======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 11, NUMBER 1 January 2011 ISSUE #84e ======================================================================= Bonne Année! / Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu / Happy New Year! Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. Two Thousand and Eleven promises to be another great year for Cirque du Soleil with the premiere of ZARKANA on the east coast (New York City, New York) and IRIS on the west coast (Hollywood, California); But a sad one as well: this month we bid farewell to Cirque du Soleil's "winter tale" - Wintuk - which has been a holiday favorite in New York City these past four seasons. In addition to all the latest news items posted to Fascination! Web and, of course, all the pertinent posts on Cirque du Soleil's various social widgets in our OUTREACH section (not to mention the updated touring schedules), we're also excited to continue our interview series this month with an exclusive chat with the composers of Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM: Bob & Bill! Find out all the trials and tribulations the dynamic duo undertook to turn this recording around in record time. Okay, so, let's get started! Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > - Ricky "Richasi" Russo =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues * BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau * Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre * Venue Shows -- Venue & Seasonal Productions o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets * Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub * Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Flickr o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain * Historia -- Cirque du Soleil's History o) Fascination! Features * INTERVIEW /// "Bob & Bill - Believing & Dreaming" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Soaring Determination Leads Gymnast to Mystère Roost [EXPANDED] {Dec.01.2010] ------------------------------------------------------ For three years, British gymnast Ross Gibson made little headway in trying to land a part with Cirque du Soleil. The show would offer a part that did not interest him or he would suggest something that was not available. In 2003, he switched from asking to demanding, an unconventional approach that would horrify most job-search consultants. "I laid all my cards on the table and told Cirque that I only wanted to be a principal character," Gibson recalled. "I remember them telling me, 'Who are you to say that to Cirque du Soleil?' I told them, 'I'm no one, but I just know what I have to offer you.'" His background included both acrobatics and dance training, an unusual combination for men. That, coupled with his burst of temerity, led in early 2004 to being cast as Red Bird, the lead role in Cirque's "Mystère." Since then, he has become something of an oxymoron, a largely unknown Strip headliner. Red Bird is the face of "Mystère," including on the Treasure Island sign that faces Interstate 15. But due to the makeup and feathered headdress that go with his costume, few people ever pick him out as a star, even outside the theater after a show. Gibson was fascinated by gymnastics while a boy growing up in the English coastal resort of Blackpool. His parents took him to a club where he started training in tumbling. "Just running and throwing myself around was a huge thrill for me," he said, finding it less confining than working with rings or bars. He also liked the solo aspect. "I would just go to an open field and do as many somersaults and backflips as I could to impress myself and whoever was watching," he said. "I was definitely a performer and a show-off at a young age." As a tumbler for the British national team, he was ranked as the third-best tumbler in the world at age 16 and came in second at the 2002 World Cup Final at age 22. He first auditioned with Cirque in 2000, but began training in dance with an eye toward landing a role in musical productions playing in London's West End theater district. When he finally came together with Cirque, he opted for a radical change in scenery. That has included a large say in shaping the character. He would go to parks and study bird movements, keying in on the constant head movements. He also retains major latitude in how to play Red Bird day in and day out. "It's great with a principal character," he said. "While I'm on stage, I can be attracted by anything, whoever in the audience I want, whichever character I want, whichever sound from the musicians I want. I bring my own emotions to the role every day." Q. You turned 30 this year, an elderly age in gymnastics. How long can you keep going? I finished competing at age 23 after starting at age 10, so I had a good 13 years of competitive gymnastics. For men, gymnastics can go on a lot longer than it does for women. The role I have is a very physically demanding role, probably one of the most demanding in Cirque. Very dance-based, very acrobatic- based. Always in character and very prominent on stage. It's a role I love so I want to continue as long as my body holds out. I've had my fair share of injuries and bruises and setbacks, but I'm hoping I have still another five years. In sports, 30 is old but not at Cirque, I think the average age of our performers (in "Mystère") is somewhere in the mid-30s. There's lots of veterans. Q. How do you condition yourself to minimize the physical punishment? I have a workout regimen twice a week with one of the personal trainers that Cirque provides us. I go to the gym myself. I take ballet and dance classes regularly. Just the show itself, an hour and a half 10 times a week, is enough to keep my body in shape. You just have to try to avoid those odd, random injuries that will pop up. It can be anything from stepping over a wall to doing a triple somersault. You can never really avoid the injuries and I've had a fair share of them. I just hope each time is the last time. Q. Have you missed a move and had to limp through the rest of the show? The main injury I've had came when I lost myself in the air, landed on my back and my knees went into my face, giving myself nine facial fractures in the middle of a show. Fortunately, I was on a mattress on wheels so I was very quickly wheeled off. There was lots of surgery to put my face back together with lots of metal. Six weeks later I was back in the show. With injuries on stage, you fake your way through them. You find a way to make it look as if it never happened. The last thing an audience wants to see is a performer limping off. Any time I've hurt myself on stage, fortunately with my character, I can get down into my bird position on my knees and assess myself and work out how I am going to get off stage. Q. Do you think of yourself as a tough guy? To do what we do, 10 shows a week, 48 weeks a year, I think it's tough. It may not be your typical boxing ring fight toughness but it's definitely grueling on the body and something not everyone can do, for sure. Q. When football players get injured, the game is stopped while they are on the ground. You can't do that. I think they play on the sympathy. We can't because that will ruin a show for the audience. Q. Do people recognize you on the street? I'm starting to get a little more recognition now that I have been in the role for a while. You would think that once you walk outside the theater everybody would recognize you, but they very rarely do. Q. Do you ever wish you had more of the celebrity that goes with a leading role? Honestly, it would be nice to have a taste of heads turning when you walk down the street. But on the other hand, it could go the other way. If I had too much of that I might want to stick to the anonymity I have now. It would be nice to see what it's like for a while, but I am quite happy knowing myself that this is what I do and people enjoy it without having to tell it to my face. Q. You don't speak except for bird squawk, but the sequence of routines are scripted. How much room do you have to improvise? I have about 95 percent room to improvise. The work I do on stage is all choreographed by me. That's the best way of bringing yourself into a character, bring your own movements, your own stylization, your own mannerisms. I have to get from A to B on stage, but I can change it day to day as long as I keep it within the realm of a bird. You can play within whichever scope you feel like that day. If I'm sad that day I will play a sad bird. If I am happy that day, I'll play a happy bird. Q. Does changing the role help keep you alert and avoid injury? Yes, and I learn from my mistakes. That one time (I was injured), I just had that split-second lapse of concentration. If you do that flipping around 20 feet in the air in a dark environment with spotlights on you, a lapse will cause you to lose every sense of aerial awareness. You have to keep your head in the game and I learned from that time you never take for granted what you are doing on the stage or gymnastically. { SOURCE: The Las Vegas Review-Journal } Rating Vegas' Topless Revues: Zumanity [EXPANDED] {Dec.02.2010} ------------------------------------------------- I'm headed out to check out "Fantasy," a topless revue on the Las Vegas Strip, because I'm supposed to interview the show's then-star, former Playboy centerfold Angelica Bridges. But I hadn't spent much time with my Little Brother from Big Brothers Big Sisters in a while, so I ask him if he'd like to join me. "Really?" Jamie asked. "I can do that?" Indeed, he's 20 now. He's not old enough to legally gamble, drink or visit nightclubs here. In other words, he can't do much of anything fun on the Strip. But yes, he can do this; the minimum age for production shows with nudity in them is, surprisingly, only 18. (It's 21 for strip clubs, however.) "I've never done that before," he said en route. "I don't know what to expect." And therein birthed a story idea. As a gay man, I'd largely shied away from covering the topless shows on the Strip because they're really not built to entertain -- or at least not to titillate -- me. But here was Jamie, a red-blooded straight male who, as a topless show virgin, had no preconceived notions. What if we saw all eight of the shows that contain females who disrobe and I turned over the grading system to him, enhanced with my own more seasoned, non-hetero point of view? After we saw them all, Jamie ranked them from best to worst. I added my perspective but I didn't alter his order. Take it all for what it's worth, but remember that you've got finite time and money in Vegas. Jamie and I are here to help. ZUMANITY Pros: Cirque du Soleil poured $50 million into its 2003 entry into the Vegas adult entertainment show business, and every dollar of it seems to have been spent to create a unique and credible sequence of scenes exhibiting both impressive sex appeal as well as the sort of eye-popping athleticism that the Montreal circus troupe is known for. The intimacy of the theater and the live music provided cues that this would be a high- quality endeavor, and even the scene that could have been crass and exploitative -- two topless women frolicking together in a gigantic fishbowl -- was executed with sensuous grace thanks to beautiful synchonized-swimming choreography. Cons: Jamie's biggest objection was to the contortionist, a guy in boxers who inverted his body in impressive but thoroughly disgusting ways. I'm pretty sure that sequence has been shortened over the years; I always look away, too. Blech. Steve's Side: Of all these shows, Zumanity offered by far the most eye candy for gays and straight women, although an explicit gay ballet that culminated in a male-on-male kiss is no longer in the production. There's a full-on male striptease and even one scene in which a male and female performer strip each other; such interactivity is unique to this genre anywhere on the Strip. There were so many stacked male torsos, in fact, that Jamie remarked that it was mildly distracting and made him feel inferior. Jamie's Bottom Line: "It's more of an entertaining show than an arousing one, but everything was really awesomely executed." { SOURCE: Steve Friess, LA Times } The Stars Align for Guy Laliberté [EXPANDED] {Dec.06.2010} ------------------------------------------------- Check out this fantastic article about Guy Laliberté, Cirque du Soleil's founder and guide, By Reed Johnson of the Los Angeles Times! # # # A few days ago at Hollywood & Highland, a smooth-scalped man in a black leather jacket, jeans and sneakers got a red-carpet treatment that royalty might envy. Not one, but two, L.A. City Council members took turns gushing over him. His fellow countryman, the director James Cameron, praised the honoree as a theatrical magus who conjures "living dreams," populated with aerialists, acrobats and clowns that are actually amusing. Then, as a beaming Hollywood Chamber of Commerce representative looked on, Guy Laliberté, the press-shy billionaire founder and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, stepped forward to unveil his and Cirque's shiny new star, the 2,424th on the Walk of Fame. The VIP theatrics were telling. On July 21, the Montreal-based Cirque will pull the drapes off its latest high-flying extravaganza, the Hollywood-themed "Iris." The new show has a 10-year contract to perform at the Kodak Theatre in the Hollywood & Highland Center, which annually hosts the Academy Awards ceremony but has had trouble filling its cavernous 3,400- seat enclosure year-round. Written and directed by French dancer-choreographer Philippe Decouflé, who staged the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1992 Winter Olympics, with music by Danny Elfman, "Iris" is shaping up both as a valentine to the movie industry and a mash note to the city that, perhaps more than any outside Canada, has put Cirque's blue- and gold-striped tent on the global map. Over the years, Laliberté said, Cirque has conducted "a love affair" with L.A., and in an interview he spoke of how working on "Iris" has fired up the group's creative juices. "This opportunity for Cirque du Soleil to pay tribute to an industry that has an amazing history, we were like little kids in a candy store," said the 51-year-old impresario, who likes to depict Cirque, one of the world's most lucrative entertainment brands, as a humble troupe of hard-working acrobats, and still regards himself as the scrappy Quebec street busker he started out as 30 years ago. Never mind that he's now one of the world's 500 or 600 richest people, a recipient of the Order of Canada (his nation's top honor), and a top-tier philanthropist in environmental causes. So far, Laliberté and his colleagues have revealed few details about "Iris" (pronounced, in the French-Canadian mode, more like ee-rees than eye-ris). But they acknowledge that it will reference specific films and characters, and that the design will include projected images. "There's so much history in [the] cinema industry that was very inspiring," Laliberté said. City officials, retailers and tourism promoters hope that Cirque's Hollywood residency will provide a major infusion of visitors and cash to the theater and the shops and restaurants that surround it. "Iris," with a cast of 75 performers and a cost of $100 million, including theater renovation, is contracted for a minimum of 368 performances a year. Cirque plans to use a roughly 2,500-seat configuration by closing off part of a balcony, and is excavating 45 feet under the Kodak stage to accommodate its sprawling sets. Tickets will run from $43 to $133, and higher for VIP packages. The theater is part of the Hollywood & Highland Center retail complex, whose current owner, CIM Group, bought it in 2004. One of the center's biggest boosters, Council member Eric Garcetti, whose district encompasses the Babylonian-motif mall, declared at the Walk of Fame ceremony that "Iris" would draw about 2 million visitors annually and create hundreds of jobs, and "not just for the folks in the show." Those are big expectations for the big-top ensemble, which almost single-handedly reinvented Las Vegas entertainment by mounting seven shows in custom-built theaters along the Strip. It also has full-time productions running in Tokyo; Macau, China; and Orlando, Fla. Yet another new Cirque spectacle, "Zarkana," is scheduled to open a 15-month engagement in June at New York's Radio City Music Hall and a new touring show, " Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour" will launch in October. Sounding purposeful but relaxed, Laliberté, who oversees every Cirque project, said he's not concerned about his company growing overextended. Cirque now employs 5,000 people worldwide, including 1,200 performing artists from nearly 50 different countries. "At the end, we live or die from our public, they're the ones who will decide," Laliberté said. "And at this point they're still coming, they still want more." As for L.A., he said, Cirque has met big-time challenges here before. Founded in 1984 by a tatterdemalion band of jugglers, stilt-walkers and fire-belchers, Cirque had performed across Canada by the mid-1980s and was scouting out potential new venues, preferably in a year-round warm-weather market. The troupe made its U.S. debut in Los Angeles in 1987. {SOURCE: LA Times} Cirque in 3D? [EXPANDED] {Dec.08.2010} ------------------------------------------------- Director Andrew Adamson has begun production on an enterprising family-oriented feature film that marries James Cameron's 3D wizardry with the precision and spectacle of Cirque du Soleil. I'm told the untitled film is a hybrid combining narrative storytelling with Cirque performances that are being captured in 3D from different themed Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas. Those performances serve as the backdrop of a magical world where the film's lead character has been transported. The film is being financed primarily by Cirque du Soleil, and Cameron is serving as producer. Also producing are Reel FX Entertainment partners Cary Granat and Ed Jones, Cirque du Soleil, and Adamson’s Strange Weather Films’ partner Aron Warner. The intention is for this to launch a series of family features that incorporate Cirque du Soleil into their storylines. Adamson, who directed the first two installments of the Shrek and Chronicles of Narnia franchises, hatched the story for the first film. He’s currently in New Zealand, shooting the narrative sequences that will give the movie its shape. He has also worked with Cameron already in capturing some of the Cirque du Soleil footage using 3D cameras. The project is about one-third completed, and I’m told that major distributors have been shown sample footage. Several are interested in making a deal, and I’m told that a distributor will likely be locked before production wraps. It is unclear whether they will make a deal beyond domestic, though. Cameron, who recently committed to direct two more installments of Avatar, is separately producing two other high profile 3D films. There is a remake of Fantastic Voyage at Fox, and the Guillermo Del Toro-directed adaptation of HP Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness at Universal. Adamson is executive producer of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which opens Friday. {SOURCE: Deadline.com} beLIEve CD Now Available! {Dec.13.2010} ------------------------------------------------- A Dark & Thrilling Dreamlike World With the original score for the show CRISS Angel Believe, Cirque du Soleil fans are provided an in-depth look at renowned French composer Éric Serra's work which features key tracks from the pre-opening of the show in September 2008 to today. Éric Serra created the initial music composition for the show CRISS ANGEL Believe and incorporates his vast experience in film music scores (The Big Blue, The Last Combat, Subway, La Femme Nikita, Atlantis, The Fifth Element, etc.). Inspired by the show's themes and written and arranged to blend with the visuals, Serra takes the listener on a thrilling, dreamlike exploration beginning with sounds of vintage children-inspired melodies to rock and gothic moments with heavy, industrial, electronic beats to classical and operatic influences. Tracks: 1. Homage to the rabbits 2. The life factory 3. Sexy pet 4. Flying with the birds 5. Kayala and the poppies 6. Sympathy for Crimson 7. The magic doors 8. The cockroach dance 9 In and out of the dream 10. Shadows and whispers 11. Being houdini I 12. Being houdini II 13. Prewed 14. Blow me a tornado 15. She is gone to the sky 16. The magic wedding All tracks composed and arranged by Eric Serra Get your copy today at: http://eboutique.cirquedusoleil.com/ {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} Cirque in the Cloud? [EXPANDED] {Dec.14.2010} ------------------------------------------------- For those who enjoy the technical aspect of Cirque du Soleil's operation... # # # Cirque du Soleil, the world-renowned entertainment provider, has chosen Orange Business Services to implement messaging and collaboration services with the Microsoft Office 365 cloud platform. The initial engagement has Orange Business Services delivering Microsoft Exchange Online to thousands of Cirque du Soleil employees around the world, adding collaboration tools with the needed flexibility to adapt to the constantly evolving workforce demands. Orange Business Services will provide the consultancy, project management, implementation and operational support behind the platform, covering both Cirque du Soleil's travelling and permanent shows, as well as its corporate offices. Employees at these sites will now have access to cloud-based messaging and collaboration tools, such as email and document sharing. Cirque du Soleil will benefit from a scalable and cost-effective collaboration solution environment that is perfectly suited for the demands of its business. Through the cloud, the system administrator can easily add or remove new users as needed for the numerous travelling shows it runs throughout the year. Network infrastructure will be better utilized and extra capacity will be available to support Cirque du Soleil’s enterprise growth. “The main drivers behind this move were to obtain cost-effective scalability of collaboration services and seamless operational integration with our IT services outsourcing partners,” said Bernard Hébert, Vice President, Improvement, Technologies and Knowledge Management, Cirque du Soleil. The initial engagement will be completed in the first half of 2011. Document sharing services migration into the cloud will be the objective of the second half of 2011. As a global integrated solutions provider, Orange Business Services has been at the forefront of delivering the most comprehensive cloud offering on the market today. Earlier this year it announced its Flexible 4 Business alliance with leading industry players Cisco, EMC and VMware to create end-to-end cloud computing services for enterprises. “Today’s announcement is further proof of the evolution of Orange’s cloud offering,” said Diana Einterz, senior vice president for the Americas, Orange Business Services. “We have played an integral role throughout the years in refining a next generation IT infrastructure for Cirque du Soleil and welcome the opportunity with Microsoft to now move them into the future that is cloud computing.” “Microsoft Online Services Premium for enterprises brings together cloud versions of our trusted communications and collaboration software enabling people to work together more easily from anywhere on virtually any device,” said Pierre Chadi, Regional Director, Quebec, Microsoft Canada. “We are pleased to partner with Orange to offer Cirque du Soleil a solution that meets their IT needs for robust security, reliability, and user productivity.” {SOURCE: Vadvert, UK} Quebéc's Garou to star in Zarkana [EXPANDED] {Dec.15.2010} ------------------------------------------------- Garou will play, and sing, the starring role of Zark in Zarkana, the Cirque du Soleil show scheduled to open at Radio City Music Hall in New York City next June (2011). The sexy Quebec pop singer with the growly, gravel-toned voice has been referred to in the francophone press as “Our Quasimodo National” because of the role he created in the musical Notre- Dame de Paris, based on the novel by Victor Hugo known in English as The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Garou will sing nine songs, composed by Nick Littlemore, with the participation of Elton John, in Zarkana. (Which is beginning to sound like more of a musical than a circus. Francois Girard directs.) In this mega-spectacle, which will feature 71 performers the character Zark is a magician who has lost his true love and, along with her, his magical powers. Garou has just completed a solo tour in Europe and a concert tour with other former members of the cast of Notre-Dame de Paris in Kiev, Moscow and St. Petersburg. He’s planning to launch his latest album, Version integrale, in January. How will Garou fare in this role? Wonderfully, I’m thinking. He’s at his best singing heart-wrenching songs. {SOURCE: Montreal Gazette} Keeping the Cirque's performers in top form [EXPANDED] {Dec.21.2010} ------------------------------------------------------ For the first time in almost three years Miranda Sallaway sat in the audience and watched KA, the Cirque du Soleil show at the 1,900-seat MGM theatre. She saw the artists on the 30 foot by 30 foot, 7,000-pound Tatami deck as it tilted upward. "It was incredible. Watching the artists gave me goose bumps. My heart raced. I heard the people talk about it in awe and realized what these artists give to people." For the last three years this delightful, quiet Canadian, born and raised in Peterborough, has been working backstage as a physical fitness therapist watching monitors, taping artists and giving them strengthening advice as they perform more than 400 shows a year, five days a week. The 28-year-old's journey from Peterborough to Vegas started when she attended Guelph University, enrolling in biology. She was "flipping through a program" one day and saw the sports injury management program, a joint program between Guelph and Sheridan College in Oakville that no longer exists. You could get your BSc in Human Kinetics with three years in Guelph and a sports injury diploma with two years at Sheridan. She did both and graduated four years ago. She had attended Westmount and PCVS schools in Peterborough. Her mother, Wendy Hibberd, is a teacher at Immaculate Conception, her father, John, a veterinarian specializing in horses. "I used to tag along with my father when he went to work and I got interested in the animals so maybe that was in the back of my mind when I went to Guelph (which has a veterinary school)." She also played basketball, volleyball and rowed in Peterborough and was on the Guelph volleyball team before becoming its trainer for two years, which fit in perfectly with the sports injury curriculum. When she went to Sheridan a lot of internship and fieldwork was mandatory to get experience in conditioning, emergency and acute care as well as work in clinical settings providing care for injuries. She spent some time at the Sports Medicine Specialist in Toronto, a "wonderful clinic, but very much a traditional clinical setting." Her next internship changed her life. It was "a scholarship to spend several months with the National Ballet of Canada. What a difference. This was a setting where you had highly motivated individuals, individuals from all over the world and individuals with a flare for performing. It was fun. Work was fun, work was a challenge and I was hooked. From there on I started to look in the direction of working with performers. "In 2007 I got the opportunity to work with Cirque du Soleil working for the creation of a production called Wintuk in Montreal. This show went annually to New York for the Christmas holidays. When this left town I went to a different part of town to work at Cirque du Soleil's International Headquarters in Montreal. I spent almost a year working here. In the time I was there the creation for three different shows went through (Believe, Zed and Zaia)." Then in 2008 it was on to Las Vegas where Cirque has seven shows running at the moment everything from KA to O, the Beatles and Elvis. As she takes me backstage, where photos and video are not allowed, she tells me about the nine-storey theatre and the production. She finds the work and people riveting. The artists, as they like to be known, come from all over the world and speak many languages. Her job is preventing injury, showing these superb athletes how to get stronger and do things better with a program of maintenance. Shoulder, arm and leg injuries are common as they perform repetitive exercise that over the years can lead to serious problems, but there are few injuries in a show. "Safety is all the concern here." The monitor in the injury clinic shows the artists as they perform and she can notice if one is slowing down or pick out weaknesses. She speaks to their coaches about it. Most of the performers are in their mid-20s but they go up to 54 years old. They are acrobats, martial artists and world champion baton twirlers and unlike baseball or hockey players they will perform three different acts in their routines during the two nightly shows. These are world-class performers. The artists have a massage therapist and Pilates instructor to help them through the 476 shows per year. There is a gym built for them at the theatre that features everything from trapeze to climbing board. A shoe and clothing department is packed with costumes that they will use, all brought in from Montreal. The cast members walk by, jabbering at and joking with Miranda, asking her questions about tonight's show. You can tell they are both co-workers and friends. She found the move to Vegas to be without any major problems. The cost of living is similar, the cost of housing is coming down and she likes that there are happy hours in the bars and restaurants any time of day. "I go home (to Ontario) sometimes and forget you have to get beer before the beer stores close," she laughs. When she first came to Vegas it was a bit of culture shock but she knew a few of the people in the show and most of the artists are outgoing personalities so it didn't take long to feel at home. Two months ago in Las Vegas Miranda married a fellow Canadian, Brian Oudyk from Edmonton, who is also a fitness therapist and did internships with the Blue Jays and Edmonton Eskimos. They met at Sheridan. He works for Cirque du Soleil's Chris Angel production in Vegas. "My husband and I had a Las Vegas wedding two months ago where our officiant was a clown, our photographer was a contortionist, the videographer was an acrobat and a head coach was kind enough to let us have the whole thing in his backyard. We are constantly surrounded by wonderful people down here and it makes being so far away from home easier." They live in Red Rock Canyon just outside Vegas where they love the outdoors and enjoy hiking, walking and getting away from it all. "Here I am, almost three years later still loving my job and enjoying the city." * * * * The MGM theatre is 149 feet from the high ceiling to low floor level. * The storm scene boat weighs 1,800 pounds and is manipulated by the onstage artists. * The beach scene is created with 350 cubic feet of cork from Portugal. * Artists fall 60 feet during the show. * Corrugated steel tubes four feet in diameter and 80 feet high make up the 14 trees. * The battle scene features 16 artists controlling their movements through wireless remotes in their costumes. * There are 3,300 lighting fixtures. * The sound system weighs 43,868 pounds and takes up 1,980,000 cubic feet of air space. * Every theatre seat has two speakers built into its headrest. * 70 specialists worked more than 35,000 hours to produce the first full set of costumes in Montreal. * All costumes are custom made for the 86 artists. * There are 400 pairs of shoes, 15 wigs. * One forest hat takes 40 hours to make. * The artists apply their own make up taking 45 to 120 minutes. * Make-up technicians airbrush the faces. The counsellor's son's make-up involves 33 steps and eight different brushes, four sponges and a powder puff. * 120 fireballs are discharged before the show measuring 30 feet high and 1,200F. * Liquid nitrogen used to create the fog is contained in a 13,000-gallon storage tank. * 119 pyrotechnic devices are fired throughout the show. * There is a props and puppet department for more than 500 props, 10 larger than life puppets, 21 mini-puppets and six butterflies. * The stick bug puppet is more than six feet long and operated by two artists. * The snake is 80 feet long. * 1,300 hours went into making one crab puppet. * More than 110 live arrows are shot through the air at each performance. * There are more than 160 harnesses and 21 types; each has to be inspected daily before and during each show. * Safety nets are used for artists falling less than 20 feet while bags and safety nets are used for higher falls. { SOURCE: The Peterborough Examiner } You Want OUR Opinion? Oookay... {Dec.23.2010} ------------------------------------------------- We love it when Cirque does surveys; it can sometimes clue us in to where their corporate thinking is with regard to fans. We were (randomly we're sure) selected to take part in another just last month, with some interesting questions. (Surveys like this can be tailored so that different responses engender different questions, so others who took the survey might not get the same questions.) They first started with a set of typical survey questions about what we thought of Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Club and other entertainment options. Then questions got interesting, asking about music and whether we preferred a "live" recording of a show or a "studio" recording (our answer - Yes! Both!). They also wanted to know if we'd pay extra for exclusive access to videos online or backstage tours of shows (no to the first, yes to the second). They then wanted to know about our interest in "limited edition artwork specially designed by local artists" and being able to submit photos/videos to an online community (not for extra money, please). Then they asked about our interest in a "CDS Gift Card." This, according to the survey, would be a card whose value could be used for tickets to two or more Cirque shows in a set length of time. They seemed to be interested in sweetening the deal, asking about our interest if there were a big discount, access to tickets in advance of public sale, or a special gift or privilege. We like this idea, though wonder how it might work with the various price points of the arena, tent, and resident shows. We'd need to know more about which category of tickets they'd be offering under this idea, but the idea of getting tickets ahead of the general public at a discount intrigues us. (SOURCE: Keith Johnson) ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {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, ZAIA, ZED, Believe & VIVA Elvis} o) VENUE - Venue & Seasonal productions {Iris, & Zarkana} NOTE: .) While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate touring dates and locations available, the information in this section is subject to change without notice. As such, the Fascination! Newsletter does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of these listings. .) Dates so marked (*) are not official until released by Cirque du Soleil. For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit our website: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. ------------------------------------ BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau ------------------------------------ Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=39 > Corteo: Brussels, BE -- Jan 4, 2011 to Jan 30, 2011 Vienna, AT -- Feb 10, 2011 to Mar, 6, 2011 Madrid, ES -- Apr 2, 2011 to May 8, 2011 Valencia, ES -- Jun 16, 2011 to Jul 10, 2011 Alicante, ES -- Jul 28, 2011 to Aug 21, 2011 Sevilla, ES -- Sep 8, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Paris, FR -- Nov 11, 2011 to TBA Koozå: Miami, FL -- Nov 12, 2011 to Jan 2, 2011 Tokyo, JPN -- Feb 2, 2011 to May 8, 2011 Osaka, JPN -- Aug 4, 2011 to Oct 10, 2011 Nagoya, JPN -- Nov 23, 2011 to Jan 22, 2012 Fukuoka, JPN -- Feb 9, 2012 to Apr 1, 2012 Sendai, JPN -- Apr 19, 2012 to Jun 3, 2012 Ovo: Atlanta, GA -- Nov 4, 2010 to Jan 2, 2011 Dallas, TX -- Jan 28, 2011 to Feb 20, 2011 Houston, TX -- Mar 10, 2011 to Mar 27, 2011 Cincinnati, OH -- Apr 21, 2011 to May 8, 2011 Minneapolis, MN -- May 26, 2011 to Jun 12, 2011 Chicago, IL -- Jun 30, 2011 to Jul 31, 2011 Seattle, WA -- Nov 17, 2011 to TBA Totem: London, UK -- Jan 5, 2011 to Feb 17, 2011 Charlotte, NC -- Mar 3, 2011 to Mar 20, 2011 Baltimore, MD -- Apr 7, 2011 to Apr 24, 2011 Pittsburgh, PA -- May 12, 2011 to May 29, 2011 Montreal, QC -- Jun 16, 2011 to Jul 17, 2011 Toronto, ON -- Aug 11, 2011 to Sep 4, 2011 San Francisco, CA -- Oct 21, 2011 to TBA Varekai: Barcelona, ES -- Nov 5, 2010 to Jan 2, 2011 Taipei, TW -- Jan 20, 2011 to Mar 6, 2011 Seoul, SKR -- Apr 6, 2011 to May 29, 2011 ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=1831 > Saltimbanco: Antwerp, BE -- Dec 22, 2010 to Jan 2, 2011 Lille, FR -- Jan 5, 2011 to Jan 9, 2011 Paris, FR -- Jan 13, 2011 to Jan 16, 2011 Friedrichshafen, DE -- Feb 11, 2011 to Feb 13, 2011 Istanbul, TR -- Feb 18, 2011 to Mar 5, 2011 Johannesburg, ZA -- Mar 9, 2011 to Mar 20, 2011 Cape Town, ZA -- Mar 23, 2011 to Apr 3, 2011 Perth, AU -- Apr 21, 2011 to May 1, 2011 Adelaide, AU -- May 12, 2011 to May 20, 2011 Melbourne, AU -- May 25, 2011 to Jun 3, 2011 Hobart, AU -- Jun 15, 2011 to Jun 19, 2011 Brisbane, AU -- Jul 8, 2011 to Jul 15, 2011 Newcastle, AU -- Jul 20, 2011 to Jul 24, 2011 Sydney, AU -- Jul 27, 2011 to Aug 5, 2011 Wollongong, AU -- Aug 17, 2011 to Aug 21, 2011 Auckland, NZ -- Aug 25, 2011 to TBA Alegría: Wichita, KS -- Dec 29, 2010 to Jan 2, 2011 Baton Rouge, LA -- Jan 5, 2011 to Jan 9, 2011 Colorado Springs, CO -- Jan 12, 2011 to Jan 16, 2011 Broomfield, CO -- Jan 19, 2011 to Jan 23, 2011 Loveland, CO -- Jan 26, 2011 to Jan 30, 2011 Laredo, TX -- Feb 2, 2011 to Feb 6, 2011 Hidalgo, TX -- Feb 9, 2011 to Feb 13, 2011 Corpus Christi, TX -- Feb 16, 2011 to Feb 20, 2011 Tulsa, OK -- Feb 23, 2011 to Feb 27, 2011 North Charleston, SC -- Mar 17, 2011 to Mar 20, 2011 Knoxville, TN -- Mar 23, 2011 to Mar 27, 2011 Charlotesville, VA -- Mar 30, 2011 to Apr 3, 2011 Atlantic City, NJ -- Apr 6, 2011 to Apr 10, 2011 Greensboro, NC -- Apr 13, 2011 to Apr 17, 2011 Biloxi, MS -- Apr 20, 2011 to TBA Southaver, MS -- Apr 27, 2011 to TBA Roanoke, VA -- May 4, 2011 to May 8, 2011 Columbia, SC -- May 11, 2011 to TBA Toledo, OH - May 18, 2011 to TBA Louisville, KY -- Jun 9, 2011 to TBA Nashville, TN -- Jun 15, 2011 to Jun 19, 2011 Tampa, FL -- Jun 22, 2011 to TBA Jacksonville, FL -- Jun 29, 2011 to TBA Raleigh, NC -- Jul 6, 2011 to TBA Duluth, GA -- Jul 13, 2011 to TBA Sunrise, FL -- Jul 20, 2011 to TBA Charlotte, NC -- Aug 3, 2011 to TBA Estero, FL -- Aug 10, 2011 to TBA Oberhausen, DE -- Sep 7, 2011 to Sep 11, 2011 Leipzig, DE -- Sep 14, 2011 to Sep 18, 2011 Stuttgart, DE -- Sep 21, 2011 to Sep 25, 2011 Munich, DE -- Sep 28, 2011 to Oct 2, 2011 Salzburg, AT -- Oct 5, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Berlin, DE -- Oct 12, 2011 to Oct 16, 2011 Bremen, DE -- Oct 19, 2011 to Oct 23, 2011 cologne, DE -- Oct 26, 2011 to Oct 30, 2011 Frankfurt, DE -- Nov 2, 2011 to Nov 6, 2011 Mannheim, DE -- Nov 9, 2011 to Nov 13, 2011 Quidam: Quebec, QC -- Jan 4, 2011 to Jan 9, 2011 Chicoutimi, QC -- Jan 12, 2011 to Jan 16, 2011 Vancouver, BC -- Mar 9, 2011 to Mar 13, 2011 Everett, WA -- Mar 16, 2011 to Mar 20, 2011 San Jose, CA -- Mar 24, 2011 to Mar 27, 2011 San Diego, CA -- Mar 30, 2011 to Apr 3, 2011 San Francisco, CA -- Apr 6, 2011 to Apr 17, 2011 Long Beach, CA -- Apr 20, 2011 to Apr 24, 2011 Ontario, CA -- Apr 27, 2011 to May 1, 2011 Reno, NV -- May 4, 2011 to TBA Sacramento, CA -- May 11, 2011 to May 15, 2011 London, ON -- Jun 2, 2011 to TBA Hamilton, ON -- Jun 8, 2011 to TBA Wilkes-Barre, PA -- Jun 15, 2011 to TBA Ottawa, ON -- Jun 22, 2011 to TBA St. John's, NL -- Jul 6, 2011 to TBA Saint John, NB -- Jul 13, 2011 to TBA Providence, RI -- Jul 27, 2011 to TBA Hershey, PA -- Aug 18, 2011 to TBA Baltimore, MD -- Aug 31, 2011 to TBA Amherst, MA -- Sep 7, 2011 to TBA State College, PA -- Sep 14, 2011 to TBA Fort Wayne, IN -- Sep 21, 2011 to TBA Hartford, CT -- Sep 28, 2011 to TBA Reading, PA -- Oct 5, 2011 to TBA Pittsburgh, PA -- Oct 12, 2011 to TBA Milwaukee, WI -- Oct 19, 2011 to TBA Washington, DC -- Nov 16, 2011 to TBA Fayetteville, NC -- Nov 23, 2011 to TBA Greenville, SC -- Nov 30, 2011 to TBA Hampton, VA -- Dec 7, 2011 to TBA Worcester, MA -- Dec 14, 2011 to TBA Toronto, ON -- Dec 20, 2011 to TBA Dralion: Philadelphia, PA -- Dec 21, 2010 to Jan 2, 2011 Boston, MA -- Jan 5, 2011 to Jan 9, 2011 Grand Rapids, MI -- Jan 12, 2011 to Jan 16, 2011 St. Louis, MO -- Jan 19, 2011 to Jan 23, 2011 Chicago, IL -- Jan 26, 2011 to Jan 30, 2011 Mobile, AL - Feb 2, 2011 to Feb 6, 2011 Columbus, OH - Feb 9, 2011 to Feb 13, 2011 Detroit, MI -- Feb 16, 2011 to Feb 20, 2011 Austin, TX -- Mar 10, 2011 to Mar 21, 2011 San Antonio, TX -- Mar 23, 2011 to Mar 27, 2011 Des Moines, IA -- Mar 30, 2011 to Apr 6, 2011 Springfield, IL -- Apr 6, 2011 to TBA Council Bluffs, IA -- Apr 13, 2011 to Apr 17, 2011 Moline, IL -- Apr 19, 2011 to TBA Peoria, IL -- Apr 22, 2011 to Apr 24, 2011 Madison, WI -- Apr 26, 2011 to Apr 27, 2011 Green Bay, WI -- Apr 29, 2011 to May 1, 2011 Rockford, IL -- May 3, 2011 to TBA Kansas City, MO -- May 11, 2011 to TBA Abbotsford, BC -- Jun 2, 2011 to Jun 5, 2011 Eugene, OR -- Jun 8, 2011 to TBA Portland, OR -- Jun 15, 2011 to TBA Victoria, BC -- Jun 22, 2011 to Jun 26, 2011 Edmonton, AB -- Jul 6, 2011 to TBA Saskatoon, SK -- Jul 13, 2011 to TBA Winnipeg, MB -- Jul 20, 2011 to TBA Frisco, TX -- Jul 27, 2011 to TBA Indianapolis, IN -- Aug 3, 2011 to TBA Atlanta, GA -- Aug 25, 2011 to TBA Albany, NY -- Sep 7, 2011 to TBA Syracuse, NY -- Sep 14, 2011 to TBA Binghampton, NY -- Sep 20, 2011 to TBA Glens Falls, NY -- Sep 24, 2011 to TBA Portland, ME -- Sep 28, 2011 to TBA Cypress, TX -- Nov 17, 2011 to TBA Beaumont, TX -- Nov 23, 2011 to TBA Springfield, IL -- Nov 30, 2011 to TBA Richmond, VA -- Dec 7, 2011 to TBA Montreal, QC -- Dec 19, 2011 to TBA Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour: Montreal, QC -- Oct 2, 2011 & Oct 3, 2011 Ottawa, ON -- Oct 7, 2011 to Oct 8, 2011 Hamilton, ON -- Oct 12, 2011 Detroit, MI -- Oct 15, 2011 London, ON -- Oct 18, 2011 Toronto, ON -- Oct 21, 2011 & Oct 22, 2011 Winnipeg, MB -- Oct 26, 2011 Saskatoon, SK -- Oct 29, 2011 Edmonton, AB -- Nov 1, 2011 & Nov 2, 2011 Vancouver, BC -- Nov 4, 2011 & Nov 5, 2011 Seattle, WA -- Nov 9, 2011 Portland, OR -- Nov 18, 2011 Salt Lake City, UT -- Nov 29, 2011 Las Vegas, NV -- Dec 3, 2011 to Dec 11, 2011 Denver, CO -- Jan 6, 2012 Sacramento, CA -- Jan 10, 2012 San Jose, CA -- Jan 13, 2012 Oakland, CA -- Jan 18, 2012 San Diego, CA -- Jan 21, 2012 Anaheim, CA -- Jan 24, 2012 Los Angeles, CA -- Jan 27, 2012 & Jan 28, 2012 Houston, TX -- Feb 10, 2012 Miami, FL -- Mar 2, 2012 Montreal -- Mar 20, 2012 to Mar 22, 2012 Quebec City, QC -- Mar 24, 2012 & Mar 25, 2012 New York City, NY -- Apr 3, 2012 Philadelphia, PA -- Apr 10, 2012 Atlanta, GA -- Jun 29, 2012 --------------------------------- RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre --------------------------------- NOTE: (*) Prices are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise noted. (*) Ticket prices exclude the 10% Live Entertainment Tax, the $7.50 per-ticket processing fee, and sales tax where applicable. Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=40 > Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): o Category 1: $109.00 / $54.50 o Category 2: $99.00 / $49.50 o Category 3: $79.00 / $39.50 o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50 o Category 5: $60.00 / $30.00 (Limited View) 2010 Added Performances o December 31st 2011 Dark Dates: o January 5-19 o February 6 o March 2 o May 8-11 o July 6 o September 3-7 o November 2 2011 Added Performances: o July 14th o December 30th "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2010 Ticket Prices: o Orchestra: $150.00 o Loggia: $130.00 o Balcony: $99.00 o Limited View: $93.50 2010 Dark Dates: o December 8-19 2011 Dark Dates: o February 6-9 o April 13-17 o June 12 o August 10-14 o October 9 o December 5-18 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2010 Ticket Prices (adults) / (child 3-9): o Category 0: $120.00 / $97.00 o Category 1: $105.00 / $85.00 o Category 2: $85.00 / $69.00 o Category 3: $69.00 / $56.00 o Category 4: $55.00 / $45.00 2011 Dark Dates: o January 18-22 o March 22 o May 17-28 o July 26 o September 20-24 o November 22 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday Dark: Wednesday & Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2010 Ticket Prices (18+ Only!): o Duo Sofas: $129.00 o Orchestra Seats: $105.00 o Upper Orchestra Seats: $79.00 o Balcony Seats: $69.00 o Cabaret Stools: $69.00 2010 Dark Dates: o November 15-16 o December 17-21 2010 Added Performances: o November 24th o December 31st 2011 Dark Dates: o February 6, 15 o April 15-19 o June 21 o August 26-30 o Septembre 2-6 o October 17-18 o December 16-20 2011 Added Performances: o November 23rd o December 31st KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): o Category 1: $150.00 / $75.00 o Category 2: $130.00 / $65.00 o Category 3: $99.00 / $49.50 o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50 2010 Added Performances: o December 26 o December 31 2011 Dark Dates: o January 18-29 o April 5 o May 31 - June 4 o July 12 o August 30 - September 7 o November 15-16 2011 Added Performances: o January 16 o May 29 o November 27 o December 26 o December 31 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices: o Lower Orchestra: $150.00 o Upper Orchestra: $130.00 o Lower Balcony: $99.00 o Middle Balcony: $93.50 2010 Dark Dates: o December 2 - 15 2011 Dark Dates: o February 7-8 o April 7-11 o May 16 o June 6 o August 4-8 o October 3 o December 1-12 2011 Added Performances: o May 18th o December 28th o December 31st ZAIA: Location: Venetian, Macao (China) Performs: Every Day, Dark: Wednesday One to Two Shows Daily - Times Vary 2010 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 2-11): o VIP Seating: MOP$ 1288 / MOP$ 1288 o Reserve A: MOP$ 788 / MOP$ 394 o Reserve B: MOP$ 588 / MOP$ 294 o Reserve C: MOP$ 388 / MOP$ 194 ZED: Location: Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo (Japan) Performs: Varies One to Two Shows Daily - Showtimes vary 2010 Ticket Prices (Non-Peek / Peek Time): o Category 1 ("Premium"): ¥15,000 / ¥16,000 o Category 2 ("Stage-Side"): ¥12,500 / ¥13,500 o Category 2 ("Center"): ¥12,500 / ¥13,500 o Category 3 ("Wide View"): ¥9,500 / ¥10,500 o Category 4 ("Value"): ¥7,500 / ¥8,500 BELIEVE: Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted into the theater. 2010 Ticket Prices (all): o Category 1: $160.00 o Category 2: $130.00 o Category 3: $109.00 o Category 4: $89.00 o Category 5: $59.00 2010 Added Performances: o December 31 at 4:30pm and 7:00pm 2011 Dark Dates: o January 11-15 o March 1-5 o June 7-14 o September 6-10 o December 6-17 VIVA ELVIS: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2010 Ticket Prices o Category 1: $175.00 o Category 2: $150.00 o Category 3: $125.00 o Category 4: $99.00 2011 Dark Dates: o January 18-19 o March 15-19 o May 10-11 o July 5-16 o September 13-14 o November 8-12 2011 Added Performances: o May 29th o November 27th o December 26, 31 -------------------------------------- VENUE - Venue & Seasonal Productions -------------------------------------- Online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=251 > IRIS: Location /// Kodak Theatre Hollywood, CA (USA) Performances /// Opens July 22, 2011 Ticket Prices /// Previews: Category 0 = $203.00 Category 1 = $100.50 Category 2 = $78.00 Category 3 = $59.25 Category 4 = $33.00 Weekday Matinee: Category 0: $253.00 Category 1: $123.00 Category 2: $93.00 Category 3: $68.00 Category 4: $43.00 Saturday Matinee: Category 0: $253.00 Category 1: $133.00 Category 2: $103.00 Category 3: $78.00 Category 4: $43.00 ZARKANA: Location /// Radio City Music Hall New York City, NY (USA) Performances /// June 9, 2011 through September 4, 2011. 2011 Dark Dates: o June 13-15, 20-22, 27-28 o July 4, 11, 18, 25 o August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 o September 5, 12, 19, 26 o October 3 Ticket Prices /// Previews: Category 1 = $250.00 Category 2 = $120.00 Category 3 = $70.00 Category 4 = $47.00 Fri Eve, Sat Mat, Sat Eve, Sun Mat: Category 1: $300.00 Category 2: $130.00 Category 3: $75.00 Category 4: $52.00 Tues Eve, Wed Mat, Wed Eve, Thurs Eve, Fri Mat, Sun Eve: Category 1: $250.00 Category 2: $130.00 Category 3: $75.00 Category 4: $52.00 ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE'S SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= ---[ CIRQUE WEEK ]--- Cirque Week Day 1: Registration LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625502266140/ > Cirque Week Day 1: LOVE / BELIEVE LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625501674212/ > Cirque Week Day 2: Zumanity - Rehearsal and Q&A LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625383814489/ > Cirque Week Day 3: Criss Angel Meet & Greet LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625390238693/ > Cirque Week Day 3: Viva Elvis LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625390079327/ > Cirque Week Day 4: KA Demonstration and Q&A LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625544235582/ > Cirque Week Day 5: "O" Q&A Panel LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625419823587/ > Cirque Week Day 6: Creative & Technical Panel LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625550973698/ > Cirque Week Day 7: Mystere - Taiko Drum Demonstration LINK /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirquelasvegas/ sets/72157625552230014/ > ---[ ALEGRIA ]--- {Dec.24} Best wishes from Alegria! FOTO [3] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=316367&id=38543815745 > {Dec.22} Everything (well almost...) you always wanted to know about Clowns and Physical Actors at Cirque du Soleil but were afraid to ask ! VIDEO [7:50] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=10150112325881210&oid=102959066704&comments&ref=mf > {Dec.21} Premiere in Oklahoma City @ Cox Convention Center, tomorrow Wednesday, December 21. Watch a performer! VIDEO /// < http://newsok.com/cirque-du-soleil-alegria- performer/multimedia/video/709313474001 > ---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]--- {Dec.21} Cirque du Soleil Are you more like the Scientist from TOTEM? Or like Jamie from Wintuk? Learn how your personality aligns with Cirque du Soleil characters and Infiniti vehicles with Infiniti's Performance Personality quiz! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/HCXxa > {Dec.20} Together, we can change the world. Happy Holidays! | Ensemble pour changer le monde. Joyeuses Fêtes! VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7BAA81zc_0&sns=em > {Dec.14} Don't miss your chance to win an all expenses paid trip for two to Montreal to see the premiere of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour in Montreal! Enter now: LINK /// < http://bit.ly/bsJWy4 > {Dec.01} Did you know that Cirque du Soleil has been involved with the Journées de la culture for more than 10 years now? Here's a glimpse of the 2010 edition at Cirque Studio in Montreal. VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v46m4_xJm4&sns=em > ---[ DRALION ]--- {Dec.31} Best wishes for the New Year from all Dralion cast and crew :) {Dec.30} During Cirque du Soleil's Dralion, a gorgeous spectacle of acrobatic accomplishments, it's tough not to let one's mind wander toward the Spider-Man debacle unfolding on Broadway. LINK /// < http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/ wendy_rosenfield/20101223_Special-effects- free_creativity.html > {Dec.22} Watch, live this morning, Amanda Orozco teach aerial tissue to the NBC-10 anchors at Liacouras Center. VIDEO [1:25] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=487863620352&oid=39340140194&comments&ref=mfK > {Dec.22} And now.... Watch Katy, reporter on Fox 29, trying a move on the Aerial Hoop with Marie-Eve Bisson. VIDEO [0:26] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=487938825352&oid=39340140194&comments&ref=mf > {Dec.20} Dralion in Philadelphia! FOTO [5] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=595893&id=39340140194&ref=mf > {Dec.20} Cirque du Soleil's 'Dralion' unites the East and West LINK /// < http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2010/12/ 17/entertainment/srv0000010319801.txt > {Dec.15} Woohoo! Watch Han Yuzhen performing live at Fox 25 this morning. Opening tomorrow night at the DCU Center! LINK /// < http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/morning/cirque-du- soliels-dralion-20101215 > {Dec.13} A New Twist on Dralion | Cirque du Soleil performances are always intense but not always in tents. The Montreal-based circus has folded up its famous big top and gone indoors for the current arena tour of 'Dralion,' which includes seven performances at the DCU Center Dec. 16 through 19. LINK /// < http://www.telegram.com/article/20101205 /NEWS/12050586 > {Dec.01} Coming soon to the DCU Center in Worcester!!! Read a preview from our Artistic Director Sean McKeown and the Goddess of Water - Oceane performed by Tara C. Pandeya. LINK /// < http://www.thepulsemag.com/wordpress/2010/12/ cirque-du-soleil-brings-dralion-to-the-dcu-center > ---[ IRIS ]--- {Dec.31} IRIS' Float! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? fbid=173536572684691&set=a.173536262684722.34125. 161171830587832 > {Dec.30} Countdown to the Rose Parade - 2 days to go! Decorating underway, check out the newest photos. FOTO /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=33695&id=161171830587832 > {Dec.27} The 2011 City of Los Angeles float features Cirque du Soleil and Hollywood. We're honored to be a part of the city's 113th year of participation in the Rose Parade. Here are pics of the float in process. Cirque artists will be performing on it during the parade. Don't miss it! Saturday, January 1, 2011, starting ...at 8am (PST). Check your local listings for details. FOTO [12] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=33695&id=161171830587832&ref=mf > {Dec.03} Here's a look at IRIS -- coming to the Kodak Theatre in 2011! Tickets are on sale now! VIDEO [0:30] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=10100265603001339&oid=161171830587832&comments&ref=mf > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {Dec.24} Happy Holidays to all the KOOZA fans! {Dec.11} KOOZA cast out on the streets of Miami beach! KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil is now performing until January 2nd, 2011 under the Blue and Yellow Big Top at Bicentennial Park in Miami! Don't miss out! VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCI5b_UGliw > {Dec.07} KOOZA in the streets of South Beach, Florida - December 7, 2010 FOTO [39] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=250680&id=34324811338&ref=mf > {Dec.02} LA SOIRÉE ONE DROP in Miami, to benefit the ONE DROP foundation, was held last night at KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil under the Blue and Yellow Grand Chapiteau at Bicentennial Park. Gloria & Emilio Estefan, Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil & ONE DROP Foundation walked the Blue Carpet with many more co-hosts a...nd suporters. To learn more about ONE DROP, please visit www.onedrop.org. FOTO /// < http://www.flickr.com/photos/ onedropfoundation/5226437018/ > ---[ LA NOUBA ]--- {Dec.31} Cheers to 2010! VIDEO [2:07] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1802843953849&oid=16315569901&comments&ref=mf > {Dec.24} Friends are like snowflakes, each one different and beautiful. Wishing our beautiful friends happiness in your celebrations this season! {Dec.23} We're celebrating an anniversary today! Can you guess (or remember) which one? VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=h-YcBVEnLT8&feature=related > {Dec.14} La Nouba recently shot lots of footage to be used in a new TV spot to promote the show. This has been in the works for quite some time and needless to say... We're excited about it. (Photos by Laura Murphy) The Making Of: La Nouba's TV Spot FOTO [51] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=253555&id=16315569901&ref=mf > {Dec.08} La Nouba Rigger Takes Vacation, Makes the News (nice work, Barry!)!! | ORLANDO, Fla. -- A man climbs to the top of a 68- foot flag pole more than 300 feet in the air to unsnarl a stuck flag that ripped in half atop an Orlando hotel. Tuesday, December 7, 2010. LINK /// < http://www.clickorlando.com/news/ 26047545/detail.html > ---[ MYSTERE ]--- {Dec.22} If you're on Twitter, tweet about your experience at or love for Mystère using hashtag #Mystere and see it reflected on the 'Share Love' tab on our Facebook page! LINK /// < http://on.fb.me/MystereShare > {Dec.21} Thank you to all of you who stayed up late to see us on "Lopez Tonight" last night! For those of you who were fast asleep (don't worry, it was past my bedtime too...), here's a link to help you procrastinate at work and school. Enjoy! VIDEO /// < http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/6SXCHp/ www.lopeztonight.com/episode_recaps_and_ highlights/cirque_du_soleil.php > {Dec.18} Hello Mystère fans! Today is part three of our behind-the-scenes en español fiesta party, but we have some front-of-scenes TV news: be sure to tune in to "Lopez Tonight" on TBS this Monday, Dec. 20th at midnight to see an exclusive performance from Mystère featuring Hand-to-Hand and Aerial Cube! Mystère Technical Tour on "Acceso Total" (Telemundo L.A.) [HQ] VIDEO [2:00] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1766425086851&oid=18155469918&comments&ref=mf > {Dec.16} Hi everyone! We're going to have some big TV news for you later this week, but in the meantime here's part two of our behind- the-scenes en español fiesta party. (I know "fiesta" means party, but it's worth repeating.) Mystère Wardrobe on "Acceso Total" (Telemundo L.A.) [HQ] VIDEO [2:00] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1763198006176&oid=18155469918&comments&ref=mf > {Dec.11} Hola, Mystère fans! Today we're taking the first in a four part journey behind-the-scenes en español. Enjoy! Mystère Taiko Drums on "Acceso Total" (Telemundo L.A.) [HQ] VIDEO [2:00] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=1755403331314&oid=18155469918&comments&ref=mf > {Dec.08} We've got our Twitter chat with Taiko drummer and percussionist Carlos Lopez today at 4 pm EST over on the @Cirque Twitter. Carlos has put together an awesome video about a day in his life at Mystère, you can check it out below! A Life in the Day - Carlos Lopez from Mystère [HQ] VIDEO [1:44] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=10100270066566319&oid=18155469918&comments&ref=mf > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {Dec.20} Entrevue avec Fabrice Lemire (Directeur Artistique) à ne pas manquer aujourd'hui à 15h40 à Désautels sur La Première Chaine de Radio-Canada LINK /// < http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/ desautels/2010-2011/ > {Dec.19} Quidam in Montréal, QC FOTO [11] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=258920&id=35752277045&ref=mf > {Dec.12} The buzz around the Quidam Press conference in Montreal - La conférence de Presse de Quidam à Montréal fait jaser... LINK /// < http://www.webpresse.ca/#!/video/788118/ quidam-du-cirque-du-soleil > LINK /// < http://www.flashquebec.info/Culturels/autres/ quidam_extrait_cirque_du_soleil_061210/ > {Dec.11} The reviews are in, thank you Kingston! LINK /// < http://www.thewhig.com/ ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2887148 > {Dec.10} Quidam in Kingston, ON FOTO [12] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=256511&id=35752277045&ref=mf > ---[ SALTIMBANCO ]--- {Dec.26} Très bientôt en France !!! | Cirque du Soleil : toujours aussi incroyable Saltimbanco - Les journaux du Week-end - Vidéo VIDEO /// < http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-we/cirque-du-soleil- toujours-aussi-incroyable-saltimbanco-6197245.html > {Dec.16} Great crowd in Nürnberg, thanks for the warm welcome !! LINK /// < http://www.nordbayern.de/nuernberger- nachrichten/politik/magisch-der-cirque-du-soleil -in-der-arena-1.383698 > {Dec.10} A review of the show in Budapest! LINK /// < http://www.magyarhirlap.hu/kultura/a_szurrealis_ vilag_lakoinak_paradeja.html > {Dec.10} Comments about the show in Budapest ! LINK /// < http://www.metropol.hu/kultura/cikk/663110 > {Dec.03} Great story for the first ever visit in South Africa!! Carte Blanche - Carte Blanche: Cirque (Part 1) LINK /// < http://beta.mnet.co.za/mnetvideo/browsevideo.aspx? ChannelId=35&vid=36164&Search&Category Id=0&sortby=5&CPage=0 > ---[ TOTEM ]--- {Dec.18} TOTEM New CD is now online!! You can find the music of TOTEM on our website and for a limited time Cirque club members can download the song "Omé Yo Kanoubé" for free! The album is available at our online boutique and under the Big Top. LINK /// < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ totem/videos-extras/music.aspx > {Dec.05} Sinterklaas visiting TOTEM - December 5, 2010! FOTO [11] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=38763&id=111798252174207&ref=mf > ---[ THE BEATLES LOVE ]--- {Dec.05} You've never seen head-spinnning and air-flares quite like this before....from Youssef, backstage at LOVE....wow wow wow VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys8m5kIXYOs > {Dec.03} A fun little profile story on one of the LOVE dancers from Pointe Magazine: Jacqui Guimond never dreamed she’d end up in a Cirque du Soleil production. After graduating from the University of Arizona’s ballet-oriented dance program, she performed with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and contemporary ballet company David Taylor Dance Theatre in Colorado. Then last year, on a whim, she auditioned for Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles LOVE—“more for the experience than anything else,” she says—and, to her surprise, landed a spot as a dancer. Curious, Guimond embarked on an adventure performing with LOVE in Las Vegas. “It’s mostly a street dance show, with a lot of hip hop and breakdancing, and I end up doing a little bit of everything,” she says. “It’s very eclectic and cool, though there isn’t much ballet involved. At one point, I’m in big rainboots doing gumbo, a body percussion dance from South Africa!” Guimond has worked hard to keep up her classical technique. She teaches a weekly ballet class for the Cirque team—“Everyone from break dancers to acrobats takes it”—and fits in classes at nearby Nevada Ballet Theatre whenever she can. “In a repetitive show like this, it’s easy for your body to get out of whack,” Guimond explains. “Ballet keeps you aligned so that you’re less likely to get injured. Plus, in LOVE the stage is moving up and down and there’s fog and crazy lights. It’s helpful to have that strong ballet center to keep you balanced.” Would she recommend the Cirque experience to other ballet dancers? “Absolutely,” she says. “The company is amazing—world renowned—and to be a part of that is very special.” {Dec.03} Congrats to The Beatles for a GRAMMY 2011 nomination in the category of Best Historical Album for 'The Beatles' stereo set! LINK /// < http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-national/beatles- mccartney-both-grab-nominations-53rd-annual-grammy-awards > {Dec.02} LOVE DARK TRIVIA! Ever wonder what the LOVE Theater looks like during the extended dark period? Yesterday, all 2,013 seats were individually covered with trash bags - so they stay protected during the maintenance happening in the grid above the stage! Guess how many LOVE crew members it took to accomplish covering each chair in less than an hour?...80! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-beatles-love-by- cirque-du-soleil/love-dark-trivia/10150097818910180 > {Dec.01} Check out this fun review on LOVE! | Beatles Love show review - "Get Back,Loretta"... - National Las Vegas | Examiner.com LINK /// < http://www.examiner.com/las-vegas-in-national/ love-at-mirage-get-back-lorettaK > ---[ VAREKAI ]--- {Dec.22} Varekai participó a La Marato de TV3 el domingo pasado. EL Espectaculo esta en Barcelona hasta el 2 de Enero! LINK /// < http://www.tv3.cat/videos/3275570/Lespectacle- Varekai-del-Cirque-du-Soleil-a-La-Marato-2010 > ---[ VIVA ELVIS ]--- {Dec.29} Here are some great fitness and nutrition tips from two of our fittest performers! LINK /// < http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/stretch-flex- and-tone/5-stay-fit-tips-from-cirque-du-soleil-las-vegas > {Dec.28} Check out this new video featuring Elvis and the Viva ELVIS band doing Burning Love! LINK /// < http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/ b216770_elvis_presley_alive_see_yourself.html > {Dec.25} The cast and crew is wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! And congrats to our friends at Mystère on their 17th anniversary! {Dec.18} Carly Smithson, American Idol contestant from season 7 has joined our cast. Tonight is her debut in the show. Break a leg Carly! {Dec.16} Happy 1 Year Anniversary to ARIA! Today is also the 1 year anniversary of our soft opening. Can you believe it's been a year already?! {Dec.05} Toscha got the Las Vegas Marthon runners All Shook Up this morning! FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? fbid=462912549108&set=a.167799494108.119733.167136344108 > ---[ WINTUK ]--- {Dec.15} Check out some of our artists performing on Good Morning America this morning! LINK /// < http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/cast- wintuk-performs-12401378 > {Dec.09} Just another day at Cirque du Soleil: a Wintuk Snowball from our promo team waits in the lobby for her shift to start! FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? fbid=10150336210885321&set=a.222882910320. 276944.98244255320 > {Dec.01} Wintuk at Rachel Ray Show FOTO [4] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=568336&id=98244255320&ref=mf > ---[ ZARKANA ]--- {Dec.02} Here's a look at the first teaser trailer for Zarkana! Anybody get their tickets yet? VIDEO [0:30] /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php? v=10100264831921589&oid=139797212738843&comments&ref=mf > ---[ ZED ]--- {Dec.21} Look who I found in the training room! Her name is Margarita Gibadullina and she's one of our amazing juggling artist. Now, let me introduce a fan fact! Did you know that our juggling act is performed by the actual family members? She's not only a great artist but also a great mother. We have a kitchen in the theater and she often does amazing cook for her family. FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? fbid=10150144377111164&set=a.10150144377101164. 342824.41326571163 > {Dec.13} Okay, here's the sneak peak photos from last week photo shoot... Hope you all like it. FOTO [10] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=338410&id=41326571163&ref=mf > {Dec.03} We created a special Christmas photo location for our visitors. If you have chance to visit us in December, don't forget to take pictures there! FOTO [5] /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=334317&id=41326571163&ref=mf > ---[ ZUMANITY ]--- {Dec.14} We have the perfect cocktail for you to mix up this holiday season! See below for the recipe to our super sexy Zumanitini! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? fbid=480144208846&set=a.103927633846.92609.13931088846 > {Dec.03} Zumanity, Out & About! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/album.php? aid=160312&id=13931088846&ref=mf > {Dec.03} Zumanity was the proud recipient of a Localites Vegas 2010 award in the category of Sexiest Las Vegas Show last night at HAZE Nightclub. A huge thanks to all of our fans that voted - we couldn't have done it without you! FOTO [1] /// < http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? fbid=474322253846&set=a.103927633846.92609.13931088846 > ======================================================================= COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque du Soleil History ------------------------------------ * Jan.02.2009 -- Koozå opened Atlanta, GA * Jan.03.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Quebec, QC * Jan.04.2007 -- Quidam opened Dubai, UAE * Jan.04.2009 -- Quidam opened London * Jan.04.2011 -- Corteo opens Brussels * Jan.04.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Quebec, QC * Jan.05.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened London * Jan.05.1999 -- Alegría opened London * Jan.05.2006 -- Alegría opened London * Jan.05.2007 -- Alegría opened London * Jan.05.2007 -- Varekai opened Auckland, New Zealand (Asia-Pacific Tour Begins) * Jan.05.2007 -- REVOLUTION Lounge opens (based on Beatles/LOVE) * Jan.05.2010 -- Alegria Arena opened Quebec City, QC * Jan.05.2011 -- TOTEM opened London, UK * Jan.05.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arenao opened Lille, FR * Jan.05.2011 -- Alegria Arena opened Baton Rouge, LA * Jan.05.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Boston, MA * Jan.06.2003 -- Premiere of Fire Within on BRAVO * Jan.06.2005 -- Saltimbanco opened Manchester * Jan.06.2005 -- Varekai opened Houston * Jan.06.2005 -- Dralion opened London * Jan.06.2008 -- Varekai opened London, UK * Jan.06.2010 -- Varekai opened London, UK * Jan.07.1998 -- Alegría opened London * Jan.07.1999 -- Saltimbanco Asia-Pacific Tour Began (Sydney) * Jan.07.2003 -- Saltimbanco Euro Tour II began London * Jan.07.2003 -- Varekai CD Released in US (BMG/CDS Musique) * Jan.08.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Tupelo, MS * Jan.08.2010 -- Koozå opened Irvine, CA * Jan.08.2010 -- Quidam opened Rio de Janiero, BR * Jan.09.2004 -- Dralion opened London * Jan.09.2004 -- Alegría opened Miami * Jan.10.1999 -- Alegría: Le Film showcased in Palm Springs * Jan.10.2001 -- Alegría opened Auckland, Australia * Jan.12.2011 -- Alegria Arena opened Colorado Springs, CO * Jan.12.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Chicoutimi, QC * Jan.12.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Grand Rapids, MI * Jan.13.2006 -- Saltimbanco opened Mexico City * Jan.13.2010 -- Alegria Arena opened Chicoutimi, QC * Jan.13.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Salzburg, AT * Jan.13.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Paris, FR * Jan.14.1997 -- Quidam CD Released in US (RCA/Victor) * Jan.14.2009 -- Alegría opened Taipei, Taiwan * Jan.14.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Biloxi, MS * Jan.16.2003 -- Varekai opened San Jose * Jan.16.2004 -- Saltimbanco opened Seville * Jan.16.2004 -- Varekai opened Costa Mesa * Jan.16.2008 - Saltimbanco Arena opened Chicoutimi, QC * Jan.17.1999 -- Banquine Act awarded in the 23rd Festival du Cirque de Monte-Carlo. * Jan.17.2002 -- Dralion opened Houston, Texas * Jan.17.2008 -- Quidam opened Monterrey, Mexico * Jan.17.2010 -- Dralion's Final Curtain Call [Mexico City] * Jan.19.2006 -- Quidam opened San Diego * Jan.19.2006 -- Dralion opened Seville * Jan.19.2006 -- Corteo opened San Jose * Jan.19.2011 -- Alegria Arena opened Broomfield, CO * Jan.19.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened St. Louis, MO * Jan.20.2000 -- Quidam opened Barcelona * Jan.20.2006 -- Varekai opened Miami * Jan.20.2008 -- Corteo celebrated 1,000th performance [San Diego, CA] * Jan.20.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Stratsbourg, FR * Jan.20.2011 -- TOTEM opened Taipei, Taiwan * Jan.21.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Hoffman Estates, IL * Jan.23.2003 -- Alegría opened Dallas * Jan.23.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Detroit, MI * Jan.24.1995 -- Alegría opened Costa Mesa * Jan.24.2007 -- Delirium opened Detroit, MI * Jan.25.2000 -- Saltimbanco opened Hong Kong * Jan.25.2008 -- Dralion opened Tokyo * Jan.26.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened San Diego * Jan.26.2011 -- Alegria Arena opened Loveland, CO * Jan.26.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Chicago, IL * Jan.27.2004 -- Order of Canada bestowed upon Guy Laliberté * Jan.27.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Frankfurt, DE * Jan.28.1999 -- La Nouba Premiere Gala (Previews End) * Jan.28.2011 -- OVO opened Dallas, TX * Jan.29.1997 -- Quidam opened Orange County * Jan.29.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Cleveland, OH * Jan.29.2009 -- Dralion opened Perth, Australia * Jan.30.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Costa Mesa * Jan.31.2007 -- Delirium opened Grand Rapids, MI * Jan.31.2008 -- Koozå opened San Jose, CA * Jan.31.2009 -- Dralion celebrated 3,500th performance [4:00pm, Perth] ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= ------------------------------------------------------- INTERVIEW /// "Bob & Bill - Believing & Dreaming" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ------------------------------------------------------- The pressure cooker of a Cirque du Soleil creation can't be for the faint of heart. Being creative to a deadline isn't for everyone. Our interviewees this month found themselves thrust from one deadline- driven pressure cooker to another, resulting in the quickest show premiere to CD turnaround we've seen. The tasks of both creating the music and producing the soundtrack for Cirque du Soleil's latest touring creation, Totem (2010, Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMC-10034), fell to the Montréal musical team of "Bob & Bill." Their 'real' names are Guy Dubuc (Ge Doo-BOOK) and Marc Lessard (Mark Less-ARD) - so who is "Bob" and who is "Bill?" "It's a big secret," Marc hinted, when we talked in late October. Explained Guy, "It's a team actually. Nobody's nobody, the team is called Bob & Bill." Musique Redux That teams' first major project was the musical soundtrack for the popular UbiSoft video Game Splinter Cell (Pandora Tomorrow). Though their production of the Kooza CD was the first time Cirque fans had heard of the team, it wasn't the first show they did for the company. That would have been the show that turned into Soleil de Minuit/Midnight Sun. "As a matter of fact, that was the first show we ever did with Cirque," explains Marc. "It [came about] from one of our friends [at] the International Festival de Jazz de Montréal (www.Montréaljazzfest.com), Laurent Saulnier (Ed: Vice-President, Programming and Production). He talked to the circus about us and that's how we ended up doing the special for the 25th anniversary of the Jazz Festival and the 20th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil." They were responsible for Remixing, Arrangements and Orchestrations and were Musical Directors for the 2004 show. "We had an orchestra of at least 70 musicians, and a lot of singers. And we were also playing. [We worked with] two great Directors, Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, who did Delirium after that." Two years later a concept album with arrangements and production by the pair was released, Pink Floyd Redux (2006, Zone 3 ZON-22176). "It's a concept album we wanted to do, with lounge [versions] of Pink Floyd music sung by girls only," said Guy. "We re-arranged some of Pink Floyd's biggest hits in an electronica, lounge-ey, all-girls aspect." It was two years after that that they released their first album under the team name Bob & Bill, Crime Report (2008, Orange Music OMCD-5551). It was also in 2008 that they were asked to arrange and produce the Jean-François Côté-composed soundtrack for the Cirque show Kooza (2008, Cirque du Soleil Musique CDSMC-10028). In an interesting aside, Marc confided that the DVD was recorded before the CD. "The same team that [mixed] the DVD sounds did the mixing of the CD (Ed: that would be Rob Heaney and Brian Mercier), [and] we used tracks from the DVD to start building the [CD's] songs. So we kept some tracks from the DVD." This led to some interesting track credits on the CD, including guitar and percussion tracks taken from the DVD. They also expanded the horn-infused soundtrack with three different brass sections. Guy: "As we worked with [composer] Jean-François Côté we wanted some [of the] brass parts to have a big band sound. In the live show it's only two brass [pieces], sometimes three, but [with some of] his songs it's really cool to [include] big brass. So in Montréal we hired a small big band to play on some songs, more like a basic big band track. And we used the instrumentalists of the show to do the solos, to [reflect] the personality of the show. We also had a classical brass section, [which was] used for the orchestral parts." First Nation Influence But it wasn't just their production of the Kooza soundtrack that gave them the inside track on the composers job for Totem (which these French-Canadians pronounce tow-TEM, not TOW-tum as Americans might). Guy: "We were already working with Cirque du Soleil as arrangers and occasional composers for special events, so we [were working] a lot with [Cirque Musical Director] Alain Vinet. And he proposed to director Robert Lepage and (Totem Director of Creation) Neilson Vignola [that we] do the music for Totem." The soundtrack melds many forms of World Music, but places special emphasis on First Nation (what those in the USA might call "Native American") music. But to incorporate that music successfully involved special care. Guy: "We worked with a First Nations guy from Quebec City who is the singer in the show right now, Christian Laveau (LAV- oh, www.christianlaveau.com). He's a Huron, and [we] proposed [him to] Robert Lepage because we knew him from working on other projects. This way we had somebody [whom] we could consult musically, to ask questions about the music." Marc added, "And of course the show is based on the evolution of man, so we had to find music of all different nations..." "...In the world actually," said Guy, completing the sentence. "For [First Nations] music, we consulted with Christian a lot. Not only about the music, but also for the staging. That was the point of having somebody [like Christian], we could ask if we could go [to a musical place] or [even] further." They also utilized Mr. Laveau for lyrics to "Onta," composing the others themselves in "traditional Cirque-ish." Songs can be like children to their composers, but do the pair have any favorites? "I'm pretty happy with "Koumaya" (Koo-MY-uh), for the girls with the bowls," answered Guy. "It's a mixture of African and Chinese music. We got the idea and it was a good flash." "And it's a song we wrote really fast, it [took] ten minutes to write," said Marc. "It's been [in the show] from the demo [stage] and everybody liked it. When we tried it with the girls it worked perfectly." "I also like the finale, "Omé yo Kanoubé," Guy continued, "because it's a very happy song. And for a show it's fun to write something really happy. Sometimes we wrote stuff that was too dark. We always came back to listening to the old [Cirque] shows and [re]working the parts that were too dark. We wanted a really nice happy soundtrack." "From the beginning it was important for us to have some happiness in the music," commented Marc. "It's hard to bring happiness to music; it's easy to get into really dark things, and we were telling ourselves, 'Let's get more happy.'" Quick Turnaround With Totem premiering in Montréal in late April, 2010, and the CD being available in October, the six-month turnaround must be the quickest in Cirque history. How did it come about, and why? Guy elaborated, "We had a quick OK from Guy Laliberté to start producing the CD. Guy asked us to do the CD right after the premiere." It was important to Laliberté to produce the CD more quickly than had been done in the past. Which was not easy, Marc said, but, "We had a deadline. That's what we do in life, too, [when] we produce albums. With our [own] music it was not easy but it was quick." The request to immediately start work on a soundtrack CD after being involved in the vortex of creation meant jumping from one frying pan to another. Marc: "We took like a two-week break and then started recording everything. It took about three months, we started in May and finished in August. [Cirque Musical Director] Alain Vinet produced the album with us, which is really important to say. Which was good; we're so into our music that it was a big help with Alain being there, [it was] another set of eyes on the music." The experience the duo had working on the Kooza CD didn't directly apply to the recording of the Totem CD: "It's completely different," Marc explained. "With Kooza we were only arranging Jean-François Côté's music. [With] Totem it was our music so it was a bit different." Guy added, "Yeah, because for Totem we wrote the music from A to Z. For Kooza we were the producers and arrangers." One of the earliest decisions was who should play on the album, explained Marc. "We're musicians, that's what we do in life. I always play drums, bass and guitar, and Guy plays keyboards." But he then reassured, "First of all, it was a must to incorporate everybody in the process of the album, which we did on Totem for sure." Guy concurred. "To Alain Vinet it was important to incorporate the band and to have album versions [of the songs in the show]. It was important that the album have songs that you recognize from the show and have the same sound. It was also important to go other places and incorporate other people and different sounds to make the production a CD [that stands by] itself." "There were some parts where we used other people, as in "Toreador." In the live show (drummer) Nick D'Virgilio's singing the whole part, but on the CD we used a really traditional Spanish guy from Montréal (Marcos Marin). We still kept Nick in the response in the chorus though, because he has such an amazing voice." "The production [used] many instrumentalists and we decided by feeling. For example, we would think - OK, it would be nice to have Nick the drummer on "Crystal Pyramid" - and we started adding people this way, instead of recording all the tracks ourselves." Marc elaborated. "Sometimes we kept drummer Nick's track and I [would] play drums over it, and then we [would] decide which track works best for the CD. It wasn't so much a matter of us wanting to play on the album, it was [trying to get] the best sound we could. We love the guys so much that we tried to put them on the album as much as possible. That was important to us, they are a big part of the CD. Because those guys have been there since the beginning of [the shows] creation; they were there for three months of rehearsal in Montréal. They worked really hard and we know it. It's a big thing at Cirque that it's really important to incorporate the musicians and we did it as much as we could." On the finished CD, there were two songs fans wondered about since they didn't seem to be in the show. Marc explained, "["Cum Sancto Spiritu"] is not in the show right now. It was a number that was supposed to be [in the show] but didn't make it. "Kunda Toyé" is the backup number, for a hand-to-hand act. But we liked the music and with Alain Vinet we decided to put both "Cum Sancto" and "Kunda Toyé" on. Of all the musicians that appear on the CD, one, Daniel Taylor, appears courtesy of another label (Sony Classical). Guy: "He's a guy we've worked with before (Ed: On Crime Report), a star international classical countertenor singer. We thought about him because the part is really really high, so he has a little feature part." In addition to the creation musicians, several musicians familiar to Cirque fans also appear on the disk. Francine Poitras and Mathieu Lavoie (From Saltimbanco and Quidam/Varekai respectively) sing on "Terre-Merre," and Wayne Hankin (also from Varekai) plays woodwinds on several cuts. Guy: "We work a lot with them on [Cirque's] special events, and they're good friends. We used them on the demos where we presented the songs, so it was natural for us to include them in parts of the CD." A wide variety of musical styles is evident throughout the CD, including two songs that, on first blush, stick out. "Indie-Hip," the music that accompanies the Rings scene in Act One is one such piece. What inspired it's Indian musical leanings in a piece whose setting is Muscle Beach? "It actually was the aesthetic of the number; if you [look at] the costumes they come from Krisha colors," Guy explained. "So that's why we went with Indian music, a mix of Indian and hip- hop." In a departure from most other Cirque soundtracks the music from the Act Two clown piece, "Fast Boat," is also on the CD. This wasn't a hard choice, according to Marc. "Working in collaboration with Alain we put all the songs [together] and then decided which ones we [should] put on the CD. We really liked "Fast Boat;" it's a clown act but it's kind of groovy. Of course it's a different song, but one nice thing about the circus is you can go anywhere [musically], and we went somewhere else with that track." "And it's kind of cool that it's on the CD," Guy added, "because it's in the show and if you saw the show it would be a reminder of that number." Marc also clued us in to a worthy musical inclusion. "Charles Denard, Jr., who is our chief musical director (Ed: and plays keyboards in the show), has [pretty much] the only keyboard solo on the CD and it's on that track. He's from New Orleans and he's a really good Hammond B3 organ player. So if you listen carefully to the song there's a big solo by Charles on it." When we asked if there was anything missing from the CD they wished they could include, we got an interesting answer from Guy. "There's a remix from Alain Vinet we wanted to put on the CD. Because Alain is [also] a DJ, and whenever there's a big premiere or party for Cirque he DJ's. And he was always playing that [remixed] track and everybody was liking it. So we wanted to put it on [the CD], but it was a matter of budget." Dreaming the Future: Completion of the Totem CD doesn't mean their collaboration with Cirque ended. "We just came back from Shanghai (China) playing a big show with the circus [at] Expo 2010 Shanghai (www.expo2010.cn)," said Guy. "It was our personal Bob & Bill project - our songs, with a singer and brass section, Marc playing drums and [myself on] keyboards." "And it's house music, so it's party music," Marc added. "And we did pretty well there." Guy agreed. "People were really happy. We made the Chinese people move, we had a great time. Thanks again to the circus because it was so well organized. Sound and everything was amazing." The duo is now on to working on their second studio album, a house music project. Their ability to tackle the wide variety of musical influences needed for a show about man's evolution was something for which they have been preparing for a long time. Marc: "The thing that helped us most was the variety of styles we'd been performing before. It's been happening a lot in Montréal, which is a big cosmopolitan town. Guy and I have been partners for ten years, but we've been playing together in [many different] bands for 20 years. African bands, Brazilian bands, a lot of jazz music, all [types of] music actually. That's why we were so happy to work on the Totem project, because it's the way we've always worked, [with] different sounds and [music from different] places on the planet." Guy was quick to add, "We must [give] flowers to Cirque du Soleil and Guy Laliberté. From (Musical Director) Alain Vinet to (Director of Creation) Neilson Vignola to (Director) Robert Lepage to (Founder and Guide) Guy Laliberté to (Vice-President of Creation for New Shows) Jean-François Bouchard. They respect the creators. They always let us do our thing and then choose our stuff. They never said, "Don't do this, don't do that." So for us having done so many different styles, it was natural to do a show like this. They just [pointed us] in a [particular] direction." And their words for young artists? Marc was quick to answer. "Believe in yourself. And keep working. You know, it was a big break for Guy and I to do a Cirque creation. But it's been since Soleil de Minuit (in 2004) that we [first] thought that we could and would like to do this. We kept believing in ourselves and we kept saying don't give up, keep dreaming." "Yeah, believe in your dreams," Guy added. "It took as many years as it [did] because we had to go through [what we went through] to make this. That's what we did. It's all about dreaming." My sincere thanks go to: Mr's. Dubuc and Lessard for so graciously spending time with us, 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 11, Number 1 (Issue #84) - January 2011 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2010 Ricky Russo, published by Vortex/RGR Productions, a subsidiary of Communicore Enterprises. No portion of this newsletter can be reproduced, published in any form or forum, quoted or translated without the consent of the "Fascination! Newsletter." By sending us correspondence, you give us permission (unless otherwise noted) to use the submission as we see fit, without remuneration. All submissions become the property of the "Fascination! Newsletter." "Fascination! Newsletter" is not affiliated in any way with Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil and all its creations are Copyright (c) and are registered trademarks (TM) of Cirque du Soleil, Inc., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement intended. { Jan.05.2011 } =======================================================================