------ The Turtle - Support of the World /// At the heart heart of many founding myths that live on in a variety of legends and oral traditions, the turtle represents the earth and carries the entire weight of the world on its shell. This totemic animal is also omnipresent in the scenic environment of TOTEM. The large oval framework on stage represents the skeletal substructure of a huge turtle shell that serves both as a decorative set element and as acrobatic equipment. At the start of the show it is covered with a cloth printed with the shell markings of a forest turtle, reproduced through macro photography. Depending on the artistic needs of TOTEM, the skeleton is raised to the top of the tent or opened at an angle like an enormous shell. An organic world of multiple transformations /// The visual environment of TOTEM is an organic world, a marsh lined with reeds near an island (the stage), on which images are projected. Set designer Carl Fillion gave it curves and non-linear forms to reflect the natural world. Tilted slightly forward, the image marsh acts both as a stage entrance and as a projection surface. Through the magic of moving images it becomes a virtual swamp, a river source, a marsh, a lake, an ocean, a volcanic island, a pond and a starry sky. The images in the TOTEM projections are drawn from nature and were shot for the production in various parts of the world, including Iceland, Hawaii and Guatemala. Even the images of boiling lava were filmed by Image Content designer Pedro Pires. The "scorpion bridge," which serves as a mobile platform connecting the marsh to the scene features variable geometry allowing it to adapt to each tableau. In one of the clown numbers, for example, it becomes the prow of a boat, then rises to become a plane in flight, and finally a rocket taking off. In another scene, the bridge is configured to look like a vertical totem pole. The concept of the scorpion bridge was loosely based on a retractable pedestrian bridge in London. Built of steel and weighing 10,000 lbs, its eight powerful mineral oil hydraulic motors allow it to rise, descend, extend, retract and curl in on itself like a scorpion’s tail. Its reflective surfaces, which shine like mirrors, are made of stainless steel plates. The base of the bridge houses lighting equipment, a laser, speakers and cameras. During the show, the bridge is monitored by an operator using four infrared cameras. Set and Projection Closeups /// o) The border of the stage recalls the plastron (underside) of a turtle. The motifs on the surface of the stage itself are a collage of hand-drawn images inspired by the patterns on the plastrons of several turtle species. o) Bordering the marsh upstage, the reeds conceal the artists and some set elements before they enter, as well as serving as a projection surface. To save weight and facilitate storage on tour, the reeds are inflatable. o) During the rings trio number, the scorpion bridge turns into an Indian carpet that unrolls on the beach in a reference to the Bollywood aesthetic that inspired the overall look of this scene. o) Some of the projections on the marsh interact with the movements of the artists in real time. Infrared cameras positioned above the stage and around the marsh detect the movement of the performers and produce kinetic effects such as ripples, splashes and reflections in the water and the flames. o) Photographs taken by Guy Laliberté during his recent Poetic Social Mission aboard the International Space Station are integrated with the Russian bars number, when the cosmonauts are trying to break free of the Earth’s gravity in the show’s finale. COSTUMES -------- Kym Barrett’s initial approach to the TOTEM costume designs was rooted in documentary-based reality. This process entailed research into real animals, plants and birds as well as traditional cultural and tribal designs to source her fanciful, inventive concoctions. Kym’s other major preoccupation was the show’s theme of evolution, which led her to emphasize the importance of the human body at every opportunity. She points to the example of a forest populated by butterflies and frogs, saying it was important to her to show the human body as part of the overall visual mosaic of the scene. The third show theme reflected in the costumes is the cycle of the seasons, which underscores the importance of nature to the show. Neon- bright colours, vivid, shiny fabrics and playful details lend a summer atmosphere to the Bollywood-inspired beach scene. To suggest a time of harvest and the abundance of fall, the unicyclists’ costumes feature seed pods, flowers, trees and leaves. And the two roller-skaters are dressed in white and silver to help create a winter tableau. To recreate such a broad range of textures, colours and markings found in nature, Kym concentrated on the treatment of fabrics rather than on the fabrics themselves: Advanced printing techniques, fluorescent pigments, mirror fragments and crystals allowed her to"paint" on canvases as varied as Lycra and leather, with results that constantly interact with and adapt to the show’s ever-changing lighting. Costume Closeups /// o) The Crystal Man is a recurring character in the show who represents the life force. His (literally) dazzling costume is entirely covered in small mirrors and crystals to create a ball of energy when he comes down from the sky in a beam of pure white light. The glittering mobile mosaic is made up of about 4,500 reflective components on a stretch velvet leotard. o) The Hoop Dancer’s costume is inspired by the traditional ceremonial clothing of a number of North American Indian tribes, rather than an accurate portrayal of any one culture. It includes a Hopi cross and a headdress, and features extensive use of leather. o) In the opening scene of the show the marsh is populated by fish and frogs. Their patterns and colours came from real fish and frogs - including the most poisonous frog in the Amazon jungle - and are replicated by the pixelation of the image in the screen printing process. The textures of the fabrics are also a close match to the skin of fish and frogs found in nature. The end result resembles a community of human amphibians. o) Each unicyclist has her own look, but together they form an integrated unit. The base costumes are printed in earth tones, with small details sewn onto them - including bolts and screws as well as feathers and insects. The line of the costumes and the stylized tutus create flirty ballerina silhouettes. o) The costumes worn by the foot-juggling duo are based on Lycra body stockings. Each is adorned with 3,500 crystals and the two headdresses are each encrusted with a further 1,000. o) The Businessman character looks like he’s wearing an off-the-rack black suit, but when he’s pursued and tackled by a gang of monkeys it has to break away at various points on his body when they tear it off him. The monkeys are each wearing a custom-woven fur to reflect their individual personalities. o) The Cosmonauts are wearing two costumes in one: When they first appear (under black light), their body-hugging Lycra suits glow dramatically in the dark, but as soon as the stage lights kick in, their look is completely transformed. Some of the printed motifs recall Mayan drawings, and each artist is wearing an individual variation on the theme. FIND TOTEM ONLINE ----------------- o) Totem's Official Website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/totem/default.aspx > o) Trailer (You Tube): < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOA6q88PssE > o) Facebook Page: < http://www.facebook.com/pages/TOTEM-Cirque-du- Soleil/111798252174207 > o) Tickets: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/totem/tickets.aspx > o) Videos, Photos & Wallpapers: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/totem/videos- extras.aspx > -------------------------------------------------------------- "DRALION final show in Mexico City: A magical night!" By: Rodolfo Elizondo - Monterrey, NL (MEX) {Issue Exclusive} -------------------------------------------------------------- I woke early on the morning of Sunday, January 17, 2010, ready to take my early flight. I was flying with La Nouba silk artist Ana Cuellar’s mother to visit her daughter in Mexico City and watch Dralion in its last performance under the Grand Chapiteau. The rising of the sun (the “soleil”) as we were flying over the mountains of Monterrey was an image I won’t soon forget. After arriving in Mexico City I parted ways with Ana’s mother and had lunch with some friends. When I arrived at the Grand Chapiteau in Santa Fe I got a very special feeling – my mind took me back to all those great memories from CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey! This time the atmosphere was also special, but for a different reason. I knew this wasn’t going to be a typical performance. It felt like I wasn’t in Mexico anymore since the grounds were full of the sounds of different languages spoken by people from other countries. Then I started recognizing several of them: Cirque du Soleil staff and artists from all of the shows were there for the grand finale of Dralion! Then my close friend Ana Cuellar (aerialist from La Nouba and from my home town of Monterrey) arrived with other several artists and staff from La Nouba. When we walked into the Tapis Rouge tent there was another surprise, several Cirque du Soleil directors and creators were already there: Gilles Ste-Croix, (Dralion musical composer) Violaine Corradi, (Dralion director) Guy Caron and of course Guy Laliberté to mention just a few! It looked like almost half of tonight’s audience would be people from Cirque du Soleil - all there, together as one, ready to give all their energy, support and magic to their friends in the very last performance of Dralion. I can’t describe the magic I felt; it permeated the Grand Chapiteau. While I was walking to my seat (I was in Seat 1 of Row A in Sec. 103, in the very center!) I saw Guy Laliberté sitting in the center of Section 200 and I had the chance to say “hola!” to him. I was excited and surprised when he recognized me (we had previously met in Montreal during the 25th Anniversary Party). It was an amazing conversation and I was a bit dazed when the lights suddenly went down. Dralion’s last performance was about to begin. But before the show started, the music that had been playing suddenly stopped and Bruce Mather, the Artist Director of Dralion came to the stage. He was very emotional and excited and spoke to the audience (in Spanish and English) about how this was the last performance of Dralion after 3,852 performances, 9 million spectators and 13 countries. At that moment the Grand Chapiteau rocked with cheers! Bruce thanked all the people involved in Dralion throughout its history, and then announced – DRALION! And the show began. Never in the 116 times I have seen a Cirque Du Soleil show have I witnessed anything like this performance - the energy, the sound, the ovations from the audience were totally out of this world. It would take pages and pages to describe the whole magical experience of this performance of Dralion. What I can say is that the audience never stopped expressing their support to the entire cast of the show. Applause erupted several times in every act. Since I was close to the stage I had the chance to see the emotions revealing themselves on the faces of the artists. All too soon the moment arrived - the last number of DRALION, skipping ropes. And after that the Finale when the whole cast appeared on stage. How can I describe it? Well, it was as if the Popocatepetl Volcano near Mexico City had exploded in a huge eruption like never before. It was the longest explosion of love and appreciation I have ever seen at a Cirque show! The artists, crew and technicians were all so touched they were all crying. They all received flowers and came back for many curtain calls. Then another special moment as Guy Laliberte toasted all the cast and crew, and the big success of Dralion. Then the fun began. After the show we travelled to a special hotel in Santa Fe where the post-performance party for Dralion was held. The decorations were totally amazing, with the focus on Dralion and China but with some very traditional Mexican decorations. A grand entrance area welcomed us, followed by an area where an artist was doing a special memento painting. The bars and food were all impressive. There were also several big banners documenting the milestones and records of Dralion. Several projectors splashed hundreds of pictures of Dralion’s best moments onto the ceiling. Later there was a Chinese dance performance with Dralions and martial arts, followed by a delicious buffet of a great selection of Asian Food. And the party continued. I had a terrific time with Ana and her friends from La Nouba. We were at the party until very late; I believe it was about 5AM when we finally left. But before we left the party we received a special souvenir; a commemorative picture of us taken as we arrived at the party! The evening was incredible, unforgettable, and one of the most magical experiences I have ever had with Cirque Du Soleil. FOREVER DRALION! (Muchas gracias Ana por todo..¡FUE MAGICO!) -------------------------------------------------------------- "Vive Apasionadamente! - CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey" By: Richard Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) {Issue Exclusive} -------------------------------------------------------------- “Hey, are you a member of the CirqueCon group, too?” Even before Continental Airlines flight #2277 from Houston, Texas touched down in Monterrey, Mexico at 10:55am on September 24, 2009, the magic of CirqueCon was already at work. “Why, yes. You as well?” As I was speaking to fellow Passionate and friend Gena Colton from Ohio in mid-flight about the adventure ahead (which in itself was an amazing coincidence – she surprised me at the gate in Houston with an “excuse me, stranger” and ended up seated next to me in 10-C), I received a tap on the shoulder followed by the question. That tap turned out to be from Nora Shappee, another Passionate hailing from Michigan, seated directly behind us. Whodathunk? CirqueCon - the Unofficial Gatherings of Cirque du Soleil Passionates - is a fan-organized assembly of like-minded individuals who share a singular passion: that of the circus arts. Our humble story began in 2004 with fans proposing a small gathering during the Vancouver, BC run of Quidam, which had just delighted audiences throughout Japan the year prior. While the tale of our genesis is somewhat more complicated than just “a coming together”, suffice it to say two individual groups did decide to band together and make the trip as one. Add in a little folly from Cirque du Soleil and viola – CirqueCon came to be. Since then we’ve made similar journeys in search of our favorite circus, which have taken us to a number of cities over the years: Montreal (2005), Las Vegas (2006), Orlando (2007), and Tokyo (2008). But like all reflections to be made before, during and after a gathering of this magnitude – once you reach your destination and the curtain falls on the event: what’s next? During the concept phase of CirqueCon 2008: Tokyo! we thought perhaps after doing five straight events in as many years a break for rest and recuperation was in order, which would in turn give us the answer to that all important question. And although the very last page in our CirqueCon 2008: Tokyo! programme book did mention our next confirmed event would be CirqueCon 2010: Hollywood!, we never did say that we weren’t gathering in 2009 (cheeky of us...). So when CirqueCon 2010: Hollywood! became CirqueCon 2011: Hollywood! (due to a delay with the show), and we received a passionate plea from our friend and Mexican fan extraordinaire Rodolfo Elizondo about taking CirqueCon to Mexico for Dralion’s farewell, we couldn’t pass up his enthusiasm and thus CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey! was born! Monterrey (pronounced with a heavy 'rrrrr') is a very modern Mexican city situated in the northeastern state of Nuevo León, approximately 150 miles south of the United States border near Texas. This state capital boasts a populace that ranks it third behind the Greater Mexico City and Greater Guadalajara metropolises and is home to many businesses, industries, universities and families. Arts in all forms are very prevalent here, as Monterrey is the unofficial art capital of Mexico; and also rich in culture. Throughout the weekend we experienced only a little of what Monterrey, and really all of Mexico, had to offer by visiting its museums, conversing with its people, and shopping on its streets. But what an amazingly fun weekend we had! A fantastic number of 70 plus “Passionates” joined us, the first time we have taken our event south of the border. And what an amazing mix of people we had! Breaking it down numerically, 30% hailed from the United States (representing the states of California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington) with the remaining 70% coming from within Mexico. Of those 70%, 45% were from the host city (Monterrey), while the remaining 55% represented other parts of Mexico, such as Tijuana, Mexico City, Nuevo Laredo, Saltillo, Guadalaja, Merida, Torreon, Apodaca and San Luis Potosi. An amazing blend of peoples and cultures who truly lived the CirqueCon motto: Vive Apasionadamente - Live Passionately! Here is our story. * * * THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th /// Within moments of landing, I found Rodolfo and the three of us (Rodolfo, Gena and I) were on our way to the Holiday Inn Parque Fundidora, our headquarters hotel. We were in a bit of a rush because within the hour Rodolfo and I were due at the tables set up in the hotels’ lobby for our event’s opening registration time. We made it! Dozens of Passionates from within Mexico dropped by to pick up their programme packet (filled with brochures and maps from places all around Monterrey), the Group Meal, City Tour, Cirque Activities, Group Show and Bohemia Night tickets, their badges, and other CirqueCon branded goodies (such as the T-Shirt, post-cards, and more!) Some just dropped by to say “Hola”, including the real Patch Adams (who was also staying at the hotel), but that’s a horse of a different color. Late in the afternoon we kicked off our celebration at Dralion’s white Grand Chapiteau with a unique chance to see artists training on an act added since the last time the show was in the country – the Trampo Wall. While we waited at the gates, Ana Cuellar, La Nouba silk artist, met us there for an impromptu chat. As a native resident of Monterrey, she spoke to us about Monterrey’s art scene, her travels within Mexico and about her life here before Cirque. Ana also shared with us her trials and tribulations performing night after night after night – including the development of her own silk act - at La Nouba, Cirque du Soleil at Downtown Disney’s West Side. Before long we took our seats inside the Grand Chapiteau to watch an amazing training session featuring Double Trapeze and Trampoline. One of Ana’s friends (and Cirque alum) was there training for the TrampoWall routine; picking up his role rather quickly I might add. And why not, he’s a trampoline artist from La Nouba! After receiving numerous rounds of applaus from us for sticking a trampo-jump hand stand he left the stage. The boys and girls of the Double Trapeze routine took to the rafters off and on throughout our time, warming up for their performance later tonight, no doubt, doing equally as well. After training concluded Bruce Mather, Artistic Director for Dralion, and a couple of trampoline artists (Dustin Hill, Alejandro Cuenca, Oskana Pochynok, and Ulf Hampus Jansson) joined us for a question and answer session. And although shy at first – our Passionate fans’ eyes were just round with admiration for them – they began asking question upon question. What is it like to tour with Cirque? What is your favorite show? What about Dralion do you like? How do you like Mexico fans? What will you do after Dralion closes? “Uhhh...” What? Shh, they didn’t know! How could they not know? Although artists generally have a good beat on what is happening on tour, they are not always the first to know about business decisions regarding the show or tour they are on. And considering how fast a decision could be changed or overturned, it wasn't surprising the artists we spoke to didn't seem to be in the know. Or, they knew but didn't want to say much in front of their boss. Thankfully, though, the question didn't anger anyone. In all we spent a good solid two hours with our friends at Cirque du Soleil, but our time with Dralion that afternoon was drawing to a close. Before they let us out of the Grand Chapiteau for the day, however, Bruce had one final announcement for us – we were to join them again Saturday evening between shows for a back-stage group photograph with a few of the artists in costume! WOW! With the sun now setting beautifully in the sky, it was time to make our way back across the park for our evening stroll around Parque Fundidora’s famous Blast Furnace (Horno 3) area and our cruise down the Paseo Santa Lucía to the Macroplaza, our cultural answer to CirqueCon’s traditional Meet & Greet activity. One of the most interesting and best modes of transportation in Monterrey is the boat on the Paseo Santa Lucia, an artificial water canal that connects Parque Fundidora 2.5-kilometers to the east with Museo de Historia/Plaza 400 (Museum of Mexican History) at the Macroplaza. On the way you pass beyond the park, through beautiful fountains and other waterworks displays, around a whirlpool maker and finally into the water-filled Plaza 400 at the Macroplaza, entertained not only by the city lights around you (how about those floats?) but by the tour guide driving the boat. Fantastico! FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th /// The morning got off to quite an early start. I was due at the open registration tables bright and early – 8:00am – before we embarked on our twelve-hour tour of Monterrey city and its environs, a unique and customized tour created by Rodolfo exclusively for the members of CirqueCon 2009, visiting museums, shopping plazas, natural places and more! Although there were a few last-minute bumps in our plan (the weather did not cooperate – it started to rain – and our bus was a few minutes late), we took it all in stride and had a smashing day out and about. Highlights include... Puente de la Unidad -- A cable-style bridge that crosses the mostly dry Santa Catarina River. It is one of Monterrey’s highest and most artistically designed bridges. Grutas de García (Garcia Caves) –- 60 million year-old caverns beautifully lining the inside of El Fraile, one of Monterrey’s famous mountains, awaited us some 30 kilometers outside of the city’s limits. Featuring a rocky desert with a number of impressive rock formations and chambers, the caves were a uniquely cool (pun intended) place to visit. Some of the most spectacular features of Garcia Caves are “La Octavia Maravilla” (the Eighth Miracle), a formation whereby a stalagmite merged with a stalactite to form a column); the “El Mirador de la Mano”, a stalagmite that formed in the shape of a human hand; “El Nacimiento”, a formation known as “The Nativity”; “El Teatro”, a huge rock formation nicknamed “The Theater”; and “La Gorila”, a Gorilla shaped formation embedded in the cavern wall. To reach the cavern’s entrance we had to ascend the mountain via an aerial tramway which afforded us fantastic views of the surrounding peaks. The Cañon de la Huasteca -- One of Monterrey’s most famous natural wonders featuring beautiful 300 meter cliffs surrounded by woodlands and jagged peaks, a stunningly beautiful mountain range. The Macroplaza -- A 400,000 square meter court consisting of various museums, monuments, gardens, fountains and various other green-space accoutrements. It's anchored by the Palacio Municipal (Municipal Palace) on the south end at Constitución Avenue and the Antiqua Palacio Federal (Antique Federal Palace) on the north end at Cinco-de- Mayo Avenue. The Macroplaza features a number of monuments and other pedestrian zones including Fuente de Neptuno (the Fountain of Neptune), a beautiful bronze fountain that represents Neptune, the Roman god of the Sea (also formally known as Fuente de la Vida – the fountain of Life), the Capilla de los Dulces Nombres, a 19th century roman catholic chapel; and the Faro del Comercio (Lighthouse of Commerce), a 70 meter tall square lighthouse equipped with a green laser that shoots its light out over the city at night. Monterrey’s museums are also located nearby, such as MUNE (or Museum of the North East), showcasing the history of this part of Mexico) and the Museo de Historia Mexicana (Museum of Mexican History). Although MUNE is fascinating I find the Museo de Historia Mexicana to be the diamond in the ruff. This place is a treasure trove of exploration, art and enlightenment for those interested in the history of this land. At this museum you’ll find temporary and permanent exhibits divided into five areas which represent important periods in Mexican history: The initial creation of these lands ("Earth"), the Aztec and Mayan civilizations ("Ancient Mexico"), the Spanish conquistadores and the arrival of the Europeans ("The Viceroy Period"), the Spanish/American wars ("19th Century") and modern democratic Mexico ("Modern Mexico"). Whew, that’s a lot of walking about isn’t it -- who said Margaritas!? By the conclusion of our tour at the MacroPlaza and the nearby museums we were all bushed, but our day was not yet over. After just a couple of hours to rest, relax and recharge, for some of us it was back on the bus for Bohemia Night, CirqueCon’s night on the town! It is said that Monterrey doesn’t come alive until after 1:00am and for the most part I can say that is definitely true. Twenty-two of us braved the early-morning call to descend upon Neuva Luna for a little food, a little fun, and a little refreshment – Mexican style. While we rocked the night away to the band’s repertoire of rock, pop, salsa and traditional north Mexican beats, the staff of Nueva Luna kept us filled with steak and chicken fajitas, tortillas, and various accoutrements. And once the alcohol started flowing there was no stopping us! Bus transportation to and from the Holiday Inn Parque Fundidora to Nueva Luna Restaurant was included and return trips back to the hotel occurred in three increments, in case anyone wished to leave a little earlier at 1:00am, 2:00am or 3:00am. I chose to leave a little early myself – on the second bus – but oh man did I have a blast! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th /// With the previous nights late return coupled with today’s early arrival, you’d think many of us would be dragging – but you’d be wrong! We were up and ready for our exploration of Horno 3 at Parque Fundidora. The Horno 3 blast furnace was once part of the now defunct Monterrey Steel Foundry Company and was in use from 1900 until the company’s bankruptcy in 1986. Two years later the park was born. Horno 3 is a museum these days; patrons can explore the Foundry History Gallery (a look at the events which forged the steel industry in Mexico), the Steel Gallery (a look at industrial processes), and the Blast Furnace show (a multi-sensorial show complete with stunning effects simulating the workings at No 3. Blast Furnace), you can also take a trip to the top of this monstrosity for one spectacular view of the city. It’s 130ft (40m) from ground-level and is on a slated platform - so not only can you see all around but below you too; hold on! The incline chair (that seats about eight) will take you up to the top for about 80 pesos (approx $8.00) and from there all of Monterrey opens up to you. Here you can take in the relative peace and quiet of the skies above the park. You really get a fantastic view of your surroundings including the fantastic ‘M’-shaped Cerro de la Silla, my hotel (the Holiday Inn at Parque Fundidora) and the Grand Chapiteau itself (sitting next to Plaza Sesamo, a Sesame Street theme park.) Then we assembled in the lobby of our headquarters hotel for yet another trip on the bus. This time we were off to Hacienda San Angel for our group meal! Afterwards we were off to Mirador del Obispado (Bishop's Lookout), which is located atop Cerro del Obispado, the hill of the same name for yet another fantastic view of the city. Rising about 775 meters above sea level, this viewpoint is adorned with a fabulous 18th century palace and a number of steps that make this one photogenic spot. Besides a fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding city - you can easily spot all of downtown Monterrey and its sprawling environs from here, and Monterrey's namesake mountains: Cerro de las Mitras (Miter Hill), Cerro del Topo Chico (Small Mole Hill), Cerro de la Loma Larga (Long Slope Hill), La Huasteca, and, of course, Cerro de la Silla (or Saddle Hill), which rises above 1800 meters (or 5900 feet) – you'll also find Mexico's biggest monument flag nearby, but due to time constraints we had to make our way back to the Parque for Dralion. We assembled outside the gates of the Grand Chapiteau for our amazing opportunity to take a group photograph with some of the artists backstage; see Dralion, the extraordinary voyage through a futuristic dimension - a place without time, ruled by magical laws - a fusion of ancient Chinese circus tradition with the avant-garde approach of Cirque du Soleil thrust into a plane of existence that is neither past nor future; and then re-assemble after at the cast gates out back to give the artists a grand CirqueCon send-off! Who were those guys with the yellow bandanas? Wait, what? No, we weren't a band of desperados preparing to raid the Grand Chapiteau (although I imagine that thought crossed the minds of a few of us); Rodolfo had them for everyone to wave, twirl and otherwise use to get noticed during and after the performance. And oh boy did the artists notice us! We were so loud we brought the entire compliment of spectators with us – at first they didn’t know what to do but they soon got into the spirit. So much so the artists gave us one of the best, most energetic and amazing performance of Dralion I have ever been privileged to see. They were truly amazing and re-affirmed why I enjoyed Cirque du Soleil so much. It’s sad we may never experience Dralion in this way ever again… but at least we sent the cast and crew out in style – in the CirqueCon way! * * * If you didn’t come to CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey! you really missed something special. We had lots of fun with much laughter and kinship, and by the end we all came away with a newfound appreciation for Mexico and its history and culture. Not to mention a renewed sense of wonder for Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion. But if you missed out on CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey!, or any of our previous events, we have two very exciting adventures coming in 2010 and 2011, which will take CirqueCon Coast-to-Coast! CIRQUECON 2010: NEW YORK CITY + MONTREAL! – THREE SHOWS. TWO CITIES. ONE EVENT /// Join us from April 27th through May 2nd as we journey north and east to The Big Apple for one of Cirque du Soleil’s latest productions (Banana Shpeel), take in OVO under the Grand Chapiteau, then travel to Montréal for Cirque’s latest touring production, TOTEM. CIRQUECON 2011: HOLLYWOOD! – LIGHTS, CAMERA, CIRQUE! /// Then we’re back on the western frontier in 2011 as CirqueCon breaks into the movies with another of Cirque’s newest productions: Cirque Kodak in Hollywood, California! Join us at www.CirqueCon.com today! -------------------------------------------------------------- "Elvis Sounds Good, and Here’s Why" By: Keith Johnson – Seattle, Washington (USA) {Issue Exclusive} -------------------------------------------------------------- An extensive article on the sound and lighting installation for the VIVA ELVIS theater has appeared in the latest issue of Sound and Communications magazine ( www.soundandcommunications.com ), a monthly magazine focused on the sound and digital signage contractor industry. It can be viewed online at < http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/ 904da2bd#/904da2bd/1 >. Click on the article headline on the cover page to go directly to the article (which starts on page 34). It also can be printed as a PDF. (It’s a nice viewer if a bit complicated.) The article includes a rundown of most of the technical equipment installed in the theater. Some items of note: o) The heart of the audio and control interface is a fiber-optic line that can hold up to 540 channels of input and has 776 outputs. o) 92 microphones are used to cover the drum and percussion sets alone! o) 143 different wireless frequencies are used throughout the theater. o) The Musical Director of the show is separated from the rest of the musicians and calls the show from offstage. He controls 32 tracks of additional playback audio through a keyboard at his station. He can also control the settings of the electric guitar pedals. o) During early runs of the show, guests in the first few rows complained of being drowned out by stage fog. The creators had to coordinate with the theaters environmental systems engineers to come up with a solution. o) The 8-panel LED “wall” (which can separate and move into sections as needed) is made up of more than three-quarters of a million LEDs. Surprisingly, the entire LED wall never gets warmer than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. (Source: Sound and Communications Magazine) ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly publication, 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 4 (Issue #75) - April 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. { Apr.09.2010 } =======================================================================