======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ E X P A N D E D I S S U E ------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================================================= VOLUME 12, NUMBER 8 August 2012 ISSUE #103e ======================================================================= Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. It's a scorcher of a summer out there, isn't it? (For those in the Northern hemisphere anyway.) How have you been keeping cool? We've beaten the heat by staying indoors re-watching Cirque documentaries, and waiting for more exciting news to come our way. We'd hoped to have heard more on Movi.Kanti.Revo, the sensory Chrome experiment by Cirque and Google (scheduled to debut in September); more on World's Away 3D, the new Cirque du Soleil motion picture (scheduled to debut on December 21st); and even more on the interesting partnership between Cirque and Marvel Entertainment, from which the KÀmic book was born. Alas July has been a rather slow month and we've heard little of either of these since their initial announcements... save for the KÀmic book. No, I didn't get a chance to attend San Diego Comic Con this year (where Cirque and Marvel were handing out Issue #1 of the new series, but I would have LOVED to sit in on that Firefly panel, wouldn't you? ); we've got the next best thing: an actual copy in hand. Although it arrived before I had a chance to give it a thorough read-through for a proper review for this issue, at first glance I can say I'm quite impressed by the art and the concept. KÀ is certainly a linear story, one well dressed to make this kind of medium leap. We'll have a more detailed look at the first issue next time; however, if you've been unable to obtain a copy and just can't wait any longer to see what this book is all about, don't fear - you can read a digital copy online for free. < http://marvel.com/digitalcomics/view_white.htm?iid=27231 > Beyond the excitement of receiving the comic book, and the rather lack-luster month of July (yeah, it's just too darn hot!), this month we bid farewell to VIVA ELVIS at Aria Las Vegas. If you've not made it out to Las Vegas to see the show I recommend you do! Although the show has extended its stay past its originally announced final date of August 18th, its final curtain call comes August 31st, don't expect it to extend further. A re-worked ZARKANA, which is in the midst of its second (and final) season at Radio City Music Hall in New York City will take up residence at Aria this fall (previews begin November 1st - originally scheduled for October 18th - with regular performances beginning November 11th). Rather than let the show's closing pass without comment, we've decided to celebrate all that Viva Elvis was, is, and was going to be through press releases, blurbs and other statements made about the production over the years, tracing its history from inception to conception in the same vain as our recent Dralion, Saltimbanco and ZAIA pieces. Elvis may be leaving the building but VIVA ELVIS will never leave our hearts - "Forget Me Never - Goodbye VIVA ELVIS" is within. "An Exclusive Visit to Varekai Seattle" is the conclusion to a two- part series entitled "Before the Circus Comes to Town" - a look into the logistics of bringing the Grand Chapiteau to locations worldwide. Last month Keith talked exclusively with Mr. Eric Chalifour, Cirque du Soleil's Analysis Manager, about the preparations Cirque du Soleil makes to a future tent site. But what kind of effort does it take to put those plans into practice? Keith found out and he shares his research with us (now with photos!). Check out "Before the Circus Comes to Town - Part Two" also within! As always we've got the latest news items posted to Fascination! Web (check out those current Pollstar numbers for the first half of 2012, there's a ton of great data on Cirque du Soleil's tours there!) and, of course, updates to Cirque's tour schedule! So, let's get started. We're off and running again! 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 * BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau * Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues * Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets * Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub * Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Historia -- Cirque Company History * Odyssea -- Cirque Tour History o) Fascination! Features * "Forget Me Never - Goodbye VIVA ELVIS" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) * Before the Circus Comes to Town - Part Two: "An Exclusive Visit to Varekai Seattle" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= MJ Immortal Reaches 1.5 Million Milestone {Jul.01.2012} ---------------------------------------------- The success of Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour continues with Cirque du Soleil announcing the production reached a milestone by selling 1.5 million tickets for the current North American Tour and the first leg of the European tour, which starts at London's O2 Arena in October. Additionally, THE IMMORTAL World Tour is consistently ranked in the top two touring shows in North America, according to Pollstar, the leading trade publication for the worldwide concert industry. "We are thrilled by the enthusiastic response from audiences who have experienced THE IMMORTAL Tour thus far and look forward to expanding the show's success around the world," stated Finn Taylor, Cirque du Soleil Senior Vice President for Touring Shows. {SOURCE: PR Newswire, Cirque du Soleil} Circus School calls on Cirque du Soleil not to perform in Israel {Jul.02.2012} ---------------------------------------------- The Palestinian Circus School sent a letter to the General Management of Cirque du Soleil calling on it not perform in Israel, according to statement issued Monday. Cirque du Soleil is scheduled to perform in August. "We do not take lightly calling for Cirque du Soleil, or any circus for that matter, to not perform in Israel, especially since we ourselves are totally committed to the art of circus and are committed to bringing the circus everywhere we can," said the letter. "However, for circus to be faithful to its art form, we are also unrelentingly committed to human rights. Thus, we write to request that Cirque du Soleil reconsider its planned performance in Israel, a military occupying power and violator of international law and human rights, and join other artists from around the world who have called on you to support human rights and the right of all people to be free from military occupation," said the letter. "Our kids and youth are oppressed by a prolonged military occupation and deprived of their most basic rights. Many are still recovering from Israel's onslaught on the Gaza Strip, known as Operation Cast Lead in the winter of 2008-2009, which left 1385 Palestinian dead, of which 318 were minors, and another 5,300 wounded," it said. "Your visit to Israel will be fully facilitated by the Israeli authorities, at the time when our movement as students and artists of the Palestinian Circus School is permanently crippled by military law that denies us entry to Jerusalem, Jaffa, Akka, Haifa or Nazareth, not to mention the completely closed Gaza Strip," added the letter. "Those same Israeli authorities prohibit, by the use of force, our ability to participate in artistic performances or any exchange with our Palestinian friends and families in these areas. Not only do they limit our freedom of movement, they deport international circus artists who come to perform in Palestine, like the famous Spanish clown Ivan Prado, a prime example that received international attention," it said. {SOURCE: Palestine News} Cirque to Reside in Adelaide? {Jul.09.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Well...not exactly. Out of Adelaide comes the following bit of news this morning: # # # Revenue will be generated for Adelaide City Council following an endorsement of an agreement between the council and Canadian entertainment company, Cirque du Soleil. The council's ‘City Culture & Community Services Committee' voted in support of a 10 year agreement with the Montreal-based company. According to the council, this will enable the company to visit Adelaide on a recurring basis. If the proposal is endorsed, Cirque du Soleil will assist in developing the infrastructure and facilities in Tambawodli (Park 24). This will include the costs of a hard surface to remain in the park for the life of the agreement. Full terms and conditions of the 10 year agreement will be negotiated with Cirque du Soleil before commencement of an installation plan for the permanent surface, if endorsed by council. {SOURCE: GovernmentNews.com} Cirque Shows Interest in ReQuest [EXPANDED] {Jul.11.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Kiwi dance group ReQuest has been shaking things up on the world stage. After dancing alongside Jennifer Lopez in this year's American Idol finale, the all-girl hip hop crew from Auckland is now on the brink of even bigger things. Group leader Parris Goebel, 20, said some of the girls had been approached by Cirque du Soleil. "And I'm choreographing for Cirque, so I'll be off to live in Canada for two months this September." The Cirque du Soleil contracts are two-year deals working on the company's new production on Michael Jackson's life and music. The show will premiere in Las Vegas in May. Goebel said that even if some girls left, ReQuest would stay strong because "it's more than just a dance crew". "For me, ReQuest is an opportunity. We've managed to turn ReQuest into a brand. So whoever falls into ReQuest kind of falls into those opportunities." ReQuest is based at Goebel's Palace Dance Studio in Penrose, and features dancers from a variety of Kiwi cultures. With the next World Hip Hop Championships at the end of the month and a spate of recent international jobs, the group has had little time to rest. "We only just finished doing the music video for Jennifer Lopez's latest single I'm Going In which will be out in a couple of weeks," said Goebel. ReQuest has also been touring Australia and Asia, doing performances and workshops for a fan base which she said was "overwhelming". "Every time we go somewhere new we get so much support. We had no idea so many people knew about us." Goebel puts this all down to "the power of YouTube". {SOURCE: New Zealand Herald} Pollstar: Guess Who's Number 1? {Jul.20.2012} ---------------------------------------------- Check out the latest findings from Pollstar as their mid-year charts and figures have become available! # # # The top-grossing act during the first six months of 2012 wasn't a band or an artist with a mega-selling album. Instead it's Cirque du Soleil – "Michael Jackson: The Immortal," which played 95 shows in 46 cities and sold 703,793 tickets for a total gross of $78.5 million. Other acts among the top five on Pollstar's Top 100 N.A. Tours are Roger Waters with the former Pink Floydian selling 575,444 tickets for a final gross of$61.9 million; Van Halen's 448,506 tickets sold resulting in a final gross of $44.9 million; the co-billed Kenny Chesney / Tim McGraw tour selling 386,969 tickets and grossing $33.9 million; and Lady Antebellum's 708,715 tickets sold giving the group a $30.9 million gross for Jan.-June. # # # Read more at Pollstar.com: < http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=802058 > But Pollstar is just giving you a brief rundown of their stats and figures for the first six months of 2012 in that article. What is really interesting is all the data they've collected on tours world-wide! Go here for Pollstar's Top 100 North American Tour list: < http://goo.gl/9vJDj > And here for our Top 50 Worldwide Tour listing: < http://goo.gl/q9pOn > Here's how Cirque fared... o) North America Top 100: # Gross Tour AVG AVG Total AVG Cities (*) Name Tix Tix Tix Gross / Shows Price Sold Sold --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 78.5 MJ Immortal $111.48 15,300 703,793 $1,705,560 46/95 13 21.9 Dralion $62.58 15,214 349,931 $952,130 23/63 16 19.1 Ovo $74.26 1,814 257,634 $134,728 2/142 23 16.4 Totem $82.05 1,964 200,280 $161,100 1/102 24 16.2 Quidam $60.80 11,583 266,404 $704,234 23/151 o) World Wide Top 50: # Gross Tour AVG AVG Total AVG Cities (*) Name Tix Tix Tix Gross / Shows Price Sold Sold --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 78.5 MJ Immortal $111.48 15,300 703,793 $1,705,560 46/95 10 38.0 Alegria $72.23 25,062 526,303 $1,810,146 21/153 17 25.0 Varekai (#) $103.58 21,899 240,886 $2,268,305 11/141 24 21.9 Dralion $62.58 15,214 349,931 $952,130 23/163 32 19.1 Ovo $74.26 1,814 257,634 $134,728 2/142 41 16.4 Totem $82.05 1,964 200,280 $161,100 1/102 43 16.2 Quidam $60.80 11,583 266,404 $704,234 23/151 NOTE (*): Gross is in Millions, USD. NOTE (#): POLLSTAR listed this entry as Varekai; however, the data does not make sense. Fascination feels this entry was meant to be for Saltimabnco, not Varekai. The annual POLLSTAR ranking of the concert industry's top performing artists is tabulated for all shows worked between January 1 and June 30, 2012. All ticket sales figures are calculated in U.S. Dollars and are based on reported information and extensive research by POLLSTAR. {SOURCE: Pollstar} Behind-the-scenes look at ‘Zarkana' [EXPANDED] {Jul.25.2012} ---------------------------------------------- AMNewYork took a peek behind Zarkana's curtain recently, speaking with Erika Chen, Zarkana's sand-painter. # # # In the first half of the show, spectators find serenity in the finger-painted sand designs of the Oracle – a character who communicates with the past and future using her hands. "It is poetic … to slow down [the pace] of the show," said Erika Chen, 28, who plays the Oracle. "It gives you a breather." Chen, an accomplished artist who also holds a degree in quantitative finance, picked up her sand-painting skill three years ago and debuted the routine last February. She said that her rare artistic talent helped land her a role in "Zarkana." "Sand painting," Chen said, "is in demand." Chen, who left her homeland of China at 15 for school in Singapore, had to cope with solitude for years. She found refuge in the art room. "I remember skipping lessons to go there," she said. "And [I] would study physics and chemistry on my own." Chen added: "It was hard to adapt [to life] in a different country. So I would write songs and take art lessons at every school I went to." After living in Singapore and obtaining her finance degree there, Chen found work at Deutsche Bank and interned on Wall Street. Even though she had innate artistic abilities, Chen said she initially pursued a finance career because it promised more financial stability. "I am the only child. I am expected to take care of my parents when they retire," she said. But it turned out that art was her calling all along. * * * Maria Choodu, an award-winning juggler in "Zarkana," opens the show bouncing half a dozen balls while tap dancing. amNewYork caught up with the red head from Russia - who has been traveling with Cirque since the age of 14 - after her daily practice. Q. Did your parents influence you decision to juggle? Actually, no. My mother did acrobatics. She used to juggle in circus school, but she found it to be boring. When I was 6, I saw a performer in the circus and asked myself, "How does he do that?" So I tried, and in two or three days, I was able to [juggle] three balls. Soon, it kind of became a drug . ... All I did was juggle. Q. Did you really pick it up that quick? It came natural to me, but to be a professional you have to spend hours, hours and hours of training and repetition. You do this for months and years. Q. How does your juggling go beyond the usual style? There's the traditional juggling, there's bouncing juggling. I play around and rebound the ball against different surfaces and tap dance at the same time. I create music out of my act. Q. How did you get your start at Cirque Du Soleil? I saw a video from "Saltimbanco" and I saw [a performer] juggling. I tried to imitate the act, and I did. I asked my mom, "If I train a lot, will I be a part of the show?" and she said, "Yeah, sure." {SOURCE: AM New York} ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem, & Varekai} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Saltimbanco, Alegría, Quidam, Dralion & Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour} o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, Believe & VIVA Elvis, Zarkana & Iris} 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. For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit Cirque's website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ >. ------------------------------------ BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau ------------------------------------ Amaluna: Quebec, QC -- Jul 26, 2012 to Aug 26, 2012 Toronto, ON -- Sep 6, 2012 to Oct 7, 2012 Vancouver, BC -- Nov 23, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012 Seattle, WA -- Jan 30, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013 Corteo: Antwerp, BE -- Jun 13, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012 Zurich, CH -- Sep 1, 2012 to Sep 23, 2012 Dusseldorf, DE -- Oct 18, 2012 to Nov 04, 2012 Berlin, DE -- Nov 29, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Hamburg, DE -- Jan 9, 2013 to Jan 27, 2013 Koozå: Houston, TX -- Jul 26, 2012 to Sep 2, 2012 Dallas, TX -- Sep 19, 2012 to Oct 7, 2012 Tampa, FL -- Nov 8, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 London, UK -- Jan 5, 2013 to Jan 27, 2013 Ovo: Brisbane, AU -- Jul 14, 2012 to Sep 2, 2012 Sydney, AU -- Sep 13, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012 Adelaide, AU -- Dec 06, 2012 to Jan 6, 2013 Melbourne, AU -- Jan 17, 2013 to Feb 3, 2013 Perth, AU -- Apr 14, 2012 to Apr 28, 2013 Totem: Boston, MA -- Jun 10, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012 Washington, DC -- Aug 15, 2012 to Sep 30, 2012 Atlanta, GA -- Oct 26, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012 Miami, FL -- Jan 9, 2013 to Mar 3, 2013 Varekai: Porto Alegre, BR -- Jul 26, 2012 to Aug 26, 2012 Buenos Aires, AR -- Sep 7, 2012 to Oct 21, 2012 Santiago, CL -- Nov 14, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012 Bogota, CO -- Jan 10, 2013 to Feb 24, 2013 Lima, PE -- TBA ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Saltimbanco: Singapore, SG -- Jul 26, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012 Manilla, PH -- Aug 9, 2012 to Aug 19, 2012 Kaohsiung, TW -- Aug 29, 2012 to Sep 2, 2012 Taipei, TW -- Sep 5, 2012 to Sep 9, 2012 San Juan, PR -- TBA Santo Domingo, DR -- Nov 22, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012 Alegría: Tel Aviv, IL -- Aug 8, 2012 to Aug 18, 2012 Athens, GR -- Sep 3, 2012 to Sep 9, 2013 Instanbul, TK -- Sep 22, 2012 to Oct 14, 2012 Pesaro, IT -- Nov 1, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012 Bologna, IT -- Nov 8, 2012 to Nov 11, 2012 Milan, IT -- Nov 15, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012 Lille, FR -- Nov 21, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012 Paris, FR -- Nov 28, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012 Rotterdam, NL -- Dec 7, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012 Turin, IT -- Dec 13, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Geneva, SZ -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Barcelona, ES -- Dec 26, 2012 to Jan 6, 2013 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES - Jan 13, 2013 to Jan 20, 2013 Quidam: Lethbridge, AB -- Aug 1, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012 Edmonton, AB -- Aug 8, 2012 to Aug 12, 2012 Kamloops, BC -- Aug 15, 2012 to Aug 19, 2012 Kelowna, BC -- Aug 22, 2012 to Aug 26, 2012 Abbotsford, BC -- Aug 29, 2012 to Sep 2, 2012 Victoria, BC -- Sep 5, 2012 to Sep 9, 2012 Spokane, WA -- Sep 12, 2012 to Sep 16, 2012 Honolulu, HI -- Oct 4, 2012 to Oct 14, 2012 Eugene, OR -- Oct 25, 2012 to Oct 28, 2012 West Valley City, UT -- Oct 31, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012 Broomfield, CO -- Nov 7, 2012 to Nov 11, 2012 Loveland, CO -- Nov 14, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012 Columbus, OH -- Dec 6, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012 Grand Forks, ND -- Dec 13, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Kansas City, MO -- Dec 26, 2012 to Dec 30, 2012 Dralion: Estero, FL -- Aug 1, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012 Richmond, VA -- Aug 8, 2012 to Aug 12, 2012 Raleigh, NC -- Aug 15, 2012 to Aug 19, 2012 Baltimore, MD -- Aug 22, 2012 to Aug 26, 2012 Atlantic City, NJ -- Aug 29, 2012 to Sep 2, 2012 Uniondale, NY -- Sep 5, 2012 to Sep 9, 2012 Charleston, WV -- Sep 12, 2012 to Sep 16, 2012 Minneapolis, MN -- Sep 19, 2012 to Sep 23, 2012 Boise, ID -- Oct 11, 2012 to Oct 14, 2012 Stockton, CA -- Oct 17, 2012 to Oct 21, 2012 Ontario, CA -- Oct 24, 2012 to Oct 28, 2012 Long Beach, CA -- Oct 31, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012 Fresno, CA -- Nov 7, 2012 to Nov 11, 2012 San Deigo, CA -- Nov 14, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012 Phoenix, AZ -- Nov 21, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012 Topeka, KS -- Dec 5, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012 Tulsa, OK -- Dec 12, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012 Okalahoma City, OK -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour: Buffalo, NY -- Jul 31 & Aug 1, 2012 Boston, MA -- Aug 3 & 4, 2012 Vancouver, BC -- Aug 10 & 11, 2012 Los Angeles, CA -- Aug 14 & 15, 2012 Salt Lake City -- Aug 21, 2012 Mexico City, MX -- Aug 24 to Aug 31 Europe 2012: ------------ London, UK -- Oct 12 to 20, 2012 Herding, DK -- Oct 24 & 25, 2012 Copenhagen, DK -- Oct 27 & 28, 2012 Stockholm, SE -- Nov 2 & 3, 2012 Helsinki, FI -- Nov 5 & 6, 2012 St. Petersburg, RU -- Nov 9, 10 & 11, 2012 Frankfurt, DE -- Nov 16 & 17, 2012 Oberhausen, DE -- Nov 20, 2012 Munich, DE -- Nov 24 & 25, 2012 Hannover, DE -- Nov 28, 2012 Vienna, AT -- Dec 1 & 2, 2012 Manheim, DE -- Dec 5, 2012 Leipzig, DE -- Dec 8 & 9, 2012 Hamburg, DE -- Dec 11, 2012 Cologne, DE -- Dec 15 & 16, 2012 Berlin, DE -- Dec 19 & 20, 2012 Madrid, ES -- Dec 26 to Dec 29, 2012 Kazan, RU -- Jan 17, 18 & 19, 2013 Moscow, RU -- Jan 22 to 27, 2013 Prague, CZ -- Feb 8 & 9, 2013 --------------------------------- RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre --------------------------------- Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2012 Dark Dates: o September 8 - 12 o November 14 "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2012 Dark Dates: o August 6 - 12 o October 14 & 17 o December 3 - 18 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2012 Dark Dates: o July 24 o September 18-22 o November 27 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2012 Dark Dates: o August 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31 o September 1, 2, 3, and 4 o October 23 o December 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2012 Dark Dates: o August 1 o September 28 - 29 o November 20 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2012 Dark Dates: o August 2 - 6 o October 1 o December 6 - 19 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. 2012 Dark Dates: o September 4-11 o December 18-25 VIVA ELVIS: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm NOTE: VIVA ELVIS to have final show on August 31, 2012 ZARKANA: New York, NY -- Jun 6, 2012 to Sep 2, 2012 Las Vegas, NV -- Nov 1, 2012 to OPEN Previews begin in Las Vegas November 1, 2012 Regular performance begin November 11, 2012 IRIS: Location: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Friday @ 8:00pm Saturday @ 3:00pm and 8:00pm Sunday @ 2:00pm and 7:00pm DARK: Monday Select Weekday Matinee Performances Wednesday and Friday at 3:00pm 2012 Dark Dates: o August 7 o September 4 -11 o October 23 o November 22 o December 4 and 25 ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub o) Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, Youtube & Twitter --------------------------------------- CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub --------------------------------------- First Look at the New Comic Book by Cirque du Soleil & Marvel {Jul.06.2012} ---------------------------------------------- These comics follow the heroic journey of the Imperial Twins, separated by war, who encounter adventure and peril at every turn on their quest to reunite their kingdom. "To see our live KA performances transform from the theatre to ink on pages in a comic book is an incredible opportunity for our entire team," said Marie-Helene Gagnon, Artistic Director of KÀ. "By aligning ourselves with the premier brand of comic book creators, we have produced an illustration of KÀ that depicts the story very vividly and stays true to the plot. Marvel and its team of creators have been great to collaborate with and have embraced the story of KÀ and the expectations of Cirque du Soleil." "Marvel's proud to bring the exciting, out of this world action and adventure of KA to life in this all new comic book," said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Worldwide, Inc. "This is a great comic for fans of all ages, whether they're long-time fans of Marvel, KÀ or new to both exciting brands of storytelling." First peek at Comic-Con 2012 The first installment debuts at the Marvel booth at Comic-Con 2012, July 12 to 15, in San Diego. KÀ fans attending Comic Con International can take home the heroic journey of Imperial Twins separated by war who encounter adventure and peril at every turn on their quest to reunite their kingdom. A limited amount of books also will be available at comic book stores in select markets. In addition to the print copy of the comic book, fans will be able to access the KÀ customized comic book by utilizing Marvel's cutting-edge digital comics reader. Learn more about the KÀ comic at CirqueClub, including some great pencil sketches! < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/2012-07-09- ka-comic-book-marvel.aspx > The Making of OVO: Behind the Scenes Video {Jul.10.2012} ---------------------------------------------- OVO premiers in Brisbane this Saturday and in anticipation for the Australian tour Kick off Cirque du Soleil is giving you glimpses into the creative process of OVO! Follow Deborah Colker, the writer and director of OVO, as she talks about the creation of movement for the show: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/2012-07-10- ovo-australian-tour-behind-the-scenes-video.aspx > Cirque Inspires Routine for the London 2012 Olympic Games {Jul.26.2012} ---------------------------------------------- The Canadian national senior synchronized swimming team for the 2012 Olympic Games officially unveiled in Montreal the theme and music for its brand new routine in the free team event. The routine was greatly inspired from Cirque du Soleil pieces. The Canadians will swim their free team routine — called "The Circus" — at the London Olympics. Among the musical pieces used in this four-minute routine are "Terre aride" from "O" compilation, "Alegría", "Incantation" from Quidam and "Pursuit" from KÀ. The Canadian team also benefited from the expertise and advice from two specialists working for the Casting team while preparing this routine. Rick Tjia, choreographer and Dance Senior Talent Scout as well as with Dmitry Belyaykov, a former artist on Saltimbanco and a sport talent, provided advice to the athletes and coaches in order to polish certain elements of the routine. "We are very pleased to have inspired the Canadian team in its preparations and to have shared our expertise and advices," said Bernard Petiot, Vice President, Casting and Performance. “We wish the team the best of luck.’’ --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter --------------------------------------------------- {Compiled by Keith Johnson} ---[ ALEGRIA ]--- {Jul.19} Alegria Parade at Galeries Lafayette, Nice (4 photos) Special visit to celebrate our arrival in Nice, France LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Alegria#!/media/set/? set=a.10151108967015746.501318.38543815745&type=1 > {Jul.27} To mark the start of the The Olympic Games in London 2012, we're inviting you to read this article and watch this video from The Wall Street Journal. You'll learn from former Olympic gymnasts, divers and synchronized swimmers that there are many ways to show off their skills onstage in Cirque du Soleil shows. (Includes a 4:00 video!) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yIMhF > ---[ AMALUNA ]--- {Jul.16} THANK YOU Montreal! Almost 250,000 people have seen Amaluna under the Big Top! We are currently packing-up and will be heading to Quebec City soon. The raising of the Blue-and-Yellow Big Top will be on July 19 in the Port of Quebec! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Amaluna#!/photo.php? fbid=404200456307926&set=a.316111341783505.76338. 282374401823866&type=1&theater > {Jul.19} Levée du Chapiteau/Big Top Raising au Port de Québec (8 photos) La levée du chapiteau a eu lieu le 19 juillet au Port de Québec! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Amaluna#!/media/set/? set=a.405392529522052.92657.282374401823866&type=1 > {Jul.26} Première Amaluna ce soir à Québec! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Amaluna#!/photo.php? fbid=408178215910150&set=a.316111341783505.76338. 282374401823866&type=1&theater > {Jul.27} Marie-Michelle Faber, déesse de la lune et direct de l'émission En Supplémentaire à Radio-Canada. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Amaluna#!/photo.php? fbid=408547612539877&set=a.316111341783505.76338. 282374401823866&type=1&theater > ---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]--- {Jul.03} Amaluna - Cirque du Soleil features our very first act inspired by the uneven bars. Connect with Cirque Club to learn how an acrobatic act comes to life: The Creative Process Behind the Amazones of Amaluna LINK /// < http://cirk.me/P3FTwP > {Jul.06} The 3rd edition of MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CIRQUE is now under way! As co-founders of TOHU, the driving force behind this Festival, Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to have this unique cultural gathering here in our hometown, reaffirming the undeniable role Montreal plays as an international circus arts capital. Discover the Festival here: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/MFWZkd > See Pictures Here: LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/CirqueduSoleil#!/photo.php? fbid=10151252642462501&set=a.146711457500.141354. 144074117500&type=1&theater > LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/CirqueduSoleil#!/photo.php? fbid=10151252614952501&set=a.146711457500.141354. 144074117500&type=1&theater > {Jul.10} Pick a side and you could be drawn into an upcoming issue of the KÀ by Cirque du Soleil comic book from Cirque du Soleil & Marvel, plus a trip to Vegas, Marvel subscriptions, show tickets, and more! Enter at the contest tab below! LINK /// < http://www.kacomicbook.com/ > {Jul.13} Reward your senses! Discover five amazing adventures inspired by Infiniti's partnership with Cirque du Soleil: LINK ///< http://cirk.me/urEN4q > {Jul.14} The artists are almost ready for the KÀ by Cirque du Soleil Comic Book events at Comic-Con in the Marvel booth! Check out behind the scenes: LINK /// < http://instagr.am/p/NE2_TJxI90/ > ---[ CORTEO ]--- {Jul.01} Corteo yesterday at Grote Markt here in Antwerp! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/pages/Corteo-by-Cirque-du- Soleil/34657386178#!/photo.php?fbid=10150871767496179 &set=a.438715896178.237170.34657386178&type=1&theater > {Jul.04} Corteo on rheinpfalz.de LINK /// < http://goo.gl/dFctN > {Jul.17} Stay tuned for news but later this week Corteo will have a surprise for you all at Antwerp's Central Station...here's a teaser.... LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Corteo#!/photo.php? fbid=10150906603581179&set=a.438715896178.237170. 34657386178&type=1&theater > {Jul.25} Don't miss the Corteo photo exhibition at Antwerp's Central Station. Running until August 5! This exclusive series of photographs by Marco Cisaria, is a personal 'behind the scenes' look at the world of Corteo. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Corteo#!/photo.php? fbid=10150921974611179&set=a.438715896178.237170. 34657386178&type=1&theater > {Jul.26} Here's another picture of the Corteo exhibition, running at Antwerp's Central Station until August 5! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Corteo#!/photo.php? fbid=10150923889676179&set=a.438715896178.237170. 34657386178&type=1&theater > ---[ DRALION ]--- {Jul.01} The Dralion Company is getting ready for tour break! We have gone to 10 cities in North America in 10 weeks. Tomorrow we will depart Chicago and go home or on vacation. The Dralion Company will visit over a dozen countries during the next two weeks visiting with family and friends! Thanks to all of our guests for an amazing leg! We will be back to performing the show we love so much on July 19th in Sunrise, FL!!! {Jul.15} Hello Raleigh, NC! Don't miss tomorrow at 11 am on My Carolina today tv show a special sneak peak of Dralion!!! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Dralion#!/photo.php? fbid=10151940389020195&set=a.225774950194.283184. 39340140194&type=1&theater > {Jul.16} Dralion is moved in 18 trucks with an additional truck for our catering. To pack Dralion every item has a place that it is packed every week. Every costume, light, speaker and hammer has a home in a roadcase, cart, or rack. Can you guess how many it takes to move our show? Here is a hint, there are over 7000 wheels on Dralion, some pieces have more than four but none have more than 30. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Dralion#!/photo.php? fbid=10151943936630195&set=a.225774950194.283184. 39340140194&type=1&theater > {Jul.17} Good morning Richmond, VA! Don't miss a sneak peak of Dralion around 9:30 am this morning on Virginia this morning (CBS 6)! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Dralion#!/photo.php? fbid=10151944617590195&set=a.225774950194.283184. 39340140194&type=1&theater > {Jul.19} Entrevista de prensa antes de prepararnos para la apertura de Dralion en el Bank Atlantic Center de Sunrise, FL. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Dralion#!/photo.php? fbid=10151952078430195&set=a.225774950194.283184. 39340140194&type=1&theater > {Jul.24} Good morning Baltimore, MD! Don't miss this morning sneak peak of Dralion with Ron Matz from WJZ. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Dralion#!/photo.php? fbid=10151966420000195&set=a.225774950194.283184. 39340140194&type=1&theater > {Jul.29} Dralion is opening at the Germain Arena on Wednesday, August 1 in Estero, FL. Read this interesting article about 3 of Dralion cast members! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/sdEGC > ---[ IRIS ]--- {Jul.06} IRIS Street Team Out and About! (13 photos) LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Iris#!/media/set/? set=a.421260951245584.91862.161171830587832&type=1 > {Jul.10} Backstage at IRIS by Cirque du Soleil in the Wardrobe Department. This specific area is where the costumes are put after washing to dry by air, so they don't shrink in the dryer! How many costumes can you pair up with their equivalent act in IRIS? LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Iris#!/photo.php? fbid=422570567781289&set=a.173536262684722.34125. 161171830587832&type=1&theater > {Jul.12} IRIS by Cirque du Soleil is out at the Santa Monica Pier Twilight Concert Series until 10 PM every Thursday night! Come out and see us, take a free photo with our IRIS Green Screen and receive special ticket offers from our Street Team! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Iris#!/photo.php? fbid=423205937717752&set=a.173536262684722.34125. 161171830587832&type=1&theater > {Jul.16} IRIS by Cirque du Soleil Music Fun Fact! The choice of the orchestral approach to IRIS reflects the fact that over 95% of film music since the 1930's has been scored for full orchestras, and this imparts to the show a sonic connection between circus and film, via strings, brass, harps, flutes, clarinets, bassoons and so on, as opposed to the sounds of a jazz or rock ensemble. {Jul.25} OPEN AUDITIONS – LOS ANGELES – SEPTEMBER 2012 GYMNASTS – TUMBLERS – TRAMPOLINISTS – SPORTS ACROBATS – DIVERS Cirque du Soleil is seeking talented athletes for its current shows and upcoming creations. Apply now: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/OkM3VU > {Jul.28} IRIS by Cirque du Soleil along with stars from "So You Think You Can Dance" helped celebrate the opening of Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles today. It's also National Dance Day! IRIS artists wowed the crowds with specially choreographed performance and music. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Iris#!/photo.php? fbid=428380363866976&set=a.173536262684722.34125. 161171830587832&type=1&theater > ---[ KÀ ]--- {Jul.01} Yesterday was the opening of the new international terminal at McCarran Airport and we were there to give Virgin Atlantic passengers on the first flight from Europe to land at the new terminal an Imperial greeting! Tell us what country you're from and we'll see which one of you have traveled the farthest to see KÀ! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/KA#!/photo.php? fbid=10151093253421929&set=a.176667951928.146847. 31527171928&type=1&theater > {Jul.06} Here's a look for MORE FOX5 at the upcoming KÀ comic book with Artistic Director Marie-Helene Gagnon! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/mb15f > {Jul.14} The artists are almost ready for the KÀ Comic Book events at Comic-Con in the Marvel booth! Check out behind the scenes: LINK /// < http://instagr.am/p/NE2_TJxI90/ > {Jul.14} On the floor at Comic-Con and heading toward the Marvel booth! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/KA#!/photo.php? fbid=10151130311231929&set=a.176667951928.146847. 31527171928&type=1&theater > {Jul.14} Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Bradford and KÀ artists on stage with Iron Man 3 suits at the Marvel booth! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/KA#!/photo.php? fbid=10151130406576929&set=a.176667951928.146847. 31527171928&type=1&theater > {Jul.14} Just wrapped up with the crew at the Marvel Comic-Con livestream! Next more airbrush tattoos and a make up demo! With Jennifer Haight and Stéphane Fio. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/KA#!/photo.php? fbid=10151130447566929&set=a.176667951928.146847. 31527171928&type=1&theater > {Jul.14} Marvel editor Nick Lowe got KÀ make up done in-booth at Comic- Con to help celebrate issue #1 of the KÀ comic book! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/KA#!/photo.php? fbid=10151130587196929&set=a.176667951928.146847. 31527171928&type=1&theater > {Jul.14} Artists from KÀ proclaim Iron Man the winner of the Marvel Comic-Con costume contest! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/KA#!/photo.php? fbid=10151130636791929&set=a.176667951928.146847. 31527171928&type=1&theater > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {Jul.07} For Phoenix, live talk on radio with Michael, Artistic Director and Jason, Trickster! Stay tune on 1100 KFNX from 12-1pm today! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/kooza#!/photo.php? fbid=10150892642701339&set=a.71836936338.88957. 34324811338&type=1&theater > {Jul.14} Thank you Phoenix! We had a fantastic last show with you under the beautiful rainbow. Our journey continues to see friends in Houston! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/kooza#!/photo.php? fbid=10150909808891339&set=a.71836936338.88957. 34324811338&type=1&theater > {Jul.20} Hello Houston! Now, the White Big Top is raised at SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK. More to know about KOOZA, 30 minute KOOZA special airs Sunday July 22 at 10:30pm right after the 10pm news on ABC Houston/CH 13. Check this up! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/kooza#!/photo.php? fbid=10150918946626339&set=a.10150918933376339.402955. 34324811338&type=1&theater > {Jul.20} KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil at Sam Houston Race Park. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/kooza#!/photo.php? fbid=10150918946621339&set=a.10150918933376339.402955. 34324811338&type=1&theater > {Jul.25} A sneak peek at training today. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/kooza#!/photo.php? fbid=10150929070661339&set=a.71836936338.88957. 34324811338&type=1&theater > {Jul.26} 2 hours to open the first show in Houston! We will eat premier dinner and ready to go! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/kooza#!/photo.php? fbid=10150930959166339&set=a.71836936338.88957. 34324811338&type=1&theater > {Jul.26 Did you enjoy KOOZA cupcakes? LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/kooza#!/photo.php? fbid=10150931325161339&set=a.71836936338.88957. 34324811338&type=1&theater > ---[ LA NOUBA ]--- {Jul.02} Can you name this act? LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/LaNouba#!/photo.php? fbid=10150949297394902&set=a.190647189901.126413. 16315569901&type=1&theater > {Jul.17} Do you know who this costume belongs to in La Nouba? LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/LaNouba#!/photo.php? fbid=10150979911399902&set=a.190647189901.126413. 16315569901&type=1&theater > ---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]--- {Jul.14} Fun Fact. Each Billie Jean suit (including hat, gloves, shoes) has 650 LED lights!! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/mjimmortaltour#!/photo.php? fbid=458210540870480&set=a.277498785608324.71073. 163439450347592&type=1&theater > {Jul.20} A very big THANK YOU to all of our fans for helping make us the top grossing act of 2012, thus far! LINK /// < http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=802058 > {Jul.23} IMMORTAL cast members came together to create this incredible video for fellow dancer, Steelo Vasquez! Check it out, share it, and help the cause! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJh5_Ew1Cek > ---[ MYSTERE ]--- {Jul.05} Mystère by Cirque du Soleil recently performed to kick-off Guy Laliberté's the Big One for One Drop poker tournament. Did you watch? LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Mystere#!/photo.php? fbid=10151066215294919&set=a.121054974918.123251. 18155469918&type=1&theater > {Jul.11} Tune-in Alert: Mystère by Cirque du Soleil dancer Dareian Kujawa is a contestant on this season of So You Think You Can Dance. Tune in tonight and vote for him! LINK /// < http://www.fox.com/dance/bios/ contestants/dareian-kujawa > {Jul.24} Which part of our theatre does this picture show? LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Mystere#!/photo.php? fbid=10151109452779919&set=a.121054974918.123251. 18155469918&type=1&theater > {Jul.27} 'Dangerous' live on Canada AM - two Canadian cities left! Toronto tonight and tomorrow at ACC and Vancouver Aug 10-11 at Rogers Arena! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/mjimmortaltour#!/photo.php? fbid=462782477079953&set=a.277498785608324.71073. 163439450347592&type=1&theater > {Jul.27} Check it out - "Dangerous" recreated LIVE on Canada AM! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/YQP0j > ---[ "O" ]--- {Jul.06} All the swimmers goggles are ready for tonight's performances! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Ocirque#!/photo.php? fbid=10151017178179417&set=a.98604589416.79108. 26000574416&type=1&theater > {Jul.09} We had a great time at the Park City Food & Wine Classic this weekend in Utah! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Ocirque#!/photo.php? fbid=10151024054974417&set=a.98604589416.79108. 26000574416&type=1&theater > {Jul.10} The friendly match between artist from "O" and the women's US Olympic water polo team is underway at "O" Theatre inside Bellagio Las Vegas! LINK /// < http://instagr.am/p/M6KF6yxI8r/ > {Jul.11} USA Women's Olympics Water Polo Team Visits "O" (49 photos) LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Ocirque#!/media/set/? set=a.10151028870179417.448132.26000574416&type=1 > {Jul.17} Crafting the beauty and brawn of the human form - by Las Vegas Magazine: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/SFEITA > {Jul.27} The Wall Street Journal has published an article on former Olympians from "O" by Cirque du Soleil and The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil. Check out the article below! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/b7jEJ > {Jul.29} Former Olympians Maurizia Cecconi and Sergei Kudrevich from "O" visited KTNV to discuss their past Olympic experiences and now being part of Cirque du Soleil. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Ocirque#!/photo.php? fbid=10151067043714417&set=a.98604589416.79108. 26000574416&type=1&theater > ---[ OVO ]--- {Jul.03} Brisbane Big Top Raising (4 photos) LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/OVOCirque#!/media/set/? set=a.10150994156294614.445483.62744104613&type=1 > {Jul.11} Brisbane - OVO Hot Air Balloon (11 photos) LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/OVO#!/media/set/? set=a.10151020472149614.447938.62744104613&type=1 > {Jul.11} G'day Brisbane! This morning, OVO officially launched the first Cirque du Soleil Hot Air Balloon. The Ladybug and Master Flipo joined the flight crew for this special occasion. Australians will be able to see this giant egg in various occasions in each city OVO will be visiting over the next year. We invite you to post your pictures of the OVO Hot Air Balloon on our Facebook Page if you see it in your neighborhood. Here are some pictures of the event. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thPiUkBwuCE > {Jul.15} OVO Hot Air Balloon first flight (3 photos) LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/OVO#!/media/set/? set=a.10151029768124614.448981.62744104613&type=1 > {Jul.17} Premiere of Ovo by Fashionista Events LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.397798910267160.86228.130022007044853&type=1 > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {Jul.16} Quidam is in Winnipeg {July 19-22 at MTS Centre. Check out Quidam performer skipping around town! How many Winnipeg landmarks do you recognize? LINK /// < ttp://vimeo.com/45661006 > {Jul.20} Quidam in the Winnipeg media LINK /// < http://goo.gl/uKVQa > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/JqoD1 > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/nAH8N > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/YsBsi > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/UEjD9 > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/JXizr > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/xi3Sb > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vvqZb > ---[ SALTIMBANCO ]--- {Jul.05} Saltimbanco makes Qatar debut in front of 3,000 people! Just a few tickets still available.... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/uINoO > {Jul.07} Final show tonight at 8pm!! Thanks to more than 18,000 people who have enjoyed the first Cirque du Soleil show ever in Qatar! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Xalrx > {Jul.13} Some nice photos from yesterday's rehearsals! LINK /// < http://www.runrungotravel.com/?p=3824 > {Jul.23} Hey Hong Kong, watch our exclusive segment on The Works (HKTV) tonight !! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/SaltimbancoCirque#!/ photo.php?fbid=10151112502232959&set=a.121288542958. 129859.41245692958&type=1&theater > {Jul.24} Watch this morning interview on AM LIVE. Opening tomorrow night in Singapore! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/QGe1k > {Jul.31} Great review about the show in Singapore...do not miss it...only 8 shows left !! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/PHk6s > ---[ THE BEATLES LOVE ]--- {Jul.24} This prop belongs with which LOVE character? LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/TheBeatlesLOVE#!/photo.php? fbid=10151041093258666&set=a.101066423665.92500. 14653468665&type=1&theater > {Jul.26} Don't miss LOVE this summer with tickets starting at $55! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/LOVE12SFb > {Jul.27} LOVE artist Youssef is now the official world record holder for most head spins in one minute! Youssef completed 137 spins and congratulations are definitely in order! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/TheBeatlesLOVE#!/photo.php? fbid=10151047241063666&set=a.101066423665.92500. 14653468665&type=1&theater > {Jul.27} The Wall Street Journal has published an article on former Olympians from "O" by Cirque du Soleil and The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil! Check out the article below! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/pcfVE > ---[ TOTEM ]--- {Jul.7} We are rehearsing our new Hand Balancing Act which will be performed on Wednesday, {Jul.11 at the Faneuil Hall Market Place in Boston at 12:15pm and 1:00pm! Join us for this mini performance! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/TotemCirque#!/photo.php? fbid=449561965064499&set=a.111837202170312.12495. 111798252174207&type=1&theater > {Jul.11} Getting ready for our performance at 12:15pm and 1pm at Faneuil Hall Market Place! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/TotemCirque#!/photo.php? fbid=451408444879851&set=a.111837202170312.12495. 111798252174207&type=1&theater > {Jul.11} We just finished our first performance! See you at 1pm! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/TotemCirque#!/photo.php? fbid=451418858212143&set=a.111837202170312.12495. 111798252174207&type=1&theater > {Jul.13} Watch the TOTEM hand balancing Act Performance at Faneuil Hall in Boston, MA and tell us what you think! via Boston Herald. — at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IBDHg > {Jul.22} Putting the final touches to Valentino's hairstyle! 60 minutes to show time! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Totem#!/photo.php? fbid=456322621055100&set=a.111837202170312.12495. 111798252174207&type=1&theater > {Jul.25} Tune in to the hangout with TOTEM artists Pippo Crotti, Olli Torkel & Nick D'Virgilio right now for LIVE answers to your questions about the show! (almost 53 minutes!) LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIr-ezC8JLw > {Jul.26} Circus Smirkus is an international youth program designed to help mentor and encourage children and young adults from disadvantaged or low socio-economic backgrounds to build self- esteem and social skills as well as their artistic talents. TOTEM was very happy to host a group of students last night in Boston!!! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Totem#!/photo.php? fbid=458070567546972&set=a.111837202170312.12495. 111798252174207&type=1&theater > ---[ VAREKAI ]--- {Jul.01} Varekai went to the shopping mall Barigui for a small surprise this afternoon. Here are some pics!! E ai Curitiba, curtiram nosso flash mob hoje no ParkShoppingBarigüi!! umas fotos do evento :D LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/pages/Varekai-by-Cirque-du- Soleil/30414380348#!/photo.php?fbid=10150997252135349 &set=a.397839470348.183347.30414380348&type=1&theater > {Jul.01} Flash Mob Curitiba (10 photos) LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/pages/Varekai-by-Cirque-du- Soleil/30414380348#!/media/set/? set=a.10150997261425349.454393.30414380348&type=1 > {Jul.15} Gostaríamos de agradecer Curitiba! Hoje infelizmente nos despedimos da cidade. Obrigado pela recepção mágica que vocês deram ao espetáculo e obrigado por preencher a Tenda com tanta felicidade! Até breve! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Varekai#!/photo.php? fbid=10151032290170349&set=a.397839470348.183347. 30414380348&type=1&theater > {Jul.17} POA, nos despedimos de Curitiba e estamos a caminho! Aguardem, a magia do Cirque du Soleil vai invadir a cidade :) LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Varekai#!/photo.php? fbid=10151036004915349&set=a.397839470348.183347. 30414380348&type=1&theater > {Jul.20} A montagem da Grande Tenda ontem na Área Externa do Barra Shopping Sul marcou a chegada oficial de Varekai em Porto Alegre/ Varekai Big Top went up yesterday in Porto Alegre, Brazil LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.10151042553320349.459753.30414380348&type=1 > {Jul.23} Essa semana o espetáculo vulcânico Varekai estreia na cidade de POA! Quem tá ansioso levanta a mão \o/ após a curta temporada na cidade o espetáculo se despede do Brasil :( por isso, não percam! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/Varekai#!/photo.php? fbid=10151048663630349&set=a.397839470348.183347. 30414380348&type=1&theater > ---[ VIVA ELVIS ]--- {Jul.01} The gang at Viva ELVIS were thrilled recently when they got a surprise visit from Guy Laliberte & Jerry Nadal during Guy's trip to Las Vegas. At first no one knew Guy would be attending but word quickly spread once he arrived at the theatre and it was just what the team needed to get pumped up for a slamming performance that night. LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/vivaelvis#!/media/set/? set=a.10150900922969109.407525.167136344108&type=1 > {Jul.06} Heartbreak Hotel this way! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/vivaelvis#!/photo.php? fbid=10150912295709109&set=a.167799494108.119733. 167136344108&type=1&theater > {Jul.25} Today we are celebrating 1,200 performances, with five artists never missing a show! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/vivaelvis#!/photo.php? fbid=10150950885964109&set=a.167799494108.119733. 167136344108&type=1&theater > {Jul.30} Don't miss the final season w/tickets starting at $55! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/VE12SFb > ---[ ZARKANA ]--- {Jul.03} We're backstage at America's Got Talent! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/ZarkanaCirque#!/photo.php? fbid=411757562209472&set=a.197727416945822.59030. 139797212738843&type=1&theater > {Jul.05} Did you see our recent performance on America's Got Talent? If not, click below and check it out! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KXmZv > {Jul.25} Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil was at Citi Field on Wednesday, July 25 to be a part of the Mets game! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/ZKMets > ---[ ZUMANITY ]--- {Jul.30} Don't miss Zumanity this summer with tickets starting at $55! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/Jm4pp8 > ======================================================================= COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= o) DIDYAKNOW - Facts at a Glance about Cirque o) HISTORIA - Cirque Company History o) ODYSSEA - Cirque Tour History --------------------------------- DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque --------------------------------- Here's a few facts about VIVA ELVIS, ending its run at ARIA in Las Vegas this month... o) 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. o) 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. o) Synthetic paper material was used to create the romantic ‘letter dresses' of the late ‘50s. o) The striped prison uniforms in the Jailhouse Rock scene were given a futuristic look with silver piping. o) 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. o) 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. o) Urethane foam wigs recreate the Elvis hairstyle in a Japanese manga comic strip interpretation. o) The showgirls' costumes are decorated with colorful feathers printed on transparent acetate to create the illusion of a plume of crystal feathers. o) The costumes are ornamented with some 100,000 crystals. o) The show calls for more than 450 pairs of shoes and 150 custom wigs. o) There is a total of nearly 400 Viva ELVIS costumes, employing some 1,500 components such as shoes, wigs and dresses. o) 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. o) 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. o) 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. o) 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. o) 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. o) 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. o) Two large hoops – symbolizing Elvis and Priscilla's engagement rings – are seven feet in diameter. Two acrobats perform on each hoop. o) 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. o) 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. o) 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. o) The wedding cake is a scale replica of Elvis and Priscilla's wedding cake. o) 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. ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque Company History ------------------------------------ * Aug.03.2004 -- Alegría CD Released US (CDS Musique) * Aug 06.2006 –- Mystère celebrated 6000th performance [Sunday, 7:30pm] * Aug.06.2008 –- Nakeel of Dubai purchases 20% Stake in Cirque * Aug.06.2010 –- Varekai celebrated 3000th performance in Oostende, Belgium * Aug.08.2008 –- Koozå celebrated 500th Performance [Fri, 4:00pm/Chicago] * Aug.09.1990 -- Nouvelle Expérience CD Released (Nâga) * Aug.10.2006 –- La Nouba Celebrated 5,000,000th guest! * Aug.13.2006 –- Corteo celebrated 500th performance [Sun, 5:00pm/Chicago] * Aug.13.2011 -- La Nouba celebrated 6,000th performance [Sat, 6:00pm] * Aug.14.1996 -- Mystère Live CD Released in Canada (RCA/Victor) * Aug.14.2010 -- OVO Celebrated 500th performance in Boston, MA * Aug.16.2001 -- Cirque wins 3 Emmys for Dralion on Bravo * Aug.16.2005 -- «O» CD released in Canada (CDS Musique) * Aug.16.2005 -- La Nouba CD released in Canada (CDS Musique) * Aug.16.2005 -- Mystère (Live) CD released in Canada (CDS Musique) * Aug.18.2000 -- Alegría: Le Film premiered in Italy * Aug.20.2008 –- DELIRIUM premiered on Digital Theater Screens * Aug.20.2010 -- LOVE celebrated 2000th performance [Fri, 7:00pm] * Aug.30.2004 –- Zumanity celebrated its 500th performance * Aug.xx.2001 –- Dralion celebrated 500th Show [Minneapolis, Minnesota] ------------------------------------ ODYSSEA: Cirque Tour History ------------------------------------ * Aug.01.1986 -- Magie Continue opened Saint-Sauveur, QC * Aug.01.1990 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened San Francisco, CA * Aug.01.2002 -- Dralion opened Seattle, WA * Aug.01.2002 -- Varekai opened Toronto, ON * Aug.02.1984 -- Grand Tour 1984 opened Magog, QC * Aug.03.2006 -- Saltimbanco opened Sao Paulo, BR * Aug.03.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Charlotte, NC * Aug.03.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Indianapolis, IN * Aug.03.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Estero, FL * Aug.04.1987 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Saint-Sauveur, QC * Aug.04.2005 -- Corteo opened Toronto, ON * Aug.04.2005 -- Saltimbanco opened Monterrey, MX * Aug.04.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Saskatoon, SK * Aug.04.2011 -- Koozå opened Osaka, JP * Aug.05.2007 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Ottawa, ON * Aug.05.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Salt Lake City, UT * Aug.07.1992 -- Fascination opened Yokohama, JP * Aug.07.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Newark, NJ * Aug.08.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened San Francisco, CA * Aug.08.1996 -- Quidam opened Toronto, ON * Aug.08.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Tel Aviv, IL * Aug.08.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Richmond, VA * Aug.08.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Edmonton, AB * Aug.09.1984 -- Grand Tour 1984 opened Hull, QC * Aug.09.2007 -- Koozå opened Toronto, ON * Aug.09.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Manila, PH * Aug.10.2006 -- Varekai opened Sydney, AU * Aug.10.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Estero, FL * Aug.10.2011 -- Totem opened Toronto, ON * Aug.11.2005 -- Varekai opened Columbus, OH * Aug.11.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Edmonton, AB * Aug.12.2004 -- Dralion opened Antwerp, BE * Aug.12.2004 -- Quidam opened Sydney, AU * Aug.12.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Columbus, OH * Aug.13.1999 -- Quidam opened Vienna, AT * Aug.13.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Toronto, ON * Aug.13.2009 -- Quidam opened Salvador, BR * Aug.14.1987 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Longueuil, QC * Aug.14.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Washington, DC * Aug.14.2008 -- Alegría opened Santiago, CL * Aug.15.2001 -- Dralion opened Boston, MA * Aug.15.2007 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Halifax, NS * Aug.15.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Raleigh, NC * Aug.15.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Kamloops, BC * Aug.15.2012 -- Totem opened Washington, DC * Aug.16.1984 -- Grand Tour 1984 opened Sorel, QC * Aug.16.1985 -- Grand Tour 1985 opened Niagra Falls, ON * Aug.17.2000 -- Dralion opened Minneapolis, MN * Aug.17.2007 -- Varekai opened Perth, AU * Aug.17.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Wollongong, AU * Aug.17.2012 -- Varekai opened Buenos Aires, AR * Aug.18.1992 -- Fascination opened Sendai, JP * Aug.18.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Hershey, PA * Aug.19.2004 -- Alegría opened Toronto, ON * Aug.19.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Hamburg, DE * Aug.20.2004 -- Saltimbanco opened Francfurt, DE * Aug.20.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Bridgeport, CT * Aug.20.2009 -- Koozå opened Denver, CO * Aug.21.2002 -- Alegría opened Minn./St. Paul, MN * Aug.21.2003 -- Alegría opened Seattle, WA * Aug.21.2010 -- Corteo opened Kazan, RU * Aug.22.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Baltimore, MD * Aug.22.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Kelowna, BC * Aug.23.1984 -- Grand Tour 1984 opened Montréal, QC * Aug.23.2003 -- Dralion opened St. Louis, MO * Aug.23.2007 -- Corteo opened Los Angeles, CA * Aug.23.2007 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened St. Johns, NF * Aug.24.2001 -- Alegría opened Brisbane, AU * Aug.24.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Baltimore, MD * Aug.25.1992 -- Saltimbanco opened San Jose, CA * Aug.25.1994 -- Alegría opened San Jose, CA * Aug.25.2006 -- Quidam opened Cincinnati, OH * Aug.25.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Kelowna, BC * Aug.25.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Dortmund, DE * Aug.25.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Atlanta, GA * Aug.25.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Auckland, NZ * Aug.26.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Boston, MA * Aug.27.1992 -- Fascination opened Kita-Kyushu, JP * Aug.27.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Hamilton, ON * Aug.28.1986 -- Magie Continue opened Longueuil, QC * Aug.28.1986 -- Magie Continue opened Ottawa, ON * Aug.28.2009 -- Varekai opened Hamburg, DE * Aug.29.2010 -- Quidam opened Lime, PE * Aug.29.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Kaohsiung, TW * Aug.29.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Atlantic City, NJ * Aug.29.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Abbotsford, BC * Aug.30.2007 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened St. John, NB * Aug.31.2000 -- Quidam opened Dusseldorf, DE * Aug.31.2006 -- Alegría opened Brussels, BE * Aug.31.2006 -- Dralion opened Berlin, DE * Aug.31.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Duluth, GA * Aug.31.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Hartford, CT * Aug.31.2012 -- Corteo opened Zurich, CH ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) "Forget Me Never - Goodbye VIVA ELVIS" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) Before the Circus Comes to Town - Part Two: "An Exclusive Visit to Varekai Seattle" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- "Forget Me Never - Goodbye VIVA ELVIS" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- On November 24, 2011, shocking news from the Las Vegas Sun reverberated throughout the Cirque du Soleil community: Citing poor ticket sales, MGM Resorts International was exercising a clause in its contract deal and asked Cirque du Soleil to replace Viva Elvis at CityCenter by the end of 2012. "As attendance levels have not been meeting expectations, we have asked our partners at Cirque du Soleil to replace the show," a company statement said. "We will work closely with Cirque as we explore future entertainment options." This was the first time that Cirque du Soleil, which has come to dominate the big- production showrooms on the Strip, had been asked to shutter a show since arriving in Las Vegas in 1993 with "Mystere" at Treasure Island. But it would not be the only show the company had been asked to close. Like with ZAIA in Macao, there is no denying that Viva Elvis had a tumultuous time on the Strip, but there was hope amongst some circles that the show could survive its difficulties, especially in the light of some thematical changes that were being implemented around the same time the call to replace the show was announced, and muster on. The announcement by MGM Resorts International all but squashed those hopes and later on this month – August 31, 2012 – Viva Elvis will have what we perceive to be its final curtain call. Rather than let the show's closing pass without comment, we've decided to celebrate all that Viva Elvis was, is, and was going to be through press releases, blurbs and other statements made about the production over the years, tracing its history from inception to conception. I GOT A FEELING IN MY BODY -------------------------- In May 2006, about the same time rumors were floated about Cirque creating what ultimately became ZAIA in Macao, and amongst the buzz regarding the Cirque du Soleil/Beatles mash-up (which became LOVE at The Mirage), Cirque du Soleil announced that it had entered into an exclusive arrangement with CKX Inc., owner of the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, for the creation, development, production and promotion of "Elvis Presley Projects" throughout the world: These Projects, expected to debut beginning in 2008, will consist of touring shows and permanent shows at fixed locations that will be produced by Cirque and incorporate the name, image, likeness and music of Elvis Presley. They will also consist of multimedia interactive entertainment "Elvis Experiences" that incorporate the music, memorabilia, audiovisual works, and the life and times of Elvis. Cirque and CKX have agreed to open at least one touring show in Europe and/or Asia and one "Elvis Experience" outside of the United States by 2008. Beginning in 2009, at least one Elvis Presley Project will be opened in each of the next six years. Beginning in 2014, at least one Elvis Presley Project will be opened every two years during the next eight years, through 2021. These projects are in line with Cirque's new business strategy of diversifying our artistic content through different live productions in order to reach out to as many people as possible throughout the world. Cirque and CKX will each own 50 percent of each Elvis Presley Project, sharing equally in the costs of creating, developing, building and producing each project and in the profits from each Project. CKX will also receive royalty payments on various aspects of its intellectual property used in the Elvis Presley Projects. A few short months later – August 21, 2006 – an official announcement was made between Cirque du Soleil, CKX and MGM/Mirage regarding the partnership, including an interesting bit about the new Elvis production taking up residence at the center-piece of the hotelier's infamous CityCenter mixed-use project: Aria. The announcement of the show's location was timed for Elvis Week, when Elvis fans from around the world flock to Memphis, Tennessee, for the anniversary of his death on August 16, 1977. Cirque du Soleil's creative team is inspired by this new extravaganza. The creative combination of live musicians and singers, projections, dance and the latest in multimedia sound and lighting technology are stimulating and aim at offering an emotional bond with the audience. The show will bring Elvis back to Las Vegas for millions of his existing fans and create a buzz that will enable the persona of Elvis to reach untold numbers of new fans. Robert F.X. Sillerman, Chairman and CEO of CKX, Inc., commented, "I am pleased that during this time, when we remember Elvis Presley and celebrate his life, we are able to announce his return to Las Vegas, a place where he truly rose to iconic status. And with the remarkable creative talent of Cirque du Soleil, fans who saw Elvis perform, as well as those who never had a chance to see him, will be able to experience Elvis in an entirely new and exciting way. This will be the first step in establishing a twenty-first century presence in Vegas for the King." Guy Laliberte, Founder of Cirque du Soleil, commented, "This new creative challenge is exactly what we strive at accomplishing in the development of our new productions. Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to be involved in CityCenter and we are particularly honored to be entrusted with this assignment. We are working closely with our partners to ensure the public will have an unforgettable encounter with the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis had a unique relationship with his adoring fans in Vegas and a large part of our mission is to recreate the excitement and the spirit of joy he generated here." Bobby Baldwin, President and CEO of Mirage Resorts, an MGM MIRAGE operating division, said, "We are thrilled to partner with our friends and colleagues at Cirque du Soleil, who are known the world over for creating memorable entertainment experiences. With this show we will bring together Elvis, an icon of Las Vegas entertainment history, with CityCenter, a destination that represents the future of this remarkable city." All became quiet on the Elvis front for more than two years following the press announcement. Many had begun to wonder whether or not any of the "Elvis Projects" would ever come to fruition, especially as costs associated with the construction of the massive CityCenter project skyrocketed and construction lagged. Others wondered whose idea the Elvis project was to begin with and how it came about. Daniel Lamarre, President and COO of Cirque du Soleil, fielded that question in a statement to the company's employees: Actually, the story behind the Elvis project is quite simple. Following the huge success of LOVE, we were approached by the Owners of the rights to the Presley estate. Elvis Presley is an Undisputed icon of contemporary music history, so we decided to immerse ourselves in his universe and develop different projects. There are several possibilities on the table, including a permanent show, a tour, interactive experiences and other ideas involving television and film. I won't deny that we were a bit skeptical initially, which led us to conduct a study to find out how people perceived the idea of associating our brand with that of Elvis. It turns out that people think it's an excellent idea! I anticipate that this show will be as successful as LOVE. And we waited... VIVA LAS VEGAS! --------------- On December 15, 2009, Cirque du Soleil unveiled VIVA ELVIS, written and directed by Vincent Patterson, to the world: 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 ITS NOW OR NEVER ---------------- Viva ELVIS is billed as a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music; 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. Significant moments in his life – intimate, playful and grandiose – blend with the 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 and the entire world of entertainment – Elvis Presley – through the following scenes: 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. God 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. DOIN' THE BEST I CAN -------------------- The show began preview performances as planned (on December 18, 2009), but the euphoria surrounding Cirque du Soleil's suaré into the life and times of Elvis Presley quickly began to fall upon hard times. A combination of construction delays and last-minute revisions had delayed VIVA ELVIS planned gala premiere on January 8, 2010 (what would have been Elvis' 75th birthday) to February 19, 2010. Many began to wonder whether lightening could strike twice with a "musical revue" type show (as The Beatles LOVE was proving to be a runaway success just down the Strip), or whether Cirque du Soleil had bitten off more than it could chew. "The show is not complete, and it's not what we wish," Ste-Croix told Mike Weatherford of the Las Vegas Review-Journal a few weeks before the show opened. Ste-Croix, Cirque's senior vice-president of creative content and new project development, said CityCenter CEO Bobby Baldwin wanted previews for the Aria opening and holiday season, sooner than Cirque would have liked given their creation schedule. Lagging ticket sales and half-filled shows had a number of tongues at MGM/Mirage and Cirque du Soleil wagging: changes had to be instituted and soon! Indeed I was not very kind in my review of the show, which you can read here (http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=2095). The show's executive producer, Stephane Mongeau, later confirmed that the show was undergoing a major reshuffling, among them the recent departure of the main Elvis actor, Leo Days, a top Elvis tribute artist. In the first incarnation of the show, VIVA ELVIS told a familiar story in an almost flat monotone. By the beginning of 2011, however, the show had been given new blood with a controlled but frantic fever pitch worked in for good measure. "The narrative has been cut down and the Col. Tom Parker character relocated," said Robin Leach, correspondent for the Las Vegas Weekly. "The dancing seems faster and more electrically charged. Now it's all showmanship throughout and makes the blue suede shoe even larger than it was with the dancers sprawled all over it. Now after more than a year of studio engineering, it's the new soundtrack that propels the show along at a much faster pace and energy." But the jubilation surrounding this round of changes didn't last long either, and by the end of summer, it was reported that MGM was working with Cirque du Soleil to modify VIVA ELVIS, which it acknowledged for the first time was losing money and drawing sparse crowds. On August 10, 2010 the rumors regarding those additional changes were made official by Renee-Claude Menard, senior director of public relations for Cirque, through the following announcement: "Cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts International have always had an active and open relationship about their projects. As for all Cirque du Soleil productions, we constantly review all aspects of our shows including the creative positioning and the business results. These discussions have been on-going for Viva Elvis and we have decided to modify the show to make it less of a biographical representation of Elvis and more of an acrobatic Cirque du Soleil spectacular production. As a result of the recent tragedies in Japan, Cirque du Soleil has had to make a difficult decision to close its permanent show ZED by the end of this year. But in making that difficult decision an opportunity presented itself to enhance Viva Elvis. ZED features some of the most impressive acrobatic acts ever presented on stage and we truly wish to continue bringing these performances to our audience. In the last weeks, we have reviewed the possibilities and have decided to fully integrate these beautiful acts in Viva Elvis and to present them to the millions of people who visit Las Vegas annually. Cirque du Soleil is a creative-driven organization and wants to ensure that this integration is done well and fully respects its artistic objectives. To do this, the partners have agreed that Viva Elvis will take extended dark dates beginning in January 2012. This integration is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter. We will also take this time to review all marketing strategies to reposition Viva Elvis. I would like to specify that we expect to have the same total amount of artists on stage and the financial investment both in the creative integration and new marketing initiatives are still under complete evaluation." ALL SHOOK UP ------------ From the moment Cirque du Soleil announced that VIVA ELVIS would get a makeover to "make it less of a biographical representation of Elvis Presley and more of an acrobatic Cirque du Soleil spectacular production," speculation ran rampant regarding just how drastic those changes might be. All we knew was that the cast and crew were summoned to a meeting just before the announcement was made. They were told that Cirque would be pouring more than $10 million into the makeover, that MGM Resorts International wanted results within two years, and it was even possible that the show's name could change. Explaining in more detail by phone, Cirque du Soleil's senior publicist, Renee-Claude Menard said "we would have made changes anyway," even without the misfortune of "Zed." Cirque and MGM Resorts officials already had agreed "we knew we wanted to make it more acrobatic. ... What ZED brought to the table was an opportunity." Cirque and Aria already had "common agreement" that "the biographical expression of Elvis was not necessarily appealing to our demographic and the type of demographic we'd like to have, so let's look at it a different way. Make it a Cirque du Soleil spectacular featuring Elvis as a singer," Menard said. As such, the character of Elvis' manager, Tom Parker, as narrator would likely be eliminated, though "I think we have to wait until the changes are all done," Menard said. VIVA ELVIS had planned an extended dark period at the beginning of January 2012 where the Banquine number and the Aerial Straps duo from ZED would be integrated. Until then the show would remain "as is". EASY COME EASY GO ----------------- With VIVA ELVIS seemingly on the right path again it came as somewhat of a shock that a mere three months later, and without the new changes going into effect, MGM Resorts International called for Cirque to replace VIVA ELVIS outright, but that's exactly what happened on November 24, 2001 – Thanksgiving Day: MGM Resorts has asked Cirque du Soleil to replace its show "Viva Elvis" at the Aria by the end of 2012, citing poor ticket sales. The move is the first time that the Canadian company, which has come to dominate the big-production showrooms on the Strip, has been asked to shut a show since arriving here in 1993 with its first permanent show, "Mystere" at Treasure Island. "As attendance levels have not been meeting expectations, we have asked our partners at Cirque du Soleil to replace the show," a company statement said. "We will work closely with Cirque as we explore future entertainment options." An internal Cirque du Soleil memo was sent to the cast of "Viva Elvis" on Wednesday afternoon announcing MGM's intentions. "Viva Elvis" has played 900 performances at the Aria resort at CityCenter, to nearly 1 million people. "Viva Elvis" is the newest of the seven Cirque du Soleil shows along the Strip - its 1,840-seat, acoustically refined showroom costing an estimated $100 million. The show was previously scheduled to go dark for a 90-day retooling in January and reopen in early spring. A top Cirque official told the Sun Wednesday evening: "The extended dark period for a full revamp of the show will now not take place. It will just be the regular dark period from Feb. 4-11, but we will make previously planned artistic adjustments ... We will also be integrating the Banquine act from our 'Zed' show for sure." Cirque du Soleil had the following to say to its employees regarding the unanticipated announcement: While the artistic merit of Viva ELVIS is exceptional and has touched close to one million guests with nearly 900 shows since opening in December 2009, we have been notified by our partners at CityCenter of their likely intention to ask Cirque to replace the show at the end of 2012. All of us at Cirque du Soleil are saddened that we may have to bring Viva ELVIS to the end of its journey. However, we respect the decision of our partner as ticket sales have not met expectations. We will now take the appropriate time to focus on redeploying as many of the show's employees as possible, when the time comes, and evaluating next steps for exploring the many possibilities for creative content. We are excited that throughout 2012, we will continue to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the world's greatest music icons. We are grateful to have the opportunity to share this exciting production with hundreds of thousands of guests from around the world during the months ahead. I know we will all continue our work on this production with the same professional drive and enthusiasm for which Cirque du Soleil is known. Like you, I am proud of our work on this show and understand that this is simply a business decision." But Viva Elvis's lack of success is relative. Since the show began in December 2009 it has reportedly been seen by more than one million people in over 900 performances. However, with Cirque's dominance in Las Vegas being what it is, Aria had hoped for a packed house every show. Aria's theatre had been only 60-percent full on average though, compare that to 99-per-cent occupancy for "O" and LOVE, shows running thirteen years and five years respectively. Even the nineteen-year-old production of Mystère still fills 82-percent or more at Treasure Island's theater, according to Renée-Claude Menard. ALRIGHT, OKAY, YOU WIN... ------------------------- You know, much like Elvis' own personal story, the journey of VIVA ELVIS is one filled with ups and downs, misadventures and comebacks, and winners and losers, perhaps just too many swings to survive. And like Elvis himself, I feel VIVA ELVIS is being taken from us too soon. With the recent additions of Banquine and Aerial Straps from ZED, the removal of the Wedding Cake and the tightening of other routines, new visuals and banners, and the dismissal of the Colonel Parker narration, this third edition of VIVA ELVIS has shaped up to be a fantastic show indeed. Alas, that's neither here nor there. Cirque du Soleil has already announced the show's replacement – ZARKANA, which will begin preview performances on October 25th and a gala premiere on November 8, 2012. And they've said they will attempt to re-locate as many artists as it can, which all but hammers in the final nail for this show's chances of reappearing elsewhere in the future. But you never know. ---------------------------------------------------------- Before the Circus Comes to Town - Part Two: "An Exclusive Visit to Varekai Seattle" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- Last month we talked exclusively with Mr. Eric Chalifour, Cirque du Soleil's Analysis Manager, about the preparations Cirque makes to a future tent site. Now it's time to see those efforts put into practice. NOTE: This article includes several PICTURES! (Aren't we clever?) Click on the links to see the pictures embedded in the article. "ARE YOU STARTING A NEW CIRCUS?" -------------------------------- April 2006. An overcast Friday in the great Pacific Northwest. My wife LouAnna and I are heading across Washington state to visit her father. But before we venture across the Cascade Mountains we drive to Marymoor Park in Redmond, where we have an appointment with the pre-set-up crew for Varekai. We have both arranged to work in the tents for the run of the show, so we will learn the route by heart in the next few weeks. When we arrive it's about 11 o'clock. The park is quiet today; most of the soccer and baseball fields won't be busy until tomorrow. We eventually reach the site about 3/4 of the way into the park. But there is none of the excitement we would normally feel, as there is no tent here. Yet. There are a few flatbed trucks parked outside the perimeter fence, but other than that the area feels – lonely. < http://goo.gl/vZwI0 > We walk up to the gate. The site looks huge, a grand expanse of level black asphalt, newly laid, with no marks or holes. The opposite end seems far away. < http://goo.gl/DqSPd > Meanwhile, geese honk as they fly overhead, heading north into Canada for the spring breeding season. On the site are a few men, dwarfed by the expanse of blackness on which they stand. As we scan the blacktop we can see occasional marks, painted lines, an occasional metal bracket. Construction supplies lie here and there. A Bobcat (a small mini-bulldozer) putters around in the background. < http://goo.gl/oyZxP > Announcing our presence, we are introduced to Mario Tomassini, Site Analysis Supervisor, Touring Shows Division, Cirque du Soleil. It is he who greets us with, "Are you starting a new circus?" One of his co-workers is Serge Savard. < http://goo.gl/951zY > Both are from Montréal. (Mario-left, Serge-right) Mario has been here for two days, Serge flew in yesterday. Another person, Daniel, is the site construction manager in charge of finding a local contractor to make any major structural changes to the site. Mario started with Cirque as a Site Supervisor eight years ago, coming from the construction industry. "At first I spent all of my time on the road because I was on tour. Now it's like a third of the time. It's really nice, two thirds of my time is in Montréal getting a real life. (Laughs) But it's a fun life. When we travel we travel to beautiful cities; sometimes in the winter you leave from Montréal where it's -28 Celsius (18 degrees below zero Fahrenheit) and you're going to Miami or Los Angeles." Serge has been with Cirque for four years. He worked the Saltimbanco and Alegria tours, a jack of all trades. He stands in the center of the site with a machine called Total Station and directs the markings that appear on the asphalt. < http://goo.gl/uwNeV > Mario tells us about his crew. "Four of us came from Montréal. And we have two guys who came from Quidam which is currently tearing down in Long Beach; they were available so they flew in. Sometimes our entire crew does not come from Montréal. We have Americans working for us who fly from their hometown. We have some Australians, some from New Zealand, Europe, Germans, a lot of Spanish." "The first part of our job is to find a site we will accept," Mario explains. "Sometimes it's hard to find a site. Topographically Seattle is very hard; we need a flat area so it's not that easy. We need about 600' x 300'. But it could be an odd shape and we can design the site around it." "This asphalt is brand new and it's the first time we are using it. We did a survey [of the site] before when the blacktop was not here. Once the blacktop was laid we did another reading and sent it to the [Varekai] technical department. Some of the equipment [we use] can be adjusted before it [arrives]. Sometimes the grade is not up to our standard, such as when it's too steep, so they ask us to correct it. Then when the guy with the asphalt is here we ask him to fill in a bit before the tour shows up." "Once we find the site we do a reading with a special machine, that's over there." He gestures at the Total Station in the center of the asphalt. < http://goo.gl/S9ZUP > "It takes readings like a photograph of every obstacle on the landscape. We take topographic measurements that we bring into AutoCAD. And then we try to lay out the circus village on the measurements of the site. We try to stay away from obstacles, [or] things we have to move, such as lamp posts. [Because] everything needs to be removed and put back." "Once we design the site we send it to the shows Tour Manager who distributes the plan to everybody on tour, so if anybody's concerned about anything they can comment. For example, if the box office didn't think that their operation would be possible in that setting, it would be changed. So it's a process." X MARKS THE STAKE ----------------- Once the layout has been approved they then come up with a marking plan. Mario shows us a layout on a color 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. < http://goo.gl/T1S64 > It is a CAD drawing of the entire "city." It shows the location of the support trailers and kitchen (in blue). Blue lines also identify the cables that will hold the tent masts in place. The huge stomach of the main tent sits like a Buddha in the center. The artistic, concessions and VIP tent are outlined in red. Everything is marked here – the box office, toilets, even the fake palm trees in the VIP Patio. And it is all positioned very, very precisely. Mario points to the drawing. "We have so much information in CAD. This is just one layer and is simplified and is very precise. We know the position of each stake and we know if it's going to conflict with anything underground - telecom, water, electricity, anything". "We redraw [this] in full-scale, exactly what you see on the map, on asphalt. We use the Total Station." He again gestures to the center of the site, as Serge peers through one end of the instrument on the tripod as the marking process continues. < http://goo.gl/hkbsG > "There are several models but we use this one when we are scouting sites. For marking it gives us the angles. Yesterday I came and located the center of the big top which is also the center of the site. This line here (pointing to a line on the asphalt) is the main axis of the site. Stage right is 0° for us and for all the markings." "We set up in the center (of the site) and record a zero angle." He pokes at a line on the drawing. "Then we go with our list. All we need to locate anything is an angle. Let's say we need to put a stake at 10 degrees 20 minutes 54 seconds. We use the angle relative to the main axis and we go clockwise. Then we need a distance. When you have a degree and a distance you have a very precise position. And this is very very precise, we're talking about millimeters." He points again at markings on the ground indicating where the concessions tents and the main tent will be placed. A smaller white circle is circumferenced by a blue line. "The blue line is the stake line. The white line is the outline of the tent." < http://goo.gl/8bfS5 > Today they will lay down marks for the front of house, which includes the concessions tents. Tomorrow they will continue, marking the artistic tent, kitchen and most of the other onsite trailers. "The point of marking everything is to give everybody a reference. A lot of points that you see here are not [necessarily] for one person, it could be for several people." Mario introduces us to various configurations of the heavy metal plates that will be fastened to the asphalt. < http://goo.gl/qF3bu > The plates don't look that heavy just sitting there, but considering the metal used is one inch thick it's no surprise they weigh several hundred pounds each. They all have holes through which stakes are pounded to fasten the plate to the asphalt. Some are used for the big top, others for the concession, artistic and VIP tents. He also shows us small metal plates that are only one-quarter inch thick, these are used as shims underneath the mast poles to help meet its 10cm (about four inches) tolerance. We walk across the site, as he shows us how the plates are placed. "Each position is located by an angle and distance according to the center of the big top and [the zero degree] axis. Each position has a nail which has a name on a tag. < http://goo.gl/Kt1we > And the tag has all the coordinates, because we need to double-check, sometimes it's wrong. So this one for example, it's called the "45 plate." You see on the tag it's got the angle and the distance. If this one's off by even just a bit it throws the rest of the plate off. < http://goo.gl/hUkN6> So if we suspect that one of the nails is off we get a tape and check the distance to make sure it is the same as the distance written on the tag. It's a way of double-checking everything we do. And it's idiot proof, because sometimes we're idiots. (Laughs) Everybody has a chance to check so they don't call me and say, ‘Hey Mario what's happening?' They know, and the job gets done easily." He points to other lines on the ground. "These point out underground utilities. We marked those yesterday. We imported them into our drawing and we know right away where it's going to conflict." As if on cue to illustrate his point, the Bobcat driver approaches and speaks to Mario in French. They have a short conversation and Mario walks behind the Bobcat as it putters to a location on the site. There is an underground utility near where one of the stakes is to be pounded. Mario discusses the situation with the crew. "So we know in this case there is a conflict." He points to a place on the ground where one color of lines overlaps another. < http://goo.gl/WnBlx > "What you see is he is about to mark one stake. It's very close to the line. We have this in CAD, so we can see that we might have a problem with this utility here. So before the guy starts to pound the stake in we know we're close to this problem area. We've put a little buffer in, but the stake seems to conflict with the bumper so we are going to put [the stake] in at an angle so that it will avoid the pipe. So with this stake we might cheat, there are plenty of stakes that we can cheat with. Some, [like] tent plates, we cannot cheat." Nearby we spy a set of stakes resting in a case. < http://goo.gl/uIh68 > The number of stakes used on a site varies from 300 to 1200 depending on the tour and setup conditions. The stakes are 5 feet long, 2 inches in diameter and weigh 20-25 pounds each. Even though they are sitting quietly they look substantial and heavy. I ask to lift one and LouAnna laughs. "Can you?" It takes most of my palm to wrap around it. < http://goo.gl/QdLy9 > It has a sizable heft, feeling like 40 pounds but actually just 25. "At the beginning of the day it feels like 40 pounds," Mario quips, "but by the end of the day it feels more like 150!" We stand in front of one of the plates that will hold a wire that connects to one of the masts. There are 14 stakes bolting this one into the ground. < http://goo.gl/ECWKy > "Each stake is designed to hold one ton," says Mario. "But that's a conservative estimate. In reality it holds much more, but for easy calculation it's one to 1 1/2 tons." He points to a nearby wire, about 2 inches thick, several smaller metal strands wrapped together. "This is the big top guy wire, it goes (in the center of the plate) and connects to the mast and helps hold up the tent." The mast plates are designed to hold 16 tons but are tested to 20. "We have eight of these, they'll be tested tomorrow. For Washington State we have an engineer coming from California with a big truck that will pull 17 to 20 tons against it. We have some blocks that will sit on top of it and the truck will try and rip it off. We [measure] any displacement of the plate, and it needs to pass. The main anchors are always tested. Because if there is ever a tornado or severe weather we know that it will hold." At first glance that might seem overrated. But the tent has lots of surface area and odd shapes, and they want to make sure it will stand up to a big storm or wind (up to 150km). Does it ever not hold? "Never. No chance. When we put 5000 pounds of blocks on top, with the capacity of the stakes, plus the weight on top - forget it. Sometimes we break the towing machine!" LouAnna says, "I feel so much better now." When they're putting in the first stake for a plate how do they keep the plate from moving with all the movement from the hydraulic jackhammering? "It will move a bit, but the other person working with the Bobcat will kick the plate back into place. How critical the plate is, such as for a mast or other critical component or something somebody else will use as a reference will determine how critical we must be." "So they just hammer the stakes into the ground?" LouAnna asks. "Yes with this machine," Mario replies, pointing to the Bobcat. < http://goo.gl/gRge8 > "That would be really hard to do the old- fashioned way," LouAnna suggests. "Sometimes we do it that way," Mario responds. "Sometimes if we forget to put nails in a spot and we no longer have access to the Bobcat we hammer them in by hand." He points to the hydraulic hammer on the end of the Bobcat, on which is fitted a special head that looks like a large inverted metal golf tee. < http://goo.gl/52Yxe > "This is the hammer and we have a special mold which you cannot buy or rent." The head of the stake fits in the mold and then is pounded by the hydraulics of the hammer attached to the Bobcat. "We have two of them. Sometimes the ground can be very hard and it might take 15 minutes to pound a stake in. With 1200 stakes to pound in you can't spend 15 minutes on each one so we use the second." He takes us to the back of the site, where there sits a huge metal industrial toolbox situated on the back end of a flatbed. < http://goo.gl/jMWy8 > We carefully walk up the narrow ramp and peer in. The toolbox contains everything they will need to do the job while they are here. < http://goo.gl/XUYKP > Lying on the flatbed is a stake mold broken in two by a lightning bolt of a cut. It will cost $500 to replace. < http://goo.gl/ouAue > The Bobcat begins to hammer another stake. Even from where we stand at the other end of the site it makes a raucous deafening jackhammer sound. But as we watch the stake is swiftly driven into the asphalt. We imagine that sound multiplied by 1200 over the course of a few days and it makes us shiver. "I have the ears of an old man," Mario laments. TODAY AND TOMORROW ------------------ The amount of activity and number of people on the site vary day by day. "Yesterday we were just two people marking the site. Today there are six of us doing more marking and pounding of the stakes. We'll continue pounding stakes until almost the end [of the job]. But today we're a bit ahead." Mario shows us a schedule of deliveries to the site by vendors of supplies and materials. < http://goo.gl/oMdO4 > "It's not very elaborate," he says. "A utility locator marked everything yesterday. And we marked the big top center and did a show level. We are supposed to receive cement blocks today." Other deliveries noted on the list are for trailers, electricity and water connections. "Tomorrow we have load tests. Usually we do our own tests but because we're in Washington (or Oregon or California) we have to have someone else do the testing." "The asphalt guys will also be here tomorrow and will build troughs and ramps. We have wire bridges to protect the wires that must be done before the tour comes in." To avoid patrons or forklifts walking over or damaging the web of power cables that snake across the site they build small ramps through which the cables pass. Asphalt curbs are also built around the perimeter of the tents to keep out rainwater. He shows us another checklist of all the things that must be done while they are on the site. < http://goo.gl/CPDEG > "It's not a schedule; it's just a checklist to make sure that everything has been done. Did we forget the asphalt curb? No we got the asphalt curb." He picks off selected others from the list, his voice trailing off. "Bleacher lines, center line… [We'll be finished] around Monday the 24th. Today is Friday the 21st. So we'll be working through the weekend. Varekai will be here from Portland on Wednesday the 26th." As we wrapped up our visit to the blacktop on which the Varekai tent would settle just one week later, Mario reflected on how his job has changed. "I started eight years ago and it wasn't like this [back then], it was more by eye. We had gentlemen from the old school. They were very good; they had the eye to do the job. But we started to have more shows and those guys were not available for all the shows. So we [had] to find a new way. Now we have a folder that I can give to the person onsite. I could give it to you, I could explain the system in one or two hours and you could mark the site." Now that we have witnessed the otherwise unseen time and effort that goes into developing a site for a Cirque big top it gives us greater appreciation for all the preparation that must take place before the show can premiere in a new town, or before the audience sets foot onto the site on the way to their seats, or before the artists step foot onto the stage. Meanwhile the Bobcat's stuttering thud reminds us of the work still to be done as it pounds another stake into the ground like butter. My sincere thanks go to: Mr's Tomassini and Savard for so graciously spending time with us, especially in the midst of such a busy day, Chantal Côte, Corporate PR Manager, And my wife LouAnna for putting up with my sometimes obsessive hobby. ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly publication, available through subscription via the World Wide Web in text format at the newsletter's website: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. To subscribe, please visit our website and enter your name and email address in the "About Fascination" box and press Subscribe. You,ll receive an email to confirm your selection. Once confirmed you,ll be added to our mailing list. 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/ >. Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Volume 12, Number 8 (Issue #103) - August 2012 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2012 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. { Aug.01.2012 } =======================================================================