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Cirque du Soleil

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Cirque du Soleil (French for "Circus of the Sun") is an entertainment empire based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and founded in Quebec in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier. It was an answer to a call by Commissariat général aux célébrations 1534–1984 of the Quebec Government for the 450th anniversary celebration of the arrival of French explorer Jacques Cartier (1491–1557) to Canada. Gauthier, who left the company in 2001, now owns the ski area Le Massif, on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. Cirque du Soleil is now "guided" by Laliberté.

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[edit] Overview

It has been described as the modern circus, and focuses upon a storyline as well as amazing performances. It has several resident and touring troupes and draws heavily from the circus tradition. Emphasizing the use of humans as performers, Cirque du Soleil does not make use of animals. Instead, its performances combine elements of street performances and busking, circus, opera, ballet, and rock music. Acts include contortionists, jugglers, feats of strength, clowning, and trapeze artists. Their costumes are very colorful. Cirque shows do not use pre-recorded music; all music is played live, and in many performances the spoken parts are done in Cirquish, an imaginary language invented by the company.

Cirque shows begin as a creative concept, usually with elements of a central story line, a design concept and the selection of a composer for the music. These elements remain relatively constant throughout the production run of a given show.

However, the shows also include both "house" and "guest" acts. House acts are performed by the full-time cast members, some whom may be involved in several routines. Not all prepared routines are presented in every performance. Guest acts rotate in and out over the run of the show (clowns are typically guest acts). As a result, Cirque shows can vary somewhat performance to performance, and shows tend to evolve over time. Cirque creators borrow from some of circus's earliest forms (for example, banquine and teeterboard acts) but also regularly introduce new apparatus. For example, Cirque introduced the use of bungee cords to aerial acts and created a modified tumbling trampoline called a Power Track, both of which have since been adopted by other circuses.

Cirque du Soleil recruits acts from different world circuses, including from China and Russia, blending them into their own style.

Among veteran circus performers, Cirque is regarded as one of the world's best circuses, due to higher than normal pay scales and benefits.

Cirque du Soleil has produced a number of performance DVDs and soundtrack CDs.

The troupe was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

[edit] Productions

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[edit] Touring productions

The show is set to retire in December 2006, with a final performance in Brazil. It may continue touring after that date in an arena-format.

[edit] Arena tour

This is a live music concert. Not a traditional Cirque show that plays over multiple weeks in a city at a time under their trademark Big Top tent, this is a multimedia/theatrical production that features remixes of existing Cirque music and reinterpretations of performances. It plays in arenas for one or two nights at a time before moving to the next location.Cirque du soleil's touring show Saltimbanco will become an arena show after its last show in Brazil.

[edit] Resident productions

The resident shows have established homes in two of the entertainment centers of the United States: Las Vegas, Nevada, and Orlando, Florida.

[edit] Future productions

  • April 2007: A new touring show is in development at Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters and is scheduled to premiere in Montréal. The name has yet to be announced. According to their website The Mystic Pixies a group of four teenage contortionists will be a part of this show.
  • Winter 2007: A new theatrical show will take place at Madison Square Garden's Theatre at Madison Square Garden. This "winter"-themed production will run for ten weeks each winter, from 2007-2011.<ref>MSG press release</ref>
  • Spring 2008: Cirque du Soleil will open a new show in a brand new location: The Venetian Macau, on the Cotai Strip. The deal was made with Las Vegas Sands.[citation needed]
  • November 2009: The Elvis Presley Projects. CKX, the company that owns the rights to Elvis Presley's name, likeness, and music publishing has signed an agreement to have Cirque create Elvis-themed permanent shows and multimedia presentations. <ref>PR Release for Elvis Presley Projects</ref>. This production is slated for Las Vegas' proposed "Project CityCenter"<ref>Press release containing future Cirque show information</ref>. The Elvis Presley Projects will include additional touring and permanent shows, along with "Elvis Experiences" (interactive multimedia exhibits). One touring Elvis show is planned for Europe/Asia in 2008, with one "Elvis Experience" outside the United States. One new Elvis Presley Project will open each year from 2009-2015.<ref>Cirque's Elvis Press Release</ref>
  • Date unknown: Cirque du Soleil has proposed a latin-themed show in the renovated Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami. <ref>News article about proposed Miami show</ref>. The signing of the show to play in the theatre is contingent on contract negotiation. Clear Channel/ Live Nation has retired from that project, so it's unknown if Cirque du Soleil will continue working on the deal.<ref>Update on Miami Cirque production</ref>

[edit] Past productions and tours

  • Le Grand Tour: 1984-1985 An answer to a call by Commissariat Général Aux Célébrations 1534-1984 of the Quebec Government for the 450th anniversary of the discovery of Canada by French explorer Jacques Cartier (b 1491-d 1557). Starting in Gaspé Canada June 1984 and ended in Montréal September 1985.
  • La Magie Continue: 1986 With Momentum from "Le Grand Tour", Cirque revamped the show and gave it a new name and once again toured Canada.
  • Le Cirque Réinventé: 1987-1990 Starting in La Salle in May 1987 and ending in Paris at the end of December 1990
  • Nouvelle Expérience: 1990-1993 Starting in Montréal May 1990 and ending November 1993 after a 1 year long stay under Le Grand Chapiteau on the grounds at The Mirage resort in Las Vegas, NV.
  • Fascination: 1992 A one nation tour lasting just over 3 months touring Japan from May 1992 through the end of August 1992.

It included a compilation of the most popular actsfrom previous shows.

[edit] Other projects

  • Cirque Du Monde, a social action project, designed to reach marginalized youth.
  • Revolution, a lounge concept designed for The Mirage resort in Las Vegas.
  • A Taste of Cirque du Soleil, a special 30-minute performance on the Constellation and Summit Celebrity Cruises cruise ships. Included on these ships is The Bar of the Edge of the Earth a dream-like bar/lounge/disco.
  • Midnight Sun, a one-night-only show performed live at the Montréal International Jazz Festival on July 11th, 2004.
  • Cirque du Soleil Collection, a ready-to-wear women's clothing line.

[edit] Film projects

  • Alegría (1998) - Not a performance film, but has a plot loosely based around the touring production of the same name.
  • Journey of Man (2000) - An all-star team on acts from various Cirque shows including Mystère and Quidam.

[edit] Television projects

  • Fire Within (2003) - A 13-episode inside look into the creation and production of Varekai.
  • Solstrom (2004) - A 13-episode series using various acts from Cirque du Soleil and other productions. Each episode has a different theme.

[edit] Cirque du Soleil in popular culture

  • In an episode of Northern Exposure, a human-only circus, complete with a mime comes to town and a full scene of the artists is shown with Cirque du Soleil - Bolero playing in the background.
  • In an episode of The Simpsons entitled "Skinner's Sense of Snow" Cirque du Soleil was parodied with the name "Cirque du Purée".
  • In an episode of South Park entitled "Quintuplets 2000", Cirque du Soleil was parodied with the name Cirque Du Cheville ('Circus of the Horse', even though 'cheval' is french for horse, not 'cheville' which is ankle).
  • In the TV special It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Cirque du Soleil was parodied with the name "Cirque du So Lamé."
  • In an episode of Yes, Dear, Greg, Jimmy, and Gregg's dad Tom go to Las Vegas and Greg gets tickets for Cirque du Soleil. However, they never actually go.
  • In an episode of Knowing Me Knowing You With Alan Partridge, the studio was visited by "Cirque des Clunes". Partridge branded their antics "a disgrace."
  • In an episode of Arrested Development, attorney Wayne Jarvis is asked whether he is serious. He answers "Almost always. I was once described as the worst audience participant Cirque du Soleil ever had."
  • In the computer game Myth II: Soulblighter, a team entered the 2001 Myth World Cup under the name "Cirque du Soulblighter."
  • In an episode of Judging Amy a boy dreams of becoming a Cirque du Soleil performer.
  • On an episode of the semifinals of America's Got Talent, Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity gave a performance. Also, in the season 1 finale, Gene Lucas, the Artistic Director of Zumanity Cirque du Soleil served as the coach for the acrobatic finalist team Realis. <ref>Gene Lucas coach in America's Got Talent </ref>
  • In an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation entitled "Built To Kill, Part 1 (CSI episode)", Cirque du Soleil was focus of a murder investigation.
  • Comedian Kathy Griffin often mentions Cirque du Soleil in her acts
  • In an episode of Corner Gas titled "Two Degrees of Separation", Davis, while wearing platform boots, asks Lacey if he looks funny; she replies that he doesn't... if he's part of Cirque du Soleil.
  • In an episode of The Drew Carey Show where Drew is in Las Vegas, a woman stands outside the hotel scalping tickets for Cirque Du Soleil.

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

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