======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 11, NUMBER 9 September 2011 ISSUE #92 ======================================================================= Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. There's plenty to share with you this month so rather than go on and on about what's inside the issue, I'm just going to be quiet and let you get to it. As always we've got the latest news items posted to Fascination! Web, updates to Cirque's tour schedule, a number of posts from CirqueClub and the various Facebook pages within, as well as a CirqueCon 2011 Update, musings about ZED and a review of the new KA app for Android devices! So, let's get started! Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > - Ricky "Richasi" Russo =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues * BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau * Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre * Venue Shows -- Venue & Seasonal Productions o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets * Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub * Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Flickr o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Historia -- Cirque du Soleil's History o) Fascination! Features * "The KÀ App for Android - a Quick Review" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) * "CirqueCon Update #6 - We Have a Group Meal!" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) * "Remembering ZED: A Timeless Evocation" Part 1 of 4 - "The Meeting of Two Worlds" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Guy Laliberte's "Gaia" - Most Expenisve Book? {Aug.03.2011} ------------------------------------------------- From Publisher's Weekly: # # # While e-book prices may seem on course for a race to the bottom, some publishers are counting on customers' deep pockets, especially for high-end art books that support a worthy cause, to maintain price points. Assouline just released a dual French- and English-language collection of photographs of the earth, Gaia, "curated" by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté, to raise money for the clean water charity he founded, One Drop. The book is available at three price points, including one that is likely to be the highest of 2011. Still at $7,000 it's less than half the price of several Taschen limited editions from pre-recession days, Sumo and Goat, which retail for $15,000. Gaia, however, could have the distinction of being the most expensive book ever to be produced, if the $35 million price tag for Laliberté's training to go into outer space and the 11 days he spent there are taken into account. The billionaire was the first private space explorer from Canada. The book, which contains photographs he took from 220 miles away at the International Space Station, includes his Preface as well as literary comments about earth by writers ranging from Galileo to Carl Sagan and John Keats. In addition to the $7,000, 178-page hardcover with foil accents, size 17 X 24," for which purchasers earn a $4,500 tax deduction, Assouline is offering two other bilingual editions: a 144-page hardcover in a clamshell box, which retails for $875, and a $65 trade edition. The pre-launch tour was pegged to the cover- price, starting with Laliberté's initial event at the Grand Prix in Monaco at the end of May with Prince Albert. Other stops included Paris, London, and Los Angeles, where Assouline has boutiques, as well as Laliberté's home in Montreal. According to Mimi Crume Sterling, v-p of global communications for Assouline, the press is planning a rolling launch to promote the finished book with an event in Las Vegas in November to celebrate the second anniversary of Laliberté's trip. # # # Read the original article here: < http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry- news/publisher-news/article/48203-cirque-founder-juggles-3- editions-of-first-book.html > {SOURCE: Publisher's Weekly} $50 Tickets to La Nouba for FL Residents {Aug.03.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Treat yourself to an evening like no other with $50 seats to La Nouba this fall. Mesmerizing performances, breathtaking acrobatics, moving live music and extraordinary imagination dare to make the impossible, possible!* * Ticket price excludes tax. Offer valid for Tuesday-Saturday performances 8/2/11-9/17/11 and 9/27/11-10/29/11. Seating subject to availability. Offer is not valid for previously purchased tickets, gift certificates or with any other discounts. Offer is valid on category 2 seats only. Offer ends on October 29, 2011. Gaia, a Book by Guy Laliberté {Aug.04.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Interested in Guy Laliberte's book - GAIA? Gaia is the tour de force of Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté. Here Laliberté presents stunning photographs of the Earth taken from 220 miles away during his eleven-day trip orbiting the earth as a private space explorer, with unique views of nearly forty countries. A documentation both rare and captivating, his images are natural works of art, rich in color and texture. Here's some details: Guy Laliberté documentation of his experience in space featuring his photographs of Earth as seen from the International Space Station. Captivated by the beauty of the surface of the Earth, Laliberté's evocative photos show the colors and textures visible only 220 miles away. A stable subject and a moving photographer - the ISS is moving at 17,500 miles per hour (about 5 miles per second), doing 6 tours of the earth every 24 hours - made for truly original conditions. Using the Nikon D3S and Nikon D3X digital-SLR cameras, deserts resemble contemporary abstract paintings, cities rise up like mini-mountain ranges, and faces and figures are revealed in nature. Laliberté dedicated his personal spaceflight to raising awareness about water issues facing humankind, making his the first, in his own words, "poetic social mission" in space. Proceeds from book sales will go to Laliberté's One Drop Foundation, a non-profit organization created to fight poverty worldwide by ensuring that everyone across the planet has access to water, now and in the future. Available September. In addition to the standard Hardcover edition, a hand-bound limited edition with color plates presented in a linen clamshell box (shipping with a complimentary Assouline canvas tote bag) is also available. Pre-order today! Standard Edition - $65.00 Hardcover / 9.5 x 12.75? 304 Pages, 149 Images < http://www.assouline.com/9782759405343.html > Special Edition - $875.00 Linen presentation box / 13.97 X 13.04? 168 Pages, 101 Images, 12 Gatefolds < http://www.assouline.com/9782759405336.html > New KÀ iPad App! {Aug.05.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Have one of Apple's iPads and are also a fan of Cirque du Soleil? Then check out this latest free app offering from CirqueClub! Cirque du Soleil has partnered with Mobile Roadie, a leading global app platform, to power their newest application on Apple's iPad tablet that features exclusive content from KÀ at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Experience KÀ on your iPhone and iPad! Download the free KÀ iPhone and iPad app and immerse yourself in this unprecedented, gravity-defying production by Cirque du Soleil that takes adventure to an all new level. Discover the heroic journey of love and conflict, learn more about the scenic elements and costumes as well as the colossal stage Where KÀ performs at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The KÀ iPad app includes photos of your favorite KÀ characters, exclusive behind-the-scenes images and creative sketches of the show, videos that feature a make-up application with KÀ artists, clips from G4 TV, KÀ's performance at Comic-Con and more. Check out the app on the web at: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/kaipad > OR, view it in iTunes here: < http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id449353317?mt=8# > Bhavsar Blogs in International Gymnast Magazine {Aug.06.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Set to star in Cirque du Soleil's new Hollywood-themed show, world and Olympic medalist Raj Bhavsar writes an exclusive blog for IG Online with periodic behind-the-scenes updates. "IRIS: A Journey Through the World of Cinema" begins July 21 with preview performances at the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles. Read Part 1: < http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=2611:bhavsar-blogs-on-new- life-in-cirque-du-soleil&catid=9:guest-opinion&Itemid=132 > Read Part 2: < http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=2689:bhavsar-blogs-on-new- life-in-cirque-part-2&catid=9:guest-opinion&Itemid=132 > {SOURCE: International Gymnast Magazine} IRIS: Sensational. Stunning. Stupendous. {Aug.07.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Michael Figueiredo of the LA City Guide Examiner spent an evening at a preview performance of Cirque du Soleil's IRIS - here's what he had to say about the show! Sensational. Stunning. Stupendous. Just about any superlative would be fitting for IRIS: A Journey Through the World of Cinema, the newest masterpiece from world-famous Cirque du Soleil. It premiered only two weeks ago and yesterday I had the chance to experience it with my entire family. Held at its permanent home, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, the production takes spectators on "a voyage through the history of cinema and its genres." From silent films to talkies, black & white to color and animation to the current 3D craze, this new show definitely will appeal to audiences of all ages. IRIS blends reality with film clips, live video, light and shadows, creating a dream world like you've never imagined. Read more of his review here: < http://www.examiner.com/city-guide-in-los-angeles/iris-a- spectacular-new-show-from-cirque-du-soleil-review > {SOURCE: The LA City Guide Examiner} Changes Coming to Viva Elvis? {Aug.08.2011} ------------------------------------------------- It's only a sentence in a statement on MGM Mirage's quarterly earnings, but according to the Las Vegas Sun, changes are coming soon to Cirque du Soleil's VIVA ELVIS production at Aria, MGM City-Center: # # # The company's CityCenter resort complex also showed improvement in the second quarter. CityCenter's operating loss narrowed to $89.8 million from $128 million a year ago. Revenue from resort operations rose 50 percent to $274.9 million and revenue at Aria increased 48 percent to $233 million. Since its December 2009 opening, the $8.5 billion complex has been plagued with problems ranging from sluggish condo sales and retail activity to the empty, construction-flawed Harmon hotel. Some customers also reported initial problems with CityCenter's in-room hotel technology and did not take to its modern design. "I think people still want to know where Aria and CityCenter fit into the Las Vegas landscape and will it justify its investment over time," Murren said. "From our perspective, it's clearly on that path. Brand awareness is improving and our (customer service) scores have gotten much better." # # # MGM is working with Cirque du Soleil to modify Aria's money- losing "Viva Elvis" show, which has drawn sparse crowds, executives said. Read the entire earnings article here: < http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/aug/08/las-vegas- tourists-spending-more-boosting-mgm-reso/ > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun} DidYaKnow? - ZED Documentary Animation {Aug.09.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Have you seen the ZED DVD documentary? Enjoyed the cool anime- style intro animation that went with it? Yeah, us too... Check out the following for a glimpse of the animation from those who created it! < http://www.behance.net/gallery/Zed-Cirque-du-Soleil/237273 > On Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM {Aug.10.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Canada's National Post offered up a fantastic insight into the creative process of Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM, now performing in Toronto: # # # It was early October 2009 and acclaimed Quebec director Robert Lepage was preparing to present his vision for the latest Cirque du Soleil show to CEO Guy Laliberté. "When are we showing this to Guy?" He asked his team. They opened their schedules. Laliberté was not on the planet. So, Lepage replied, "When is he back from space?" The director, 53, laughs remembering this. "I actually heard myself say that." Laliberté had travelled to the International Space Station as a tourist aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket on Sept. 30, 2009. How do you impress a man who's seen the entire planet in a single look? "His barometer is the hair on his skin," Lepage says of Laliberté. "If the hair is up, it means it's good. If not, well, then it's not going to work and it's out." Laliberté's instincts have managed to keep audiences rapt for decades with Cirque du Soleil's body-bending, high-flying formula. The show Lepage was presenting to Laliberté became Totem, which celebrates humanity's evolution from creature to cosmonaut. The Quebec circus company's 27th show in 27 years since its inception, Totem debuted in Montreal last year and opens in Toronto on Aug. 10, its eighth city. # # # Read the original article here: < http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/08/10/cirque-du-soleils- totem-the-origin-of-trapeze/ > {SOURCE: The National Post} Changes ARE Coming to VIVA ELVIS - SOON! {Aug.10.2011} ------------------------------------------------- It's official: changes are coming to VIVA ElVIS starting January 2012. More interestingly, it seems quite a few acrobatic numbers from ZED may find their way into the show. See the following statement from Renee-Claude Menard, senior director of public relations (as published by Norm, from the Las Vegas Review- Journal): # # # "Cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts International have always had an active and open relationship about their projects. As for all Cirque du Soleil productions, we constantly review all aspects of our shows including the creative positioning and the business results. These discussions have been on-going for Viva Elvis and we have decided to modify the show to make it less of a biographical representation of Elvis and more of an acrobatic Cirque du Soleil spectacular production. As a result of the recent tragedies in Japan, Cirque du Soleil has had to make a difficult decision to close its permanent show ZED by the end of this year. But in making that difficult decision an opportunity presented itself to enhance Viva Elvis. ZED features some of the most impressive acrobatic acts ever presented on stage and we truly wish to continue bringing these performances to our audience. In the last weeks, we have reviewed the possibilities and have decided to fully integrate these beautiful acts in Viva Elvis and to present them to the millions of people who visit Las Vegas annually. Cirque du Soleil is a creative-driven organization and want to ensure that this integration is done well and fully respects its artistic objectives. To do this, the partners have agreed that Viva Elvis will take an extended dark dates beginning in January 2012. This integration is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter. We will also take this time to review all marketing strategies to reposition Viva Elvis. I would like to specify that we expect to have the same total amount of artists on stage and the financial investment both in the creative integration and new marketing initiatives are still under complete evaluation." More on VIVA ELVIS Changes {Aug.11.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Mike Weatherford and Norm Clarke, both wonderful columnists for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, have new articles in relation to yesterday's news that Cirque du Soleil's mega Elvis-themed production - VIVA ELVIS - would be undergoing some drastic changes very, very soon. Although both strike the same tone - massive changes are coming and it was quite a surprise to the cast- they both have some interesting tidbits I'd like to highlight: # # # Cirque du Soleil announced Wednesday that "Viva Elvis" will get a makeover to "make it less of a biographical representation of Elvis Presley and more of an acrobatic Cirque du Soleil spectacular production," according to a statement from the company's senior publicist, Renee-Claude Menard. The Aria production will take an extended break in January. The revised version will incorporate acrobats moving over from "Zed," a Cirque production at Tokyo Disneyland that will close at the end of December, mortally wounded by earthquake-related damage to the Japanese economy. # # # o) The cast and crew were summoned to a meeting on Tuesday at the show's theater to discuss the changes o) The cast and crew was told that Cirque will be pouring more than $10 million into the makeover, with MGM Resorts International wanting results within two years. o) Even the show's title might be changed, Cirque confirmed. # # # Explaining in more detail by phone, Menard said "we would have made changes anyway," even without the misfortune of "Zed." Cirque and MGM Resorts officials already had agreed "we knew we wanted to make it more acrobatic. ... What ‘Zed' brought to the table was an opportunity." Cirque and its landlord already had "common agreement" that "the bio expression of Elvis is not necessarily appealing to our demographic, the type of demographics we'd like to have, so let's look at it a different way. Make it a Cirque du Soleil spectacular featuring Elvis as a singer," Menard said. As such, the character of Elvis' manager, Tom Parker, as narrator likely will be eliminated, though "I think we have to wait until the changes are all done," Menard said. # # # The show is to remain "as is" until the end of the year, when it will go through an extended dark period beginning in January to integrate some elements from ZED, Cirque du Soleil's production in Tokyo, Japan, which will shut down at the end of this year due to the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Read Mike Weatherford's Article here: < http://www.lvrj.com/living/changes-coming-to-cirque-du-soleil- s-viva-elvis-127492623.html?ref=623 > Read Norm Clarke's Article here: < http://www.lvrj.com/news/some-devastated-by-elvis-changes- 127509863.html?ref=863 > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal} Congrats, La Nouba - 6000th Performance Tonight! {Aug.13.2011} ------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil La Nouba celebrates their 6000th performance at 6pm tonight! Congratulations to our amazing mix of talented artists, technicians, management, retail staff and partners who make this massive production happen night after night! To begin this special day, we'd love to hear about your favorite part of the show or memory that involves La Nouba! {SOURCE: La Nouba Facebook} Even MORE on those VIVA ELVIS Changes {Aug.15.2011} ------------------------------------------------- A couple of interesting tid-bits out of the Las Vegas Sun regarding the upcoming changes to Viva Elvis: # # # De-emphasizing the story of Elvis Presley in the Cirque du Soleil production "Viva Elvis" at Aria is fine with one of the people who knew him best. "I am excited that Cirque Du Soleil has decided to modify ‘Viva Elvis" is how Priscilla Presley put it last week. "It will make a good show an even more exciting show." Priscilla supplied her opinion through spokeswoman and Rogers & Cowan PR executive Samantha Mast. # # # And then there's this one from Robin Leach: # # # In a shocking and surprise move, Cirque du Soleil officials confirmed this afternoon that major changes will be made to Viva Elvis at Aria, and if the gamble doesn't work, then the spectacular will shut down within two years. # # # Read John Katsilometes' piece here: < http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats- report/2011/aug/15/priscilla-presley-excited-about-cirque- changes-vi/ > Read Robin Leach's piece here: < http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/aug/10/major-changes-are- being-made-cirque-du-soleils-viv/ > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun} Las Vegas Weekly Suggests Changes to Viva Elvis {Aug.18.2011} ------------------------------------------------- It was the equivalent of a "mea culpa" from the Pope. Last week, Cirque du Soleil, the Vatican of Vegas entertainment, made the rare announcement it would be closing Viva Elvis, the newest of its seven shows on the Strip, in January 2012 to make changes-$10 million worth, to be specific. True, Cirque has always tweaked its shows after opening, but this kind of bold, public, expensive retooling is unprecedented. Reception of the show has been decidedly mixed, with critics like Time's Richard Corliss seeking out new superlatives ("Cirque is throwing its most joyous party ever ...") and others noting room for significant improvement. The show does have its supporters, even repeat visitors (I know, I've met them), but apparently they don't represent, as Cirque's publicists put it, "the type of demographics we'd like to have." Read: the paying type. Thus-and here's the irony-Viva Elvis will now be "more of an acrobatic Cirque du Soleil spectacular production," incorporating talent from Zed (a Cirque show at Tokyo Disney that is closing in December) and "featuring Elvis as a singer." Still, after struggling for 22 months, those changes may not be enough. So allow us to offer Cirque a few additional suggestions, 100 percent free of charge: Check out the changes Las Vegas Weekly suggests for a re-tooled Viva Elvis: < http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/aug/17/few- suggestions-how-revive-cirques-viva-elvis/ > {SOURCE: Las Vegas Weekly} New Sign at La Nouba {Aug.19.2011} ------------------------------------------------- WDWMagic is reporting that a new sign/banner has recently been placed atop the Cirque du Soleil Theater at Downtown Disney West-Side. It replaces a sign/banner with an older logo. < http://www.cirquefascination.com/wp- content/uploads/2011/08/Cirque-du-Soleil_Thumb_14135.jpg > {EDIT: It is temporary, as other signs and banners at Downtown Disney have recently disappeared for replacement or renovation.} {SOURCE: WDWMagic} ZED will "Surface Again"? {Aug.23} ------------------------------------------------- An interesting blurb in the Montreal Gazette today regarding ZED's closure at the end of this year... # # # Girard, who just finished directing the Cirque du Soleil's Zarkana in New York, is eager to return to Tokyo, where his Cirque production of ZED is still running at Tokyo Disney. But not for long. Disney and Cirque have announced that ZED will go out with the old year on Dec. 31, 2011. Ticket sales had slumped, Girard said. But a 25-per-cent energy-reduction quota imposed on Japanese businesses post-tsunami was probably another factor. "Disney had to cut something big," he said. "And they decided not to cut the Mickey Mouse train." # # # ZED will surface again elsewhere, he promised. Read the original article here: < http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movie- guide/Japanese+film+star+making+stage+debut/ 5292383/story.html#ixzz1VxAQz6YU > {SOURCE: Montreal Gazette} Canada Out for Expo 2012 {Aug.25} ------------------------------------------------- According to a recent article in CBC News, Canada has officially declined an invitation from the South Korean government to participate in Expo 2012, saying it can't afford to attend the World's Fair. The reason? Canada isn't as popular as its peers: # # # A Harris-Decima report commissioned for Heritage Canada following Canada's participation in Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, indicated that Canada is not a top draw at world expositions. Expo 2010 was attended by 246 countries and international organizations, including a record 73 million visitors, but Canada was not viewed as a priority stop for visitors, said the report. The pavilions for Japan, United States, France, Germany and England were the major draws, said the report. Interest in the Canadian pavilion did increase, however, when world-renowned Canadian performers Cirque du Soleil arrived, the report said. "The shallow understanding of Canada, of Canadians and what is unique about Canada hinders top-of-mind interest in visiting the Canadian pavilion," said the report. # # # Read the full article here: < http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/08/24/ expo-canada-declines.html > {SOURCE: CBC.ca} Desigual inspired by Cirque du Soleil {Aug.29} ------------------------------------------------- From the Vancouver Sun: # # # The floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center looked like more of a circus than usual on Tuesday at the MAGIC apparel trade show. That was due in large part to the acrobatic shenanigans of Cirque du Soleil performers, who bounded down the catwalk to highlight a new collaboration between the circus troupe and the Barcelona-based Spanish sportswear brand Desigual. Called "Desigual inspired by Cirque du Soleil," the 60-piece debut collection for men, women and children doesn't stray far from the distinctive eye-catching Desigual (pronounced "dezzy- GWAL") aesthetic, which falls somewhere between a comic book confetti flurry and an explosion at a crayon factory. (After all, the name translates to mean "unequal" as in "different" in English.) The collection of clothing and accessories includes T-shirts, dresses, short-dresses, handbags, totes and jackets. Prices will be mostly in the $59 to $98 range. A few statement pieces - such as this season's heavily embroidered jacket with gold foil detail at the shoulders, oversize enameled buttons and a cadre of clown-folk milling about the hem - are priced closer to $300. The collection is divided into three themes: "Troupe," "Human Expression" and "Costume." # # # The debut collection will be available through Desigual's website in November. Then, in December, it will roll out to Desigual boutiques worldwide and Cirque du Soleil's show boutiques. Learn more about the new collection here: < http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Cirque+Soleil+Desigual+ team+create+high+wire+collection+inspired+circus /5323388/story.html > {SOURCE: Vancouver Sun} ZAIA's New Artistic Elements {Aug.30} ------------------------------------------------- According to Asia Travel Tips.com, Cirque du Soleil is adding new artistic elements to its popular ZAIA show at the Venetian Macau. # # # From 1 September 2011, ZAIA will feature new diversified performances and new characters. One of the new performances includes a dazzling Hand to Hand act which requires absolute mastery of balance and control. Along with the new Hand to Hand performance, another high level acrobatic element is the Roller Skates. Passing through at a very high speed on a small table, the performers are sure to excite and dazzle spectators. Some new Asian elements have also been introduced, including a Lion Dance performance. An astonishing Juggling act is another new element. Wearing illuminated costumes, the jugglers will astound audiences with their skills. # # # Read the full article here: < http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news11/308-ZAIA.shtml > {SOURCE: AsiaTravelTips.com} Cirque du Soleil... Gift Card? {Aug.31} ------------------------------------------------- The Cirque du Soleil Gift Card - A spectacular gift idea coming soon! Introducing the Cirque du Soleil Gift Card*! Ideal for just about any occasion; a birthday gift, a mother's day gift or a father's day gift, a wedding gift, a graduation gift, an employee recognition, and more! Applicable towards Cirque du Soleil show tickets, the Cirque du Soleil Gift Card* is guaranteed to turn out to be your most spectacular gift. Be notified of the release of the Cirque du Soleil Gift Card by joining Cirque Club (it's free)! < http://www.cirqueclub.com/ >. * Applicable only to U.S. show ticket purchases exclusively at www.cirquedusoleilgift.com. {SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil} ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem & Varekai} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Saltimbanco, Alegría, Quidam, Dralion & Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour} o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre {Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, ZAIA, ZED, Believe & VIVA Elvis} o) VENUE - Venue & Seasonal productions {Iris & Zarkana} NOTE: .) While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate touring dates and locations available, the information in this section is subject to change without notice. As such, the Fascination! Newsletter does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of these listings. .) Dates so marked (*) are not official until released by Cirque du Soleil. For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit Cirque's website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ >. ------------------------------------ BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau ------------------------------------ Corteo: Sevilla, ES -- Sep 7, 2011 to Oct 16, 2011 Paris, FR -- Nov 4, 2011 to Jan 8, 2012 Barcelona, ES -- Jan 19, 2012 to Feb 12, 2012 Amsterdam, NL -- Mar 30, 2012 to Jun 3, 2012 Gijón, ES -- Jul 25, 2012 to Aug 26, 2012 Zurich, CH -- Sep 7, 2012 to Oct 14, 2012 Antwerp, BE -- Nov 2, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012 Koozå: Osaka, JPN -- Aug 4, 2011 to Nov 6, 2011 Nagoya, JPN -- Nov 23, 2011 to Jan 22, 2012 Fukuoka, JPN -- Feb 9, 2012 to Apr 1, 2012 Ovo: Calgary, AB -- Sep 7, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Mexico City, MX -- Oct 30, 2011 to Nov 20, 2011 Santa Monica, CA -- Jan 20, 2012 to Mar 25, 2012 Portland, OR -- TBA Brisbane, AU -- TBA Sydney, AU -- TBA Melbourne, AU -- TBA Totem: Toronto, ON -- Aug 11, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 San Francisco, CA -- Oct 28, 2011 to Nov 27, 2011 London, UK -- Jan 6, 2010 to Feb 5, 2012 San Jose, CA -- Mar 2, 2012 to Apr 1, 2012 Atlanta, GA -- May 8, 2012 to Jun 17, 2012 Varekai: São Paulo, BR -- Sep 15, 2011 to Nov 27, 2011 Rio De Janeiro, BR -- Dec 8, 2011 to Jan 8, 2012 Belo Horizonte, BR -- Jan 18, 2012 to Feb 12, 2012 Brasilia, BR -- Feb 22, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 Recife, BR -- Mar 29, 2012 to Apr 22, 2012 Salvador, BR -- May 3, 2012 to May 27, 2012 Curitiba, BR -- Jun 7, 2012 to Jul 1, 2012 Porto Alegre, BR -- Jul 11, 2012 to Aug 5, 2012 Buenos Aires, AR -- Aug 17, 2012 to Sep 16, 2012 Santiago, CL -- Sep 28, 2012 to Oct 28, 2012 ------------------------------------ ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Saltimbanco: Asia-Pacific ------------ Auckland, NZ -- Aug 25, 2011 to Sep 4, 2011 Russia & Beyond ---------------- Shanghai, CN -- Sep 21, 2011 to Sep 25, 2011 Ekaterinburg, RU -- Oct 15, 2011 to Oct 23, 2011 Kazan, RU -- Oct 26, 2011 to Oct 30, 2011 Moscow, RU -- Nov 3, 2011 to Nov 13, 2011 St. Petersburg, RU -- Nov 16, 2011 to Nov 21, 2011 Kiev, UA -- Nov 27, 2011 to Dec 4, 2011 Vilnius, LT -- Dec 15, 2011 to Dec 17, 2011 Riga, LV -- Dec 21, 2011 to Dec 23, 2011 Tallin, EE -- Dec 28, 2011 to Dec 30, 2011 Graz, AT -- Feb 22, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012 Malmoö, SE -- TBA Alegría: Oberhausen, DE -- Sep 7, 2011 to Sep 11, 2011 Leipzig, DE -- Sep 14, 2011 to Sep 18, 2011 Stuttgart, DE -- Sep 21, 2011 to Sep 25, 2011 Munich, DE -- Sep 28, 2011 to Oct 2, 2011 Salzburg, AT -- Oct 5, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Berlin, DE -- Oct 12, 2011 to Oct 16, 2011 Bremen, DE -- Oct 19, 2011 to Oct 23, 2011 cologne, DE -- Oct 26, 2011 to Oct 30, 2011 Frankfurt, DE -- Nov 2, 2011 to Nov 6, 2011 Mannheim, DE -- Nov 9, 2011 to Nov 13, 2011 Malaga, ES -- Dec 1, 2011 to Dec 4, 2011 Santiago, ES -- Dec 7, 2011 to Dec 11, 2011 Zaragoza, ES -- Dec 14, 2011 to Dec 18, 2011 Lisbon, PT -- Dec 21, 2011 to Jan 8, 2012 Granada, ES -- Jan 11, 2011 to Jan 15, 2012 Bilbao, ES -- Jan 18, 2012 to Jan 22, 2012 Toulouse, FR -- Jan 25, 2012 to Feb 29, 2012 Nantes, FR -- Feb 1, 2012 to Feb 5, 2012 Lyon, FR -- Feb 23, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012 Toulon, FR -- Feb 29, 2012 to Mar 4, 2012 Nice, FR -- Mar 7, 2012 to Mar 11, 2012 Montpellier, FR -- Mar 14, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 Strasbourg, FR -- Mar 21, 2012 to Mar 25, 2012 Manchester, UK -- Apr 4, 2012 to Apr 7, 2012 Glasgow, UK -- Apr 11, 2012 to Apr 15, 2012 Birmingham, UK -- Apr 18, 2012 to Apr 22, 2012 Dublin, IE -- Apr 25, 2012 to Apr 29, 2012 Hambgurg, DE -- May 30, 2012 to TBA Hanover, DE -- Jun 6, 2012 to TBA Nuremberg, DE -- Jun 13, 2012 to TBA Quidam: Hartford, CT -- Aug 31, 2011 to Sep 4, 2011 Amherst, MA -- Sep 7, 2011 to Sep 11, 2011 State College, PA -- Sep 14, 2011 to Sep 18, 2011 Fort Wayne, IN -- Sep 21, 2011 to Sep 25, 2011 Hartford, CT -- Sep 28, 2011 to Oct 2, 2011 Reading, PA -- Oct 5, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Pittsburgh, PA -- Oct 12, 2011 to Oct 16, 2011 Milwaukee, WI -- Oct 19, 2011 to Oct 23, 2011 Philadelphia, PA -- Nov 10, 2011 to Nov 13, 2011 Washington, DC -- Nov 16, 2011 to Nov 20, 2011 Fayetteville, NC -- Nov 23, 2011 to Nov 27, 2011 Greenville, SC -- Nov 30, 2011 to Dec 4, 2011 Hampton, VA -- Dec 7, 2011 to Dec 11, 2011 Worcester, MA -- Dec 14, 2011 to TBA Toronto, ON -- Dec 20, 2011 to TBA Dralion: Duluth, GA -- Aug 31, 2011 to Sep 4, 2011 Tupelo, MS -- Sep 6, 2011 to Sep 8, 2011 Huntsville, AL -- Sep 10, 2011 to Sep 11, 2011 New Orleans, LA -- Sep 14, 2011 to Sep 17, 2011 Orlando, FL -- Sep 21, 2011 to Sep 25, 2011 Tallahassee, FL -- Sep 28, 2011 to Oct 2, 2011 Birmingham, AL -- Oct 5, 2011 to Oct 9, 2011 Gainesville, FL -- Oct 11, 2011 to Oct 13, 2011 San Juan, PR -- Oct 19, 2011 to Oct 23, 2011 Cypress, TX -- Nov 17, 2011 to Nov 20, 2011 Beaumont, TX -- Nov 23, 2011 to Nov 27, 2011 Houston, TX -- Nov 30, 2011 to Dec 4, 2011 Lafayette, LA -- Dec 6, 2011 to Dec 8, 2011 Bossier City, LA -- Dec 10, 2011 to Dec 11, 2011 Little Rock, AK -- Dec 13, 2011 to Dec 14, 2011 Montreal, QC -- Dec 18, 2011 to Dec 30, 2011 Quebec, QC -- Jan 3, 2012 to Jan 8, 2012 Kingston, ON -- Jan 11, 2012 to Jan 15, 2012 Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour: 2011 ---- Montreal, QC -- Oct 2, 2011 & Oct 3, 2011 Ottawa, ON -- Oct 7 & Oct 8, 2011 Hamilton, ON -- Oct 12 & Oct 13, 2011 Detroit, MI -- Oct 15 & Oct 16, 2011 London, ON -- Oct 18 & Oct 19, 2011 Toronto, ON -- Oct 21, 2011 to Oct 23, 2011 Winnipeg, MB -- Oct 26 & Oct 27, 2011 Saskatoon, SK -- Oct 29 & Oct 30, 2011 Edmonton, AB -- Nov 1 & Nov 2, 2011 Vancouver, BC -- Nov 4, 2011 to Nov 6, 2011 Seattle, WA -- Nov 9 & Nov 10, 2011 Spokane, WA -- Nov 12 & Nov 13, 2011 Euguene OR -- Nov 15 & Nov 16, 2011 Portland, OR -- Nov 18 to Nov 20, 2011 Salt Lake City, UT -- Nov 28, 2011 Las Vegas, NV -- Dec 3, 2011 to Dec 27, 2011 Phoenix, AZ -- Dec 30 & Dec 31, 2011 2012 ---- Boise, ID -- Jan 3 & Jan 4, 2012 Denver, CO -- Jan 6 to Jan 8, 2012 Sacramento, CA -- Jan 10 & Jan 11, 2012 San Jose, CA -- Jan 13 to Jan 15, 2012 Oakland, CA -- Jan 17 & Jan 18, 2012 San Diego, CA -- Jan 21 & Jan 22, 2012 Anaheim, CA -- Jan 24 & Jan 25, 2012 Los Angeles, CA -- Jan 27 to Jan 29, 2012 St. Louis, MO -- Feb 7 & Feb 8, 2012 Houston, TX -- Feb 10 to Feb 12, 2012 New Orleans, LA -- Feb 15 & Feb 16, 2012 Tulsa, OK -- Feb 18 & Feb 19, 2012 Kansas City, MO -- Feb 21 & Feb 22, 2012 Indianapolis, IN -- Feb 24 & Feb 25, 2012 Miami, FL -- Mar 2 & Mar 3, 2012 Jacksonville, FL -- Mar 7, 2012 Raleigh, NC -- Mar 10, 2012 Charlotte, NC -- Mar 13, 2012 Milwaukee, WI -- Mar 16, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 Montreal -- Mar 20, 2012 to Mar 22, 2012 Quebec City, QC -- Mar 24 & Mar 25, 2012 Minneapolis, MN -- Mar 27 & Mar 28, 2012 Newark, NJ -- Mar 30 & Apr 1, 2012 New York City, NY -- Apr 3, 2012 to Apr 5, 2012 Uniondale, NY -- Apr 7 & Apr 8, 2012 Philadelphia, PA -- Apr 10 & Apr 11, 2012 Pittsburg, PA -- Apr 13, 14 & 15, 2012 State College, PA -- Apr 24 & 25, 2012 Baltimore, MD -- May 5, 2012 Worcester, MA -- May 16 & May 17, 2012 Dayton, OH -- Jun 6 & Jun 7, 2012 Columbus, OH -- Jun 9 & Jun 10, 2012 Austin, TX -- Jun 15, 2012 San Antonio, TX -- Jun 23, 2012 Atlanta, GA -- Jun 29, 2012 Montreal, QC -- Jul 6 & Jul 7, 2012 Washington, DC -- Jul 13, 14 & 15 2012 Cleveland, OH -- Jul 17 & 18, 2012 Chicago, IL -- Jul 20, 2012 --------------------------------- RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre --------------------------------- NOTE: (*) Prices are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise noted. (*) Ticket prices exclude the 10% Live Entertainment Tax, the $7.50 per-ticket processing fee, and sales tax where applicable. Mystère: Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2011 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): o Category 1: $109.00 / $54.50 o Category 2: $99.00 / $49.50 o Category 3: $79.00 / $39.50 o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50 o Category 5: $60.00 / $30.00 (Limited View) 2011 Dark Dates: o September 3-7 o November 2 2011 Added Performances: o December 30th "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2011 Ticket Prices: o Orchestra: $150.00 o Loggia: $130.00 o Balcony: $99.00 o Limited View: $93.50 2011 Dark Dates: o October 9 o December 5-18 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2011 Ticket Prices (adults) / (child 3-9): o Category 0: $120.00 / $97.00 o Category 1: $105.00 / $85.00 o Category 2: $85.00 / $69.00 o Category 3: $69.00 / $56.00 o Category 4: $55.00 / $45.00 2011 Dark Dates: o September 20-24 o November 22 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday Dark: Wednesday & Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2011 Ticket Prices (18+ Only!): o Duo Sofas: $129.00 o Orchestra Seats: $105.00 o Upper Orchestra Seats: $79.00 o Balcony Seats: $69.00 o Cabaret Stools: $69.00 2011 Dark Dates: o September 2-6 o October 17-18 o December 16-20 2011 Added Performances: o November 23rd o December 31st KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2011 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 5-12): o Category 1: $150.00 / $75.00 o Category 2: $130.00 / $65.00 o Category 3: $99.00 / $49.50 o Category 4: $69.00 / $34.50 2011 Dark Dates: o August 30 - September 7 o November 15-16 2011 Added Performances: o November 27 o December 26 o December 31 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2011 Ticket Prices: o Lower Orchestra: $150.00 o Upper Orchestra: $130.00 o Lower Balcony: $99.00 o Middle Balcony: $93.50 2011 Dark Dates: o October 3 o December 1-12 2011 Added Performances: o December 28th o December 31st ZAIA: Location: Venetian, Macao (China) Performs: Every Day, Dark: Wednesday One to Two Shows Daily - Times Vary 2011 Ticket Prices (adult) / (child 2-11): o VIP Seating: MOP$ 1288 / MOP$ 1288 o Reserve A: MOP$ 788 / MOP$ 394 o Reserve B: MOP$ 588 / MOP$ 294 o Reserve C: MOP$ 388 / MOP$ 194 ZED: Location: Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo (Japan) Performs: Varies One to Two Shows Daily - Showtimes vary 2011 Ticket Prices (Non-Peak / Peak Time): o Category 1 ("Premium"): ¥15,000 / ¥16,000 o Category 2 ("Stage-Side"): ¥12,500 / ¥13,500 o Category 2 ("Center"): ¥12,500 / ¥13,500 o Category 3 ("Wide View"): ¥9,500 / ¥10,500 o Category 4 ("Value"): ¥7,500 / ¥8,500 BELIEVE: Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted into the theater. 2011 Ticket Prices (all): o Category 1: $160.00 o Category 2: $130.00 o Category 3: $109.00 o Category 4: $89.00 o Category 5: $59.00 2011 Dark Dates: o September 6-10 o December 6-17 VIVA ELVIS: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2011 Ticket Prices o Category 1: $175.00 o Category 2: $150.00 o Category 3: $125.00 o Category 4: $99.00 2011 Dark Dates: o September 13-14 o November 8-12 2011 Added Performances: o November 27th o December 26, 31 -------------------------------------- VENUE - Venue & Seasonal Productions -------------------------------------- IRIS: Location /// Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA (USA) < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/iris/ tickets/los-angeles.aspx > Performances /// Times: Performances are held from Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm (with the exception of Saturday December 24 at 1pm), and Sundays at 1pm (with the exception of July 24 & 31 at 6:30pm) and 6:30pm. There are no performances on Monday. 2011 Dark Dates: o Septemeber 6, 20, 25, 27 o October 10-19 o November 24 o December 5, 6, 7, 25 Tickets /// Preview Performances (July 21 - September 24): o Category Premium - $203.00 USD o Category 1 - $100.50 USD o Category 2 - $78.00 USD o Category 3 - $59.25 USD o Category 4 - $33.00 USD Weekday Matinees: o Category Premium - $253.00 USD o Category 1 - $123.00 USD o Category 2 - $93.00 USD o Category 3 - $68.00 USD o Category 4 - $43.00 USD Saturday Matinee & All Evening Performances: o Category Premium - $253.00 USD o Category 1 - $133.00 USD o Category 2 - $103.00 USD o Category 3 - $78.00 USD o Category 4 - $43.00 USD ZARKANA: Location /// New York, NY -- Jun 9, 2011 to Sep 4, 2011 Madrid, ES -- Nov 9, 2011 to Jan 1, 2012 Moscow, RU -- Feb 4, 2012 to Apr 8, 2012 Performances /// Full Schedule: < http://static01.cirquedusoleil.com/en/~/ media/shows/zarkana/pdf/new-york-schedule.pdf > 2011 Dark Dates: o June 13-15, 20-22, 27-28 o July 4, 11, 18, 25 o August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 o September 4-5, 12, 19, 26 o October 3 ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub o) Networking -- Cirque on Facebook, Youtube & Twitter --------------------------------------- CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub --------------------------------------- WATERWORKS AT "O" IN LAS VEGAS {Aug.01} ------------------------------------------------- "O" creates a world of surealism and romance AT EVERY GIVEN POINT, THERE ARE AS MANY AS 30 PEOPLE IN THE 1.5- MILLION-GALLON POOL THAT IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE "O" THEATER. An underwater stage may pose some difficulties for pulling off a perfect show everytime, but with impeccable organization, the crew behind "O" brings it all together. Created with the elegance of water in mind "O" at Bellagio celebrates the beauty of this every-changing element. Each act in "O" seems to move fluidly from one reality to the next, and the stage itself continually shifts from water to land to air, bringing a range of talents and performances to one single seamless show. From a floating ship acting as a plateform for graceful aerial maneuvers to a high dive situated an astonishing 60 feet above the stage, diving acrobatics, swimming and daredevilry are inextricably combined. Eight of the divers in the pool are the equivalent of stagehands in full scuba gear. There are "handlers", whose task is to make shure the performers have access to air at all times; and safety divers, outfitted with full face masks. Those masks are equipped with with voice transmission and reception capability and are the main point of contact for the underwater world. At any given point, there are as many as 30 people in the 1.5-million- gallon pool that is the centerpiece of the "O Theatre. Seventeen synchonized swimmers, executing perfectly orchestrated movements in tune to both the music and each other. These swimmers add an unexpected component of dance to this water world. Suprisinglly, the costumes in "O" are just as detailed as those in other Cirque du Soleil productions, despite their submergence in water. Transforming performers into frolicking zebras, macabre aquatic creatures or regal, masked men in formal atire, the assemblage of characters align with the surrealistic atmosphere, as they seem to appear from a dream. Illustrating the beauty of performance art in all its forms, "O" is a breathtaking example of the infinite possibilities of theater and the imagination. GERALDINE CAMPBELL - Reporter Insider magazine Read the original article here: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-07-16-o-waterworks.aspx > GET A CLOSER LOOK AT IRIS {Aug.02} ------------------------------------------------- The synopsis A poetic phantasmagoria inspired by the world of cinema IRIS explores this magical medium, as it evolves from black and white to colour in a world of shadows and light. IRIS transposes into a language of dance and acrobatics all of cinema's splendor, inventiveness and, above all, its sense of wonder. The two young heroes - Buster and Scarlett - find themselves plunged into a universe that brings to life a succession of cinematic genres. Their escapades transport the spectator into a kaleidoscope of movement, moods and images supported by a strong orchestral score composed by Danny Elfman. IRIS conjures up a place between motion and picture, light and sound, that shifts constantly between reality and make-believe. Iris extends the limits of acrobatics by offering acts of the likes of performance acrobatics, hand-to-hand, contortion, trampoline, hand-balancing, trapeze bungee and so much more. By combining dance, acrobatics, live video, film footage and intractive projections, the show illustrates both the mechanics of cinema and its extraordinary power to deceive the eye. Take a look at our exclusive photo gallery and be the first ones to catch a glimpse of IRIS: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-04-iris-premiere.aspx > KÀ MARVELS DISPLAYED AT COMIC-CON {Aug.05} ------------------------------------------------- At eye level and above, KÀ at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is a show unlike any other on the Las Vegas Strip. "How did they do that?" frequently echoes from the audience, as spectators bear witness to scenes crafted with precise choreography, daring acrobatics and a flurry of movement. The Massive Theatre The KÀ Theatre measures a massive Nine Stories and with approximately 300 cues in the show, a completely choreographed show with-in-a-show is a way to describe what goes on backstage. The adventure starts 51 feet below the stage in the "the pit", where swarms of 195 carpenters, riggers, lighting technicians and crew members work together with the precision of a Swiss watch. The Seven Stages As much a star of the show as its performers, the seven stages that make up the performance space inside the KÀ Theatre appear as if from nowhere and are used to create such varying environments as a beach, a cliff, and a hideout for evil-doers. The main stage alone, referred to as the "Sand-Cliff Deck" is an engineering marvel. The 80,000-pound, 50 foot long stage moves from the bottom of the pit, rotates 360 degrees and tilts past 90 degrees, almost reaching the top of the theatre. One of the most memorable stunts involves a performer falling nearly 60 feet at over 40 miles per hour - an ingenious combination of some of the world's largest acrobatic nets and air bags make sure the teeth-clenching fall always ends in a soft landing. KÀ Special Appearance at San Diego Comic-Con These death-defying stunts were witnessed in a totally new setting on Comic-Con's opening night, Thursday, July 21st, with a dramatic showdown on the outside walls of PETCO Park in San Diego. Especially created for the occasion, the outdoor performance took place directly across the street from the San Diego Convention Center and included a display of dazzling 3-D projections. Have a look at these amazing acrobatics: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-07-28-above-ka.aspx > FLOODING ON VIVA ELVIS {Aug.09} ------------------------------------------------- It finally rained in Las Vegas, and we have the water to prove it. While the cast was enjoying two weeks of rest and relaxation at the beginning of July, the rest of Viva ELVIS got a taste of what of our "O" family must feel like every day. Indeed, a very unlikely rainstorm hit Las Vegas. The temperature outside may have been in the 90s, but the rain came down in torrents and the city definitely felt the after-effects. Streets were flooded, trees toppled into house roofs and the Viva ELVIS loading dock turned into a mini pool. Luckily, we had all of our technicians ready and willing to get a little wet, and the water never made it passed the loading dock door. Some pants were unfortunately ruined, but really, who needs pants when the weather is only going to jump back to 100 degrees in less than a day? All in all, everyone made the most of it and worked hard to avoid any damages. Our loading dock got an impromptu cleaning and our technicians got a little impromptu shower. Take a look at our exclusive photo gallery and see the crew of Viva ELVIS under-water! < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-05-viva-elvis-flood.aspx > EXCLUSIVE NEW VIDEOS FROM ZARKANA {Aug.12} ------------------------------------------------- Get ready for some exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Zarkana! With these three new Zarkana videos, see firsthand the ins and outs of working on such an awe-inspiring creation. Pushing Back Acrobatic Limits - Zarkana gravity-defying acrobatic acts: Philippe Aubertin, Head Coach, reveals just how much the limits of acrobatics have been pushed back for Zarkana. < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-05-zarkana-videos/zarkana-acrobatic-limits.aspx > Zarkana - A Taste of the Strange: Meet, Ann-Marie Corbeil, Artistic director on Zarkana, explains the different inspirations of this odd experience. < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-05-zarkana-videos/zarkana-surreal.aspx > Technical Scope of Zarkana: Dave Churchill, Production Technical Director, talks about the sheer scope of the technical difficulties and prowess involved in bringing Zarkana to life. < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-05-zarkana-videos/zarkana-big-technical.aspx > Read the original article here: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-05-zarkana-videos.aspx > LA NOUBA WELCOMES TWO EXCITING ACTS AND ITS 8 MILLIONTH VISITOR! {Aug.15} ------------------------------------------------- La Nouba performing at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida has recently added two acts to its unforgettable story. Inspired by the playfullness of childhood, a juggling act aided by a green bird, features a juggler throwing balls, hoops and clubs in the air in unprecedented numbers at amazing speeds. This juggler is considered the best in the world! And also, to start off the show, a new opening scene with a thrilling feat involving skipping rope sets the stage for what's to come. This act gives way to vibrant dance, acrobatics and a steady stream of solo, duo and group jumps and formations. Two skippers combine artful moves, exceptional agility and impressive speed. The Skipping Ropes act brings a new dimension and high energy to the opening of the show. The speed of their movements is truly unbelievable. Gabi de Mello Costa - Reporter Insider magazine Read the original article here: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-10-lanouba-8million.aspx > LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: AN ACROBATS JOURNEY FROM THE BIG TOPS TO THE BIG TIME {Aug.19} ------------------------------------------------- It's hard not to fall in love with The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage. Cirque du Soleil has certainly engraved its brand on the Strip with this crowd pleasing and critically acclaimed show based on the discography of The Beatles. LOVE manages to pay homage to the music of the famous four Brits through the show's soundtrack while creating a dynamic, original story full of war, heartbreak and - of course - love. On Board From the Very Start One key performer in LOVE is Katya, whom you can find defying gravity in numbers such as Something and Here Comes the Sun. As one of LOVE's original cast members, Katya has been part of the action since Cirque du Soleil built this show from the ground up back in 2005. "I feel very priviledged to be a part of LOVE," Katya says "It has been voted best show in Las Vegas for many years in a row. People from all around the world come to see it and be part of this unique show that brings The Beatles' music - songs we all know and love - to life on stage." Born for the Circus The opening of LOVE was hardly Katya's first time on stage. The circus veteran has been in the business since she was practically in diapers, performing as Snowflake in the Great Moscow Circus at two and a half years old. Despite being the youngest cast member, she relished her time onstage. "I think that performing was simply in my blood," she says "I am the third generation of a great family of Russian circus performers. I grew up in the circus world, and it's what I knew best so it seemed like I was destined to follow the family tradition." For the Long Run Katya joined Cirque du Soleil in 1990 and was part of the first North American Tour for Nouvelle Expérience, which had stoped in Vegas inside the big top in The Mirage Parking lot. Since then, the company - and Katya - have come a long way, giving a new spin on the idea of the traditional three-ring circus. "Cirque was one of the first in North America to change the image of circus to an innovative theatrical experience." Katya says. "I believe this is what led to Cirque's huge sucess. They are never afraid to push back the boundaries and bring performance to a new level, and LOVE is the perfect example of this." SHARON KEHOE - Reporter Insider magazine Read the original article here: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-15-love-at-first-sight.aspx > QUIDAM: ORIGINAL COSTUME SKETCHES {Aug.22} ------------------------------------------------- Quidam turned 15 this year! This original production inspired by surrealist painters such as Delevaux and Magritte was the first to use everyday clothes into its acrobatic acts. This poetic and meaningful examination of our own world inspires people to dream and embrace their individuality. To pay tribute to the original and street inspired costumes created by Dominique Lemieux, we're opened the archive coffers and offer a look on the original costume drawings and the costumes that still perform today. Read the original article here: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-10-quidam-costume-sketches.aspx > ORIGINAL SALTIMBANCO COSTUME SKETCHES {Aug.24} ------------------------------------------------- Saltimbanco is almost 20 years young! This colourful and imaginative show has been touring the world briging spectators to experience an allegorical and acrobatic journey into the the heart of the city. The costumes are as young and vibrant now as they were first created by Dominique Lemieux. The craftmasnhip is intricate as nearly every caracter has his own unique costume. The inspiration was drawn from city life, urbanity and inter-woven relationships. The paradoxes of urban life is revealed in these unique costumes. Check out the Original Saltimbanco Costume Sketches at CirqueClub: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/ 2011/2011-08-25-saltimbanco-costumes.aspx > MJ IMMPORTAL TOUR CHOREOGRAPHERS ANNOUNCED! {Aug.26} ------------------------------------------------- A team of 10 diverse choreographers, some of whom worked alongside Michael Jackson, will contribute their distinctive talents and understanding of Michael's unique creative choreography to the new Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour in collaboration with the show's Writer and Director Jamie King. The world premiere of this unique tribute to Michael Jackson's musical legacy will take place in Montreal on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at Bell Centre and the show will then travel throughout North America and the rest of the world. These high-profile choreographers all have an impressive list of credits to their name and have, in addition to the work some did with Michael, they have all worked with many other international stars in the music industry. The team of choreographers is comprised of (see bios below): o) Travis Payne o) Rich and Tone Talauega o) Debra Brown o) Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo o) Jamal Sims o) Cloud and Tamara Levinson o) Mandy Moore "The creative force of 10 cutting-edge choreographers brings complexity and depth as we work together with the performers to bring Michael Jackson's music to life," explains Chantal Tremblay, Director of Creation of Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour. With the addition of the 10 choreographers, the creative team of Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour is the largest ever for a Cirque du Soleil production. The other creators include: Guy Laliberté - Creative Guide Gilles Ste-Croix - Creative Guide Chantal Tremblay - Director of Creation Jamie King - Writer and Director Carla Kama - Associate Show Director Kevin Antunes - Musical Designer Greg Phillinganes - Music Director Mark Fisher - Set Designer Michael Curry - Props and Scenic Designer Zaldy Goco - Costume Designer Germain Guillemot - Acrobatic Performance Designer Scott Osgood - Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer Olivier Goulet - Projection Designer Martin Labrecque - Lighting Designer François Desjardins - Sound Designer Florence Cornet - Makeup Designer About the show A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael's creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour unfolds Michael Jackson's artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing Michael's creative genius for the first time, the show captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations. The Immortal World Tour takes place in a fantastical realm where we discover Michael's inspirational Giving Tree-a wellspring of creativity that illuminates for the audience Michael's thoughtful inner world, offering new paths to express his love for music, dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature. The underpinnings of The Immortal World Tour are Michael Jackson's powerful, inspirational music and lyrics-the driving force behind the show-brought to life with extraordinary power and breathless intensity. Through unforgettable performances Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour underscores Michael's global messages of love, peace and unity. CHOREOGRAPHERS MICHAEL JACKSON - THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR Travis Payne Twice Emmy-nominated choreographer, director, and producer Travis Payne is an acknowledged innovator of screen, stage, and song. Born and raised in Atlanta, Payne's work encompasses some of the most influential visual and musical moments of contemporary pop culture, created for and performed by global entertainment icons from Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Shakira, and Usher to Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, The Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, and Madonna. Payne was a collaborator on and off for more than 15 years with the late Michael Jackson. He served as the co-choreographer with Michael as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London in July 2009 and was the associate producer on the award winning film, Michael Jackson's This Is It, documenting those rehearsals. Payne began his career as a dancer on Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 World Tour and was soon choreographing for Jackson and En Vogue as well as Madonna, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Paula Abdul, Faith Hill, and Ricky Martin. In addition to his Emmy Awards, Payne is a two-time recipient of the Music Video Producers Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography, an Obie Award winner, and a four-time winner of the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography. This is his first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Rich and Tone Talauega Rich + Tone Talauega are two of the most sought after creative directors, choreographers, producers, and directors in today's film, music, TV and commercial industries. As teenagers, Rich + Tone were discovered by Michael Jackson's choreographer while free-styling at a club in Oakland, California. Within months of moving to Los Angeles, Rich + Tone toured with both Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. They continued to work with Michael over the years on various projects and were the choreographers chosen to work on the short film for "Hollywood Tonight" from the posthumous Michael Jackson album, Michael. Rich + Tone have proven themselves as world class choreographers, having multiple MTV Award nominations, as well as an Emmy nomination for Best Choreography. The two are renowned for their diversified abilities and unique style. Their elite echelon of clients includes Madonna, Chris Brown, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, and Christina Aguilera to name a few. They have also choreographed for multiple motion pictures, which include Step Up 3D, StreetDance Together, Take the Lead. As Producers they brought light to the dance form Krumping in the critically-acclaimed documentary Rize. Now with an established production company they are actively taking on new projects and broadening their horizons. Rich + Tone will be part of a Cirque du Soleil production for the first time. Debra Brown Debra Brown is world renowned for her unique choreographies blending acrobatics and dance. She joined Cirque du Soleil in 1987 as a choreographer for We Reinvent the Circus and went on to choreograph the shows Nouvelle Expérience, Saltimbanco, Alegría, Mystère, Quidam, "O", La Nouba, Corteo, one act in Zumanity, ZED and Zarkana. She has also worked with artists and groups from a wide variety of disciplines including the 1990 Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (Paris), the John Corigliano's opera The Ghosts of Versailles, presented at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Wagner's Ring Cycle, put on by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 1994, Debra created and produced Apogée, a 50-minute trampoline-based ballet which premiered in Toronto and was also presented in both Los Angeles and San Francisco at "Passport '96," an AIDS benefit hosted by Elizabeth Taylor and Magic Johnson. In 1995, she worked with Luciano Pavarotti on the Metropolitan Opera's production of La Fille du Régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) in New York. Debra also choreographed Aerosmith's Jaded video and energetic performance for the American Music Awards in 2001, as well as Madonna's Drowned world tour. Debra has worked with major musical acts such as Shakira, Wyclef Jean, Céline Dion and Madonna. Her film work includes Catwoman, Van Helsing and Barney's Great Adventure. She received the Innovative Choreography Award in honour of her exceptional contribution to choreography and dance at the 14th Bob Fosse Awards in Los Angeles in 1997. In 2002, she received an Emmy Award for her choreography of an act created by Cirque du Soleil for the Academy Awards. Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo have contributed their choreography and directing talents to every genre of the entertainment industry. They have been featured choreographers for multiple seasons on the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance, for which they received an Emmy nomination. They were the Supervising Choreographers of America's Best Dance Crew on MTV for multiple seasons and directed the live US tour. Their work can also be seen on American Idol, the FOX show Mobbed, as well as the feature film Cobu. Other credits include Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour, Céline Dion's Taking Chances Tour, as well as the 2009 Emmy Awards and the season premiere of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. They have also worked with such artists as Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and Carrie Underwood. The Dumos travel the globe as master teacher for the dance conventions, Monsters of Hip Hop, Shock and Coastal Dance Rage, teaching and inspiring the next generation of dancers. They are contributing choreographers for Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis and have been invited back for Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. Jamal Sims Jamal Sims has an impressive list of credits as artistic director and choreographer in many areas including film, television, music videos, tours and live shows. He has worked with Britney Spears (Circus tour), Madonna (Sticky and Sweet tour), the Spice Girls and Céline Dion, among others. In film and television, Jamal has collaborated on productions that include Step Up, Step Up 2 the Streets and Step Up 3D, Dancing with the Stars (Miley Cyrus), Dancing with the Stars - Macy's Stars of Dance, Hannah Montana, Get Smart, Hairspray, Footloose (2011 release) and the 82nd and 83rd Annual Academy Awards. He has also directed and choreographed one episode of the Web series LXD and has contributed his talent to music videos for Austin Brown, John Travolta, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and many more. Jamal is working on a Cirque du Soleil show for the first time. Daniel "Cloud" Campos Internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, actor, and director Daniel "Cloud" Campos is one of the industry's top artists. A master of the art of movement, Daniel's ability to transcend space and time with his effortless prowess has made his work both captivating and unique. A Florida native, Daniel began his early dance career as member of the Al Fuentes High Voltage Extreme Acrobatic Dance Team. Recognized for his work with Madonna (The Re-Invention Tour, Confessions Tour, Live 8 and Live Earth), Daniel has worked with several high profile artists such as Shakira, Mariah Carey, Paulina Rubio, Jennifer Lopez, and Chris Brown. He has numerous film and television credits including Step Up 3D directed by John Chu, Grace starring Debbie Allen, Bolden! starring Jackie Earl Haley and Anthony Mackie, and The Muppets starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams. Commercial and print credits include works for several national campaigns. He is also a member of the world famous dance crew Skills Methodz. As a director, Daniel has made his mark as a rising talent. He has directed and co-directed several short films including the award-winning short Heaven Awaits (2005 Filmerica Challenge: Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Audio, Best Editing, Best Horror Film, and the 2005 Grand Prize). Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour will be Daniel's first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Tamara Levinson Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tamara Levinson is one of the highest-ranked American rhythmic gymnasts in history. Although her competitive career was relatively short, she influenced a generation of up-and-coming U.S. performers. Levinson then transferred her dance skills to the New York theatre scene, where she has performed in many different shows including the popular off-Broadway productions Fuerzabruta and De La Guarda. She has also danced for several famous hip-hop musicians. Her credits include Madonna (Drowned, Confessions and Re-Invention world tours), Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne. She was recently inducted into the USA GYMNASTICS hall of fame. Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour will be her first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. Mandy Moore Two-time Emmy Award nominee Mandy Moore is a world-class director, choreographer and dancer best known for her ground-breaking work on the global television hit So You Think You Can Dance. Mandy's contemporary and jazz choreography has been performed on television, in film and on concert and theater stages around the world. Her long list of credits include: Did You Hear About The Morgans with Hugh Grant, Austin Powers with Mike Meyers, American Idol, The Drew Carey Show, Malcolm in the Middle, That '70s Show, Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance (where she also appears as a Guest Judge), Nickelodeon's Fresh Beat Band, Céline Dion's Taking Chances concert tour and the Los Angeles Ballet's innovative New Wave LA program. Mandy also directed and choreographed a crowd-pleasing theater production of The Wedding Singer and she continues to teach in Los Angeles at Edge Performing Arts Center and internationally for the JUMP dance convention, private studios and independent performers. Mandy Moore is choreographing for Cirque du Soleil for the first time. ORIGINAL DRALION COSTUME SKETCHES {Aug.29} ------------------------------------------------- Dralion has completed over 4000 shows in its 11 year existence! Over 7 million spectators have enjoyed its unique blend of eastern and western influences. A driving force behind the show rests upon Eastern philosophy's quest to achieve the delicate balance between human and nature. The primary inspiration sources for the costumes were drawn from China, India and Africa. Each of the four elements and its associated family are represented by their own unique color. Blue is identified with air, green symbolizes water, red is for fire, and ochre represents the earth. We invite you to take a look at the original sketches Designer François Barbeau and the costumes that still perform to this day. Check out the original costume sketches at CirqueClub: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/cirque-club/news/2011/ 2011-08-25-saltimbanco-costumes.aspx > --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter --------------------------------------------------- ---[ ALEGRIA ]--- {Aug.17} Thank you North America! 752 shows in 90 cities and many beautiful memories which we will cary with us on the road ahead. PIC [1] /// < http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/ 296327_10150337596725746_38543815745_9539648_ 2657028_s.jpg > {Aug.05} 30 fantastic photos of our training and opening night in Charlotte, NC! LINK /// < http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/ 08/03/2501642/alegria.html > ---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]--- {Aug.29} SAFEWALLS, an art project curated by Cirque du Soleil. FOTO [7] /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s et=a.10150207785347501.376589.144074117500&type=1 > ---[ DRALION ]--- {Aug.22} Dralion is returning from tour break and very excited about our upcoming shows in Atlanta and Duluth! In the meantime, meet our lead male vocalist Cristian Zabala! LINK /// < http://www.thegavoice.com/index.php/aae/theater/ 3128-cirque-show-features-openly-gay-lead-singer > {Aug.30} Good morning Atlanta! Stay tuned as Stacey Elgin from Good Day Atlanta Road Warrior is visiting Dralion in Gwinnett Arena on Wednesday, August 31st! Don't miss Stacey trying the Aerial Hoop and Trampoline! LINK /// < http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/subindex/ good_day_atl/road_warrior > ---[ LA NOUBA ]--- {Aug.01} La Nouba is Voted as Best Entertainment Experience by Orlando Magainze LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.10150250650324902.330566.16315569901&type=1 > {Aug.16} We Celebrate our 6,000 performance!! PHOTO [25] /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.10150262590424902.334391.16315569901&type=1 > ---[ MJ THE IMMORTAL ]--- {Aug.03} Ladies! Get your EXCLUSIVE Michael Jackson THE IMMPORTAL World Tour limited-edition tee now (it won't be sold at the show!) BONUS: Facebook fans get 10% off with this coupon code; MJ10CDS. LINK /// < http://on.fb.me/nxf5BU > {Aug.08} Hear what Zaldy Goco, designer, has to say about his experience in making the costumes for Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour and catch a glimpse of what he is up to... LINK /// < http://cirk.me/oeOOO6 > {Aug.09} Stay hydrated this summer with your EXCLUSIVE Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour limited-edition reusable bottle - available exclusively online for a limited time (it won't be sold at the show!) BONUS: Facebook fans get 10% off with this coupon code: MJ10CDS. LINK /// < http://on.fb.me/nxf5BU > {Aug.10} Production Journal Day 1 LINK /// < http://youtu.be/93Jg1UeP0CA > {Aug.11} Production Journal Day 2 - Greg Phillinganes runs into Kevin Antunes, Musical Designer for the show. They talk about how they're working together to blend Michael's voice with the live band for fans to experience something they have never heard before. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv9DAiZ5e64 > {Aug.12} Production Journal Day 3 - Greg Phillinganes introduces Jory Steinberg, background singer on the show. Sporting a vintage Michael Jackson t-shirt, Jory, shares a bit about herself and her return "home" to Canada to join the show. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlteCZY1Cn8 > {Aug.15} Meet some of the cast from Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil as they explore the streets of Montreal LINK /// < http://www.vimeo.com/25303373 > {Aug.16} Production Journal Day 4 - In today's installment, Kevin Antunes gives us a glimpse of the studio and sound gear assembled especially for him to work creating the 360' surround sound for the show, from his unprecedented access to Michael Jackson's master recordings. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6XS0xLV0zM > {Aug.17} Production Journal Day 5 - Greg Phillinganes is excited to share that, for the first time, hornes will be part of a Michael Jackson band. Saxophonist Mike Phillips and trumpeter Keyon Harrold give us a little sample of what they can throw down. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7gxEZdNe14 > {Aug.18} Production Journal Day 6 - Next up in our series: Kevin Antunes elaborates on how his work and the work of Musical Director Greg Phillinganes, along with the live band, blend together to make the show. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIZmb9GS2LU > {Aug.19} Production Journal Day 7 - An excited Greg Phillanganes coming to you from "eighty four hundred" (Cirque du Soleil Int'l Headquarters' address) introduces three new band members: Tina Guo, Fred White and Taku Hirano. Each share what they're brining to the band's musical range. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wql4wV_jLv4 > {Aug.22} Production Journal Day 8 - Greg Phillanganes introduces 32-year veteran drummer Jonathan "Sugar foot" Moffat who kicked-off his professional career with Michael Jackson and the Jacksons LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BSBcEKMJ_4 > {Aug.23} Production Journal Day 10 - Further insights from Kevin Antunes, Musical Designer, for MJ The Immportal World Tour, on working with the band for the show. LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKAzYoUD2bM > ---[ MYSTERE ]--- {Aug.04} It's Mystery Character Time: Writer/Director Franco Dragone describes this part of Mystère this way: "Human dreams taking flight, borne by the hopes of a new millennium." Who are they? The rest of the description goes: "The pendulum movement emphasizes that time continues but never stops passing. The benefits outweigh the risks, for the adventure is the reward." So, who are they? AERIAL HIGHBAR. {Aug.23} Mystère animation at Magic. FOTO [14] /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.10150339243194919.391104.18155469918&type=1 > ---[ OVO ]--- {Aug.03} Ovo performed live this morning on ABC7 Chicago's Windy City LIVE - you can view the performance and listen to the interview by Artistic Director Marjon Van Grunsven! LINK /// < http://windycitylive.com/episodes/ Cirque-Du-Soleils-OVO/8286350 > {Aug.23} Backstage at OVO, Part 1: LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAV-LD0STJ8 > {Aug.26} Calgary offers you the chance to win tickets and a backstage tour on September 16th! LINK /// < http://www.visitcalgary.com/cirque-du-soleil-ovo? ref=home%2Ffeature%2Fcirque > {Aug.29} Cirque du Soleil's Grand Chapiteau began taking shape yesterday in Calgary's Stampede Park for the big opening on September 7. CTV Calgary was there! LINK /// < http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/ 20110828/CGY_cirque_ovo_110828/20110828/ ?hub=CalgaryHome > {Aug.31} Calgary says hello to Cirque du Soleil's OVO LINK /// < http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/08/28/ calgary-says-hello-to-cirque-du-soleils-ovo > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {Aug.18} Take a sneak peek at Quidam in Chocolate City! LINK /// < http://www.abc27.com/video > {Aug.19} Review of Quidam in Hershey, PA by MODE Magazine LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/notes/harrisburgpa/ cirque-du-soleil-quidam-at-hershey-giant- center-aug-18-21-2011/10150263588915994 > ---[ SALTIMBANCO ]--- {Special} Behind the Scenes of Saltimbanco Webisode Series: {May.03} Episode #1: "Australian Premiere" VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCSFKD-jJNg > {May.17} Episode #2: "Costume & Makeup" VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=litMKf9Ej8A > {Jun.03} Episode #3: "How Cirque Comes Together VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qo1WSaCwzs > {Jun.23} Episode #4: "Life in Cirque" VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh2rPmvEWHA > {Jul.05} Episode #5: "The Creative Side of Cirque" VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBVQ5U_9gUg > {Jul.26} Episode #6: "The Music of Cirque" VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ9CCtuiD7M > {Aug.03} Episode #7: "The Show Goes On" VIDEO /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSY5ewm49n8 > {Aug.16} An inside look at our Costume Wonderland LINK /// < http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/ 5441079/Dressing-the-Cirque-du-Soleil > {Aug.23} Cirque du Soleil's oldest running show comes to NZ LINK /// < http://www.3news.co.nz/Cirque-du-Soleils-longest- running-show-comes-to-NZ/tabid/368/articleID/ 223082/Default.aspx > {Aug.25} Excellent review by the NZ Herald on Saltimbanco Opening Night in Auckland!!! LINK /// < http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/ article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10747490 > {Aug.26} Saltimbanco coming to Vector Arena LINK /// < http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/saltimbanco- coming-vector-arena-1-45-video-4367289 > ---[ TOTEM ]--- {Aug.04} Thinking of a career at Cirque du Soleil? Why not? LINK /// < http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/comment/article/ 934048--circus-career-why-not > {Aug.04} Review: Laveau comes full cirque LINK /// < http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/03/ leveau-comes-full-cirque > {Aug.09} Review: Inside Toronto article - Cirque du Soleil's big top pitched in the port lands LINK /// < http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/ 1053040--cirque-du-soleil-s-big-top-pitched- in-the-port-lands > {Aug.11} Beautiful Opening of TOTEM last night in Toronto! FOTO [31] /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.250887594931938.67594.111798252174207&type=1 > {Aug.11} Review: News Hour New Cirque Show / Global Toronto LINK /// < http://www.globaltoronto.com/video/new+cirque+ show/video.html?v=2087320423&p=5&s=dd#video > {Aug.12} Review: Cirque du Soleil's Totem is a dazzling history of humankind LINK /// < http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/theatre/ cirque-du-soleils-totem-is-a-dazzling-history- of-humankind/article2126817/ > {Aug.13} Review: New Cirque show takes acrobatics to another level LINK /// < http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Do/August- 2011/Cirque-goes-big-under-Grand-Chapiteau/index.php > {Aug.18} Review: Totem is Cirque du Soleil's most entertaining show in years! LINK /// < http://www.toronto.com/article/695271--review- totem-is-cirque-du-soleil-s-most-entertaining-show- in-years > {Aug.24} Crystal Ladies live performance on Canada AM this morning! LINK /// < http://www.ctv.ca/canadaAMPlayer/ index.html?video=521686 > ---[ VIVA ELVIS ]--- {Aug.02} Here's a video trivia question from Kevin Owens, our head of audio here at Viva ELVIS! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php ?v=10100754043612439 > {Aug.04} Here's the answer to Kevin's video trivia question about speakers! LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php ?v=10100756448577869 > {Aug.06} Check out the cover story and great photos in this week's Las Vegas Magazine! LINK /// < http://lasvegasmagazine.com/gallery-viva-elvis/ > {Aug.16} Pictures from Elvis Week at VIVA ELVIS LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.10150252451824109.324236.167136344108&type=1 > {Aug.19} Check out this behind the scenes video from our friends at VEGAS.com LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/vegas#p/u/2/JTTnKt1VVDo > ---[ ZAIA ] --- {Aug.11} Hello ZAIA Fans!! This fanspage will be our official ZAIA fanspage from September 2011. There will have some surprises on the page by then! LINK /// < www.facebook.com/ZaiaCirque > ---[ ZARKANA ]--- {Aug.03} Zarkana premiere photos! FOTO [33] /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.214342041951026.62362.139797212738843&type=1 > {Aug.24} Zarkana themed food and beverages around NYC LINK /// < http://www.facebook.com/notes/zarkana-by-cirque- du-soleil/zarkana-themed-food-beverages-around- nyc/224885374230026 > {Aug.30} Get a free download today only of the Ralphi Rosario remix of "Whenever" from our show at MP3.com! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/ZRemix > ---[ ZUMANITY ]--- {Aug.08} We recently asked some audience members to describe Zumanity for us! Here's what they had to say! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coUNSZVtpTc > {Aug.16} Sexy fun at the ZU FOTOS /// < http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? set=a.10150284805583847.354583.13931088846&type=1 > {Aug.25} Ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at our sexy Midnight Bath act? Here our very talented artists Willie and Agnes take Vegas Minute's Denise Pernula on a wild ride in the tub! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/vegas > ======================================================================= COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN ======================================================================= o) DIDYAKNOW - Facts at a Glance about Cirque o) HISTORIA - Cirque du Soleil History --------------------------------- DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque --------------------------------- {"O"} o) Did you know it takes 1,450 gallons of fuel each year for the fire acts? o) Did you know each carousel horse in "O" weighs more than 900 lbs? o) Did you know the clown house weighs more than 7,000 lbs? o) Did you know that 1,800 towels are needed every night to do 2 performances of the show? o) Did you know all the props in the show are driven by performers or technicians? No tracks in the water are used to bring pieces on and off. o) Did you know that each performer in "O" has an average of 5 different looks they wear on stage? there are 3 to 5 copies of each of the costume items. With 85 performers in the show, this adds to thousands of costume pieces, wigs, masks, headpieces, etc. {Dralion} o) Over 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) of fabric were used in creating Dralion's costumes. The fabrics come from regions around the globe, including China, the United States, Italy, France, England and Quebec. o) To create the texture on the chest plate on the singer's Costume in Dralion, bugs were glued on and then molded into different shapes. o) Dralion has close to 1500 costume pieces including shoes, hats and accessories. o) Over 300 pairs of shoes are cleaned and painted by hand every week at Dralion. {IRIS} o) Did you know: around 2,000 brushes have been distributed to the 72 artists in IRIS to complete their make-up kits? That's 28 per person! o) IRIS features 8,300 square feet of floor surface, but that's the tip of the iceberg. o) Did you know that close to 50 people are involved in costume creations for IRIS? They develop all of the 200 costumes needed for the show. o) All together, the costume team for IRIS worked around 70,000 hours and they sewed more than one kilometer of fabric to deliver all the costumes. o) In order to prepare the space for the performances, IRIS required digging 40 feet underneath Kodak Theatre to install massive stage lifts. o) Jean-Francois Bouchard, Director of Creation for IRIS, joined Cirque du Soleil in 1998 to create the interior design of the boutique connected to Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba theater in Orlando. {KA} o) The Counselor's Son character has the most complex make-up application, involving 33 steps and 8 different brushes, 4 sponges, and 1 powder puff. o) Did you know the Sand Cliff Deck and Gantry Crane have a combined weight of approximately 280,000 pounds? That's 140 tons! {La Nouba} o) La Nouba celebrated its 8 millionth guest on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 6:00pm o) Did you know there are 10 bikes in La Nouba? 1 upside down bike, 1 blue bike on the stage during the high wire act, 1 penny farthing on the high wire, 3 bikes for Les Cons (the fourth one rides a scooter), 2 stunt bikes (mountain and BMX), 1 Little Walker's mini bike AND 1 unicycle on the back wall. {Mystere} o) The glue used on the Chinese Poles to give the artists a better grip when performing is made from 15 pounds of rosin rock and 8 bottles of castor oil melted together in a large pot. We go through 90 pounds of rosin rock and 768 ounces of castor oil per year! o) 22 miles of bungee cord are used in the show. {Quidam} o) There are approx 250 costumes, 500 costume accessories and 200 to 300 shoes in Quidam. o) Each Quidam artist has between 2 and 7 costumes o) The Quidam tour travels with washers and dryers to allow the wardrobe staff to care for the costumes. All costumes are washed daily. o) Eighty percent of the fabric used in Quidam's costumes is custom dyed. These fabrics are usually white and are hand-dyed and printed in custom colors in the Montreal costume workshop. {The Beatles LOVE} o) The Trains of Light, which are operated manually by technicians, drive within inches of a 20 foot drop. To ensure safety, the Trains have been fitted with a custom breaking system at the rear that will automatically engage if it senses the front of the train dropping off the stage. o) The smallest prop in the show is Sgt. Pepper's whistle! {Saltimbanco} o) Most artists in Saltimbanco have three to five costumes each which can include up to 12 individual pieces. o) There are more than 80 different kinds of buttons that are used to maintain the costumes on the Saltimbanco Arena tour. o) Over 2,500 costume items travel with Saltimbanco from city to city in more than 50 road cases and one complete van to bring everything they need to destination. o) There are more than 250 pairs of custom-made shoes for Saltimbanco. Shoes for the Chinese pole act are repainted before each performance. {Viva ELVIS} o) The drummers in our live band go through 7,550 drum sticks and 2,500 drum heads a year, while the guitarists use 7,000 guitar strings every year. {ZED} o) Our high wire artist Pedro Carrillo holds an amazing Guinness world record for "The most consecutive turns skipping with a rope on a high-wire" {ZUMANITY} o) Did you know 136 yards of silk is required to make one of the large red capes? We rotate capes for the show and nine are always kept active. That means more than 1,200 yards of silk is needed to keep the show running at any given time. o) 3,460 hand strung beads are used for ONE Dance Bead costume! o) 23 different types of stones for a total of 3,316 stones are used on the bra cubs for the La Muerte bra! ------------------------------------ HISTORIA: Cirque du Soleil History ------------------------------------ * Sep.01.2003 -- Tapis Rouge CD released (BMG/CDS Musique) * Sep.01.2003 -- "Parade of Colors" Book Published * Sep.01.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Berlin, DE * Sep.01.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Kamloops, BC * Sep.02.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Albany, NY * Sep.03.1987 -- Le Cirque Réinventé opened Las Angeles * Sep.03.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Boston * Sep.03.2009 -- Ovo opened Toronto, ON * Sep.03.2010 -- Quidam opened Lima, PE * Sep.04.2002 -- Saltimbanco opened Brussels * Sep.04.2008 -- Koozå opened Boston * Sep.05.2005 -- Cirque held 5th Run Away with Cirque du Soleil 5k Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk at Paseo Verde Park * Sep.06.2005 -- "O" CD released in US (CDS Musique) * Sep.06.2005 -- La Nouba CD released in US (CDS Musique) * Sep.06.2005 -- Mystère (Live) CD released in US (CDS Musique) * Sep.08.1985 -- 1984 Tour opened Montréal * Sep.08.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Santa Monica * Sep.08.1995 -- Alegría opened Boston * Sep.08.2005 -- Dralion opened Zurich * Sep.08.2006 -- Corteo opened Boston * Sep.08.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Munich, DE * Sep.08.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Victoria, BC * Sep.09.1988 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Washington DC * Sep.09.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened in Boston * Sep.09.1999 -- Saltimbanco opened in Perth * Sep.09.2005 -- Quidam opened Singapore * Sep.09.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Syracuse, NY * Sep.09.2009 -- Name of CirqueVaudeville Released [Banana Shpeel] * Sep.09.2010 -- OVO opened Washington, DC * Sep.11.1990 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened San Jose * Sep.11.2008 -- Quidam opened Barcelona, Spain * Sep.12.1986 -- Le Magie Continue opened Toronto * Sep.12.1997 -- Alegría opened Vienna * Sep.12.2003 -- Varekai opened Los Angeles * Sep.12.2005 -- Zumanity celebrated its 1000th performance * Sep.13.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened Chicago * Sep.13.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened Zurich * Sep.14.2001 -- Quidam opened Zurich * Sep.14.2007 -- Alegría opened Curitiba, Brazil * Sep.14.2010 -- Banana Shpeel opened San Francisco, CA * Sep.15.1995 -- Saltimbanco opened Düsseldorf * Sep.15.2002 -- Fire Within premiered in Canada [7:00pm EST/Global TV] * Sep.15.2005 -- Name of "Cirque MGM" released - KÀ * Sep.15.2008 -- Mystère celebrated 7,000th performance [9:30pm] * Sep.15.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Milan, IT * Sep.15.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Tacoma, WA * Sep.16.2004 -- Varekai opened Washington DC * Sep.16.2008 -- Corteo opened Ottawa * Sep.16.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Amherst, NY * Sep.16.2010 -- Koozå opened Calgary, AB * Sep.17.1998 -- Alegría opened Zurich * Sep.17.1998 -- Quidam opened McLean * Sep.17.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena Tour Begins in Europe * Sep.17.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Stockholm, SE * Sep.17.2009 -- Dralion opened Monterrey, Mexico * Sep.17.2010 -- Varekai opened Zurich, CH * Sep.18.2009 -- Quidam opened Brasilia, Brazil * Sep.19.2002 -- Varekai opened Philadelphia * Sep.19.2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Zurich * Sep.20.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Santa Monica * Sep.20.2001 -- Saltimbanco opened Yokohama * Sep.20.2003 -- Zumanity Gala Premiere (Previews End) * Sep.21.2001 -- Saltimbanco opened in Yokohama * Sep.21.2001 -- Alegría celebrated 2,500th performance [Brisbane] * Sep.21.2003 -- Cirque wins Outstanding Nonfiction Program award * Sep.21.2004 -- "Le Best of..." CD Released (CDS Musique) * Sep.22.2002 -- Cirque lost Emmys (nominated Jul.18.2002) Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special - Alegría Outstanding Choreography for 74th Academy Awards - Debra Brown * Sep.22.2005 -- Varekai opened Hartford * Sep.22.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Zargoza, ES * Sep.22.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Spokane, WA * Sep.23.1999 -- Dralion opened in Santa Monica * Sep.23.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Helsinki, FI * Sep.23.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Rochester, NY * Sep.24.2008 -- Cirque2009 tickets go on sale! * Sep.25.2005 -- Corteo opened Minneapolis * Sep.25.1996 -- Quidam opened in Santa Monica * Sep.25.2002 -- Cirquedusoleil.com won four awards for its website: "Best of Show", "Experience", "Content & Information", "Experimental" * Sep.25.2008 -- Varekai opened Vienna, Austria * Sep.26.2002 -- Quidam opened Cleveland * Sep.27.1994 -- Alegría CD released in Canada (RCA/Victor) * Sep.27.2001 -- Dralion opened in Philadelphia * Sep.27.2003 -- Cirque du Soleil HQ Open House * Sep.28.2003 -- Cirque du Soleil HQ Open House * Sep.28.2006 -- Quidam opened St. Louis * Sep.29.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Granada, ES * Sep.30.1997 -- Quidam opened Denver * Sep.30.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Turku, FI * Sep.30.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened State College, PA * Sep.30.2009 -- Guy Laliberté, Cosmonaut! ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) "The KÀ App for Android - a Quick Review" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) o) "CirqueCon Update #6 - We Have a Group Meal!" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) "Remembering ZED: A Timeless Evocation" Part 1 of 4 - "The Meeting of Two Worlds" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) --------------------------------------------------------- "The KÀ App for Android - a Quick Review" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) --------------------------------------------------------- On Tuesday, August 17th, a tweet from Cirque du Soleil regarding a new app resource came across my mobile phone that piqued my general interest. Usually I ignore those messages because although Google's Android is one of the most popular mobile phone platforms world-wide now, Cirque du Soleil and its mobile partners seem to develop only for the iOS platform, the platform for Apple's iPhone and iPad series of devices. What, we on Android are second-class citizens? Not so! So when this tweet suggested there was indeed a Cirque app now available for the Android platform... "@Cirque: We've got 3 options for KA apps now! iPad (http://t.co/VTM3vUo), Android (http://t.co/VTM3vUo) & iPhone (http://t.co/kH9cY5q)" As an owner of an HTC EVO, I took quite an interest and downloaded the app. Here's what I found: Hitting the Menu key on your phone brings up four options: SHARE THIS APP, GENERAL SETTINGS, SEARCH and ACCOUNTS. SHARE THIS APP gives you the option to shave via SMS, Twitter or Facebook. SEARCH brings up a general search bar. ACCOUNTS will allow you to sign-in to either your Facebook or Twitter profiles (no doubt for ease of sharing), and it's relatively simple to set-up. And GENERAL SETTINGS contains your basic operations, such as turning on/off: push notifications, direct messaging, email updates, and location services. And if you happen to be on another page, the "Share this App" button becomes HOME. On the Homescreen you have: CIRQUE NEWS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS, FAN WALL, ABOUT KA, KA CHARACTERS, QR SCANNER, MY PROFILE and CIRQUECLUB on the first home screen, and TOP USERS, FAVORITES and COPYRIGHT on the second home screen as options to choose from. CIRQUE NEWS - is not what I expected at first blush. I thought perhaps this would be a RSS feed from CirqueClub or some other aggregation with Cirque-based headlines available to read. What it is, however, is a tweetdeck featuring all tweets where Cirque du Soleil (@Cirque) is mentioned, or tweets @Cirque themselves sends out into the twitterverse. Options to select ALL TWEETS, OFFICIAL and MENTIONS exist for further organization. Although just incorporating twitter feeds, this is a nice feature to have if you don't have a Twitter account. VIDEOS - at the time of review, the video's section of the app only has four options to choose from: "Inside KA at G4", "Make-Up Tutorial", "Extreme Engineering" and "Trailer". The "Inside KA at G4" option opens up two videos: "Airbag Training" and "Battle Wall". "Make-up Tutorial" opens up a native video called "KA: All Made Up". "Extreme Engineering" opens up a video on the engineering behind KA. And "Trailer" is, of course, the official Cirque du Soleil trailer for the show. PHOTOS - this section offers a number of photo categories for you to choose from, opening up your selection natively in the app: CHARACTERS, CREATIVE STORYBOARDS, BACKSTAGE, LIVE AT MGM GRAND, and SCENES FROM KA. FAN WALL - is exactly what it sounds. Similar to the Facebook Wall, where friends and family post comments about their general life, you can do the same about KA right here through the app. There are a few comments out there today and like the old CirqueClub forum, open to any topic. Don't expect more than you'd see on an average Facebook wall here. ABOUT KA - takes us to a page full of text from Cirque du Soleil's press release on the show, giving us a brief overview of the concept, acts, plot and the company at large. KA CHARACTERS - is a visual listing of the myriad of characters that exist in the world of KA. Although laid out like a photo album (each character is on one screen, with its name below), running your finger over the picture will take you to another screen where the character's motivation (aka description) is foretold. And, unfortunately, there is a tab where you can leave comments about the character (much like the Fan Wall). QR SCANNER - is obviously to be used in conjunction with Cirque du Soleil and the show KA; however, it is just a generic scanner option. MY PROFILE - takes you to the before-mentioned profile options, allowing you to connect with either your Facebook or Twitter accounts (or both!). CIRQUE CLUB - This is an option that takes you to an in-app page for you to sign up for CirqueClub announcements via email, regrettably, not a link to a mobile version of the Cirque Club site or an aggregation of its content in-app. Of all the options available in the app that had the most promise, this one was it, and there's just nothing to it. TOP USERS - is a section that breaks down the app's top users in Daily, Weekly, Monthly and All Time categories. This is interesting because users actually earn points for just about everything they do in the app (so the more you do the more you earn) and when you fulfill certain activities (like commenting, sharing and the like), users earn specific badges (like Gowalla, FourSquare and GetGlue) that can also be shared and displayed. FAVORITES - is a place where all the topics you "hearted" are saved. As I didn't "heart" any, there weren't any for me to see. But should you choose to do so (no doubt earning you points and badges in the process), they'll be displayed here. COPYRIGHT - Last, but not least, the generic copyright page. It's so generic I'm surprised anyone bothered to make it an option from the home screen menus, but there you have it. The application, developed by Mobile Roadie, can be currently found in the Android Marketplace - it's 2.44 MB in size and is currently sporting version 0.1.3.1. It's free so if you have an Android-based phone, love KA and enjoy interacting with the show as much as possible, this app is for you. Enjoy! --------------------------------------------------------- "CirqueCon 2011 Update #6 - We Have a Group Meal!" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) --------------------------------------------------------- Greetings, Passionates! We want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to our poll about where to eat. In an interesting turn (though perhaps not, considering Cirque Passionates? lack of hesitation to spend money) though we presented options at several different price points it turned out the most expensive option was the most popular. So, as on America's Got Talent, we will go with America's decision! More on that below. HAVE YOU GOT YOUR ROOMS/TICKETS - Our exclusive deals for tickets and hotel rooms are still available, through the links we've sent to members previously (see more about our deals at our website, www.cirquecon.com ). Don't wait too much longer before reserving, when the hotel reaches a certain occupancy level the offer will expire. ANNOUNCING OUR GROUP MEAL! - One of the highlights of CirqueCon is when Cirque fans gather at a local eating establishment, enjoying a meal and getting acquainted (or re-acquainted) with each other. It's something that brings us together as a community. In looking for a restaurant to hold our Group Meal, we looked at all the restaurants in the Hollywood & Highland complex (www.hollywoodandhighland.com) as well as the block surrounding it, providing several options at several price points to you, our members, for input. YOUR CHOICE? ------------ THE GRILL ON HOLLYWOOD < http://thegrill.com/locations/the-grill-on-hollywood > 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, #407 Hollywood, CA 90028 323-856-5530 They are located on the fourth floor of the Hollywood & Highland complex. The entrance to the Kodak Theatre is on the second floor. HOW MUCH? --------- PRICE - $59.00 EACH, $61.00 EACH VIA PAYPAL. This includes food, beverage, gratuity and tax. (Instructions on how to reserve a space below.) THE FOOD? --------- The menu is: Starter: Caesar Salad - romaine, parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, ceasar dressing Main Course (choose one of these): o) Chicken Piccata - chicken breast medallions, lemon butter caper sauce, chef vegetable o) Charbroiled Atlantic Salmon - salsa fresca, chef vegetable o) Charbroiled Skirt Steak - marinated in citrus juices, soy sauce and special seasonings, chef vegetable o) A vegetarian option available upon request Dessert: Fresh Baked Cobbler - whipped cream Drink: House Brewed Ice Tea, Coffee, Hot Tea or Soft Drink (Coke, Diet Coke or Sprite). Refills are free. Beer ($6-7), wine ($9) or mixed drinks ($8-11) are on your own. We will be sitting in a glassed-off section of the restaurant near the back (check out the ?360-degree virtual tour? on the website. HOW TO PAY: ----------- We accept Check, Money Order, International Money Order (in USD) and PayPal. Note that due to PayPal's fee structure the cost will be higher through PayPal than by other means. ** CREDIT CARD via PAYPAL. We have our PAYPAL account for those that wish to pay via credit card. Please send $61.00 USD per person to PAYPAL account Hollywood@cirquecon.com . Be sure to also advise us of your entrée selection. ** By CHECK, MONEY ORDER, OR INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDER (in USD). Please send $59.00 USD per person. Be sure to also advise us of your entrée selection. Checks should be made out and sent to: Keith Johnson 31241 4th Avenue South Federal Way, WA 98003-5203 DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 (the day before Thanksgiving). So there ya go. All of the major pieces of CirqueCon are now in place: our Hotel, Ticket Deal and now Group Meal. Now we start the countdown to another wonderful weekend! Thank you again for believing in us. In the meantime, Live Passionately! Keith, Lucy and Ricky Your CirqueCon '11: Hollywood! Team www.cirquecon.com Hollywood@cirquecon.com --------------------------------------------------------- "Remembering ZED: A Timeless Evocation" Part 1 of 4 - "The Meeting of Two Worlds" By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) --------------------------------------------------------- Shocking news hit the Cirque du Soleil fandom around Noon on Sunday, July 24th- ZED, Cirque du Soleil's resident show in Tokyo, Japan would cease operations and close as of December 31, 2011 - and it was the proverbial shot heard around the world for Cirque fans. It was no surprise to learn that ticket sales and attendance had plummeted since the 2011 Tokoku earthquake and tsunami, and Oriental Land Company (OLC), Cirque du Soleil's partner in Japan, said the decision to close the show amounted to just that - low attendance and a bleak overall outlook on the show's future. Thankfully this will not be the last time we hear from the world of ZED, as pieces of the show will be salvaged and used to upgrade VIVA ELVIS and MYSTERE on the Las Vegas Strip. While we absorb the full impact and meaning of this closure, and contemplate the knowledge that we may never again see ZED staged whole, I'd like to take a moment to reflect upon my experience with ZED and highlight the fascinating characters and acts we'll now miss once the final curtain is called. * * * "Hey, I saw you guys running around before the start of the show... what happened?" With only a few moments to spare before the curtain would again rise on ZED, Cirque du Soleil's then newest resident production in Tokyo, Japan, my friend (and fellow Cirque du Soleil fan) Rich Alford and I entered the theater complex on the afternoon of November 8, 2008 in triumph, though huffing and puffing from the rather long and extensive walk we took from inside this beautiful gem in Disney's resort crown, located at 1-1 Maihama, Urayasu-shi, Chiba-ken - DisneySEA. Tokyo DisneySEA, which is a take on DisneyLAND, opened next to Tokyo Disneyland Park on September 4, 2001 at a cost of ¥338 Billion, and is divided into seven "ports of call", or themed lands, containing a number of unique as well as time-honored Disney attractions: Mediterranean Harbor (offering the old-world charm of a romantic southern European seaport as its backdrop), Mysterious Island (a very foreboding, rocky and devoid place set within a South Pacific volcanic caldera of the 1860s - "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth" attractions are here), Mermaid Lagoon (a whimsical "under the sea" world of fun and play with Ariel, the little mermaid), Arabian Coast (harking back 10 centuries to the mysterious enchantment of Arabian Nights - "Sinbad's Seven Voyages", "Caravan Carousel" and "Aladdin" are here), Lost River Delta (the foreboding jungles of Central America in the 1930s on the shores of El Rio Perdido, the ‘Lost River' - "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull" and "Mystic Rhythms" attractions are here), Port Discovery (the marina of the future as inspired by the futuristic writings of Jules Verne as sseen from the 1800s - "StormRider" and "Aquatopia" can be found here), and American Waterfront (which recreates two distinct American harbors at the dawn of the 20th Century - New York and Cape Cod; "The Tower of Terror" can be found here.) Styles, themes, attitude, atmosphere and ambiance of each land are all richly invoked and distinctly themed to the likes I've never before seen in a Disney Park. You'll literally lose yourself within it - I know I have - and enjoyed every moment doing so, as if I were a kid in a candy store! I could wax poetic about this park, and have on multiple occasions in the past, but there just isn't time for that here. Getting back on point, we found ourselves at Tokyo DisneySEA, that morning as hosts to a CirqueCon lunch for a table of eight patrons at Magellan's, a fantastic exploration-themed restaurant under the golden globe of Fortress Explorations, the citadel anchoring Mediterranean Harbor on the foothills of Mount Prometheus, the park's signature volcanic icon. The atmosphere of the restaurant recalls the glory days of oceanic explorers, with a deeply detailed décor that screams refinement, but the food is distinctly western. CirqueCon held three tables for lunch for the maximum accompaniment (eight), at three different times: 11:00am, 12:00pm and 1:00pm. Rich and I hosted a table of 8 at 11:00am, Keith hosted at Noon and Lucy at 1:00pm. Heather & Jim and the Duval party made up our eight; it was a great time to socialize. Rich and I chose the early table so we would be free to attend ZED's early show, and once the hour struck Noon, we were on our way to the Cirque du Soleil Theater as soon as we could say our goodbyes (likely we'd not see many of these people again on this trip) and make our way over. But I'm getting ahead of myself. CirqueCon - the Unofficial Gatherings of Cirque du Soleil Passionates - is a fan-organized assembly of like-minded individuals who share a singular passion: that of the Québécois circus arts. Our humble story began with fans proposing a small gathering in 2004 during the Vancouver run of Quidam, a show which had just delighted audiences throughout the Japan the year prior. Add a little ingenuity and hard work by the fans, and a touch of folly from Cirque du Soleil and viola - CirqueCon came to be. While the tale of our genesis is somewhat more complicated than just a "coming together", since our inaugural event we've made similar journeys across the continent seeking out our favorite avant-garde circus whenever possible. It's a drive which has taken us to a number of cities across two continents: Vancouver (2004), Montreal (2005), Las Vegas (2006), Orlando (2007), Tokyo (2008), Monterrey (2009), New York City & Montreal (2010) and Hollywood (2011). When the announcement that Cirque du Soleil was creating a new resident show specifically crafted for and performed exclusively to audiences in Japan fell upon the council chambers at CirqueCon (of which I am a founding member), we knew exactly where our group was headed in 2008: Tokyo! Thus ZED, the name of this new creation, became the impetus for yet another return to the Land of the Rising Sun. Although the lunch at Magellan's was not the last official CirqueCon outing of the weekend - most of the important activities having occurred the day before - it was also not the last. The day before we held a Meet & Greet at our Headquarters Hotel (the Tokyo Disneyland Hilton) from 10:00a - 11:30a, allowing Passionates to mingle with one another; followed by a Training Session/Q&A at the Cirque Theater from 2:30p - 3:30p, Inside we watched a rehearsal with members from the artistic staff to explain what was going on (which wasn't necessary - we know a flying trapeze when we see it!), but we did appreciate the time spent with us answering our questions and pandering to our curiosity about all things Cirque; then a Group meal at the Ikispari Rainforest Café from 4:00p - 6:00p, set by ourselves in the "Cave" room; ZED from 7:00p - 9:45p, a show that completely exceeded my expectations; and lastly, a Group Photo with some of the cast and crew atop the stage just after the show bows. Good stuff! Despite our hurried nature, as both Rich and I looked very much forward to our second performance of the show (we, of course, attended the official CirqueCon performance the previous evening), we paused in the sprawling lobby only to compose ourselves before entering through the portal gates and into the theater proper. After gaining control of our heaving chests, we entered the theater, spotting a number of our friends from various corners of the North American continent - Wayne Leung from Ottawa, Canada; Rodolfo Elizondo from Monterrey, Mexico; Heather Smith & Jim Strain from New York City, USA and many, more. But what we never expected was to spot someone sitting comfortably in our seats. With a quick glance at our tickets, our worst fears were realized... "Oh man, these are not our tickets!" The billets issued to Rich upon arrival were not only not from the show we had requested - today's 2:00pm performance - rather, they were for the later 6:00pm time-slot, a time we couldn't see the show! They weren't even in Rich's name! With only a few short minutes before the start of the show we were at a loss of what to do. Figuring out that we received the wrong person's tickets, we dashed down to guest services to try and straighten things out. Had we been in America, the urgency wouldn't be quite as pressing, but here in Japan, where everything is virtually lost in translation, what should have been a simple check at the box office turned into a very stressful fiasco for all parties involved. Unfortunately the theater folks did not understand our sense of urgency - the show would be starting any minute and someone was in our seats! - nor did they seem to comprehend we paid for tickets to that particular showing. "It's all sold out," we were advised, over and over. We knew that, of course. That's why we bought tickets in advance. With about a minute before curtain call and with the box office on the phone to Kyoko Hasegawa (our friendly contact at Cirque Tokyo), we dashed back into the theater advising them we were going to take a set of secondary seats they offered us while it all got straightened out. We weren't about to miss the opening of the show! And we didn't... they found us another set of alternative seats, which we took quickly, settling down to gaze over the white canvas that keeps the world of ZED tightly wrapped. TO BE CONTINUED... Next time: we'll take a peek behind "the vortex" and discover a little bit about ZED's performance space. ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly publication, available through subscription via the World Wide Web in text format at the newsletter's website: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. To subscribe, please visit our website and enter your name and email address in the "About Fascination" box and press Subscribe. You,ll receive an email to confirm your selection. Once confirmed you,ll be added to our mailing list. To Subscribe via Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News) use the following: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >. To view back issues, or other online Newsletter content, please visit us at: < http://www.CirqueFascination.com/ >. Join us on the web at: < www.cirquefascination.com > Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Volume 11, Number 9 (Issue #92) - September 2011 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2011 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.02.2011 } =======================================================================