======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Issue #22 - June 2003 "Live to Cirque; Cirque to Live" ======================================================================= Bonjour et bienvenue! The summer is finally upon us and with it comes Hurricane season (or Typhoon season depending on where you are in the world), which is always cause for alarm. It has been an interesting month in the Cirque du Soleil fandom though, with rumors of pregnancies and drug use amongst the Cirque du Soleil cast to heated debates about whether or not small children should be taken to shows. And let's not forget the announcement that Zumanity was being delayed two weeks (see more on this inside) due to reasons not said. But, I'd like to take the opportunity to talk further about one of the heated topics this month - the drug use. It was a question that so sparked debate that I asked Cirque du Soleil directly what their policy was. And, as I expected, Cirque has a "very strict" corporate policy concerning substance abuse. It is not tolerated in any way on site or during work times. This month we have some fascinating features for you. Keith updates us on the music heard in the "Fire Within" series, Jen puts on her Techie Geek cap and takes us a little Behind the Curtain, and the continuation of "The Houses of Cirque" by yours truly. All great stuff! Oh, and don't forget all the new cities added to the tours - check them out! So, without further ado, let's get started! - Ricky ============ Contents: ============ * Cirque Buzz: News, Rumours & Sightings * CirqueTV: Cirque du Soleil On-Screen * Oyez, Oyez!: Cirque Online * Itinéraire: Tour/Show Information * Historie: This Month in Cirque History * Anniversarie: Birthday Wishes to Cirque Alumni * Le Spectacle: ZUMANITY UPDATE: "Cirque du T&A?" (By: Ricky Russo with Keith Johnson) * Cirque Musique: "Update on Fire Within Music" (By: Keith Johnson) * Beyond the Bigtop: "Houses of Cirque, Part 2: Les Théâtres II" (By: Ricky Russo) * Behind the Curtain: "The Techie Geek" (By: Jen Walman) * Parting Quote * Next Issue * Subscription Information * Copyright & Disclaimer ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ: NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Varekai Sneaked! ---------------- - and we didn't even see it coming! Bravo (Cirque's US TV affiliate) broadcast the new video of Varekai well ahead of its "official" US premiere date of June 14th. The "sneak preview" occurred on Wednesday night, May 28th, from Midnight to 2am Pacific and Eastern Time (11pm Central and 10pm Mountain Time). Bravo had "TBA" (To Be Announced) in the timeslot on their website, so it came as a complete surprise. Some Cirque fans caught it and were nice enough to give us the heads up. We called Bravo and yes, it was indeed Varekai, and no, they won't be sneaking it again until the official premiere! [Source: Steve Gordon, Robbie Fitzsimmons, Bravo Network; Keith Johnson] Save at La Nouba ---------------- It seems La Nouba is on sale more than it is not, but why complain? From June 3rd through September 30th, Cirque du Soleil La Nouba is discounted 25% off the regular price of Category 2 tickets for Walt Disney World passholders. This discount is excluded between July 13th and July 16th and September 7th through September 9th. Get your tickets 14-days in advance from the box office or by calling 407-939-7604. [Source: Walt Disney World; Ricky Russo] More on Cirque 2004 ------------------- Cirque du Soleil's casting website is a useful tool for artists wishing to become part of the troupe, but for fans it can also be a wonderful gold mine of information pertaining to Cirque's upcoming shows. Hence, we've learned a little bit more about Cirque 2004. The show is described as a "fantastic epic [that] will shatter space perception and defy the laws of gravity, with a story based on duality, personified by twins who will illustrate the battle that life forces us to wage against ourselves." This description of the show is nothing new however, and has been discussed in fandom before. Certain details regarding what we may see in the show have remained a mystery only to crop up on the casting site. Such tidbits include that the show will feature "acrobatic dance, martial arts, puppets, music, singing and Cirque du Soleil's acrobatic savoir-faire". Wait, puppets? Yes, Cirque du Soleil is placing its acrobatic "savoir-faire" (know-how) in the hands of Robert Lepage, who is directing the show, and Guy Caron (Dralion), the Director of Creation. What is interesting, however, is that information about some of the characters we'll see in the show has come to light -- the Evil Counsellor and the Blind Man: The Evil Counselor is the principal character in this new show. He's described as a "poisonous character and [a] power-hungry manipulator (like Shakespeare's Iago or Richard III)." The Blind Man is also a principal character, old, wise, and will personify an African wizard. Cirque 2004 is scheduled to debut at the MGM Grand Hotel sometime in June 2004 and I must say it's shaping up to be a most interesting show indeed! As always we will keep you updated. [Source: Cirque du Soleil; Ricky Russo] Cirque Lost Drama Desk ---------------------- Last issue we announced that Cirque du Soleil was nominated for four Drama Desk awards for the 2002-2003 season: three in individual categories and also in the category of "Unique Theatrical Experience." Unfortunately Cirque du Soleil did not win any of the awards it was nominated for. The categories Cirque was nominated for and the winners are: * Outstanding Set Design in a Musical - Stephane Roy Winner: Catherine Martin (La Boheme) * Outstanding Costume Design - Eiko Ishioka Winner: William Ivey Long (Hairspray) * Outstanding Sound Design - Francois Bergeron Winner: Acme Sound Partners (La Boheme) * Unique Theatrical Experience - Varekai Winner: The Exonerated [Source: Drama Desk Awards; Ricky Russo] Another way to order Cirque's "Re-Mastered" CD's ------------------------------------------------ You remember our discussion of those new Cirque soundtrack CD's that were remastered with extra tracks, don't you? And how, in Alegria's case, it was remastered with the channels reversed? Well, when our previous CD source for non-Canadians, HMV.com, was sold to Amazon, and the extra-track soundtracks were removed from their listings, we thought it might get tough for fans to get these newer versions. But we found a way around it, and the answer is - HMV! In addition to the recently-sold website, HMV also has a phone order service that's still in operation. For those wishing Cirque soundtracks, here's the process. If you're in the US or Canada call 1-800-567-8468. From anywhere else call 416-596- 0333. This will connect you with their HMV Superstore in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Ask to be connected to "Soundtracks" and tell the clerk you want to place a phone order and ask them to check stock on the new titles (either Saltimbanco, Alegria, or Quidam). If they're in stock, they will process your order and you're done. If not, they will place a special order for you and call you to let you know when they're in. Neat! The only hitch is the steep shipping charge: $5.50 CDN within Ontario, $7.50 CDN within Canada, $15.00 CDN to the US, and $25.00 CDN to the rest of the world. If we find another, cheaper source for acquiring these CD's, we'll pass it on. Cirque du Cowboy? ----------------- If the Las Vegas Sun will forgive me for using their title, I'd like to direct you to an interesting article Spencer Patterson (staff writer) wrote regarding Cirque du Soleil and Brooks & Dunn. It is an interesting paring and as he said, "Cirque du Soleil and country music [are] about as likey a pair as a ski jacket and a Southern Nevada summer." While Cirque du Soleil is not incorporating country music into their shows, Brooks and Dunn are integrating some segments of Cirque du Soleil into their performance. Read about this interesting pairing in the Las Vegas Sun, or by going directly to the article at the following address: < http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/ stories/text/2003/may/23/515121437.html >. ======================================================================= CIRQUE TV: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ON-SCREEN! ======================================================================= * CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FIRE WITHIN ----------------------------- Network: BRAVO Footprint: United States Website: http://www.bravotv.com/Cirque_du_Soleil:_Fire_Within/ Note: Times Eastern/Pacific * General Schedule: Monday: 8:00pm & 8:30pm Tuesday: 12:00am & 12:30am Wednesday: 7:00pm & 7:30pm Thursday: 1:00am & 1:30am Saturday: 12:00pm & 12:30pm * Marathon: - Saturday, June 14th -- 1:30pm to 8:00pm Network: Vitaya Footprint: Belgium (Europe) Website: http://www.vitaya.be/ Note: Every Thursday at 9:00pm Network: Odyssey Television Footprint: Australia Website: http://www.odysseytelevision.com/html/default.asp Note: Starting in July * RUN AWAY WITH CIRQUE WEEK ------------------------- Network: BRAVO Footprint: United States Website: www.bravotv.com Note: Times Eastern/Pacific * June 9th (Monday): 08:00pm -- Quidam 10:00pm -- Fire Within #6 10:30pm -- Fire Within #7 11:00pm -- Quidam * June 10th (Tuesday): 01:00am -- Fire Within #6 01:30am -- Fire Within #7 04:00pm -- Quidam 08:00pm -- Dralion 10:00pm -- Fire Within #8 10:30pm -- Fire Within #9 11:00pm -- Dralion * June 11th (Wednesday): 01:00am -- Fire Within #8 01:30am -- Fire Within #9 04:00pm -- Dralion 07:00pm -- Fire Within #10 07:30pm -- Fire Within #11 08:00pm -- Alegría 10:00pm -- Fire Within #10 10:30pm -- Fire within #11 11:00pm -- Alegría * June 12th (Thursday): 01:00am -- Fire Witihn #10 01:30am -- Fire Within #11 04:00pm -- Alegría 08:00pm -- Saltimbanco 09:00pm -- Nouvelle Expérience 10:00pm -- Fire Within #12 10:30pm -- Fire Within #13 11:00pm -- Saltimbanco * June 13th (Friday): 12:00am -- Nouvelle Expérience 01:00am -- Fire Within #12 01:30am -- Fire Within #13 04:00pm -- Saltimbanco 05:00pm -- Nouvelle Expérience * June 14th (Saturday): 01:30pm -- Fire Within Marathon Starts with #1 ..:..pm -- Fire Within Marathon continues.. 07:30pm -- Fire Within Marathon ends with #13 08:00pm -- Varekai 10:00pm -- Varekai * June 25th (Wednesday): 08:00pm -- Varekai 11:00pm -- Varekai * June 26th (Thursday): 04:00pm -- Varekai ======================================================================= OYEZ, OYEZ(*)!: CIRQUE ONLINE ======================================================================= This Month in Cirque Club (By: Keith Johnson) ------------------------- A duo of video clips popped up on CirqueClub and Zumanity.com this month. A Dralion press conference held in Columbus, OH (hometown of major sponsor American Electric Power) gets a highly produced video download from CirqueClub. The 2:43 clip mostly features images from the video/dvd of the show, with juggler Viktor Kee being the only performer presented live, and only for a short time. In other items, CirqueClub has an article on the raising of the Dralion big top in Montreal, written by a Dralion cast member (a nice touch). They also have a short history of clowning, as well as profiles of Quidam's Les Macloma clown duo, and a welcome profile of Gordon White who now plays Skywatcher in Varekai. The Press Releases section also has a general interest article on Zumanity and its dual- directorship. Over at Zumanity.com, there was a now-you-see-it-now-you-don't video on their "Voyeur" page. The 1:42 clip of the New York-New York Hotel/Casino press conference announcing the show, highly produced with many shots of cast and others, was only on the site for a short time. We've heard there are no plans for a re-appearance (too bad). In addition, a "Press Clipping" page has been added to the "Human Zoo" section, with articles about the upcoming show. Also on the site are three new entries in Madame's Diary. Mailing list members can view pictures and a video of the stage at < http://www.zumanity.com/ en/set/# >. Finally, we found a much better illustration of the seating arrangement then that found on Zumanity.com, showing both the main floor and the balcony. You can find it at: < http://www.nynyhotelcasino.com/ pages/ent_cirque.asp >. Zumanity show singer Kinnie Starr has been making waves of her own in the Canadian press. Since the articles aren't noted in the Press Release section of the Zumanity site, we thought we'd provide the citations here. Leaving For Las Vegas: < http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=fc9d6f05-1521-4af3-af2a- 0ad1f9f40f89 >. For the Record, Kinnie's Back: < http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=9951d408-e705-4a15-8a94- 2191bc2955d2 >. Funky, Soulful Starr Rises Over Vegas: < http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=66ac6d50-748e-4ef2-b51e- fb22329cda3d >. A True Native of the Showgirl World: < http://www.nationalpost.com/search/site/story.asp?id=DF06EC9A-63DC- 44C0-A0A6-A2425B097337 >. At the Boutique (By: Ricky Russo) ------------------------- This month Cirque du Soleil releases a slew of interesting items, but none perhaps more interesting than eight new masks! At prices ranging from $55.00 to $450.00, these masks are exquisite, and you can find them at the online Cirque Store: http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/ newreleases.html. The new Cirque related masks are: 1) Velvet Icarus Mask - $450.00 US This silk velvet mask is by Artisan Judith Rauchfess and was inspired by the Icarus character in Varekai. The mask features hand-dyed features and beaded details is completely handmade in the United States. The mask is lined in felt and is 14-inch by 14-inch by 16- inch. < http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/icvelmas.html > 2) Saltimbanco Cavalier Mask - $55.00 US This latex mask, inspired by the Cavalier de lumière (Knight of the lights), is handmade by Twins FX out of Montreal, Canada. It is water resistant and comes in a size of 11-inch by 6-inch by 5-inch. < http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/iscavmas.html > 3) "O" Gold Siren Mask - $55.00 US This 100% latex mask is handmade by Atelier Pirate, artisans from Montreal, Canada. It is water resistant and like the other Cirque du Soleil latex masks, can be cleaned with a soft damn cloth. It is 5- inch by 4-inch by 5 1/4-inch in size. < http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/ioisirenmask.html > 4) Alegría Musician Mask - $55.00 US This 100% latex mask is inspired by the make-up of Alegría's musicians. The mask was crafted by Twins F/X out of Montreal and is 6- inch by 6-inch by 5 1/2-inch in size. < http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/ialmusmas.html > 5) Dralion Silk Mask - $55.00 US This colorful and smush Dralion scarf is beautifully printed on pure silk Crêpe de chine. It is 100% silk and measures 36-inch by 36-inch. < http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/idsilscar.html > ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE: TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= [Touring Shows] Alegría: * Calgary, Alberta -- Currie Barracks on Parade Square Dates: June 4, 2003 to June 29, 2003 * Vancouver, BC -- Concord Pacific Place Dates: July 10, 2003 to Aug 10, 2003 **EXTENDED** * Seattle, Washington -- Renton Boeing Plant Dates: Aug 21, 2003 to Sep 14, 2003 * Portland, Oregon -- SW Moody Avenue Dates: Oct 2, 2003 to Oct 26, 2003 * San Francisco, California -- Pacific Bell Park Dates: Nov 6, 2003 to Dec 7, 2003 **UPDATED** * Miami, Florida -- Bicentennial Park (Downtown) Dates: Jan 9, 2004 to Jan 25, 2004 **NEW** * St. Petersburg, Florida -- Tropicana Field Dates: Feb 19, 2004 to Mar 7, 2004 **NEW** * Atlanta, Georgia -- TBD **NEW** * New York City, New York -- TBD **NEW** * Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- TBD **NEW** Dralion: * Montreal, Quebec -- Jacques-Cartier Pier Dates: May 15, 2003 to Jun 15, 2003 * Hartford, Connecticut -- Market Street (I-84 and I-91) Dates: Jun 22, 2003 to Jul 6, 2003 **UPDATED** * Columbus, Ohio -- Arena District Dates: Jul 24, 2003 to Aug 10, 2003 * St. Louis, Missouri -- Highlands at Forest Park Dates: Aug 23, 2003 to Sep 7, 2003 **UPDATED** * Mexico City, Mexico -- Fall 2003 * London, United Kingdom -- Royal Albert Hall Dates: Jan 9, 2004 to Feb 1, 2004 Quidam: * Nagoya, Japan Dates: May 21, 2003 to Jul 6, 2003 * Osaka, Japan Dates: Jul 9, 2003 to Sep 30, 2003 **EXTENDED** * Fukuoka, Japan Dates: Oct 22, 2003 to Dec 7, 2003 * Tokyo, Japan Dates: Dec 24, 2004 to Feb 8, 2004 **NEW** Saltimbanco: * Cologne, Germany -- Cologne-Deutz Dates: Jun 5, 2003 to Jul 5, 2003 **EXTENDED** * Oostenade, Belgium -- Media Center Dates: Jul 24, 2003 to Aug 17, 2003 * Zürich, Switzerland -- Glatt Shopping Center Dates: Sep 19, 2003 to Oct 19, 2003 * Valencia, Spain -- TBD Dates: Nov 28, 2003 to Dec 21, 2003 **NEW** Varekai: * New York, New York -- Randall's Island Park Dates: Apr 24, 2003 to Jul 6, 2003 **EXTENDED** * Chicago, Illinois -- The United Center Dates: Jul 17, 2003 to Aug 17, 2003 * Los Angeles, California -- Staples Center Dates: Sep 12, 2003 to Oct 5, 2003 * Pomona, California -- Fairplex Dates: Dec 4, 2003 to Dec 28, 2003 * Orange County, California -- Orange Co Fair Grounds Dates: Jan 16, 2004 to Feb 8, 2004 * San Diego, California -- TBD **NEW** * Phoenix, Arizona -- TBD **NEW** * Denver, Colorado -- TBD **NEW** * Boston, Massachusetts -- TBD **NEW** * Washington, DC -- TBD **NEW** * Dallas, Texas -- TBD **NEW** [Resident Shows] La Nouba: * Two shows Nightly - Tuesday through Saturday * Times: 6:00pm and 9:00pm * Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando * No performances Sunday and Monday * 2003 Dark Dates: - July 13th through 16th - September 7th through 9th - October 26th through 29th - December 7th through 15th Mystère: * Two shows Nightly - Wednesday through Sunday * Times: 7:30pm and 10:30pm * Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas * No performances on Monday or Tuesday * 2003 Dark Dates: - June 2nd through 12th **UPDATED** - August 5rd through 8th **UPDATED** - October 7th through 10th **UPDATED** - December 3rd through 18th **UPDATED** * NOTE: Effective June 18th, Mystère will perform two shows nightly Friday through Tuesday. There will be no performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays. "O": * Two shows Nightly - Friday through Tuesday * Times: 7:30pm and 10:30pm * Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas * No performances on Wednesday or Thursday * 2003 Dark Dates: - June 18th through 26th - August 10th through 13th - October 12th through 15th - December 1st through 16th * NOTE: Beginning June 30, 2003 - performances will be from Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm and 10:30pm. There will be no performances on Mondays and Tuesdays. Zumanity: * Two Shows Nightly - Tuesday through Saturday * Times: 7:30pm and 10:30pm * Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas * No performances on Sunday or Monday * 2003 Dark Dates: Not Available ======================================================================= HISTORIE: THIS MONTH IN CIRQUE HISTORY ======================================================================= * June 04, 2003 -- Alegría opened Calgary, Canada * June 05, 2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Cologne, Germany * June 06, 2000 -- Dralion opened Denver, Colorado * June 07, 1985 -- 1985 Tour opened in ShereBrooke [Plateau Parc] * June 07, 1992 -- Fascination opened Nagoya, Japan * June 09, 1994 -- Alegría opened Ste-Foy, Canada * June 12, 2002 -- Alegría opened Denver, Colorado * June 12, 2002 -- Dralion opened Portland, Oregon * June 13, 1992 -- Saltimbanco opened Ste-Foy, Canada * June 16, 1984 -- 1984 Tour opened Gaspé, Canada * June 16, 1995 -- Alegría opened Toronto, Canada * June 18, 1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Toronto, Canada * June 20, 1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened Ste-Foy, Canada * June 20, 2002 -- Quidam opened Detroit, Michigan * June 21, 1985 -- 1985 Tour opened in Ottawa [Plaines Le Breton] * June 21, 2001 -- Saltimbanco 2000 opened Osaka, Japan * June 22, 2001 -- Dralion opened Chicago, Illinois * June 22, 2003 -- Dralion opened Hartford, Connecticut * June 23, 1984 -- 1984 Tour opened Bai-Comeau, Canada * June 25, 1992 -- Fascination opened Hiroshima, Japan * June 27, 1989 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Ste-Foy, Canada * June 27, 2002 -- Varekai opened Quebec City, Canada * June 28, 1984 -- 1984 Tour opened Jonquière, Canada * June 29, 1999 -- La Nouba CD Released * June 29, 1999 -- Dralion opened in Toronto, Canada ======================================================================= ANNIVERSAIRE: BIRTHDAY WISHES TO CIRQUE ALUMNI! ======================================================================= * June 02, 1970 -- Elena Day (Bird/La Nouba) * June 05, 1977 -- Valentin Menjega (Russian Swings/Varekai) * June 06, 1964 -- O'Neil Langolis (Ex-Singer/La Nouba) * June 07, 1965 -- Badri Esatia (Georgian Dance/Varekai) * June 08, 1975 -- Andrew Atherton (Aerial Straps/Varekai) * June 08, 1975 -- Kevin Atherton (Aerial Straps/Varekai) * June 17, 1976 -- Isabelle Chassé (Tissu/Quidam) * June 18, 1974 -- Olga Sidorova (Solo Trapeze/Saltimbanco) * June 21, 1982 -- Time Sumeo (Fire-Knife/Alegría) * June 23, 1961 -- Leonid Leikine (Clown/"O") * June 29, 1965 -- Pawel Biegaj (Les Con/La Nouba) ======================================================================= LE SPECTACLE: "ZUMANITY UPDATE: 'Cirque du T&A?'" (By: Ricky Russo with Keith Johnson) ======================================================================= The fiery creative process we first saw documented in "Fire Within" seems to have taken hold of Zumanity. Earlier this month we reported that the "soft open" date of Zumanity had been pushed back two weeks from Thursday, July 31st to Thursday, August 14th to "address technical demands associated with the production of the new show." Now we have word that Varekai's Dominic Champagne has come in to co-direct with Rene Richard Cyr. What's going on -- a meltdown? Not exactly. Here's what we found out from our sources... The two-week delay, we understand, was caused by the contractor hired to construct the theater at the New York-New York Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. Apparently, the contractor thought he had more time to complete the project than he actually had, due to a misreading of the schedule. Suddenly he could not meet the deadline of completion for Cirque's needs, which delayed the installation of special equipment needed to run the show, which in turn pushed back the rehearsal schedule. The theater has now been completed but we've seen what this problem has caused - the first time Cirque has had to announce a delay in the opening of one of it's shows. But the second issue, well, that's a bit more touchy, and sketchy. Zumanity is now suggested as being a "two-headed cow", with Rene Richard Cyr and Dominic Champagne making up those heads. But this pairing leads to a question, why bring in Champagne at all? Was management not happy with Cyr's direction and staging of the show? It seems so. "Guy [Laliberte] said that he was confused after having seen what [Cyr] showed him," Andrew Watson, Director of Creation for Zumanity, admitted to Canadian newspaper La Presse. We've seen how Mr. Laliberte can make it clear if he doesn't like something (remember the apparatus from Varekai he got rid of?), but what does this mean for Zumanity? It seems that this "human zoo", a show that is set to debut in two months, is going back to the drawing board of a sorts. "This morning, we start at zero," said Director Cyr, indicating they plan to go back to the spark of the original idea and start again, albeit with the same performers, talents and performance space as before. This is a shocking revelation that could have major repercussions for those seeing Zumanity on its first few weeks. Thankfully the upheaval at Zumanity has spared, for the time being, composer Simon Carpenter, who was rumored to had been let go, a suggested cause of the delay in the first place. Either way, on May 22nd the general public will be allowed to buy tickets for performance from August 15th forward, up to 90 days in advance. The "official" star-studded Oscar presenter/nominee gala opening will still be Thursday, September 20th. Fans who purchased tickets for the two weeks of canceled shows will receive an immediate refund. You can also reschedule your viewing of Zumanity by logging on to: or by calling toll free on 1-866- 606-7111. ======================================================================= CIRQUE MUSIQUE: "Update on Fire Within Music" (By: Keith Johnson) ======================================================================= When we originally published our listing of the Fire Within music credits back in March, we couldn't properly research the titles since they came in so close to press time. We've finally had a chance to do a bit of research, and have updated the list of music in our files section at the Yahoo! Groups site < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ CirqueFascination >. We've added Episode titles and brief descriptions to the list, as well as the musical tracks source CD's where we could find them. As we mentioned previously, the song used over the opening credits is Alegría #9 "Icare" from Rene Dupere. The music from the closing credits is "Vova" written by Violaine Corradi and Helene Dorion. As with most of the other Corradi music, it comes from Varekai work music tapes, and not from the officially released "soundtrack" album. And Episode 5 includes the song "Isabelle," which looks to be an unavailable-on-CD Benoit Jutras song from Quidam. Four composers have provided brand new compositions to the series, as we mentioned before. This is in addition to "Composer" Anthony Rozankovic, who is listed in the credits for the series but surprisingly isn't mentioned in the music listings. We also found that two of them had more direct ties to the show - Jason Breckenridge (who provided 4 tunes) is the shows Assistant Director, while Daniel Toussaint (who supplied 5) did multiple duty, being the shows Co-Sound Designer, Music Editor, and provider of Additional Music and FX! Sorry, we still don't know which songs go with which scenes! EPISODES: #1 - "New Arrivals" - Introductions of cast members. #2 - "Behind Closed Studio Doors" - More cast introductions. #3 - "The Rise and Fall of the Trapeze" - Guy Laliberte reviews the acts. #4 - "Shooting Stars" - The shows name is chosen, performers contracts are signed. #5 - "Christmas" - Holidays in Montreal and elsewhere. #6 - "New Blood" - Adrian Berinde, Olga Pikhienko, and the Rampin Brothers arrive. #7 - "Pushing Acrobatics" - Rehearsals continue and the graphic look begins to take shape. #8 - "Moving On" - The Triple Trapeze act is finalized, as is the poster design. #9 - "The Grand Chapiteau" - Artists move into the Big Top, and perform for the press. #10 - "The Lion's Den" - The Cast performs to a critical Guy Laliberte. #11 - "Countdown to Premiere" - Rehearsals continue, with a flaw- filled dress rehearsal. #12 - "Opening Night" - The show finally opens in Montreal. #13 - "The Aftermath and Departure" - The show packs up in Montreal and heads out on its tour. Cirque du Soleil Musique ------------------------ Violaine Corradi (Créations Méandres Inc. Cirque du Soleil Musique) * "Abduction" (w/Hélène Dorion) - Episode 12 * "Amours 1" (w/Hélène Dorion) - Episodes 7, 10 * "Avancée ouverture" - Episodes 1, 8, 9, 12 * "Bamboo" - Episodes 4, 5 (Dralion #5) * "Célébration 1" - Episodes 6, 7, 12 * "Contrebasse" - Episode 12 * "Duduk" - Episodes 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 * "Fall and Wings" - Episodes 2, 10, 11, 12 * "Filet" - Episodes 10, 11 * "Georgians" - Episodes 8, 9, 10, 12 * "Gitans" - Episode 10 * "Icarians" - Episodes 8, 9, 10, 12 * "Octavio Jug" - Episode 10 * "Olga" - Episodes 11, 12 * "Music Box" (w/Hélène Dorion) - Episode 12 * "Parade des Musicos" - Episodes 9, 10, 12, 13 * "Patzivota" - Episode 13 * "Rain One" (w/Tina Grace) - Episode 13 * "Slippery" - Episode 1 * "Stella Errans" - Episodes 4, 13 (Dralion #1) * "Straps" - Episode 12 * "Swing to Swing" - Episodes 12, 13 * "Triple Trapeze" - Episodes 12, 13 * "Vova" (w/Hélène Dorion) - Episodes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 (Closing credits theme) Benoit Jutras (Créations Méandres Inc., Cirque du Soleil Musique) * "Hervé" - Episode 7 (Alegria Le Film #7) * "Isabelle" - Episode 5 (unreleased Quidam track) * "Jeux d'Eau" - Episodes 5, 8, 10, 13 (O #1) * "Marelle" - Episode 10 (Quidam #3) * "Rivage" - Episode 10 (Quidam #4) * "Simcha" - Episode 5 (O #8) * "Steel Dream" - Episodes 10, 11 (Quidam #8) * "Terre Aride" - Episodes 4, 8 (O #12) René Dupéré (Créations Méandres Inc., Cirque du Soleil Musique) * "Boléro" - Episode 6 (Nouvelle Experience #3) * "Icare" - Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (Alegria #9 - Opening Credits Theme) * "Ibis" - Episodes 7, 8 (Alegria #10) * "Il sogno di volare" (w/Franco Dragone) - Episode 5 (Saltimbanco #9) * "Méandres" - Episodes 6, 7 (Nouvelle Experience #2) * "Pokinoï" - Episode 6 (Saltimbanco #7) * "Rideau" - Episodes 5, 8, 9, 13 (Saltimbanco #11) * "Taruka" - Episode 7 (Alegria #6) * "Valsapena" (w/Manuel Tadros) - Episodes 6, 7 (Alegria #11) Créations Méandres Inc., Cirque du Soleil Musique * "Africa" - Traditional - Episode 12 (O #4) * "Alegria Remix" - Written by Claude Amesse / Franco Dragone / Manuel Tadros / René Dupéré - Episode 7 (Original version Alegria #1) Featured Artists ---------------- Written/Performed by Jason Breckenridge/Tiago Conceição/Alexandre Desilets (Jason is Assistant Director) * "11.11" - Episodes 9, 10, 11 * "Desert" - Episode 9 * "Happy Dog" - Episodes 4, 13 * "Livin' Flow" - Episodes 1, 3 * "On veut ton corps" - Episode 1 Written/Performed by Daniel Toussaint (Co-Sound Designer, Music Editor, and Additional Music and FX) * "Damn Bouka" - Episodes 8, 10, 13 * "Fire Music" - Episode 4 * "Love Theme" - Episode 5 * "Set Dance" - Episode 5 * "Osmose" - Episodes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 * "Stella's Dance" - Episode 4 Written by Jesse Dorsey (JWD Publishing) (Also see Walken) * "Artus" - Episodes 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 * "Marcus" - Episodes 1, 8 * "Long Way" - Episode 2 * "Wrong Way" - Episode 2 * "Summer Assault" - Episodes 9, 10, 13 Written by Stephan Durand and Ariel Engle, Performed by Moufette * "Chew Your Heart" - Episode 6 * "Face the Sun" - Episode 9 * "Little Forest" - Episode 7 * "When Will it Be" - Episodes 7, 9 * "Bullfrog Theme (Re-Recording)" - Written and performed by Bullfrog - Bullfrog Productions - Ropeadope Records - Episode 11 (From Bullfrog CD #6) (Also see "Hello" & "Reverse Psychology") * "Ghost" - Written/Performed by Jorane Avalance - Sound Publishing - Tacca Musique/DKD - Episodes 2, 3, 8 * "Hello" - Written and performed by Bullfrog - Bullfrog Productions - Ropeadope Records - Episode 3 (From Bullfrog CD #1) (Also see "Bullfrog Theme" & "Reverse Psychology") * "Immemory" - Written by Robin Rimbaud - Performed by Scanner - Published by Big Life Music - Sulphur Records UK - Episodes 4, 11 (From Lauwarm Instrumentals CD #1) (Also see "Music from Nemesis" & "Sonnenlicht") * "Installation" - Written by Akufen - Force Inc. - Episode 9 (From My Way CD #2) * "Love Rack" - Written and performed by Tony Babinski - The Foxglove Concern - Episodes 3, 4 (From Music From The Mtl/Art Project CD) * "Love Shack" - Written by Pierson/Schneider/Strickland/Wilson - EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC. (BMI) - Episode 2 * "Mire Jaka / Borki" - Written by Erasmo Treglia - Performed by Acquaragia Drom - Finisterre - Episode 2 (From Zingari CD #4) (Also see "Ussa Sa") * "Multipass" - Written by Steve Beaupré - Force Inc. - Episode 9 * Music from "Nemesis" - Written and Performed by Scanner - Episode 13 (Also see "Immemory" & "Sonnenlicht") * "Pineapple" - Written by M. Graca and S. Tremblay - Performed by Miguel Graca - Beyond Music - Bombay Records - Episode 4 (From Shining Stars CD #4) * "Plug in Time (Post War Mix)" - Written/Performed by Walken - JWD Publishing -Episodes 1, 3, 4, 8 ,9, 10, 11 (Also see Jesse Dorsey) * "Quand les hommes vivront d'amour" - Écrite par Raymond Lévesque - Gracieuseté de Patricia, Semi Société - Episode 5 * "Reverse Psychology" - Written by James Sobers - Performed by Bullfrog - Bullfrog Productions - Ropeadope Records - Episode 4 (From Bullfrog CD #4) (Also see "Bullfrog Theme" & "Hello") * "Sonnenlicht" - Written by Robin Rimbaud - Performed by Scanner - Published by Big Life Music - Sulphur Records UK - Episodes 2, 11 (From Lauwarm Instrumentals CD #3) (Also see "Immemory" & "Music from Nemesis") * "Târgul de Oameni" and "Cazuta de Mâine" - Written and performed by Adrian Berinde - Episode 5 * "Think" Written by Theodore White and Aretha Franklin - Fourteenth Hour Music Inc. - Episode 1 * "Ussa Sa" - Performed by Acquaragia Drom - Finisterre - Episodes 4, 5 (From Zingari CD #1) (Also see "Mire Jaka/Borki") * "Who Needs It?" - Written/performed by Bernie Berns - Episode 1 ======================================================================= BEYOND THE BIGTOP: "Houses of Cirque, Part 2: Les Théâtres II" (By: Ricky Russo) ======================================================================= One of the most important aspects of Cirque du Soleil's performances has always been the venue. Without a proper venue the show cannot go on. Cirque du Soleil has performed in a variety of mobile big tops, but perhaps their most ambitious projects have been those housed in theaters. Here we continue our exploration of the Houses of Cirque by finishing up our glance into Cirque's theaters, examining the Bellagio ("O"), Walt Disney World ("La Nouba") and Beau Rivage ("Alegría") theaters. The Bellagio Theater -------------------- "O", a phonetic play on the French word for water - "eau", is a baroque world filled with disturbing images, impressive acrobatics and amazing technical design. The theater built for the show, Cirque's first aquatic show, is also a revolutionary conceptual space. Taking approximately two years to build (February 1996 to January 1998) and reportedly costing $42 million US (70 million CAD approx), it sports an innovative theatrical design making the 1800-seat space the first of its kind. What makes the theater so special? At the heart of the 155,300 square-feet show space is a 1.5 million gallon (6-million liter) pool used for its stage. And that is pretty innovative, if you ask me! You'll find the Bellagio theater "tucked away in a seemingly normal looking hallway on the casino floor," but nothing can prepare you for what you'll see inside - a marvel of innovation masked by exquisite beauty and detail. Take for example the Cupola, or rounded ceiling vault. At some point your eyes will dart skyward and you'll find a breathtaking ceiling washed in turquoise, indigo and blue. But take another glance... underneath that beauty lies an innovate framework of galvanized metal mesh with a trellis (or frame of latticework) that allows for an infinite array of lighting effects to be used. Cirque uses this space to place scores of different colored lights to not only light the theater but also the stage below. The Cupola also comes with a space used for overhead performances, which is utilized during the beginning of the show. A winch by Fisher Technical makes the performance possible. While the ceiling itself is a wonder to behold, how many of you have sat with mouths agape as the curtain is drawn back into the depths of the theater for the show's explosive beginning? If so, you're not alone. The curtain impresses many who have seen the show. So, how does it work? That amazing feat is done by another winch by Fisher, a 20- horsepower F200 model that draws back at a speed of 14-feet per second! At that velocity one would imagine the curtain would flutter noticeably. But believe it or not, Cirque keeps the curtain from fluttering with a series of weights that hold it in place timed to release with the curtain's upward motion. This keeps the curtain taught throughout the entire drawback sequence. It moves away to reveal another innovation of the theater, the pool itself. The stage consists of a 150-foot by 100-foot pool reaching a depth of 25 feet. While the pool itself is an interesting marvel, haven't you ever wondered how the pool becomes a stage? Below that liquid surface lies a series of hydraulic lifts built specifically by Handling Specialty of Grimsby, Ontario. There are four of these lifts, each with a 1-million pound capacity. What's in them? Vegetable Oil! The lifts can quietly rise, thanks to temposonic probes, and lower the pieces of the stage in mere seconds (5 to 25-feet per second). Those pieces are made out of a resilient rubber-like material in a series of 4-foot by 8-foot panels. Each panel contains 5,000 plus holes to allow water to pass as the stage is raised or lowered. But the speed of their disappearance and sudden reappearance can fool you into thinking that the lifts and the stage are quite light. In fact, the combined weight of the system is a hefty 460,000 pounds! But the lifts are only part of the innovation. Many of the problems with the show's development came because of the water itself. Ask yourself a couple of questions: How would the noise of the splashes be contained? How could the temperatures between the water and the air be comfortable for both the performers and the patrons? How could the smell of chorine be contained? Important questions to solve, because even with all the technology surrounding the theater and the pool, the answers would determine if the two could be fused together. The solutions are novel in their own right. First, the noise of the water is absorbed by a series of rocks scattered around the ring of the pool. The rocks, used in conjunction with special matting from 3M called Nomad, help absorb the sound of the water as it splashes about. Second, the 87-degree Fahrenheit water is counter-balanced with a special HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning) system design that pumps 55-degree Fahrenheit air directly under each seat. This mixture of air keeps the humidity down while resulting in a comfortable 72-degree temperature. Thirdly, using Bromide in the water averts the chlorine smell. There are many other technical advances of Cirque du Soleil's theater at the Bellagio that remain secret behind Cirque's closed doors. And perhaps that's the way it should be. Giving away too much takes away from the marvel of the show, does it not? The Bellagio opened on October 15, 1998 to much fanfare and press, opening the theater of "O" for the very first time. The spectators were taken to it, awarding Cirque du Soleil and Scéno Plus for their ingenuity. For their collaboration on the Bellagio theater, the pair has been awarded: New York's prestigious Eddy Entertainment Design Award in 1998, the Canadian Institute for Technology's Award of Technical Merit in 1999, and the Las Vegas Best Theater of the Year Award. La Nouba -------- The La Nouba performance space is a collaboration of four entities: Cirque du Soleil, Scéno Plus, Walt Disney Imagineering and the Rockwell Group. All four worked together to design and construct what would be Cirque du Soleil's first (and currently only) freestanding theater built exclusively for their needs. Armed with a budget of $20 Million (USD), Scéno Plus designed the approx. 75,000 square-foot (7,000 square-meter) theater that is a wonderful testament to both structure and beauty. On the outside the Cirque Theater is like a "castle" standing prominently on the shores of its kingdom, in this case on the shores of Village Lake in Downtown Disney's West Side. The structure, accented in white canvas fabric, stands approximately 160 feet tall from the concrete sidewalk to the tops of its spires. Atop the theater rests the namesake of the company in big blue lettering and even higher still, the castle is topped with four fluttering flags featuring the famous sun logo of Cirque du Soleil. This theater complex, rumored to have cost between $25 and $30 Million dollars, is a shining example of ingenuity and design. And while the outside is something to marvel, the interior is no less so. On the inside of this concrete-canvas behemoth, on its' second floor, rests a space that was conceived at 70,000 square feet - the Theater. There are many technological achievements here as well. Take the trampoline for instance. The retractable Power Track, as it is called, is 60 feet in length and fully automated, which means computers control the retraction of this enormously powerful trampoline. The Power Track was specially designed by Cirque du Soleil (and Paco Corp.) to allow the performers to jump higher and faster than ever. The PowerTrack is the next evolution of the FastTrack as seen in Alegría. The stage comes alive during the performance by a set of elevators commonly referred to as lifts. There are five in all, resting just below the stage surface. The ascent and descent of these lifts are controlled by numerous motors (45 in all!) that must be in complete working order for the lifts to even function. The five lifts themselves rise to a maximum height of 16-feet; the center stage lift is capable of also descending 16-feet below the stage for a 32-feet range of motion! Like many of Cirque's spaces, the first thing you'll notice upon entering the theater is the set and out-in-the-round stage. The set, which has been referred to as an "Elizabethan-style" stage, is said to be reminiscent of a well-traveled path or trail. While that may be true, many see the insane nature of an asylum, and certainly that too is true. Look up from your red-colored seats and see the seven cloud- like "Fabulous Figures" that decorate the ceiling of the showroom; their whimsical dance about the tops of the theater forever captured. You may spot the musicians next, resting upon two platforms housed in the 75-foot towers rising on either side of the stage. Separated but not disconnected from the performance, these musicians play the various notes of La Nouba's live music. They do so by staying connected via a complex audio system that allows each musician to speak with the bandleader, their other band mates and take direction if something were to happen. Usually the tick of a metronome is heard throughout their setup to keep everyone on the same beat and time. Two telepheriques (or tracks) installed along the back wall of the stage are 78-feet (24-meters) above the ground and are capable of moving props, scenery and acrobatic equipment during the show. These tracks provide an easy system for moving objects in and out of view of the spectators. You'll find various strange props, lights and seats gliding by throughout the various acts. With fixed tiered seating in a 180-degree semicircle around the stage, the auditorium has neither a proscenium arch nor an architectural ceiling, which makes it similar to many of Cirque's other theatrical ventures (Mystère and Alegría in Biloxi). To some, the first glimpse provides the image of a traditional big top; to others, it is Cirque du Soleil's greatest achievement. Regardless of how you see it, it is a one-of-a-kind structure for Cirque du Soleil in that it's Cirque's first stand-alone theater complex, but also a self-contained Cirque world. What do I mean? For the first time, a show space, ticket booths and Boutique (which Scéno Plus also designed) are housed directly in the same complex. Not bad for a creative company, no? Beau Rivage ----------- Cirque du Soleil would leave the trappings and lights of Las Vegas behind in The Beau Rivage Theater. From May 20, 1999 until October 2, 2000 Cirque du Soleil found a home at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, "a place where genuine Southern hospitality and charm go hand in hand with meticulous service." The Beau Rivage was Steve Wynn's then-newest resort (now held by MGM Mirage) and with its opening on March 16, 1999 came another collaborative effort between Wynn and Cirque du Soleil. Within this $685 Million (USD) resort was a 1,552 seat theater reflecting the "warm welcome inspired by the climate of southern France." For those who bore its splendor, the design of the venue was simple and elegant, featuring a wonderful splash of color. And, unlike the "O" theater the Alegría Theater was ornamented with an elegant display of the show's name - right above the door. Inside, the ceiling was a vibrant shade of blue, representing the skies of the village Alegría played upon. Here, Sky Art also provided designs for a 15,000 square- foot mural "reminiscent of Claude Montet's water paintings." Below the skies were the theater seats, bright yellow, creating an allegory of the beaches where the Beau Rivage was founded. And then there were the walls, adorned in oranges and reds, bringing meaning to the rising and setting sun. Besides the wonderfully adorned space, the Beau Rivage Theater incorporated a no-proscenium arch design quite similar to its Mystère counterpart. Like the Treasure Island Theater, the Beau Rivage Theater also had no obstructive poles, providing a limitless viewpoint to all spectators. The set and stage retained its familiar squarish form, complete with the Fast Track built into the floor. Overhead an enormous dome that for designer Michel Crête signifies "a sign of imposing power," which reflects the theme of the show - an allegory about power; who has it and who does not. On October 2, 2000, Alegría packed up its troubles and prepared for a journey to a continent it had never before played - Australia. Today, the "Beau Rivage Theater" has been completely renovated for more standard fare - such as Lord of the Dance and STOMP. Since it left many of its secrets went with it, which is unfortunate because the theater and its space were very beautiful. While Cirque du Soleil and Scéno Plus continued to have a working relationship on their permanent venues and other upcoming works in progress, in January 2002, Cirque withdrew from Scéno Plus to make way for a new company - Capital Communications - which is an affiliate of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. [To Be Continued...] We'll conclude our peek into the "Houses of Cirque" in the near future with the various signature big tops Cirque du Soleil has used through the years. Sources: *) Rockwell Group - http://www.rockwellgroup.com/ *) Sceno Plus - http://www.sceno-plus.com/index.html *) Handling Specialty - http://www.handling.com/ *) Fisher Technical - http://www.fishertechnical.com/ *) Paco Corp - http://www.pacocorp.com/ *) Entertainment Design ======================================================================= BEHIND THE CURTAIN: "The Techie Geek" (By: Jen Waldman) ======================================================================= Hi. Techie Geek here, with a need to be Very Serious for a moment. S., Joe, and Name-Withheld-by-Request all asked if I could talk about the projection effects in "Varekai." I spent two months looking for information in design and technical theatre publications, emailed a lot of techie people, recruited my Techie Geek Posse for help, and found...nada. So last night, barely one day before deadline, and after complaining to Ricky for an hour, I told S., "Why don't you try asking Cirque, yourself, and maybe I can talk about the answer they give you." (I told S. to do it because we work together sometimes. I knew I'd get the answer quickly.) S. just informed me that Cirque told him it was confidential, and wasn't that unfair? No. It isn't unfair. When Cirque du Soleil, or any theatre or entertainment group, comes up with a new special effect, they have a right to decide whether or not they want to explain how it was done, or just let it seem magical. This is why the movie "Forrest Gump" had a big television special explaining special effects done for the film, but the "Harry Potter" cast and crew have withheld information about certain special effects. Sometimes the creative team behind a show would rather build a sense of wonder in the audience rather than have even one person smirking, "I know how they did that." I understand the confidentiality wishes of the Varekai team. I approve of them! The hardest thing about writing this column is that sometimes I don't want to know the answer myself (hence I occasionally turn it over to a member of my Techie Geek Posse and just send the answer to "Fascination!," all the while desperately trying not to read it until I see the show), because it does take a bit of the magic out of it. As Jen, I just don't want to know yet. But as your loyal Techie Geek, I do apologize for not having the answer that you wanted. However-- Even if I did know how those projections work, I would not publish the answer since I know Cirque wishes that it be kept confidential. If you readers ever have a question, though, do send it in to me. I will do my best to answer them as well as I can. I am working on a really neat article for next month, as I received a really great question from someone who must remain anonymous. What is it? Well, in keeping with the theme today, I'm going to say that right now - it's confidential! Keep those questions coming! techie_geek@anonymous.to ======================================================================= PARTING QUOTE ======================================================================= "Creativity is a volitile process" - Lorraine Turpin (Pre-Production Director - Nouvelle Experience 1991) ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly newsletter, available only through sub- scription. To subscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination- subscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To unsubscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To view back issues, please visit our Yahoo! Group address at: < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CirqueFascination/ >, login using your Yahoo! ID (required) and select the Files menu option. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at: < CirqueFascination- owner@yahoogroups.com >. Have a comment, question or concern? Email the Fascination! Newsletter staff at: < CirqueFasincation-owner@yahoogroups.com >. We are anxious to hear any and all comments! ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= "Fascination!" is Ricky Russo, Keith Johnson, Paul Roberts, Jen Waldman and Wayne Leung. "Fascination! Newsletter" Copyright (c) 2003 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.