======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) T h e U n o f f i c i a l C i r q u e d u S o l e i l N e w s l e t t e r ------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.CirqueFascination.com ------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================================================= VOLUME 15, NUMBER 9 September 2015 ISSUE #140 ======================================================================= Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. There've been quite a number of developments in the Cirque du Soleil world since we've last spoken - from the announcement of Cirque's newest production designed specifically for Broadway, KURIOS celebrating a milestone (500th performance), JOYA also celebrating a milestone (250th performance), to details leaking out pertaining to the CELEBRATE PROJECT (Cirque's Theme Park & Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico), the media getting a look-see with TORUK-The First Flight in development in Montreal, and so on, and so forth - it's hard to know where to begin! So, let's start with the CELEBRATE PROJECT. After the initial press release announcing the resort late last year, very little about the project had been made public. Was it a theme park? Was it a hotel? Was it something more? We were just as much in the dark as you were. But that all changed after a video reached YouTube discussing the project in huge detail - it totally blew us away! There was so much to take in, but the video disappeared just as quickly as it appeared, taking all its secrets with it. A few days later a slightly modified version of the video reappeared (and quickly disappeared), but not before we "obtained" a copy of ourselves for further study. (Well, to drool over.) Within this month you'll find a transcript of that video, which details the plans Cirque du Soleil, Grupo Vidanta, and the Goddard Group (who are designing the resort) have for this amazing project in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It's massive and could turn out to be quite the awesome experience once complete! The first phase of which is projected to be complete in late 2018 or early 2019, so there's plenty of time yet for plans to change, but if they build half of what they talk about in the video, the CELEBRATE PROJECT should be a huge success. And talking about success. Cirque is looking for it on Broadway in a huge way. Already working to revive THE WIZ on Broadway in late 2017, On July 24th, Cirque du Soleil Holdings registered and trademarked a new name - PARAMOUR. We speculated it might be the name of Cirque 2016, the new big top touring show directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, but we weren't sure. The name didn't match what Cirque already teased about the concept: that Cirque 2016 would be "creatively inspired by Mexico in all its exhilarating spirit." So... what could it be? Fortunately we didn't have to wait long - PARAMOUR is Cirque's newest show made especially for Broadway. And what we found interesting about the press release was how very IRIS-like PARAMOUR was going to be, right down to the fact that the Atherton twins would be joining the show! We've since been advised that PARAMOUR is basically IRIS 2.0 with new music, more Broadway-style choreography, and an updated story. Otherwise, acro- batically, we're looking at the same show. We'll have to see how it all comes together in April 2016, of course, but in the meantime check out the press release within for information about this new show. That's not all we were told, though. Hang on to your hats! As many of us know by now, ZUMANITY received a mild refresh earlier this year and that THE BEATLES LOVE at The Mirage is due to receive a bit of a fresher next year (to celebrate its 10th Anniversary), but while Mystere may be safe until 2021 (thanks to a recent interview the Montreal Gazette had with Jerry Nadal, SVP of Cirque's Resident Show Division in Las Vegas), and "O" and KA and MJ ONE are doing great, it appears that Criss Angel BELIEVE may not be. Rumors abound that the show's initial 10-year contract will not be extended, so come 2018 BELIEVE is set to disappear from the Luxor. While we know that'll make a few fans happy, this next bit will most certainly not: our party on the east coast may be coming to an end. Scuttlebutt is LA NOUBA will close in 2018 to coincide with all the work the Walt Disney Company has been doing to transform Downtown Disney into Disney Springs. They aren't abandoning the theater, mind you. A new Cirque show will occupy the theater at West Side, but just what has not yet been decided. (But if you don't mind a suggestion: since you don't really want to close Quidam, but feel you have to now that Alegria and Dralion are no longer performing, might we suggest porting Quidam over to the Cirque Theater at Disney Springs?) While a decision is still looming on La Nouba's replacement, Cirque's new owners are not beating around the bush about where their intent lies: they want to focus heavily on what is currently working and expand/duplicate those options globally. TPG's hope is to double the company's profitability within the next five years and - are you sitting down? - to either sell the company or take it public. While we think taking Cirque du Soleil public is a big mistake, what do we know? In either case, some of the cities Cirque is rumored to be scouting for resident shows are those we've heard of and wrote about before: London (with a clone of LOVE), Berlin (perhaps with a clone of ZUMANITY), Shanghai (perhaps with a clone of "O"), and with new concepts in Dubai, Las Vegas, and others. But resident shows aren't the only concepts getting a push: it looks like we're going to see back-to-back big top shows for 2016 and 2017, just like we did with 2009's OVO and 2010's TOTEM. But while the Hospitality Group (SANDBOX) is rumored to be folding up (perhaps this is the reason ON THE RECORD BAZ abruptly left LIGHT on Sunday, August 30th), CREACTIVE is set to expand to over 23 other Club Med locations world-wide, TORUK is going to be spending a lot of time in China (after its tour in North America of course), and another branded arena show is coming - "everything is awesome!" (And that's a hint!) That's certainly quite a bit to take in for sure. We're still stunned by it all, but remember all of this is simply rumor until confirmed by Cirque du Soleil. We'll be watching that's for sure! * * * A number of you asked us what NEST was all about, and what C:LAB was, so we took a look and provide a couple of answers within. NEST is an immersive experiment initiated by C:LAB, a creative experimental laboratory within Cirque du Soleil. Originally designed as a sensory experience for the 2015 edition of the C2 Montreal conference, visitors to the NEST were invited to venture inside, two strangers at a time, and participate in a mysterious ritual of choice and chance. Those brave enough to enter the NEST found themselves engaged in a curious and tactile exploration of intuition—that essential, yet elusive, element of any creative process. We didn't get a chance to partake in this experience, of course, but a video was released detailing the Cirque experiment, which we transcribed within. C:LAB was responsible for the Quadcopter video - SPARKED - that appeared last year, and it looks like they'll be producing more experimental content in the future! It isn't often a Cirque du Soleil documentary gets by us, especially one released onto DVD. But this one did! Released on October 2, 2012, TOUCH THE SKY is a feature documentary for anyone who has ever wanted to travel to space in 2009. Using a fly-on-the-wall-style we follow the owner and founder of Cirque du Soleil, Guy Laliberté, as he makes his way to the International Space Station. From the thrill of watching sparks as we re-enter the atmosphere, to floating through the confines of the ISS as filmed by the ‘Guy cam,” in TOUCH THE SKY viewers follow Guy as he lives the risks and are touched by some of the people that make up the global space community. It's an interesting peek into his experience. You'll find a brief description of the DVD within this month, and, of course, where to get it. But the documentary also got me thinking about the whole Poetic Social Mission in and of itself. At the time these events were originally taking place, we here at Fascination were more concerned with the happenings down on Earth – with BELIEVE, ZAIA, ZED, OVO, VIVA ELVIS, and BANANA SHPEEL – so we didn’t give much thought to this endeavor. However, thanks to the documentary we recently re-discovered a text-copy of this journal in our archives, which allows us to explore this extraordinary time in Cirque du Soleil’s history in more detail. Therefore, in our features section this month is the first in an eight-part series looking back at Guy's Poetic Social Mission through his eyes, from the journal, in monthly installments, taking you through the initial steps Guy undertook all the way through to the launch and landing. And last, but certainly not least... in our July issue, Alex Faubel of 303 Magazine had a quick Q&A with KURIOS's Kit Chatham, but this only whetted our appetites for more! So our very own Keith Johnson, who has been following Kit's career over the years, took some time to catch up with Kit whilst KURIOS was in Seattle, and presents the first part of his conversation within. Check it out! As always we also have the relevant posts made to Cirque's Facebook pages, and updates to Cirque's touring schedule. 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 * La Presse -- General News for the Month * Q&A –- Quick Chats & Press Interviews * Special Engagement –- More In-depth Articles o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau * Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues * Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets * Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub & Casting * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Networking -- Posts on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter o) Fascination! Features *) INTERVIEW /// "The Third Time: An Exclusive Interview with Christopher “Kit” Chatham, Kurios drummer" (Part 1 of 3) By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) *) "The Celebrate Project - An Amazing Destination!" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) *) LOOK BACK: Guy Laliberte's Poetic Social Mission PART 1 of 8: "The Countdown Begins" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= --------------------------------------------------- LA PRESSE – General News for the Month --------------------------------------------------- David Alan Grier to Play Cowardly Lion in NBC’s ‘The Wiz Live!’ {Aug.05.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- The comedian and three-time Tony Award nominee has joined NBC’s production of “The Wiz Live!.” He’ll play the Cowardly Lion, the famously timid friend of the lost Dorothy who accompanies her down the Yellow Brick Road in the hopes that their journey will lead him to find some courage. Grier broke out via Fox’s 1990s sketch show “In Living Color.” His TV credits also include “Crank Yankers” and “Happy Endings.” His stage credits include a co-starring role in the original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls” and his film credits include “A Soldier’s Story” with Howard E. Rollins and Denzel Washington and “Jumanji” with Robin Williams. He will soon appear on the NBC sitcom “The Carmichael Show,” which premieres Aug. 26. “The Wiz Live!” is adapted from L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” with a book by William F. Brown and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. It is produced by Universal Television in association with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who worked with NBC on other live musical specials “The Sound of Music” and “Peter Pan,” are exec producing. Kenny Leon serves as stage director and Matthew Diamond as TV director. Harvey Fierstein is providing new written material. The cast also includes Stephanie Mills, who starred in the original Broadway version of the musical, as well as Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige. { SOURCE: Variety | http://goo.gl/fCf1rB } LVSun: “Monday By The Numbers… Zarkana!” {Aug.10.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- John Katsilometes’ “Monday by the Numbers” column for the Las Vegas Sun this week takes on a few facts and figures of ZARKANA’s costumes (and also Rod Stewart, but we’ve ignored those): 250: Costumes used in “Zarkana,” produced at Cirque du Soleil’s headquarters in Montreal. 26: Loads of laundry washed each day in the show. 20: Products used in the show’s makeup designs. 30: Pairs of false eyelashes used each month. 58: Pockets on the coat of the Apprentice character. 90: Seconds the Apprentice character appears onstage. 10: Hairpieces worn in the show. 40-50: Hours required to build a single “Zarkana” wig. 35: Wigs worn in the show. { SOURCE: The Las Vegas Sun | http://goo.gl/lyTJjD } TOTEM Has a New Back-Up Act: Contortion! {Aug.12.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- As previously rumored in fan circles, TOTEM is preparing a new back-up act for its run in Japan: CONTORTION! TOTEM’s Facebook page gave us a glimpse of this act and we can’t wait to see more! We are in the early stages of creating a new back-up act for our upcoming Japanese tour! Watch this exclusive preview of amazing contortionists Ulzii and Oyuna in action! More information soon! { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil | https://goo.gl/EsDdiK } ‘The Wiz’: Common, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley Join NBC Live Musical {Aug.13.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- NBC is rounding out the cast of “The Wiz Live!” with recording artists Common and Ne-Yo, and “Hairspray” star Elijah Kelley, the network announced Thursday at its Television Critics Assn. summer press tour presentation. Kelley will play the Scarecrow, the first of the three friends to meet Dorothy (Shanice Williams). He’s always dreamed of having brains, never realizing that he’s the smartest of them all. The role marks a reunion between Kelley and his “Hairspray” co-star Queen Latifah. It will be the actor’s second collaboration with “Wiz” executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who also served as EPs on “Hairspray.” Ne-Yo will play the Tin Man, who was once a flesh-and-blood woodsman until a spell put on him by the Wicked Witch caused him to lose his limbs and heart — but not his ability to feel. Oscar and Grammy winner Common will play the Bouncer, the gatekeeper of the entrance to Emerald City who is out to get what he can from Dorothy and her three friends. They join Queen Latifah as as the Wiz; Mary J. Blige as Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West; David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion; Uzo Aduba as Glinda, the Good Witch of the South; Amber Riley as Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North; and Stephanie Mills (who played Dorothy in the original Broadway production of “The Wiz”) as Auntie Em. “The Wiz Live!” is adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The production opened on Broadway in 1975 at the Majestic Theatre and won seven Tonys, including best musical. Kenny Leon (Tony winner, “A Raisin in the Sun”) and Matthew Diamond are directors, with Harvey Fierstein (three-time Tony winner for “Torch Song Trilogy,” “Hairspray” and “La Cage aux Folles”) providing new written material. Choreographer Fatima Robinson (“Dreamgirls,” “Ali”) is also on board, along with music producer Harvey Mason Jr. (“Dreamgirls, “Pitch Perfect 2”) and Stephen Oremus (“The Book of Mormon,” “Kinky Boots”) as music director, orchestrator and co-producer of the music. The show is produced by Universal Television in association with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical. “The Wiz Live!” airs Thursday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. on NBC. { SOURCE: Variety | http://goo.gl/W9P1Zo } Check Out These Pictures of TORUK’s Stage! {Aug.15.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- There's a couple of interesting picture floating around Instagram depicting TORUK's Set and Stage. Take a look here! PHOTO /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=6375 > { SOURCE: Instagram } KURIOS Celebrates 500th Performance! {Aug.15.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- On Saturday, August 15th, KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities celebrated its 500th performance in Chicago! “By your passion and generosity you have, 500 times, stopped the time at the magic hour of the 11:11, taking the audience into a new dimension.” – Michel Laprise, writer and director of KURIOS. Congratulations! Check out this great looking cake! PHOTO /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=6372 > { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil } Inside KA’s Tuesday Morning Open House {Aug.18.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- Known for bringing wonder and delight to millions of spectators across the globe, Cirque du Soleil welcomes Vegas visitors and locals to get an inside look at KÀ as it reveals the astounding history, background and science behind one of the most fascinating theatrical venues in Las Vegas. Cirque du Soleil welcomed Las Vegas visitors and locals to get an inside look at KA, with a complimentary open house at 11:00am and 11:30am at the KA Theater inside MGM Grand. The Las Vegas Review-Journal was in attendance at today’s open house – check out their video! Miss this opportunity yesterday? Don’t fret – Cirque du Soleil will hold another next Tuesday! { SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal } LUNE ROUGE: Guy Laliberté’s Art Exhibition {Aug.19.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- What is LUNE ROUGE? Besides being French for Red Moon, Lune Rouge is an exhibition space managed by Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil. The exhibition launches a multi-platform initiative featuring world-renowned artist Takashi Murakami. The exhibition will take place across four venues: Lune Rouge Ibiza; HEART Ibiza; Art Projects Ibiza, in collaboration with Blum & Poe; and the Ibiza Gran Hotel – from April through October 2015. Lune Rouge’s philanthropic mission is to contribute culturally to Ibiza through a program of engaging exhibitions of both established and emerging artists. An important home to Mr. Laliberte for over thirty years his continued commitment aims at inspiring creativity and discovery through shared viewing, experiences, awareness and education. Lune Rouge combines a growing international audience with an established local community. Who is Takashi Murakami? Takashi Murakami was born in 1962 in Tokyo, and received his BFA, MFA, and PhD from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He founded the Hiropon factory in Tokyo in 1996, which later evolved into Kaikai Kiki Co., a large-scale art production and art management corporation. In 2000, he organized a paradigmatic exhibition of Japanese art titled Superflat, which traced the origins of contemporary Japanese visual pop culture to historical Japanese art. His work has been shown extensively in venues around the world, including the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo; Palazzo Reale, Milan; Qatar Museum Authority; Palace of Versailles; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Brooklyn Museum; Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt; Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao; Fondation Cartier pour l’art Contemporain, Paris; Serpentine Gallery, London; Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo; and, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. VISIT Calle Alcalde Bartomeu Rosselló Sala, 7, 07800, Ibiza, Spain Hours: 11:00a – 2:00p, 5:00p – 9:00p, Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday & Monday LINK /// < http://lunerougeibiza.org/ > Celebrate the King of Pop’s birthday at MJ ONE {Aug.22.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- If pop star Michael Jackson hadn’t died in 2009, he would have turned 57 on Aug. 29, and the team at Cirque du Soleil will celebrate his birthday with a day of events honoring the King of Pop. Artists from “Michael Jackson One,” the Cirque du Soleil show at Mandalay Bay that features his music, his dance moves and even a hologram of Jackson singing, will put on a one-time only performance, Q&A, meet-and-greet and book signing for the event. The cast of “Michael Jackson One” created this performance to the music of Jackson’s No. 1 hit “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” which is not part of the regular show. Then guests can preview two acts from the show, which will feature his songs “Stranger In Moscow” and “Thriller.” The afternoon starts with Jackson’s longtime costume designer Michael Bush autographing copies of “The King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson” at 3:30 p.m. at the “Michael Jackson One” Boutique. A short Q&A with some cast members from the show will follow the 4 p.m. performance. Travis Payne, a co-executor of Jackson’s estate, and choreographers Rich & Tone Talauega plan to be on hand for a birthday cake presented at the end of this event. Anyone with a ticket to the 7 or 9:30 p.m. show on Aug. 29 can attend. Ticket-holders land a “Michael Jackson One” commemorative ticket and more surprises are promised. { SOURCE: LA Times | http://goo.gl/LlV5pf } Seeking New Venue, ‘Baz’ is Leaving Light on Sunday {Aug.25.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- “Baz” needs a forever home, and it ain’t Light. Announced to the show’s cast tonight is the show based on a trio of musicals written and directed by Baz Luhrmann is moving out of its home of seven weeks. Its final night at Mandalay Bay is Sunday. The immediate message from the show’s producers is that it will resurface in Las Vegas and the move is because the show is seeking a more hospitable venue. The show is a partnership of Cirque du Soleil’s theatrical division and the Los Angeles theatrical company For the Record. “With all honesty, this is not a financial decision. The show is not shutting down and moving because it is losing money,” Scott Zeiger, director of Cirque’s theatrical division, said tonight in a phone conversation from New York. “We are working to find a new home, one that will hopefully embrace the show in the same critical way and build an even bigger audience.” Zeiger stressed that Light, though technically advanced with superior lights and nightclub-caliber sound, has not been an ideal fit for the production. “We’ve been doing fine at Light, but it is a tough room,” Zeiger said with a chuckle. “Our performers really have to work it to produce the excitement and message of the show. They have done an amazing job, but we’re finding a new home for the show so it can live on.” Though the show is still experiencing what one cast member calls “slow but sure” improvement in ticket sales, the appeal of Light was that Cirque actually owns the club. Thus, the move by the first Cirque Theatrical Division production out of a Cirque- owned nightclub might well be an indication that the company is looking to get out of the nightclub business entirely. Cirque is itself under new ownership, having been purchased for a reported $1.5 billion by majority partner TPG Capital in a transaction announced in April. Zeiger and For the Record founder and executive producer Shane Scheel say they are fully confident that the show will re- emerge, though they don’t have a timetable and won’t say what venues or properties are in play. There was an instant ripple of speculation recently when the cast visited Rose. Rabbit. Lie. in the Cosmopolitan, though Scheel says only that such response “gives you an indication of the interest in ‘Baz’ in Las Vegas.” Zeiger said the decision to leave was discussed as early as five weeks ago, with the talk heating up about a week ago. Scheel learned that it was a done deal Friday. The cast contracts are due to expire next Monday, and many new performers will be hired for the show’s next opening — whenever that is. “‘Baz’ will be in an alternative space,” Zeiger said. “I can’t tell you that it’ll be in an EDM space, but it will be in an alternative space.” The capacity will likely be in the 500-seat range. As Scheel said, “I am encouraged in the outpouring of interest in the show. We are looking to find a proper venue, a warmer venue, to bring the show back bigger and better than before. That’s what we are committed to.” As for when, “I don’t want to come back until we can do it right. But I know that there is a room for us, and we can, collectively, work together so we can find the best solution. In my gut, there’s a place for us in Las Vegas for a very long time.” { SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun | http://goo.gl/Z6ewAE } --------------------------------------------------- Q&A –- Quick Chats & Press Interviews --------------------------------------------------- Montreal Media Get First Look of TORUK {Aug.11.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- Montreal Media were invited behind the scenes today for a first look at some of the wonders that await in TORUK, and The Montreal Gazette has a wonderful piece (w/video) about the experience: Toruk — The First Flight is inspired by James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Avatar, but don’t expect the new Cirque du Soleil show to be a live version of the flick. At a media preview at Cirque headquarters in the St-Michel district Tuesday morning, Toruk writer-directors Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon underlined just how different the touring arena show will be compared with the 2009 film, which is the top- grossing movie of all time. “It’s a transposition; it’s an evocation,” Lemieux said. “We couldn’t make the movie, and what’s the purpose of remaking the movie on stage? So we started with this universe of Avatar and we created this story that (takes place) 3,000 years before the movie. So in the prehistoric time, there were no humans … there’s a lot of volcanic eruptions … so we see another part of this Na’vi culture that we didn’t see in the movie.” Toruk will have preview shows in the U.S., beginning in November, in Bossier City, La.; Lafayette, La.; Richmond, Va.; Allentown, Pa.; and Worcester, Mass. The official world première is at the Bell Centre on Dec. 21, and it runs at the Habs’ rink until Jan. 3. Tickets are already on sale. Cameron, the Canadian filmmaker whose credits also include Titanic, has the final say on the creative content of the show. “We presented the scenario to him and he was really happy,” Pilon said. “One of his assistants said to us: ‘I (haven’t) seen Jim smile so much … in a long time.’ ” Added Lemieux: “He’s very involved. He has to approve everything that we do. It is his universe and we’re just excited to work with Jim Cameron.” The media was given a tour of the set Tuesday, which is mostly made up of inflatable rubber structures, and the journalists saw some of the Cirque artists training for the show. There will be 35 acrobats, one actor and one singer in the production. Lemieux and Pilon are two of Quebec’s most noted multimedia artists. They’ve co-created a slew of acclaimed shows, including Icare, La Belle et la Bête, The Tempest and Norman. The dynamic duo also have a history with the Cirque, working on the shows Delirium, Midnight Sun and Michael Jackson’s One. Pilon says Toruk continues along the same lines of their earlier Cirque collaborations, in the sense that it has a strong visual element. “Here the whole (arena) becomes a screen projection,” Pilon said. “We wanted to emphasize the immersion aspect of this performance. When you come to the arena to see the show, you come on Pandora (the planet in Avatar that is inhabited by the Na’vi). You’re in Pandora.” There will also be a narrator who will, in the Montreal run, speak in French and English — a first for the Cirque. “So we have a storyteller who will help us go through the story and tell us what’s happening,” Pilon said. “This is maybe for the Cirque one of the first (shows) that really has a story base to start with. So we’re working with the storyteller to tell the story of these three young people who are on a quest to ride the Toruk (the giant predatory airborne creature in Avatar).” But it’s also an action show. “It’s a Garden of Eden, Pandora, but with teeth and claws,” Lemieux said. “It’s a beautiful place, but it’s a very dangerous place,” Pilon said. Added Lemieux: “We’re dealing with the fact that the Na’vi don’t fear. It’s not in their culture, compared to us, where we fear everything. They don’t fear, but they put themselves often in positions of danger. So that creates action.” Mostly, the two of them are just excited to be working on a project based on a film that means so much to them. “The only time in my life I waited to see a movie was Avatar,” Lemieux said. “I waited for an hour to be sitting in the middle (of the theatre) with my (3-D) glasses. I was 50-something, but in my mind I was five years old and I loved it.” But there’s a little apprehension, given the incredible success of Avatar. “It’s also scary,” Pilon said. “There are big expectations. It’s a movie that a lot of people have seen. So we’re also nervous. But very, very excited.” { SOURCE: The Montreal Gazette | https://youtu.be/vAqVJF4bzbE, http://goo.gl/xbKYTp } Cirque du Soleil Announces: Paramour! {Aug.18.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil Theatrical (Scott Zeiger, President and Managing Director) is pleased to announce the new $25 million production of Cirque du Soleil – PARAMOUR, the organization’s first created specifically for Broadway. PARAMOUR is a landmark production for Cirque du Soleil, blending the best of Broadway with Cirque du Soleil’s signature style, to provide a new experience for both traditional Broadway musical theatre goers and Cirque du Soleil’s fans. The show will have many of the elements beloved on Broadway: a book-driven love story narrative, live musicians, and professional actors in lead roles; but with the Cirque du Soleil aesthetic integrated throughout the show: visionary production design on a grand scale, world class entertainment, and acrobatic feats that defy the imagination. President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, Daniel Lamarre, said: “Cirque du Soleil and Broadway are two forms of artistic entertainment that have pushed the boundaries of what audiences expect from live performance. With Cirque du Soleil Theatrical, we are thrilled to be joining the Broadway community and we are proud to have our Cirque du Soleil family perform in the same neighborhood as so many other talented Broadway artists.” President and Managing Director of Cirque du Soleil Theatrical Scott Zeiger said, “Bringing PARAMOUR to Broadway is the culmination of years of work, planning, and countless creative discussions. The PARAMOUR creative team, led by our remarkable director Philippe Decouflé, have designed the show specifically for the Lyric Theatre, and it is the perfect fit for the incredible experience we have in store. I am certain that our audiences will be surprised and delighted by our vision for the production.” Prepare to get swept off your feet by PARAMOUR, a rapturous and passionate new experience that unites the signature spectacle of Cirque du Soleil with the storytelling magic that defines Broadway. Set in the glamorous world of Golden Age Hollywood, this groundbreaking event spins the tale of a beautiful young poet forced to choose between love and art. Featuring a cast that blends the best in circus arts and musical theatre, PARAMOUR will transport you to a world of sublime beauty and emotion as it walks the exhilarating tightrope of the heart. Casting for the 38-member company of actors, dancers, aerialists, acrobats, and circus arts performers who will appear in PARAMOUR will be announced shortly. PREVIEWS BEGIN APRIL 16, 2016 | OPENS JUNE 2, 2016 o) Paramour’s official Cirque Site: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/paramour o) Paramour’s official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ParamouronBroadway CREATIVE TEAM ------------- o) Creative Guide — Jean-François Bouchard o) Director — Philippe Decouflé o) Associate Creative Director — Pascale Henrot o) Associate Creative Director/Scene Director — West Hyler o) Set Designer — Jean Rabasse o) Costume Designer — Philippe Guillotel o) Composers — Bob & Bill o) Choreographer — Daphné Mauger o) Lighting Designer — Patrice Besombes o) Props Designer — Anne Séguin Poirier o) Projection Designer — Olivier Simola o) Projection Designer — Christophe Waksmann o) Sound Designer — John Shivers o) Acrobatic Choreographer — Shana Carroll o) Acrobatic Performance Designer — Boris Verkhovsky o) Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment — Pierre Masse o) Makeup Designer — Nathalie Gagné o) Casting (MTL) — Pavel Kotov o) Casting (NYC) — Telsey + Co VENUE ----- Lyric Theatre http://www.lyricbroadway.com/ 213 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 Located between Broadway and 8th Avenue on 42nd Street. Seats: 1,876 people o) Theatre parking is available near 42nd Street. o) By Subway: Take the 1, 2, 3, A, B, or C train to the 42nd Street/Times Square station. o) By Bus: Take the M10 or M104. o) Box Office: (212) 556-4750 o) Box Office Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:00am – 8:00pm PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE -------------------- o) SATURDAY, APRIL 16 – SUNDAY, MAY 1: Monday through Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. There are only six performances for these weeks. The show is dark on Sunday. o) MONDAY, MAY 2 – SUNDAY, MAY 15: Monday through Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Matinee on Saturday at 3 PM. There are only seven performances for these weeks. The show is dark on Sunday. o) MONDAY, MAY 16 – SUNDAY, JUNE 5 (INCLUDING WEEK OF OPENING): Monday through Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees on Wednesday at 2:30 PM and Saturday at 3 PM. Opening night curtain for Thursday, June 2 will be 6 PM. The show is dark on Sunday. o) MONDAY, JUNE 6 – SUNDAY, JUNE 12: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees on Saturday at 3 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. The show is dark on Tuesday. o) MONDAY, JUNE 13 – SUNDAY, JULY 3: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday and Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 7 PM. Matinees on Saturday at 3 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. The show is dark on Wednesday. o) MONDAY, JULY 4 – SUNDAY, JULY 10 (WEEK OF JULY 4 HOLIDAY): Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 7 PM. Matinees on Wednesday and Sunday at 2 PM; Saturday at 3 PM. The show is dark on the Monday, July 4 holiday. o) STARTING, MONDAY, JULY 11: Monday and Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees on Wednesday and Sunday at 2 PM, Saturday at 3 PM. The show is dark on Tuesday. TICKET PRICES ------------- o) Orchestra Seating US $79.50 (US $89.00 with fees) US $137.50 (US $147.50 with fees) o) Dress Circle Seating US $137.50 (US $147.50 with fees) o) Box Seating US $57.50 (US $66.50 with fees) US $137.50 (US $147.50 with fees) o) Balcony Seating US $57.50 (US $66.50 with fees) US $99.50 (US $109.00 with fees) Please Note: A $1.00 Project Support Payment and $1.50 Facility Fee is included in the displayed ticket price. Everyone (including children of all ages) must have a ticket for entry. Attendance by children 4 and under is strongly discouraged. Once in the auditorium, they and their parent/guardian may be asked to leave the auditorium by Management if they become a disturbance during the performance. { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil } --------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT –- More In-depth Articles --------------------------------------------------- Today Officially KOOZA DAY in Virginia Beach! {Aug.08.2015} ---------------------------------------------------- August 8 is officially KOOZA day in Virginia Beach! Thank you Mayor Sessoms and the entire city council for presenting us with a resolution! We are honored! PHOTOS /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=6326 > And here's the text from the resolution, as signed... RESOLUTION WHEREAS: Kooza is the premiere Cirque du Soleil production in Virginia Beach. The show has been viewed around the world by more than 4-million people in almost fifty cities, in twelve countries on three continents. KOOZA tells the story of the innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world. It combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning - highlighting the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility emphasizing bold slapstick humor; WHERAS: The cast and crew of more than one hundred twenty [120] come from eighteen [18] different countries. During their stay, they are occupying more than four thousand [4,000] hotel rooms in Virginia Beach; WHEREAS: Cirque du Soleil is truly one of the world's most attended and loved entertainment programs truly and incredible show under the "big top". More than 155-million fans have enjoyed the Cirque du Soleil performance since 1984, including 15-million in 2014; WHEREAS: Cirque du Soleil has not received any grants from the public nor private sector since 1992; WHEREAS: KOOZA's yellow and blue Big Top seats almost twenty- five hundred [2,500] spectators in a climate-controlled environment that is fifty-six [56] feet tall and one hundred sixty-four [164] feet in diameter. Approximately sixty-five [65] very large trucks were needed to bring everything to Virginia Beach. The technology and mechanical maneuvers are high tech and breathtaking; WHEREAS: During KOOZA's engagement in Virginia Beach, jobs have been created with more than one hundred twenty [120] local people employed to help with ticketing, seating, janitorial services and administration. While in Virginia Beach, KOOZA relies on local suppliers for many essentials such as food, bio- diesel fuel, machinery, food and beverage supplies for patrons, banking services, delivery services, recycling and waste management - thereby injecting a significant amount of money into our local economy; and, WHEREAS: With the month of performances scheduled, KOOZA is the longest-running tenant in the history of the Virginia Beach Convention Center. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Virginia Beach City Council pause in its deliberations to recognize CIRQUE DU SOLEIL for its creative thinking and foresight to see a dream become reality in presenting this unique and professional entertainment venue in Virginia Beach where history meets the sea and continues to establish legacies for its almost one-half Million citizens, thus making it the "best city in the world." BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That Saturday, August Eighth, Two Thousand Fifteen be known and celebrated as: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL – KOOZA DAY Signed: Councilman Ben Davenport, Councilman Robert M. "Bob" Dyer, Coucil Lady Barbary Henley, Council Lady Shannon Kane, Councilman John D. Moss, Council Lady Dr. Amelia N. Ross- Hammond, Councilman John E. Uhrin, Council Lady Rosemary Wilson, Councilman James L. Wood, Vice Mayor Louis R. Jones, and Mayor William D. "Will" Sessoms, Jr. {Photo credit: John-Henry Doucette for Princess Anne Independent News} NEST by C:LAB {Aug.14.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- 3 Days, 18 symbols, 564 choices, 572 strangers... NEST. What is NEST? And what is C:Lab? NEST is an immersive experiment initiated by C:LAB, a creative experimental laboratory within Cirque du Soleil. Originally designed as a sensory experience for the 2015 edition of the C2 Montreal conference (C2-MTL; a business meeting based on the concept of Commerce + Creativity - hence the C2 in the name – brings together thought-leaders from around the world to exchange ideas, share inspiration and re-kindle their creativity to fuel business success - the 2015 event took place from May 26 to 28th), visitors to the NEST were invited to venture inside, two strangers at a time, and participate in a mysterious ritual of choice and chance. Those brave enough to enter the NEST found themselves engaged in a curious and tactile exploration of intuition—that essential, yet elusive, element of any creative process. The concept was designed by Melissa Thompson & Viviana De Loera, set designed by Anne-Séguin Poirier. "The role of intuition in the choices that we make was something that we really wanted to explore," says Welby Altidor, Executive Creative Director of Creations at Cirque du Soleil about the NEST. "How could we use some of the exploration that we have in the nest for some of our own creative process; with our employees here in Montreal. How could some of the insight that we will get from, you know, the exploration in the nest could also be applied with our audiences?" Altidor was Director of Creation for Michael Jackson ONE, that is currently in residence at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and he is one of the creators of C:LAB. The lab's first project is SPARKED, a short film that features 10 quadcopters and unites humans and flying machines in choreography. Previously, Altidor was Cirque du Soleil’s Director of Creation in the Images, Events, and Lifestyle division, where he led a number of large-scale creative projects. He was previously Director of Strategic Relations, Arts, Circus, and Sports. In this role, he developed strategic partnerships in more than a dozen countries, including an important alliance with the International Gymnastics Federation. His first position at Cirque was in the casting department as a talent scout, traveling the world and recruiting hundreds of artists for Cirque shows. "If anything was possible, if any budget was possible, if any anti-gravity situation was possible, what would we do?" asked Melissa Thompson, one of the concept's creators. "We really wanted to create a situation in which this mysterious structure is there, and for the observers outside they see two people at a time enter this nest, but they seem to never see them come out." C:LAB used real tree branches to create the NEST, a hollow structure measuring 30 feet across and sitting 10 feet in the air. Participants were invited to climb a ladder into the nest where a moderator led them in a discussion. To leave the nest, attendees slid down a slide. "For people who volunteer to enter into the nest are brought into this kind of ritual performance that will reveal something about themselves, each to the other person." Though the mystery element for the NEST's creators is the importance of preserving the secrecy of what happens within and after the experience, we're interested in exposing it. And to that end C:LAB has helped us by posting a number of images on its Instagram page. Check out a few of those images, as well as those that go with this story, at our website: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=6378 > { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil } Perth Now Goes Backstage at TOTEM {Aug.20.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- CLINGING on for dear life to a single aerial hoop as I flew through the air under Cirque du Soleil’s signature blue-and- yellow big top, I quickly realised I had not missed my calling as a circus performer. My sweaty palms and total lack of upper body strength meant the only thing saving me from eating the gym mat below was the fact I was strapped on with a training belt. When buff hoops artist Olli Torkkel finally stopped spinning me, it took almost 30 seconds to regain my balance and be sure I wasn’t going to lose my lunch. “In the beginning, I felt sick and was getting headaches every single day but then I don’t know what changes — your body just adapts,” the 36-year-old said. Right. So, the first thing I learnt during my backstage experience at Totem in Perth was that I had made the right decision quitting gymnastics as a kid. While the artists make it look easy on stage, the sheer strength required to support your own body weight with one arm while you’re twisting and whirling around cannot be exaggerated — and I was only about 10cm off the ground. To call the show’s 46 performers elite athletes is possibly an understatement. They are the best of the best, sourced by the company from all over the world. Having caught a glimpse inside their world, it was clear the Cirque machine never stopped churning to maintain the seemingly impossible standard seen by the audience. Here’s what else I learnt during my afternoon at Totem. 2. Every artist in the show, which includes acrobats, actors and musicians from 17 different countries, performs six days and eight to 10 shows a week. 3. The performers practice their acts up to twice a week on stage. While I was there, head coach Beau Sydes was filming the hoop act rehearsal on his phone and playing it back to the acrobats on stage to help them understand his immediate feedback. 4. Even if the artists are not rehearsing on stage, their day starts between 12pm and 1pm, when they arrive at the Cirque ‘village’ to warm up, work out or refine their skills. They can also watch back the previous night’s performance on a TV backstage to critique and improve their own segments. 5. US-born Sydes, who joined the Totem team just before it arrived in Perth, said the training was split up this way to ensure performers could keep up the standard of their act but also give their bodies enough rest and recovery time. 6. Two performance medicine specialists travel with the team and work closely with Sydes to prevent and manage any injuries. A massage therapist and Pilates coach are also hired locally in each city. 7. If an artist is injured, the team alters their act and monitors their workload to help heal them quickly. If they are sick or out of action completely, Sydes said the team had back up plans for “almost every scenario you could think of”. For example, the bars/carapace act has four frog acrobats but, if one of the frogs cannot go on, there is a version of the act the remaining three can do. There are also “back-up acts” that can replace any of the acts in the show. 8. The gym room is muggy. It is kept at about 24-25 degrees to keep the performers’ muscles warm. 9. Totem, which traces humankind’s journey, has been performed more than 1600 times to more than three million people in 28 cities since its world premiere in 2010, and many of the artists have been involved since its beginning. To feed them creatively, the Cirque team encourages them to develop new tricks, which can eventually be integrated into their acts. The artists are also offered classes such as ballet and acting to keep them feeling fulfilled. “You have to love this job otherwise you get tired or bored and you want to do something else,” bar artist and coach Umihiko Miya said. 10. Although strength and precision are major aspects of the acrobatic work, trust and commitment to a trick are also important. Fixed trapeze duo Sarah Tessier and Guilhem Cauchois, were total strangers when they were paired together for their training at the National Circus School in Montreal in 2009. Cauchois, 26, and Tessier, 24, said they now have a brother- sister relationship and can communicate during performances without even using words when something feels wrong or needs to be changed at the last moment. “It was difficult at times (to build that relationship) I’m not going to lie, but overall it’s a really great experience to learn to work together with someone so closely,” Tessier said. 11. Although the pair now trusts each other unequivocally, Tessier said most performers maintained a certain level of “healthy fear” about their work. “If there was not the fear, I would be worried almost,” she said. “Because you need a reminder that what you do is dangerous and you need to always be aware what you’re doing — I think it’s important.” 12. Mistakes do happen. Tessier said that performing as many times as they do a week means their focus can waver. “Of course slip ups happen even though you’re very concentrated and it’s how you hide it and disguise it that makes it a challenge,” she said. “Sometimes it’s like ‘Oh that happened but I’m so happy because we totally covered it and we were in synch’.” If the mistake happens more than once, the pair will talk about it but, if it’s a one-off, they simply move on. She has never suffered a major injury from trapeze work. 13. Torkkel, who plays a beach boy trying to attract and impress the female member of the rings trio, said the hardest part of his job isn’t maintaining his strength and physique, but playing a believable character. “You have focus on the acting side too — it’s not just cool tricks and floating above the audience and flying high,” he said. The former gymnast, who hails from Finland, said this is what sets circus apart from sport. 14. The dazzling costumes, which were designed by Australian- born Kym Barrett, help bring the characters to life and are custom fitted to the performers. There are 750 costumes and accessories worn on stage, each of which has a double travelling with the show as a back-up. 15. The average lifespan of a costume worn by an acrobat is six months. The wardrobe team repair, maintain and handwash the pieces on a daily basis. 16. The costumes are handmade in Montreal by a team of 400 people, working to produce pieces for the 19 different shows currently touring the world. 17. The Crystal Man costume has about 4500 pieces of mirror and crystal attached to a stretchy velvet leotard. 18. Miya, who hails from Japan and has been with Totem since the beginning, said all of the performers do their own make-up for the shows. His frog makeup initially took two hours to complete but he has since mastered it, bringing it down to about one hour. 19. The 34-year-old said his make-up had 21 steps. The artists are given a “cheat sheet” to work from when applying it. Once a year, they have their makeup photographed and sent back to the makeup department in Montreal, who check it and send back notes to keep it true to the original design. 20. Totem’s stage is impressive. The projections used to create different environments have been shot around the world in places. While the show was in Brisbane, the team shot images at the Botanic Gardens and will be used as a background to a back- up act they are currently working on. 21. Infra-red cameras detect the movement of the acrobats and actors, creating movement with animation, such as water splashing, in real time. 22. One of the stages main features, the Scorpion Bridge, which weighs more than 4535kgs, is powered by eight hydraulic motors, which allow it to move up and down as well as retract and curl on itself like a scorpion’s tail. 23. The carapace (or turtle shell shape used in the bar routine) weighs about 1225kgs. { SOURCE: Perth Now | http://goo.gl/Y8ZiNY } TOUCH THE SKY a Documentary DVD {Aug.23.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- Studio -- Les Films Séville, eOne Films Director -- Adrian Wills, Cirque du Soleil Images UPC –- 774212001598 Catalog — 200159DV Video — 1.78:1 Widescreen Audio — English/French/Russian Run Time –- 90 minutes Region –- 0/All It isn't often a Cirque du Soleil documentary gets by us, especially one released onto DVD. But this one did! Released on October 2, 2012, TOUCH THE SKY is a feature documentary for anyone who has ever wanted to travel to space in 2009. Using a fly-on-the-wall-style we follow the owner and founder of Cirque du Soleil, Guy Laliberté, as he makes his way to the International Space Station. Ever the maverick, Guy has allowed the company Space Adventures to broker a deal with the Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS, the equivalent of NASA, to complete the shortest training session ever allowed for spaceflight. Preparation will take place in Star City, the centre of Russia’s space program. Guy, a respected entrepreneur who never finished high school, will complete his training in five, rather than the usual twelve, months. To compound matters, instruction will be conducted entirely in Russian. Many of the astronauts and cosmonauts training at Star City, picked from elite space programs around the world, grumble at this folly. But Guy is determined to become part of the team. There are also those, like crewmate NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, who believe that space tourists are taking seats that should rightfully go to astronauts. But Guy’s playful charm, steely determination and boyish curiosity begins to override these reservations, and the barriers between the space flight participant – ‘space tourist’ – and fully fledged astronaut, start to crumble. What does it take to join the exclusive club of cosmonauts and astronauts who have experienced the majesty of space? As we follow Guy, the 511th person to voyage to that frontier, we are introduced to a growing cast of extraordinary real-life heroes, people like: septuagenarian painter Alexie Leonov, the first man to ever “space walk,” who strives to capture the colours he saw when first opening his capsule; cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, who emotionally recalls passing over New York during 9/11 as the drama unfolded below the ISS, and Alvin Drew, chosen for the final Space Shuttle mission, explains that at the age of four he wanted to be a test pilot, at five, an astronaut. From the thrill of watching sparks as we re-enter the atmosphere, to floating through the confines of the ISS as filmed by the ‘Guy cam,” in TOUCH THE SKY viewers follow Guy as he lives the risks and are touched by some of the people that make up the global space community. What emerges is an unprecedented insight into the world of space travel. We grabbed our copy from eBay, but you can also order a copy via Amazon.ca: < http://goo.gl/7DbKLQ > Article: “Cirque du Soleil Owns the Las Vegas Strip” {Aug.28.2015} ----------------------------------------------------- In some ways, Cirque du Soleil and Las Vegas are unlikely dance partners. The Quebec circus sprang from the active imagination of former street performer and fire-breather Guy Laliberté back in the early ’80s, and its selling point in the three decades since has always been its authentic artistic savoir faire. Vegas, by way of contrast, is the ultimate centre of glitzy entertainment — a tradition that goes from the days when late- period Elvis ruled the gambling mecca right up to today’s new- look Strip, which is dominated by pop stars like Céline Dion (whose revamped residency premières at Caesars Palace Thursday) and Britney Spears. I was thinking of this unlikely marriage of Québécois cultural flair and the big-bucks casino biz while watching The Beatles LOVE at the Mirage hotel and casino this week. The production, which premièred here in 2006, is a most unusual Cirque show. Unlike most of the company’s productions, it isn’t built around spectacular acrobatic numbers; rather, it’s an inspired poetic performance piece that brings the classic Fab Four tunes to life, while taking us on a magical mystery tour of Liverpool history. I saw Spears’s shallow, paint-by-numbers Piece of Me concert at Planet Hollywood’s AXIS theatre a couple of nights later, and couldn’t help feeling the shows existed in two completely different universes. But as surprising as the union of the Cirque and Vegas might be, it’s a happy marriage. Cirque du Soleil has eight permanent shows on the Strip, including LOVE, KA, O and Michael Jackson ONE. The company puts around 140,000 tickets on sale each week, runs at 85 per cent occupancy and — wait for it — has a 36 per cent share of the entire live-entertainment market in Vegas. In fact, the Cirque productions are doing so well that there are no plans to replace any of the Vegas shows any time soon. The most recent show was the Jackson homage, which debuted in June 2013. Mystère, the first permanent Vegas Cirque show, is set to hit its 22nd anniversary at the Treasure Island resort in December. Last year, it hit the 10,000-performance mark. (A side note: Mystère’s guitar player, Quebec musician Bruce Rickerd, has been there since Day 1, and he’s never missed a show. That’s for a production that has, on average, 470 performances a year.) “Everything is running really well,” Jerry Nadal, senior vice- president of Cirque du Soleil’s resident shows division, said in an interview at the theatre in the Aria hotel where the Zarkana show runs. “We’re just clipping along,” he said. “There is no other market like Las Vegas. Last year we topped 40 million tourists coming through. The city changes over twice a week. There is repeat visitation from southern California, the drive-in market, but the international component of the city is growing. We have more direct flights coming in internationally. The beauty for us is that with all of the touring shows we’ve had, we have great brand recognition with people coming in. So we’re really focusing on those international markets.” Nadal said all eight Cirque shows here are under long-term contracts with the casinos and hotels. Mystère, for example, recently had its contract with Treasure Island extended to 2021, which will be 28 years after it opened. But the members of the Cirque team do like to tinker with the shows and give them, every few years, what they call a “refresh.” “The beauty of the Cirque shows — compared to, say, a Broadway show like Phantom of the Opera, is that we have the ability to change up the shows,” said Nadal. “We did a refresh on Mystère two years ago. We just completed one on Zumanity this year. We changed a number of cast, some of the numbers in the show, costumes, choreography. We’re in the middle of a large refresh on LOVE that will debut next spring, in time for its 10th anniversary. So we have the ability to do that. But if you see Phantom of the Opera, Phantom of the Opera is Phantom of the Opera. We can keep them going. New talent comes up. We have a research and development department in Montreal that is always looking for different ways to present acrobatic numbers.” In April, Cirque founder Laliberté sold his controlling interest in the Montreal-based company to an investment group led by U.S. private-equity firm TPG. Laliberté remains on board as a creative adviser. Nadal said the new owners don’t want to change the Vegas business model — they just want to expand it. “I think it will help to increase the Las Vegas business,” said Nadal. “These guys bought the company as an investment, so they’re treating it like an investment and they want to see their investment grow. It’s been great for us. They’re saying: ‘Hey, have you considered this? How about selling tickets this way or that way?’ It’s going to infuse the company with a new way of looking at the business and help us grow the business. And we feel there are still opportunities in Vegas to grow the market share we have.” { SOURCE: Montreal Gazette | http://goo.gl/AVfyGP } ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, Totem & KURIOS} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Quidam, Varekai, TORUK & OVO} o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, Believe, Zarkana, MJ ONE & JOYÀ} NOTE: .) While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate touring dates and locations available, the information in this section is subject to change without notice. As such, the Fascination! Newsletter does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of these listings. For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit Cirque's website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ >. ------------------------------------ BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau ------------------------------------ Amaluna: Brussels, BE -- Sep 10, 2015 to Oct 25, 2015 Paris, FR -- Nov 5, 2015 to Dec 13, 2015 London, UK -- Jan 16, 2016 to Feb 14, 2016 Corteo: Mexico City, MX -- Sep 3, 2015 to Oct 11, 2015 Quito, EC -- Nov 19, 2015 to Dec 10, 2015 ** FINAL SHOW: December 10, 2015 ** Koozå: Austin, TX -- Sep 2, 2015 to Oct 8, 2015 Vancouver, BC -- Oct 29, 2015 to Dec 27, 2015 Kurios: Chicago, IL -- Aug 6, 2015 to Sep 20, 2015 Costa Mesa, CA -- Oct 15, 2015 to Nov 29, 2015 Los Angeles, CA -- Dec 10, 2015 to Feb 7, 2016 Atlanta, GA -- Mar 3, 2016 to May 8, 2016 Totem: Perth, AU -- Jul 31, 2015 to Sep 27, 2015 Singapore, SG -- Oct 28, 2015 to Nov 22, 2015 Tokyo, JP -- Feb 03, 2016 to Apr 10, 2016 Osaka, JP -- TBA Nagoya, JP -- TBA Fukuoka, JP -- TBA Sendai, JP -- TBA ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Quidam: Seoul, SK -- Sep 10, 2015 to Nov 1, 2015 Canberra, AU -- Dec 11, 2015 to Dec 20, 2015 Wollongong, AU -- Dec 23, 2015 to Jan 2, 2016 Hobart, AU -- Jan 6, 2016 to Jan 10, 2016 Newcastle, AU -- Jan 15, 2016 to Jan 24, 2016 Aucland, NZ -- Feb 5, 2016 to Feb 14, 2016 Christchurch, NZ -- Feb 18, 2016 to Feb 21, 2016 ** FINAL SHOW: February 21, 2016 ** Varekai: Berlin, DE -- Oct 8, 2015 to Oct 11, 2015 Leipzig, DE -- Oct 14, 2015 to Oct 18, 2015 Stuttgart, DE -- Oct 21, 2015 to Oct 25, 2015 Mannheim, DE -- Oct 28, 2015 to Nov 1, 2015 Vienna, AT -- Nov 4, 2015 to Nov 8, 2015 Dortmund, DE -- Nov 11, 2015 to Nov 15, 2015 Cologne, DE -- Nov 18, 2015 to Nov 22, 2015 Innsbruck, AT -- Nov 25, 2015 to Nov 29, 2015 Munich, DE -- Dec 2, 2015 to Dec 6, 2015 A Coruña, ES -- Dec 22, 2015 to Dec 28, 2015 Barcelona, ES -- Jan 1, 2016 to Jan 10, 2016 Valencia, ES -- Jan 14, 2016 to Jan 17, 2016 Malaga, ES -- Jan 21, 2016 to Jan 24, 2016 Vitoria-Gasteiz, ES -- Jan 27, 2016 to Jan 31, 2016 Lyon, FR -- Feb 3, 2016 to Feb 7, 2016 Hamburg, DE -- Feb 10, 2016 to Feb 14, 2016 Luxembourg, LU -- Feb 17, 2016 to Feb 21, 2016 Hanover, DE -- Feb 24, 2016 to Feb 28, 2016 Bordeaux, FR -- Mar 10, 2016 to Mar 13, 2016 Montpellier, FR -- Mar 17, 2016 to Mar 20, 2016 Nice, FR -- Mar 23, 2016 to Mar 27, 2016 Nantes, FR -- Nov 16, 2016 to Nov 20, 2016 Toulouse, FR -- Nov 23, 2016 to Nov 27, 2016 Strasbourg, FR -- Nov 30, 2016 to Dec 4, 2016 TORUK - The First Flight: Bossier City, LA -- Nov 12, 2015 to Nov 14, 2015 Lafayette, LA -- Nov 20, 2015 to Nov 22, 2015 Richmond, VA -- Nov 27, 2015 to Nov 29, 2015 Allentown, PA -- Dec 4, 2015 to Dec 6, 2015 Worcester, MA -- Dec 11, 2015 to Dec 13, 2015 Montreal, QC -- Dec 21, 2015 to Jan 3, 2016 Toronto, ON -- Jan 7, 2016 to Jan 10, 2016 Auburn Hills, MI -- Jan 22, 2016 to Jan 24, 2016 Houston, TX -- Feb 11, 2016 to Feb 14, 2016 North Little Rock, AR -- Feb 19, 2016 to Feb 21, 2016 North Charleston, SC -- Feb 26, 2016 to Feb 28, 2016 Tulsa, OK -- Mar 24, 2016 to Mar 27, 2016 Kansas City, MO -- Apr 1, 2016 to Apr 3, 2016 Oklahoma City, OK -- Apr 6, 2016 to Apr 10, 2016 Louisville, KY -- Apr 29, 2016 to May 1, 2016 Cincinnati, OH -- May 5, 2016 to May 8, 2016 Hamilton, ON -- May 20, 2016 to May 22, 2016 London, ON -- May 27, 2016 to May 29, 2016 Providence, RI -- Jun 3, 2016 to Jun 5, 2016 Raleigh, NC -- Jun 24, 2016 to Jun 26, 2016 OVO: Rumored to begin touring in Arenas in April 2016! --------------------------------- RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre --------------------------------- Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2015 Dark Dates: o September 10 - 18 o November 11 Added performances in 2015: o December 31 (only 7 pm performance) "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2015 Dark Dates: o October 11 o November 30 - December 15 Added performances in 2015: o December 29 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o November 2 - 5 o December 7 - 9 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm (Only 7:00pm on the following days in 2015: January 20, May 8, May 15, May 19, May 20, and December 31) 2015 Dark Dates: o October 31 o December 6 - 14 Added performance in 2015: o December 27 KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark Thursday/Friday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm (Only 7 pm performances on May 9, 16 and June 21) 2015 Dark Dates: o September17 - 25 o November 18 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm (Only 7:00p.m. performances on May 15-16, June 19-21, December 31) (Only 4:30p.m. & 7:00p.m. performances on July 4) 2015 Dark Dates: o September 15 – 17 o October 20 – 22 o December 1 – 16 Added performances in 2014: o December 30 CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE: Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2015 Show Schedule: o Wednesday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm (only 7:00pm on January 7, February 4 - 25, September 30) o Thursday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm (only 7:00pm on January 8-29, December 31) o Friday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm (only 7:00pm on January 9–30, February 6, February 20 – 27, March 6 – 13, May 1 – 22, June 5, June 19, September 11–25, October 2–9, October 23–30, December 4 11, December 25) o Saturday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm (only 7:00pm on May 2–16, June 20, July 4, October 31) o Sunday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm (only 7:00pm on February 8–22, March 1–15, April 26, May 24, June 7, June 21, September 13–27, October 4–25, November 1–8, November 22–29, December 6–13) 2015 Dark Dates: o August 31 – September 8 o November 9 – 17 o December 14 – 22 Added Performances in 2015: o December 29 ZARKÀNA: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2015 Dark Dates: o September 6 - 14 o November 10 Added Performances in 2015: o December 28 MICHAEL JACKSON ONE: Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Two Shows Nightly - Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Schedule: 7:00pm & 9:30pm on Friday, Saturday, Monday & Tuesday 4:30pm & 7:00pm on Sunday 2015 Dark Dates: o October 14 – 22 o December 15 Added performances in 2015: o November 25 o December 30 JOYÀ: Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday One/Two Shows Nightly: 9:00pm (Weekdays) 7:00pm & 10:15pm (Fri, Sat & Holidays) ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub & Casting o) DidYaKnow? -- Facts About Cirque o) Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube --------------------------------------------------- CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub & Casting --------------------------------------------------- “Toruk : A stage made of foam and steel” ----------------------------------------------------- Last April, Pennsylvania-based Tait Towers began building the stage and set for Toruk – The First Flight. The challenge was to bring planet Pandora to life, just as set designer Carl Fillion had imagined it, while staying on schedule. Tait’s 600 employees are the artisans behind a large number of live performance stages, architectural structures and theatres worldwide. They had already built colossal stages for the Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga, designed structures for the Olympic ceremonies in London and Sochi, and made dreams come true at the Shanghai World Expo. Even though Cirque du Soleil and Tait have already collaborated on other shows, it’s the first time that Tait gets fully involved in the creation process. “It’s a privilege,” says Tait project manager Scott Levine. “I let them know how the project is coming along, and we work together on technical, logistic and artistic challenges and solutions.” Scott works closely with Toruk – The First Flight set designer Carl Fillion. “I’ve spent so much time with Carl, that I can now order lunch for him without having to worry about whether he’ll like it or not,” jokes Levine. All that time spent together is necessary to “make sure that we maintain our artistic vision of the show… and that we work within the various constraints.” “In order to comprehend the true nature of a project, we first need to define the roles of special effects and stage props,” says Scott. “It’s even more important than the building design because each scenic piece can be built in different ways.” Tait then makes suggestions regarding building methods, materials or even paint colors. Scenic elements are huge but are able to be transported from an arena to another. In Toruk – The First Flight, for example, the structure surrounding the stage and the central island are meant to hide objects and plants that will make a later appearance in the show. For that purpose, Tait designed a system of pneumatic openings. These two designs also need to add relief to the stage and give the impression of a mountainside. They are thus covered in synthetic foam, which gives the illusion of a “wonderful rocky ground,” says Levine. The show also needs to be easily taken apart to be moved from one city to another. “Most of the scenic dressing the audience sees are in fact inflatable,” adds Levine. “That’s what enables us to build huge structures and still be able to transport them.” It’s incredible to think that all that foam, plastic, steel and fabric will come together to become tall trees and steep cliffs, and an extraordinary planet where dreams do come true. { SOURCE: CirqueClub | https://goo.gl/E41Bms } “Creator of Worlds – Meeting the set designer of TORUK” ----------------------------------------------------- He is no magician, yet his craft is all about illusions. Acting as the set designer for TORUK – The First Flight, Carl Fillion’s mission is to transform a stadium into a luxurious and poetic planet. If that was not difficult enough, he also needs to stay true to James Cameron’s colorful universe. He can always rely on his vivid imagination to overcome seemingly insuperable challenges. Carl Fillion’s quiet talent is the creative force behind TOTEM’s enchantment, its giant turtle and its marsh on which images are projected. For the past three years, he has been working on Cirque du Soleil’s upcoming show TORUK – The First Flight, inspired by James Cameron’s Avatar movie. Creating a whole universe is no small feat. “Set design is all about setting the stage for a performance” explains Fillion. “Beyond the set, it’s about the efficient use of space.” In TORUK – The First Flight, Fillion’s main task is to bring Avatar’s enchanting universe to the stage, and work around all the technical limitations that come with stadium shows. A giant home tree surrounded by screens, a suspended structure, a mysterious island and a green belt are only some of the stage props that he has created for this show. Together with video projections, they help alleviate the lack of backstage space, hide objects and artists, and transform the stage while preserving the beauty and poetry of James Cameron’s otherworldly Avatar. “The best sets are also the simplest,” says Fillion. “But the simplest are also the hardest to find. I often go to great lengths to simplify an idea, get to its essence. This is how we can achieve such a strong impact.” In 1991, he received his degree in set design from the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec, and began his career in theater, before moving on to opera, then the circus. Having collaborated closely with Robert Lepage since 1994, he designed the stage props for a play, Elseneur, and for Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen opera. TOTEM was his first show with Cirque du Soleil, and TORUK – The First Flight is his most recent endeavor. Being a set designer is not always easy. Writer’s block, unrelenting pressure and tough challenges can take a toll. Laughing, he confides that he sometimes dreams of moving to the Bahamas to become a fisherman. “I’ve often thought of leaving this tough, tiresome job for some other career,” admits Fillion. He adds, “However, I find it extremely rewarding to finally see the fruit of my labor at every step of the set design. It makes it all worth it.” “I get such an adrenaline rush that once the show’s over, I want to start all over again the next day. Show business is a tough drug to kick.” { SOURCE: CirqueClub | https://goo.gl/45AyNX } --------------------------------------- DIDYAKNOW?: Facts About Cirque --------------------------------------- o) 14,400 pieces of fireworks are used to illuminate BELIEVE yearly. o) The Stick Bug puppet in KA is over 16 feet long and is operated by two artists. o) The La Nouba wardrobe department handles over 3,000 costumes and headpieces every day. o) La Nouba uses 140,000 feet of cable, the equivalent to 26.5 miles. o) The La Nouba showroom seats were modeled after old-fashioned auditorium chairs. Constructed out of steel and wood and covered in red velvet, they were designed to create familiar atmosphere for the audience. o) The Mystere Bungee Warrior headpieces weigh 4-5 pounds each. o) Piano Wire, Fishing line, Urethane and metallic gift paper are some of the unusual items used in Mystere's costume shop. o) In Zarkana, the first arch, which is also the largest, is decorated with more than 150 feet of hand-painted resin “snakes.” --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter --------------------------------------------------- {Compiled by Keith Johnson} ---[ AMALUNA ]--- {Aug.11} Beautiful day for a photoshoot. Cali is definitely enjoying it! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/1Q5IgG > {Aug.23} Bye Bye Tarragona! Thank you so much for your warm welcome! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/sYkdGc > {Aug.28} Feathers, fishnets, wires, tubes: Masters of their craft. LINK /// < https://goo.gl/zRtsSj > ---[ CORTEO ]--- {Aug.05} Reporter Jesus Bracamontes became the dream clown for a report. It is one of the main characters of Corteo corrently playing in Guadalajara. LINK /// < https://goo.gl/NCX3sv {Aug.07} Dinner by Corteo by Cirque du Soleil Chef! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/CDI2FE > {Aug.14} Have you lived the Tapis Rouge Experience? LINK /// < https://goo.gl/cyMG04 > {Aug.16} Thank you very much Guadalajara! We love your wonderful energy, we are going to miss you! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/XaYMua > {Aug.20} Ready for our trip to Mexico DF! End of our tour in Mexico. LINK /// < https://goo.gl/14bjxF > {Aug.28} The preperations are almost finished, we’re ready for you Mexico! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/7ia7sB > {Aug.31} Today the artists had their first rehearsals under the big white tent in Sante Fe, Mexico. LINK /// < https://goo.gl/43zGGq > ---[ JOYA ]--- {Aug.13} Celebrating 250 shows and unforgettable moments. Thank you for being part of it! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/EbgTUU > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {Aug.07} Thanks so much to the The Hampton Roads Show for hosting KOOZA this week! We had so much fun!!! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/jU8Grm > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/DveiVg > {Aug.16} Time so say good bye Virginia Beach LINK /// < https://goo.gl/zqHXu8 > {Aug.28} Counting down to our Grand Premiere....6 Days!!! Oh Austin, we love you so much already!!! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/a3cUSN > {Aug.29} Counting down to our Grand Premiere...5 Days! We can’t visit the Live Music Capital without paying our respects to the one and only “Red Headed Stranger”- the great Willie Nelson! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/cDL1gp > {Aug.30} 4 days until Austin Premiere! Atop Mt Bonnell we’re inspired & can’t wait to scale to new heights under the Big Top! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/FDp9kH > {Aug.31} 3 days ATX! Hook ‘Em Horns! Our tour of Austin would not be complete without visiting the UT Campus. Special pricing for students is available! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/oJtvC3 > ---[ KURIOS ]--- {Aug.05} Only 24 hours to the big Chicago Premiere! Media had an exclusive sneak peak of the action today! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/f8lkhe > {Aug.06} the grounds of our world of KURIOS-ity! See you very soon, Chicago! VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/2efyXm > {Aug.09} We’re biking through reality at Ciclavia in Culver City. Come visit us and share your KURIOSexperience! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/7vLFD7 > {Aug.13} We hope you got to see Jake Hamilton Fox 32 Chicago trying out some acrobatics this morning. LINK /// < https://goo.gl/Y7lNj4 > {Aug.29} So proud of our KURIOS by Cirque du Soleil team at the Badass Dash event today in Chicago!!!! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/z4WIQb > LINK /// < https://goo.gl/hJ3HZb > LINK /// < https://goo.gl/QocVUv > LINK /// < https://goo.gl/9DsO40 > LINK /// < https://goo.gl/wevbj5 > ---[ MYSTERE ]--- {Aug.17} The fun has just begun. This is what fun looks like on a flying trapeze! Grab hold and jump in! VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/SegpMB > ---[ "O" ]--- {Aug.12} A show up above is just as magical down below. Overflow your senses and witness the magic that happens underwater. VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/TObYdT > {Aug.19} Two aerialists. One trapeze. Endless possibilities. Invoke your sense of wonder... VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/Bzt2e2 > {Aug.26} The perfect storm. Ready to set sail? VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/TzrvnF > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {Aug.01} "Sometimes watching trainings you just witness a perfect _________ !" Do you know what this Cordes Lisses move is called??? LINK /// < https://goo.gl/ZfSRhK > {Aug.27} Join another fun game from Quidam by Cirque du Soleil Live in Bangkok 2015! Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) invites you to share your ideas “Where would be the amazing places for me to visit in Thailand?” to enter for a chance to win a 3-day-2-night accommodation package from Intercontinental Hua Hin! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/R4kQ2Q > ---[ TORUK ]--- {Aug.01} Witness the passion of our TORUK Puppet Designer, Patrick Martel, for turning inanimate objects into living things. VIDEO /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpkRgZWubVE > ---[ TOTEM ]--- {Aug.01} Intermission selfies from last night's premiere in Perth! FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/aynWUp > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/mrbUqw > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/dYI1Jk > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/RhCNUo > {Aug.04} We surprised Cirque du Soleil's one millionth customer in Perth since 1999! Last week-end the Burgess family was invited backstage to meet the cast after the show! Thank you Perth for your incredible support through the years!! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/7t5INe > {Aug.05} Our amazing band performed remixed versions of some of the best TOTEM songs last week after our Perth Premiere Performance! Can you name the 4 songs featured in this video? VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/6hcHbz > {Aug.11} Watch our new back-up Hoop Dancer Michael Goedel train at our Montreal Headquarters! He will be making his debut performance in Perth in the next few weeks! VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/EPTZCL > {Aug.11} Pre-Ticket Sales for Daihatsu Totem Tokyo will start on August 15th . For more information please access FUJI TV Direct (Only in Japanese) LINK /// < http://fujitvdirect.jp/pc/sp/totem/index.jsp > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/qgjE9u > {Aug.12} We are in the early stages of creating a new back-up act for our upcoming Japanese tour! Watch this exclusive preview of amazing contortionists Ulzii and Oyuna in action! VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/M1ZRDI > {Aug.12} Group selfie on 7-feet-tall Unicycles! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/dGWQB2 > {Aug.13} It's Friday, let's jump around! VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/z9SJ0D > {Aug.18 Busy afternoon in the Artistic Tent at Belmont Park Racecourse after a well-deserved day off - the cast is working on personal acrobatic projects and their show routines! Inspiring dedication! VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/nR5Hcd > {Aug.20} Want to learn about the secrets behind TOTEM and the reality of our life on the road? Perth Now has all the answers!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/s5gfKN > {Aug.20} Congratulations to our new back-up Hoop Dancer Michael Goedel who did his first performance on the TOTEM stage in Perth this week!!! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/JU8MFp > {Aug.22} Lovely Spring day in Perth, Umi is back outside applying his make-up! Happy Sunday everyone! LINK /// < https://goo.gl/Yb1xoa > {Aug.22} Today Tonight takes a closer look on stage and backstage! VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/YP6DRu > {Aug.24} The Green Committee strikes again! Cast, crew, friends and family members of TOTEM planted 140 trees today at Herrison Island in Perth! In each city we visit, our Green Committee organizes eco-friendly activities to give back to the communities who welcome us! Thank you to the City of Perth for their support! FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/Uhe4ua > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/fnT7wV > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/O3r9Mv > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/mV5KMN > {Aug.24} Hey Perth! Have you seen Denise & Massimo's new acrobatic trick in the Roller Skates act? See it closer than anybody sitting in the Big Top! VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/JKlSkT > {Aug.27} Time flies, only one month of performances left for us in Australia! Unfortunately Perth, we can't hang around forever! FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/na2bv7 > {Aug.30} Costume Designer Kym Barrett was inspired by various ancient civilizations for the wardrobe of TOTEM characters. For the scenes evoking the First Nations of the world, she blended influences from all continents to create the looks of tribes coming from each cardinal point to celebrate the union of an Amerindian couple. FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/yGN6d2 > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/fjg0j8 > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/5aYSK4 > FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/zYVYUu > {Aug.31} Only backstage at TOTEM VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/QVmfBJ > ---[ VAREKAI ]--- {Aug.03} From Dentist to Clown! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3kwEOi > {Aug.06} Our TBT is dedicated to our media tour in Miami. We are excited to perform at the BB&T Center in Sunrise as of A ugust 12. Do you have your tickets yet? FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/30TMhj > {Aug.07} Are you wondering what happens backstage during a show? Check out Emily's report. VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/Gaupqb > {Aug.14} Check out these cool photos of our Premiere in Sunrise. Varekai runs until August 23 at the BB&T Center. FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/MOZi4S > {Aug.31} Hey Toronto! We are very excited to perform our last shows of the North American tour in your city! Come meet the Varekai performers tomorrow for a special appearance at the Royal Ontario Museum. Will be there from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Join us, we'd love to meet you! FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/lMFhth > ---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]--- {Aug.13} Want to know more about the future of performance? Vote for our SXSW panel featuring the creative leaders of Cirque du Soleil. LINK /// < http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/50893 {Aug.20} Are you afraid of heights? The bird’s eye view from the technical grid at our training studios. FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/1ejzjf > ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) INTERVIEW /// "The Third Time: An Exclusive Interview with Christopher “Kit” Chatham, Kurios drummer" (Part 1 of 3) By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) "The Celebrate Project - An Amazing Destination!" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) LOOK BACK: Guy Laliberte's Poetic Social Mission PART 1 of 8: "The Countdown Begins" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ------------------------------------------------------------ INTERVIEW /// "The Third Time: An Exclusive Interview with Christopher “Kit” Chatham, Kurios drummer" (Part 1 of 3) By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ------------------------------------------------------------ What is it about a drummer that attracts diehard Cirque fans to them? From Quidam drummer BJ, who met up with the first CirqueCon Vancouver group, to Paul Bannerman, drummer with Varekai who has been very fan- friendly, we as fans seem to be drawn to those who bash the skins. And now we add another stick-wielder to the list, Kit Chatham. Few artists or musicians have the honor of going through three Cirque du Soleil show creations. The process (for Varekai) was documented in the Emmy-winning series, “Fire Within,” and shows the hopes and the challenges. It is a time of high stress, tight deadlines, and intense emotions. When we spent a day in 2004 observing the dancer auditions process, (documented in our article series, “Who Has What it Takes,” the first part of which can be found here < http://www.cirquefascination.com/? p=90 >) we also discussed the process with Richard Daganais – Logistics Supervisor, Casting (now Director of Creation at the Cirque special events company 45 Degrees): “What I liked about “Fire Within” was how well it documented what the artists went through. It showed the reactions to the different environment that’s been created in Montréal. The creation process is one of the most wonderful things an artist can go through because something is created on them based on what they do, as opposed to something that’s been done before by somebody else. But it’s also incredibly demanding, physically, emotionally. That’s what makes it wonderful, that intensity that you live with. But it’s not for everyone, not everybody likes it, but some people thrive on it. “For some people, creation is all they’d like to do; go from one creation to another. Because artists are extreme, they love the intensity of emotions of the creation process. It starts out like a honeymoon and gets intense until the completion is in sight. When they look back on the creation they feel it was all worth it.” In 2003, while interviewing the lovely Steben Sisters (which can be found here < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=519 >), they cautioned that there is more than one view of the process: [Karyne speaking] “You give everything, and keep giving and giving. Then at the end of the day they say they’re scrapping everything and we’ll start fresh tomorrow. Or they change the apparatus. And you know all your effort is wasted, you just want to die.” 38-year old Las Vegas-based percussionist/drummer Christopher “Kit” Chatham has been through THREE creation processes in his 10 years with the organization. His extensive experience in marching band and drum & bugle corps, further honed by his featured role in the groundbreaking Broadway show “Blast!” put him on Cirque’s radar. Yet it is his versatility and adaptability that brought him back to the creation table again and again. Kit got his Bachelors in Music Education from the University of Georgia in 2000. It was there he started writing and arranging music for marching bands, including the University of Georgia Redcoats, Crossmen, Odyssey Percussion Theatre, Atlanta Percussion Theatre and Terminus of Atlanta. He is also one of the authors of the Principle Percussion series of drum practice books (available at http://www.principalpercussionseries.com/Home.html ). He can be found at: Website (very complete): www.kitchatham.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitchatham You Tube (a number of practice and performance videos): https://www.youtube.com/user/KitChathamPercussion Sorry folks, No Twitter. BANG ON THE DRUM ALL DAY ------------------------ We met in the Kurios kitchen, at the back of the asphalt-covered site created to Cirque specifications in Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington. Sitting amongst the hustle and bustle of preparations for the evening show, in makeup but out of costume, we started by discussing his history. The name Chatham (CHAAT-UM), “…is of English descent, I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and Chatham County (.org) is right there in Savannah, so a lot of my family comes from there. I've been married for over 10 years now. I got married just months before I joined Cirque, before I did Corteo creation (in January 2005). She stays in Vegas; she's a public school music teacher. We met at university; we were both music majors so we were in classes and did marching band and everything like that together.” Kit was raised in a musical family. “My dad was a preacher so I grew up in a gospel setting with all my family singing. My mom was an organist and pianist and amazing gospel singer, so we kind of went that route. I did choir and all of that in church.” It was his older brother (who now teaches marching band and works in a music and arts store) who first introduced him to drums. “My brother, who is five years older, started drumming before me. That kind of got me going. I think it was just seeing my brother bring them in the house and it was like, “Wow, what are those things? Awesome!” Whenever he wasn't home I'd sneak into his room and play on them and then try to make it look like I wasn't there.” (Laughs) “When I got to middle school [that’s when you] pick an instrument. My mom said, “You're either going to be in the chorus or play an instrument.” I had started piano lessons earlier, but when I got to middle school I wanted to play drums. So that's when I technically started drumming, age 11 I think.” Who did he look to for inspiration? “(Jazz drummer) Buddy Rich (.com) by far, he's a drum god, I love him still to this day. When I was growing up there was no YouTube (which is amazing because there are so many videos that you can watch that I never had access to). For me to get access it would have to be a VHS tape, so I had VHS cassettes that I would wear out because I would watch him in slow motion and try and figure things out. And he's one of those guys where it was a challenge to figure out how he did things. I still idolize him.” “And (session drummer) Steve Gadd (drstevegadd.com), who's a great drummer. [And] Vinnie Colaiuta (.com) (who collaborated with Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, and Sting in addition to being a busy session drummer).” When it came to college, he and his brother, “…both went the music education route. [Though] he decided he didn't want to teach. I never really intended on teaching, but my dad, being a real smart guy, saw that none of my teachers had degrees. They were all doing [music] professionally and he said, “Look, you don't need a piece of paper to do this for a living. But if you're going to get a piece of paper you might as well get something you can use.” So that's why I did music education.” It was in college where Kit discovered how he could make money playing drums. “I was in college when I actually started making money doing [music]. I went to school in Athens (at the University of Georgia (uga.edu)) which is a very musical town. REM, The B-52’s, Widespread Panic; there's a whole big music scene there.” “It took me five years to graduate because I was doing all the performance tracks. And I would play a lot at night; I would get some of my income that way. Luckily I was on full scholarship; they had a HOPE scholarship that would pay tuition and my music scholarship would pay for a lot of my other stuff. So all the money that I made was to help me keep going.” (A HOPE Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement.) College was also where he discovered marching bands and band culture, which would have a powerful influence, eventually leading him to his first professional stage musician job. “It's all over the country. Some of the best groups are in Texas and California. It's one of the big things in the US, that's for sure, because of football half-times, etc. But it's very big in secondary and high school marching bands. I think that's where a lot of the money from the band boosters comes from.” “I liked it so much I started teaching in college. It's a culture, that was a big part of it for me. I had a lot of fun with it. Up until recently I was really involved in the activity because it was nice additional income writing music and creating shows for schools and colleges. But it got to the point about a year and a half ago where I felt I should stop doing all that and work on some of my own stuff.” “It's funny, when I finally graduated from college my first big professional gig was a touring Broadway show, Blast!, that was based on that.” BLAST! ------ The show Blast! (blasttheshow.com) can best be described as taking drum & bugle corps instrumentation, music and choreography and placing it on a theater stage. Created in 1998 by a team led by Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps director James Mason it first debuted to rave reviews in London, moving to Broadway in April 2001. It then toured the US and internationally, with particular success in Japan. It spawned spinoffs Blast II – Shockwave and Cyberjam. It toured Japan as recently as 2014. (Star of Indiana, though now defunct, has an interesting history, which can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Star_of_Indiana_Drum_and_Bugle_Corps .) Blast! played our hometown of Seattle, Washington from Oct 8-27, 1992. We were at the Tuesday Opening Night performance at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. It was there we had our program signed by several of the performers – including Kit! It brought a smile and laugh when we showed it to him. “This is exciting; I don't meet a lot of people that know Blast! or understand what Blast! was. [Looking at the program cover and pointing at one of the enthusiastic, aggressive drummers] “That is not me. We always made fun of that. (flipping to a page) That’s me and my buddy Aaron Guidry (yataforluda.com), who is also with Cirque now in Zarkana. We were the two dueling guys. It's so funny how we both ended up in Cirque.” “If it wasn't for Blast! I wouldn't have gotten into the whole theatrical aspect of my drumming. Being one of the main guys in the show I spent a lot of one-on-one time with George Pinney, the acting teacher (current Professor of Stage Movement and Head of Musical Theatre at Indiana University Bloomington, indiana.edu). He has a Tony and Emmy, so he's doing pretty well. I spent time with him learning just how to get people to watch what I want them to watch, and how I can show a lot of energy in drumming without expending a lot of energy. Especially in Viva Elvis it looks like I'm going nuts, but I'm not. I couldn't do 10 shows a week if I was really going nuts like that.” “One thing I remember about coming to Seattle. After the show we [would do] a meet and greet and that's probably where I signed this [program]. Because I was one of the featured guys. We always had a ton of high school kids we would sign autographs for. And I remember signing autographs one night, and a guy comes up to me and says, “Your drumming’s amazing.” And I'm saying, “Thanks, thanks.” And he says, “I'm probably too old for you to remember, my name’s Alan White (drummer for legendary progressive rock band Yes).” I stopped everything! I was like, “Sorry kids. Alan White, of course I know who you are!” It was an awesome experience; I spent a little bit of time with him and his wife. It was like role reversal - I'm signing autographs for these kids and all of a sudden he shows up – “Oh my God, Oh my God!”” “In the show tonight you’ll see I do a little homage to Blast!. I'm not going to tell you what but I do a little bitty thing, it's in the first act (“Juggling Chaos”) which is the only time I spend a lot of time on stage.” After touring with Blast! (from 2001-2003), Kit was chosen to join the cast of successor show Cyberjam for its debut in London, England (where it played from September 23, 2003 until January 3, 2004). “Blast! had the Broadway troupe and the touring troupe and things were starting to meld together. They wanted to do a new show, a new concept incorporating what they did with Blast II - Shockwave, which was a show they tried to do. And basically they took key players out and made it a smaller ensemble, with people more involved, more multi-role players. It took some highlights from Blast! and expanded on some of the electronic things and added some new stuff. And I'll be honest with you; I hated the name, but was a great show.” “It was nice because I was in London performing in the West End. I lived in Leicester Square, a five-minute walk from the theater. It was amazing; I couldn't imagine how much they were paying for us to stay in a flat right next to St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church. I'm sure it was like 2,000 pounds a week. I shared a two-bedroom flat with other cast members. I could literally walk out my door and there's the church.” “It was rough because it was a brand-new show. We were in the Queens Theatre in London where we slowly got a following. But we knew we had to close because Les Misérables was coming in (starting in mid-April, 2004, where it continues to play to this day). [When] that happened we all kind of went our ways. I was debating going back to Blast!. But that was when I got married and we were thinking about what we were going to do. So I settled down for a bit.” ENTER THE BANNER-MAN -------------------- It was here another fan-favorite enters the picture, and pointed Kit towards a Cirque-centric future. My wife and my first interface with a Cirque performer was with Varekai drummer Paul Bannerman (pauljbanerman.com). He was most kind to greet our group (thanks to connections made through the late Cirque Tribune Discussion Board) when we saw Varekai during its opening weekend in Montréal in April 2002. “I love Paul to death. He's not only a great drummer, but he's an amazing guy, super nice. And he's known throughout Cirque for it. Like when Cirque Tribune was around, being friends with them, he would let people sit behind him and watch him do a show. They don't allow that anymore.” “Paul Bannerman is the reason that I'm in Cirque. We were roommates for like two weeks in Orlando, Florida. He was hired by Blast! but he had to leave, it was a visa thing (though born in Belgium, he is a citizen of Canada). And we were all bummed out because he's a super great guy. And then we found out he got the gig with Cirque with Varekai. And he was telling me, “You need to come, you need to be in the show with me, blah blah.” If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have auditioned for Cirque, 10+ years [ago] now.” “He’s still with it, hasn't missed a show. He was actually going to be here last week, he was going to come and stay with me. But he said the prices to Seattle have gone up, so I'll come and see you in Calgary. So when we go to Calgary (from April 9 to May 24, 2015) he'll come out and visit and hang.” # # # In our next installment, we discuss his experiences with the creations of Corteo, Viva Elvis and Kurios. And how he got to play two Cirque shows – at the same time! ------------------------------------------------------------ "The Celebrate Project - An Amazing Destination!" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ------------------------------------------------------------ The Celebrate Project was introduced to us on November 12, 2014, when both Cirque du Soleil and Grupo Vidanta announced its plans to construct and operate a first-of-its-kinds immersive theme park experience in Puerto Vallarta. “Grupo Vidanta is offering us an amazing sandbox in which we can unleash our creativity,” said Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil. “Both our groups strive for perfection. Grupo Vidanta is passionate and cares for the environment. We set ourselves the challenge of creating something unlike anything the world has seen before.” The entertainment experience, which was still in development, would include a water park, a nature park, as well as an evening show accommodating as many as 3,000 to 5,000 spectators. Each experience within the entertainment park would be animated by Cirque du Soleil and follow a common storyline. The announcement came on the eve of the launch of JOYÀ, an intimate and immersive theatrical and culinary experience developed by Cirque du Soleil and Grupo Vidanta that premiered at the Riviera Maya on November 21st. “We have been dreaming together with Cirque du Soleil to create new categories of entertainment for Mexico and the world for more than five years,” said Grupo Vidanta founder Daniel Chávez Morán. “The demand we’ve seen for JOYÀ makes us confident future projects will be met with success. When guests see what we are able to build in Nuevo Vallarta, they will know we are now in the position to build our dreams.” Development of the Nuevo Vallarta project aimed to reimagine the theme park experience in the same way JOYÀ will redefine theatrical and culinary entertainment. But much about the project has remained under wraps since the initial announcement, until InPark Magazine ran a story on May 28th that helped shed a little more light on the project: Many people around the world credit Cirque du Soleil for reinventing the circus,” said Martin Boudreau, President of Cirque du Soleil Parks, Immersive Attractions and New Content division. “In our new joint venture, 4th Wall, the combined vision of Cirque and the unique talents of Goddard Group (GGE) come together. We now have the opportunity to apply our creativity to other entertainment mediums, bringing to them the signature Cirque du Soleil elements of imagination and originality that spectators have come to expect from us.” The plan for what Goddard describes as an “experience park” includes a unique, Cirque-inspired boat ride, a series of highly immersive attractions, including the kind of outdoor live show only Cirque could create. Food and beverage together with retail offerings will likewise be customized. The park will be geared to an older audience (while including appeal for families with children) and have international appeal, although most guests are expected to be from Mexico, the United States and Canada. Goddard likens the concept to something more resembling Discovery Cove than Disneyland. But then he draws another comparison: “If there were a waterpark created by Cirque for Burning Man, it would probably look like this.” The elements, especially water, and natural vegetation will be important in creating a unique environment that will feature live performers in many settings and impart the sense of having come upon a hidden village in an enchanted forest. Just a few days later, on June 10th, a video made its way to YouTube offering up tantalizing new details about the project we’d never before heard; it had us very excited! For the first time we were hearing about the resorts Vidanta planned to build, the rides that might be associated with the park, not to mention the other experiences. It was a gold-mine filled with information about something we wouldn’t be able to experience for years to come. Alas, that jubilation was short-lived, as the video was removed almost as soon as it was discovered and circulated by fans. To rub salt in the wound we didn’t even have time to save it for posterity. (Talk about kicking ourselves in the butt for that oversight…) But wouldn’t you know that video would make a re-appearance the second week of August? This time we not only saved the video, but made a transcript of all the information contained within – and there’s a lot! In the video we hear from Daniel Lamarre, CEO of Cirque du Soleil; Gary Goddard, CEO of The Goddard Group; Taylor Jeffs, Director of Design of The Goddard Group; Ben Potvin, Director of Acrobatics at Cirque du Soleil; Amy Lareau, Director of Business Development at Cirque du Soleil; and Martin Boudreau, Vice President of Business Development at Cirque du Soleil. So, without further ado: The Celebrate Project! NOTE there are a number of screen shots we took of the video. Check them out here: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=6427 > # # # COMING SOON TO PUERTO VALLARTA FROM THE IMAGINATION OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL AND THE VISION OF VIDANTA COMES THE WORLD'S NEXT GROUNDBREAKING DESTINATION RESORT: CELEBRATE PROJECT AN ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE WORLD Daniel Lamarre: For 30 years the mission of Cirque du Soleil has been to evoke the imagination, to provoke the senses, and to evoke the emotions of people around the world. For many, many years we have been looking for someone that could give us the opportunity to enhance the sandbox of creativity of Cirque du Soleil. This is amazing that a visionary of the resort business is meeting with a visionary of the entertainment world. We are going to deliver an experience that is going to be totally unique in the world. Gary Goddard: We've been working on something new, something completely different - it's a new kind of destination resort. I'm always looking for ways to do things in a new - that push the envelope. So in the ways that we innovated in retail with The Forum (Shops at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas) and hotels with The Galaxy and in theme parks attractions with Spider Man (at Islands of Adventure in Orlando), with T2 (at Universal Parks), with Caesars Magical Empire – all the things we've done - we want to find a unique way into the whole Cirque experience and create a memorable, unforgettable, emotional experience that picks up on the things that we think of as Cirque and brings them to life in a new way. At the first meeting with Guy Laliberte and with Daniel Chavez from Vidanta we'd already had a day or two in the Vidanta Resort to see the beautiful work that they do. In my mind what began to form was we can take what Cirque does, and we can take what Vidanta does, and we can take what GGE does, and we can create an entirely new kind of experience that doesn't really exist and that uses the best resources and abilities of all of the people that comprised our various companies. Taylor Jeffs: In a traditional Cirque du Soleil show you are in the role of spectator, you sit and watch in the audience. However, imagine what it would be like to get out of your seat and wander onto the stage and not just that, but to be a character within this fantasy world they created. Gary Goddard: The Celebrate Project, which is the working name at the moment, is an integrated resort with 10 unique entertainment attractions surrounded by three exclusive Vidanta resorts: the Kingdom of the Sun, the Kingdom of the Stars, and The Grand Cascades. Taylor Jeffs: These resorts literally put guests right in the middle of the action. The Kingdom of the Sun Resort is a grand golden palace located right in between the Village of Sun's daytime experience and the Valley of the Blue Waters waterpark experience. Gary Goddard: This is the place where all things Cirque exist. You'll be able to enter the square which will be a beautiful plaza and there's a wide variety of attractions you should be able to experience while you're there. The village is also home to the CirqueCamp. The CirqueCamp is a very unique place... this particular thing let you go and learn from the Cirque performers themselves how to perform, how to put on the makeup - you'll be able to learn that with the masters from the actual Cirque company. Ben Potvin: what we want to do is bring our expertise to the general public. Our guests are going to be able to have fun in a safe environment, as well as learn something new about themselves and about Cirque du Soleil. We want to be able to bring to everybody what it feels to actually be on a Cirque du Soleil stage. Everything that we have in our shows we will have a component of that on site. We really want to work together to bring to life everybody's creativity and bring this whole theme park experience to the next level. Taylor Jeffs: On the opposite end of the resort we have the Grand Cascades, which is a luxury spa resort located right on the edge of the water park. Every single room ensuite has a premium view of this incredible fantasy paradise that we've created. Gary Goddard: You look out onto the Grand Cascades resort, which is an amazing hotel - which has waterfalls - and that is actually our water park that surrounds this hotel. We call that the Valley of the Blue Waters. Amy Lareau: This will be the world's first theatrical water park and here the guest is the star. Taylor Jeffs: Just as a real theatrical performance begins with the opening of a curtain our show begins with the opening of a curtain also, but ours is a curtain made of water. As you arrive at the park the curtain will actually part open revealing the park in front of you, and from that point on guests are immersed in the theatrical experience of our water park. Gary Goddard: The Kingdom of the Stars as a magical palace. It sits at the top of the hill and it forms a center of our entire night time experience of which the feature is the Village of the Moon. The Village of the Moon only comes to life at night, after the sun goes down and we've designed the park to be on axis with where the sun goes down so literally once the sun starts to go down there will be a ceremony that happens across the lagoon, and if you want to go there you need to go to the Embassy... you can get your passport there, which will allow you entrance into this Village of the Moon. And as you pass the threshold, your passport - with the power of the moonlight - will glow as you enter, signaling that it's ok for you to enter. And from this village - just like a real village - you have many opportunities: if you go down this path it will take you to The Grotto, if you go down that path it'll take you to The Wylde, if you go down that path it'll take you to The Forest, if you go to this path it'll take you to the Mechanical Gardens. Now, what are all these things? Well the Mechanical Gardens is actually a ride park, but all the rides have been twisted and turned in a unique way that makes them uniquely Cirque. And then if you go down that path - to The Wlyde – what is the Wylde? The Wylde is kind of the area of nightmares. From there you might want to go on The Grotto, and we're going to - for the first time in a boat ride - not only have animatronics and special effects but live performers performing in unique new ways. And then there's The Lake. Amy Lareau: The Lake is another new kind of show for Cirque du Soleil. It will be our first show to be staged outdoors and will feature the largest cast ever put together by Cirque, and performances and acts never seen before in any of our shows. Taylor Jeffs: The other big attraction here is The Forest. We're going put guests on a train, take them out to the edge of the property, drop them off, and their job from that point on is to find their way back to the village. They're going to discover these incredible worlds filled with fantasy creatures, fantastical characters and interactive experiences unlike anything they've seen before. Daniel Lamarre: We are so excited to have the opportunity to finally push the envelope, push the boundaries of creativity in conjunction with a unique partner that we do respect very much. Martin Boudreau: We are very confident by combining the amazing creativity of Cirque du Soleil and the power of our brand through the expertise of the Goddard Group and the talent of Vidanta team will give us everything we need to build an amazing project in Puerto Vallarta. Gary Goddard: I think the reason Cirque du Soleil is so beloved all around the world is because it is always appealed to people's emotions, it makes them laugh, makes them cry, and it aspires to be a demonstration or a reflection, like a mirror, of our best qualities. So if we can tap into all these very human emotions and elements it will be an attraction that will entertain people for generations to come. THREE SPECTACULAR RESORTS FOUR THRILLING DAYTIME ATTRACTIONS SIX GROUNDBREAKING NIGHTTIME EXPERIENCES A DESTINATION LIKE NO OTHER ONLY AT VIDANTA ------------------------------------------------------------ LOOK BACK: Guy Laliberte's Poetic Social Mission PART 1 of 8: "The Countdown Begins" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) ------------------------------------------------------------ Six years ago, on September 30, 2009, a civilian became a spaceflight participant aboard Soyuz TMA-16, a manned flight from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Joining two members of the Expedition 21 crew - Russian cosmonaut Maksim Surayev (Commander, from the Russian Federal Space Agency, FSA) and NASA Astronaut Jeffery Williams (Flight Engineer) – was Guy Laliberté, who paid approximately $35 million USD for his seat through the American firm Space Adventures, becoming the first Canadian space tourist in the process. Space Adventures as you may or may not know, offers a variety of programs, such as: Orbital spaceflight missions to the International Space Station (with an option to participate in a spacewalk), Circumlunar missions around the Moon (although none of those have taken place), zero gravity flights, cosmonaut training programs, spaceflight qualification programs, and reservations on future suborbital spacecraft. Since 2001, Space Adventures has launched seven clients on eight successful missions to the International Space Station (ISS): In April 2001, the company sent American businessman Dennis Tito for a reported $20 million payment, making him the first space tourist. South African businessman Mark Shuttleworth did the same in April 2002, becoming the first African in space. Gregory Olsen became the third private citizen to travel to the ISS in October 2005, followed by the first female space tourist, Anousheh Ansari, who completed her 10-day orbital mission in September 2006. Charles Simonyi, an ex-executive at Microsoft, became the fifth space tourist who visited the ISS in April 2007, then again in March 2009. (He is the world’s first private space explorer who launched to space twice.) In 2008, game developer Richard Garriott, the first second-generation U.S. astronaut, became the sixth client to travel to the ISS. And lastly (as of this writing), Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté. TMA-16 was the 103rd flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first launching in 1967. To say it’s the Russian’s space work-horse is an understatement; it’s been quite reliable. Soyuz is the third Soviet human spaceflight program after the Vostok and Voskhod, and is directly comparable to NASA’s Apollo program of the same era (making Vostok the 1-man capsule comparable to Mercury, and Voskhod the 2-man capsule comparable to the Gemini program). In fact, Soyuz was originally developed by the Soviet Union as part of a moon landing project, intending to put Soviet cosmonauts on the Moon, which, alas, didn’t happen. However, the launch of Soyuz TMA-16 marked the first time since 1969 that three Soyuz craft were in orbit simultaneously – Soyuz TMA-14 was launched on March 26, 2009 (and consequently was the craft Laliberté returned in on October 11, 2009), Soyuz TMA-15 was launched on May 27, 2009 (returning December 1, 2009), and TMA-16 (which returned with another crew on March 18, 2010). Besides fulfilling a life-long dream, Laliberté’s spaceflight was dedicated to raising awareness on water issues facing humankind on planet Earth, making his spaceflight the first – in his words – “poetic social mission” in space. And much of this experience was captured on film and recently spun into a feature-length documentary entitled TOUCH THE SKY. While the documentary is a compelling visual look into the experience, the adventure was also captured by Laliberté himself in the form of an online journal. At the time these events were originally taking place, we here at Fascination were more concerned with the happenings here on Earth – with BELIEVE, ZAIA, ZED, OVO, VIVA ELVIS, and BANANA SHPEEL – so we didn’t give much thought to this endeavor. However, thanks to the recently discovered documentary (the aforementioned TOUCH THE SKY), we recently re-discovered a text-copy of this journal in our archives, which allows us to explore this extraordinary time in Cirque du Soleil’s history in more detail. Thus in this series we’ll be taking a look back at Guy’s Poetic Social Mission through his eyes, from the journal, in monthly installments, taking you through the initial steps Guy undertook all the way through to the launch and landing. Buckle up, Rocket Men. # # # GUY LALIBERTE’S POETIC SOCIAL MISSION PART ONE: “THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS” POST 1 | DAY 1 - April 19 THE POETIC SOCIAL MISSION IN SPACE TAKES OFF The adventure officially began on April 29, 2009 with the signing of my contract with Space Adventures! My departure for Russia has been set for May 9th. That leaves me very little time to prepare, but I'm used to performing acrobatic tricks! The very next day, I get together with my team in Montreal to brainstorm and get organized. The film crew is on board and immediately begins to document the adventure. The documentary film crew will follow me throughout this project and will cover several elements, such as: Demonstrating the level of organization a trip like this entails, telling my story and that of Cirque du Soleil's, and capturing the intricacies of the artistic process which will unfold during this mission. Everyone is enthusiastic: the ignition is on and the engine is roaring! “Guy Laliberté will bring an innovative and creative perspective to the crew of Expedition 21,” said Mr. Alexey Krasnov, Head of Human Space Flight of FSA, in the initial Press Release on June 4, 2009. “We believe that the objective of his Poetic Social Mission to raise awareness of water issues facing the world is part of what space exploration needs to do. We welcome him as a team member and will offer all the support he needs to achieve his mission. We are also very impressed with the humanitarian objectives of the ONE DROP Foundation, founded by Guy Laliberté.” With the theme Water for all, all for water, it wishes to raise awareness to water issues in the world, ensure that access to clean water is available to all and putting in place education programs using art. “The strong humanitarian values put forward by ONE DROP Foundation and Guy [is] shared by the FSA”. "I have been described as many things throughout my 25 years with Cirque du Soleil. Fire-breather, entrepreneur, street smart, creative," says Laliberté. "I am honored and humbled today with my new job description: humanitarian space explorer. Traveling has always been my way of life and I have been researching the possibilities of space travel with Space Adventures Ltd since 2004. But I needed it to be the right time and for the right purpose. This is the time. And the purpose is clear: to raise awareness on water issues to humankind on planet earth.” “My mission is dedicated to making a difference on this vital resource by using what I know best: artistry. This will be the first poetic social mission in space. This is also a very symbolic time for me to join my colleagues of Expedition 21 at Star City since, after 25 years, this is the year that Cirque du Soleil will be introduced to Russia after so many years! The timing could not be most appropriate!" During his 12-day stay at the ISS, Guy Laliberté's POETIC SOCIAL MISSION will share information about water issues in the world through a singular poetic approach. The messages he transmits will raise awareness for ONE DROP Foundation initiatives that promote Water for all, all for water. The Canadian Space Agency salutes Guy Laliberté's initiative as Canada's first private space explorer. The agency will advise Laliberté and he will meet with Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk while at ISS. "Canada's leadership role in space exploration is at the forefront of our mandate," said Dr. Steve MacLean, president of the Canadian Space Agency. "This humanitarian mission, imagined by a leading entrepreneur and artist, demonstrates the talent, imagination and dedication that Canadians are recognized for worldwide." Eric Anderson, President and CEO of Space Adventures Ltd. added, "I have known Guy for many years and is a member of our Orbital Mission Explorers Circle. His approach to his first spaceflight was always original. Since our first discussions in 2004, he has wanted to travel in space for a purpose and to express his unique vision. I believe that his Poetic Social Mission truly realizes his intentions and we are proud to be able to help him to make it a reality." * * * POST 2 | DAY 23 - May 11, 2009 ARRIVAL IN RUSSIA, ON OUR WAY TO STAR CITY Departed from Montreal around 23H00; the adrenalin flowing through my body makes it hard to sleep, but I manage to grab a few hours. Touchdown in Moscow was around 15H00. A beautiful sunny afternoon welcomed us as we are greeted by a Space Adventures-Russia employee who’s there to help us through customs. Not a small feat considering all our film equipment! That first step taken, we board a minibus with all our luggage and arrive at Star City after having spent almost two hours on the road. When we arrive, other members of Space Adventures- Russia are there to help us get settled in. My room looks like it’s straight out of the ‘70s. It’s not very big, but it’ll do! [NOTE: Star City is a 1960’s era Soviet-built city. Much of it today looks like it did then.] Star City is only about thirty kilometers from Moscow but with the extremely dense traffic it can take up to three hours to drive there. In Star City, there are a lot of green spaces including small lakes where swans glide along in the water: it’s very relaxing. It’s quite apparent that the buildings of this ‘city’ were built in the ‘60s. There are modern houses, here and there. However, they’re not generally representative of the local décor. The lifestyle here is peaceful. It seems like the ‘city’ is in full bloom with all these baby strollers around! The people are very warm and welcoming and our attempts to babble a few words in Russian make them smile. It is relatively easy to find what we need (food, toiletries, etc.) but, once again, the buildings appear to be from another time! Makeshift tables covered in fruits and vegetables for sale sit by the side of the road; small trailers serve as dépanneurs (i.e. convenience stores). Tomorrow we’ll take advantage of a national holiday in Russia (celebrating Victory Day 1945) to get settled in once and for all. The sun is still with us. * * * POST 3 | DAY 24 - May 12, 2009 STEP ONE: MY BODY’S SECRETS REVEALED! The first stage of the mission which, according to everyone here, is the least amusing part of the training program: the medical evaluation. That being said, it is a crucial step since all my test results will be submitted to the GMK (the Russian acronym for ‘Main Medical Commission’) who will then decide whether or not I’ll continue training for my mission in space. I was marched out in front of a group of doctors (fortunately, a Russian interpreter was by my side, translating everything back to me as not many people speak English here); there were many tests I was subjected to. The whole medical portion of this experience is quite invasive, whereas virtually every part of my body was scanned, weighed, and probed. Even Cirque du Soleil’s Costume Department, which takes up to 70 measurements per artist to make each costume fit to a T, doesn’t go that far! After having completed the tests at the GCTC (Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center), I had to go to Moscow for a few days to undergo yet some more tests! Upon arrival at the hotel, I had a huge plate of spaghetti: I deserved such spoils after what I’d recently gone through! At the end of the day, I attended Eurovision, caught Cirque du Soleil’s 3-4 minute performance and visited with the artists. I was so proud of my team! [NOTE: this is the Eurovision event I touched on in the “Michel Laprise – Coordinating Cirque’s Special Events” two-part series in early 2014, which you can read here: http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=4663] * * * POST 4 | DAY 29 - May 17, 2009 TESTING COMPLETE: NOW WE CROSS OUR FINGERS I get a well-deserved day off after having gone through a battery of tests (such as the altitude chamber test: a series of exercises to evaluate how the body reacts under various atmospheric conditions with increased and decreased levels of oxygen). Although, the day’s rest is more to prepare for the two other tests which await me upon my return to Star City! Following these latest tests, the first committee of doctors will send its recommendations to the GMK, where the process is more administrative. My centrifuge test is scheduled for the morning of May 19th. The GMK’s verdict will only be rendered on May 29th… So, 10 days of waiting for absolution to perform my mission in space! [NOTE: The centrifuge test is accomplished by sitting in a machine that whirls an astronaut or cosmonaut around while they sit in a specially designed cabin at the long end of an arm. The purpose is to simulate the high levels of acceleration the body will undergo at liftoff. The testing is not only to see how much you can take but to prevent a G-induced Loss of Consciousness, a situation when g-forces move the blood away from the brain to the extent that consciousness is lost.] * * * POST 5 | DAY 35 - May 23, 2009 MOULDING AND FITTING FOR THE SOYUZ It’s a very relaxing experience when they take body measurements to make a flight suit and seat. The best part of all of this starts with having gone through my last medical test. Now, it’ll be all about starting my training and getting to know my new posse. [NOTE: Unlike the Space Shuttle, the Soyuz is a capsule (similar to the Apollo capsule that took Americans to the Moon). But unlike the Apollo capsule, which had standard (but highly designed) couches for the Astronauts to sit on, the Soyuz has specially molded seats for its Cosmonauts to use. These are individually molded to fit each person’s body to ensure a tight, comfortable fit when the module lands on Earth. Because unlike NASA’s capsules, which rode its parachutes for a relatively soft landing in the Pacific Ocean, Soyuz “lands” on the flat steppe of Kazakhstan in central Asia – yes, on land – so a highly cushioned couch tailored to the cosmonaut is required to soften that controlled crash-landing.] * * * POST 6 | DAY 39 - May 27, 2009 LAUNCH OF SOYUZ TMA-15: OUR TURN IS COMING UP On the 26th we left for Baikonur to help with launch of Soyuz TMA-15. (The acceleration is incredible and the noise is piercing; it’s powerful enough that we can feel the ground shake under our feet. And it all lasts just 30 seconds, much like a hallucination!) The flight from Moscow to Baikonur is about three hours long. Once at Baikonur’s airport, we have to transport the luggage to our minibus under a blazing sun. It’s like we’ve arrived in the Twilight Zone, with a small police station housed in an old bus; camels sharing the road with cars; and a left lane which allows vehicles equipped with a special permit to pass everyone else! We check in at the aptly-named Sputnik Hotel where the air-conditioning works so well we forget it’s over 30°C outside! After checking in at the hotel, we visit the facilities where I’ll be quarantined for two weeks prior to lift off. The place is very ‘zen’ and resembles a small botanical garden. Now, I love gardens, so I felt enveloped and could easily see myself taking peaceful walks around it. I became even more emotional when I imagined my children and my love coming to visit me when the time comes, if they are granted permission that is. There are several long paths lined with trees, with a sign in front of each and every one of them. This portion of the garden is home to a beautiful symbolic tradition. Indeed, every member of each Soyuz crew plants a tree before their launch. Their name and the date are affixed to it. Since we can choose the type of tree we want to plant, I thought it would be a great idea to plant… hemp! Oops! After the visit, we ate supper at the hotel’s cafeteria. Dinner was followed by an impromptu cocktail where I became acquainted with several members of my new posse. What a fascinating world! The next day, the gang and I returned to take the elevator, which took us all the way to the top (the astronauts’ cabin). Out of respect, I did not touch the shuttle, but I sure took a good look at it! To think that in just a few months, I’ll be taking that elevator again, this time, to climb aboard the Soyuz… It was incredibly hot! The effects of the heat were made worse by mosquitoes. It must be like a furnace inside an astronaut’s flight suit! The timing was super for me… That day, we were accompanied by an African whom the Russians thought to be a famous star. They all wanted to have their picture taken with him which, in turn, attracted the media’s attention and allowed me to move along incognito. [NOTE: Soyuz is a rocket, and a spacecraft. The launcher was introduced in 1966, deriving from the Vostok launcher, which in turn was based on the 8K74 or R-7a intercontinental ballistic missile. It was initially a three-stage rocket with a Block I upper stage. Later a Molniya variant was produced by adding a fourth stage, allowing it to reach the highly elliptical molniya orbit. The production of Soyuz launchers reached a peak of 60 per year in the early 1980s. It has become the world's most used space launcher, flying over 1700 times, far more than any other rocket. It is a very old basic design, but is notable for low cost and very high reliability, both of which appeal to commercial clients. Learn more about the rocket itself at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family). As for the capsule itself, the Soyuz is also an old design, but has gone through many modifications to keep it relatively current, while also being relatively cheap to fly. A Soyuz spacecraft consists of three parts (from front to back): a spheroid orbital module, a small aerodynamic reentry module, and a cylindrical service module with solar panels attached. The first two portions are habitable living space. By moving as much as possible into the orbital module, which does not have to be shielded or decelerated during atmospheric re- entry, the Soyuz three-part craft is both larger and lighter than the two-part Apollo spacecraft's command module. The Apollo command module had six cubic meters of living space and a mass of 5000 kg; the three- part Soyuz provided the same crew with nine cubic meters of living space, an airlock, and a service module for the mass of the Apollo capsule alone. This does not consider orbital module that could be used instead of LEM in Apollo. Soyuz can carry up to three cosmonauts and provide life support for them for about 30 person days. Learn more about the capsule and its capabilities at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz-TMA] * * * POST 7 | DAY 41 - May 29, 2009 THE COUNTDOWN OF MY MISSION IN SPACE BEGINS Fifteen minutes to check-out of the Sputnik Hotel and we’re off to catch our return flight to Moscow, my head filled with extraordinary images and feelings. They’re helping a lot with my integration, here, and thanks to my hosts’ wonderful efforts, people are getting to know me and understand the Poetic Social Mission I’m on. I’m very excited about this journey I’m undertaking and everyone I’m meeting through it. This is both a personal challenge, as everything I’m experiencing here is new to me, and a grand project that will benefit my ONE DROP Foundation as well as Cirque du Soleil. The duration of the training I’ve started is the shortest amount of time ever given to someone going into space. While this is a real challenge, I feel up to it. At this point, it all hangs on me being a good student! It’s ironic that I’m back behind a school desk at 49 years old, when I never liked school in the first place and did not attend it very long in my youthful prime! But I’m super motivated to achieve my goal. It feeds the fire that moves me forward. After all, I’ve just passed my first exams, which were the hardest! As for the rest, I’m very happy getting myself back into shape and am completely focused. You should see me get on my bike, every morning, to get to my classes: it’s a whole lot slower than a sports car! [NOTE: Russian tradition dictates that all significant meetings are toasted with vodka, of course, while yelling three times, “Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah!” The task wasn’t too difficult for Guy as he noted in this post, given that his previous Russian experiences (frequent trips since '86 and being around Cirque du Soleil’s Russian artists) had prepared him well!] # # # The End? No, we have only just begun to dive into the adventure Guy Laliberté had preparing for his Poetic Social Mission in Space. Next month we’ll continue with “Training Kicks up a Notch”; the month of June. Followed by “Getting My Hands Dirty” (July 2009), “From Training to Reality” (August 2009), “T-30 Days and Counting! (September 2009, Pt 1), “Departure for Baikonur” (September 2009, Pt 2), “Moving Stars and Earth for Water” (On Orbit), and finishing up with “Back on Earth – Mission Success!” Stay tuned! ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Volume 15, Number 9 (Issue #140) - September 2015 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2015 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. { Sep.08.2015 } =======================================================================