An Inside Look at JOYÀ A Gem in the Mangrove Jungle

TCF!A Cirque du Soleil Fan Magazine

CIRQUE BUZZ NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS

ITINÉRAIRE TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION

OUTREACH UPDATES FROM CIRQUE'S SOCIAL WIDGETS

FASCINATION! FEATURES "INSIDE JOYÀ, THE PEARL IN THE MANGROVE

JUNGLE"

BY: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PRESS ROOM MATERIALS

"PREVIEW: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL 30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT”

BY: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PRESS ROOM MATERIALS

COPYRIGHT & DISCLAIMER

CON

TENT

S

Welcome to the latest edition of TheChapiteau Fascination! Magazine.

We've come to the end of another year and while we'd normally be

settling in for some time with family and friends, for Cirque du Soleil they're

still hard at work. Case in point: the announcements just keep on coming!

Last month we were introduced to three new and interesting concepts: "Allavita", a unique show concept by Cirque's Events and Projects team to be presented during the Universal Expo in Milan next year. Saban Brands and Cirque finally unveiled their first collaborative effort since joining forces last year - a TV co-production called "Luna Petunia", a pre-school series inspired by the Cirque. And then came "Creactive", a partnership with Club Med to dream up the ultimate circus-inspired playground in Punta Cana, featuring unique activities inspired by the wondrous and unexpected world of Cirque du Soleil.

This on top of earlier news that Cirque and Director James Cameron were working to bring his film/world AVATAR to arenas world-wide.

Well, we have one more to add to that - and it's a doozy.

On November 12th, Cirque and partner Grupo Vidanta announced plans for a first-of-its-kind immersive experience in Nuevo Vallarta... A CIRQUE DU SOLEIL THEME PARK! The park, which is still in development, looks to include a water park, a nature center, and various outdoor venues for Cirque-branded performances. (Could we see ZED, ZAIA, or IRIS return here?) The Park announcement came on the eve of the launch of JOYÀ, the intimate and immersive theatrical and culinary experience developed by Cirque and Grupo Vidanta for the Riviera Maya. I almost hate to ask what's next!

But what's next appears to be performance changes to some of Cirque’s veteran shows in Las Vegas.

According to the press in Las Vegas, Zumanity is getting a massive overhaul come January 3rd: all of its dance cast has been rumored to have been given pink slips. Only the buxom Botero Sisters, Eddie (the host), the sex straps solo act, and the comedy duo will remain with the show. And over at LOVE, the show's "Soundscape" is under review. Giles Martin, the son of Beatles producer George Martin, is being re-recruited to update the music of the show. Whether or not this update will include "Girls" and "Fool on the Hill", which were released as special

edition tracks on iTunes when the LOVE CD was released there, is as yet unknown. Cirque also appears to be changing up many of its resident shows schedules. At present time, Mystère, "O", La Nouba and Zarkana will retain their current performance schedules (showtimes, days, and dark dates will remain the s a m e i n 2015 as seen in 2 0 1 4 ) ; h o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e c h a n g e s a f o o t f o r Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE, Cr i s s Angel BELIEVE, a n d M i c h a e l J a c k s o n O N E . Dark Da tes f o r 2015 and Added Performances have also been included in this issue - see the Itinéraire section of this issue for further detailed information on these changes.

Also, although many of us weren't at JOYÀ's premiere (in f a c t n o n e o f u s f r o m Fascination or TheChapiteau could make the journey), thanks to Cirque du Soleil we catch a glimpse of what makes the show tick in "An Inside Look at JOYÀ, The Pearl in a Mangrove Jungle", which collects a couple of their Press Room documents (and other releases) for your reading pleasure. There's also a small preview of the 30th Anniversary Concert planned for the second-half of December -if you're in Montreal be sure to catch it!

So, let's get started!

ZUMANITY at NY-NY:

2014: Friday - Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday

Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm

2015: Tuesday - Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday

Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm

KÀ at MGM GRAND:

2014: Tuesday - Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday

Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm

2015:

Saturday - Wednesday, Dark Thursday/Friday

Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm

THE BEATLES LOVE:

2014: Thursday - Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday

Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm

2015: Thursday - Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday

Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm

CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE:

2014: Friday - Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday

Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm

2015: Wednesday - Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday

Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm

MICHAEL JACKSON ONE:

2014: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Fri

Two Shows Nightly: 7:00pm and 10:00pm

2015: Friday - Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday

Schedule: 7:00pm & 9:30pm on Fr, Sa, Mo & Tu

4:30pm & 7:00pm on Sunday

-Ricky “Richasi” RussoFascination! Newsletter

CIRQUE BUZZ NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS

The last time “Mindfreak” magician Criss Angel attempted an impossible straightjacket escape suspended 75 feet in the air with a 50-pound weight hung around his neck, he was seriously injured. MMA Hall of Famer Randy Couture even trained him to prevent Criss from falling unconscious.

Ten thousand spectators in Times Square watched in horror as he re-created the Houdini Death Escape suspended upside down from the noose. Although he is the only person to ever be successful in the escape, Criss paid a huge price ripping his right bicep off the bone and with shoulder tears in two places on his right shoulder.

It took doctors hours of surgery and seven screw anchors to repair the damage. Criss was forced into seven months of physical therapy, and his Cirque du Soleil show “Believe” at the Luxor was temporarily halted. Now he’s going to attempt it again.

Next Tuesday, Nov. 11, on Veterans Day, he will perform the premiere of his new stage production “Mindfreak Live!” at Foxwoods casino, as we reported last week, in Connecticut where his former Luxor boss, Felix Rappaport, is now COO.

SOURCE: Las Vegas SunPHOTO: Matthew Burke © APWI

COSTUME: Meredith Caron

Cr i s s Angel to Attempt A n o t h e r Deadly Escape

New Casino + Cirque for Ibiza Gran Hotel?

Voted 6th best hotel in the World back in 2011 by Trivago

travel and hotel website, Ibiza Gran Hotel is once again in

the headlines as negotiations continue for a new, ‘advanced’

casino to be added to the existing hotel premises.

Plans include moving the location of the current main casino

building to a new, purpose built space that will be linked by

a corridor to the hotel itself. Ambitious plans for the brand

new casino include incorporation of a restaurant and high-

tech performance space along with refurbishment,

redecoration and a new zone for slot-machines.

The project is the result of a collaboration between the hotel

and casino owners, along with acclaimed restauranteurs and

brothers Albert y Ferran Adrià, widely said to have

revolutionised the World of international cuisine and Ibiza

resident and owner of Cirque du Soleil, Mr Guy Laliberté.

The Ibiza Gran Hotel is already a consistently popular

resting-pad for visiting celebrities. Famous for its superb

location with stunning views of the World Heritage sites of

Dalt Vila and Ibiza Cathedral, the hotel is also distinguished

by its wonderful light and cool, modern design featuring

tasteful works of art. Add its fine restaurant and lush spa

facilities and it’s easy to understand the hotel’s enduring

popularity with some of the island’s most distinguished

visitors. This new development sets to catapult the hotel into

a much higher league.

The original casino offered a wide range of games including

Black-Jack, American Roulette, Punto Banco and different

kinds of Poker spread across the main casino and private

gaming rooms.

This project of expansion, described by some as ‘an adult-

style theme park’ and expected to attract around a thousand

visitors everyday, is reported to be costing around 2 million

euros and will no doubt considerably raise the bar of Ibiza’s

World-class entertainment portfolio. The combination of

accomplished, international performers such as Cirque du

Soleil along with the high-end cuisine of the Adriá brothers

in a state-of-the-art casino is a completely new concept for

the island. Work began last at the end of October and the

expected date for completion is mid-April 2015.

SOURCE: Ibiza SpotlightPHOTO: The Mice Agency

Cirque du Soleil

“Animated”

Entertainment Park

Coming to Mexico in 2018

Cirque du Soleil, a leading entertainment company,

and Grupo Vidanta, a leading developer of world-class

resorts and tourism infrastructure in Mexico, today

announced plans to construct and operate a first-of-

its-kind immersive theme park experience in Nuevo

Vallarta. The entertainment experience, which is still in

development, may include water park and nature park

elements and will feature an outdoor evening show

accommodating as many as 3,000 to 5,000 spectators.

Each experience within the entertainment park will be

animated by Cirque du Soleil artists and follow a

common storyline.

“Grupo Vidanta is offering us

an amazing sandbox in which

we can unleash our creativity,”

said Guy Laliberté, founder of

Cirque du Soleil. “Both our

groups strive for perfection.

Grupo Vidanta is passionate and cares for the

environment. We set ourselves the challenge of creating

something unlike anything the world has seen before.”

The announcement comes

on the eve of the launch of

JOYÀ, an intimate and

immersive theatrical and

c u l i n a r y e x p e r i e n c e

developed by Cirque du

Soleil and Grupo Vidanta that

premieres in Riviera Maya

November 21, 2014. Although

not yet debuted, tickets for

JOYÀ are nearly sold out through the end of 2014. Development of the Nuevo

Vallarta project aims to reimagine the theme park experience in the same

way JOYÀ will redefine theatrical and culinary entertainment.

The announcement comes on

the eve of the launch of JOYÀ,

an intimate and immersive

theatrical and culinary

experience developed by

Cirque du Soleil and Grupo

Vidanta that premieres in

Riviera Maya November 21, 2014. Although not yet debuted, tickets for

JOYÀ are nearly sold out through the end of 2014. Development of the

Nuevo Vallarta project aims to reimagine the theme park experience in

the same way JOYÀ will redefine theatrical and culinary entertainment.

The entertainment

park will create

thousands of new

jobs in the Mexican

state of Nayarit and

was imagined to encourage tourism visitation to the region.

Construction is expected to be complete in 2018.

SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil

SOURCE: Golden Sun

From ScreamSc

ape

ScreamScape, the self-proclaimed ultimate guide to theme parks, has a few new tidbits on the

Cirque du Soleil “Animated Entertainment” Park announced on Wednesday, including a few new

pieces of artwork:

The design work on the beautiful looking

Cirque du Soleil theme park planned for

Mexico is actually from The Goddard Group

who was great enough to send me an

updated piece of concept artwork showing

off the birds-eye view of the park. A few

more details about the park have also been

posted on The Goddard Group’s Facebook

page, where they did indeed confirm that

there will be rides at the park. “While there

will be rides, every single one will be a new

creative experience never seen at any other

park. And while we can’t get into too much

detail at this point, we can say that the “star”

attractions here are completely new

experiences that don’t yet exist in the world.”

SOURCE: ScreamScape

Cirque du Soleil & Grupo Vidanta

Talk Theme Park in Mexico

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Welcomes New Duo Trapeze AcT

AMALUNA

Meet Anouk Blais and Guillaume Mesmin, Amaluna’s new Duo Trapeze team. Anouk and Guillaume, both from Montreal, joined Amaluna last week and were integrated in the show yesterday. Just recently graduated from L’École Nationale de Cirque, they were almost immediately invited to join Cirque du Soleil.

Duo Trapeze is not replacing any acts; It’s simply  an addition to the current lineup. The music for the act is completely new, but played live by the awesome Amaluna band, as always. Guillaume and Anouk are scheduled to perform in Amaluna until the end of the North American tour.

SOURCE: TheChapiteauPHOTOS: P.A. Chastang

SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-JournalPHOTO: © Cirque du Soleil

COSTUMES: Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt

Cirque du Soleil is r e i n s t a t i n g t h e

climactic “Ka” battle scene that’s been

m i s s i n g s i n c e a performer fell to her

death in June of last year. The news media

has been invited to a Wednesday afternoon

demonstration of the sequence featuring

p e r f o r m e r s s u s p e n d e d f r o m

wires and moving on a vertical wall, as

though the audience is viewing it from

a b o v e . C i r q u e officials did not say

whether the sequence would be back in the

s h o w t h a t s a m e evening.

Sarah Guyard-Guillot, 31, fell 94 feet during

a June 30 , 2013 , per formance. The

Nevada Occupational Safety and Health

Administration later determined the wire

r o p e s h e w a s suspended from was

cut during a “rapid ascent,” after it came

free from the sheave/pulley and scraped

against a shear point. “ K a ” r e o p e n e d

without the battle scene in mid-July of

l as t year, a lmost three weeks after the

accident. Cirque and the MGM Grand later

were cited for nine safety and record-

keeping violations, b u t n o n e t h a t

required any change to the battle scene.Still, Cirque kept it

ou t o f the show, replacing it with a film

almost a year ago.A Cirque spokeswoman

said last year the additional delay was

m o r e t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f

“available technical possibil i t ies” that

didn’t exist when “Ka” opened in 2004,

but wouldn’t involve “artistic change nor

safety change.”

KÀ Battle

S c e n e

Returns!

PHOTO: Phillip Dixon © Cirque du Soleil COSTUMES: Thierry Mugler

ZUMANITY & LOVE in for huge changes?

According to Robin Leach, Zumanity is in for massive changes come January 3rd:

“First is the shocking and surprising news that Cirque du Soleil has decided that its adult “Zumanity” at New York-New York will undergo major changes starting Jan. 3 when all of its dance cast has been told to pack up their dancing shoes. I’m reliably told that the only cast members staying on will be the buxom Botero Sisters, the MC host, the sex straps solo act and the comedy duo who always remind me of a British seaside postcard act.

The massive pink slip is for definite.”

“Changes are in the offing for Cirque, specifically centering on two productions — including the one showcased at McCarran. “Love” is undergoing a widespread visual and audio refreshing by the time the show celebrates its 10th anniversary in the summer of 2016. Due for an overhaul, too, is “Zumanity” at New York-New York. That production’s makeover happens sooner than that of “Love,” by mid-2015.

‘For us, it’s business as usual as we area always looking to evolve the shows,” says Calum Pearson, Cirque’s vice president of resident shows. “We had this happen with ‘Mystere,’ when it reached the 20-year mark, and the show (“Zed”) was closing in Tokyo. We saw a chance then to (make) “Mystere” fresher and more current.’

And this from an August 22nd article from The Las Vegas Sun mentions both Zumanity and LOVE:

SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun | Las Vegas SunPHOTO: Richard Termine © Cirque du Soleil

COSTUMES: Philippe Guillotel

For Cirque shows, the key phrase is these are art pieces as opposed to museum pieces. They l ive as performance art, not paintings. “Zumanity” has become a focal point in Cirque’s growth in Las Vegas, as this spring it passed its 10th anniversary. But that show will go dark early next year for an overhaul that will change scenes, the use of personnel, costumes and choreography. The show will likely use a two-host format (sound familiar?) and move into the audience more seamlessly than it does already and further emphasize the production’s adult comedy. Once deemed (correctly) as one of the city’s edgiest productions, Cirque’s adult sensibility is today relatively commonplace as other shows — especially “Absinthe” — have seized upon the adult, raunchy, ribald quality that “Zumanity” once owned among production shows.

Though Cirque officials would never state that a rival show has surpassed one of its productions in any creative capacity, “Absinthe” has helped change the standards of Las Vegas audiences for what is genuinely risqué on a Strip stage.

“’Zumanity’ had great shock value, originally, but we’ve seen that what was shocking 10 years ago is not shocking now,” Pearson says. “We have to ask is that really the right concept? We’re looking at new, vibrant choreography, more flexibility with our costumes, more interactivity with the audience, and we want to bring them onstage more. And this has all evolved naturally over time.”

Pearson says a “young and very relevant” choreographer will be under contract, soon, to help remake the show. The process is still in its infancy, as Cirque founder Guy Laliberte has not even seen an initial concept of the changes. But they are moving forward, no question. “Ten years is a long time for any show to be onstage,” Pearson says. “And you have to look at evolving when you have been onstage that long.”

The work in “Love” starts with the ears rather than they eyes, as that show’s “soundscape” is due for review. The brilliant audio knitting of Giles Martin has created the musical playground for the Cirque artists, but once more that work is now familiar to repeat customers and also Beatles fans who purchased the original release.

The son of Beatles producer George Martin, Giles Martin is being recruited to update the music of the show (whether that process will be easier or more challenging the second time around will be fascinating to know), as he has been given access to every sound from the band — even conversations, throat clearing and the breaking of drinking glasses — throughout its recording history.

“The important thing to know is the essence of why we created ‘Love’ is as strong as it was when we started,” says Pearson of a show that opened in June 2006. “We will continue to evoke the nostalgia that music creates. We just have a tough time fitting all that music and all those hits into one 90-minute show.” Fans have said “Love” would do well to drop more of the band’s earlier rock ‘n’ roll songs into the show, or at least present them more prevalently. “I Saw Her Standing There” and “She Loves You” could fall in line seamlessly in the early stretch where “I Want to Hold Your Hand” is rolled out. Full-scale versions of such off-beat tracks as “Rain” and “Hey Bulldog” would rock that theater, which remains a wonder of audio technology with its 6,000 speakers built into the structure and theater seats.

Such unsolicited advice from fans of The Beatles, and of Cirque, is always part of the process.

“We like knowing the standards of our audiences, what they expect out of Cirque, and those expectations are all very high,” Pearson says. “We definitely are keeping the intent and essence of what we do in place. But if you want to look at our process, right now the priority are changes to ‘Zumanity,’ and then we’ll rally around ‘Love.’”

Miss out on seeing Cirque du Soleil at the 88th Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade? No problem! Check out the album of pictures Cirque posted on their Facebook page!

“ I t w a s a # M a c y s P a r a d e t o remember. Our Dreamseeker float was a HUGE hit. Literally! Hope your Thanksgiving dreams come true, too. #MyCirqueHoliday”

Cirque at Macy’s 88th

Thanksgiving Day

Parade!

SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil

Introducing: “Backstage Cirque du Soleil”

30th Anniversary Book

As Cirque du Soleil celebrates its 30th anniversary, the company opens the doors to a world usually reserved for the initiated. Since its inception in 1984 in Québec, Cirque du Soleil has captured international audiences with its vibrant and imaginative performances. Taking readers behind the scenes, Backstage Cirque du Soleil allows them to discover this world from a new perspective. Backstage Cirque du Soleil is the fruit of a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and the photographer Véronique Vial, who, through her unique lens, has examined the world behind the curtains for more than twenty years. With their touching humanity, Vial’s photographs invite the reader into an intimate universe distilled to the most essential element of the beloved performances: behind each character, there is an artist. This luxurious and whimsical volume is complete with a note from Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté and captivates readers with an unparalleled behind-the-scenes experience.

Véronique Vial was born in France and has lived in California since 1989. She is known for her celebrity portraits and numerous publications, including A Day in the Life of Hollywood. She received an American Photographic Artist (APA) award and a World Press Award in 1998 and has exhibited her work across the United States and France, at the International Festival of Photojournalism in Perpignan, among other places.

ISBN: 9781614282983 14 x 17 in – 35.5 x 42 cm 152 pagesPhotographs by Véronique Vial Preface by Guy Laliberté

Pre-order the special edition of the book today for $695.00 directly from the publisher!

SOURCE: Assouline

VID

EOS

happy holidays from cirque du soleil!

Join Nick Pitera as he gives us a behind the scenes look at Kurios by cirque du soleil!

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outtakes from nick pieta’s kurios behind the scenes video!

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Under the Grand Chapiteau

BIGTOPMiami, FL

Dec 11, 2014 to Jan 25, 2015

Houston, TX Feb 12, 2015 to Mar 22, 2015

Madrid, ES May 6, 2015 to Jun 21, 2015

Brussels, BE Sep 10, 2015 to Oct 25, 2015

San Jose, CR Jan 22, 2015 to Feb 15, 2015

Bogota, CO Mar 19, 2015 to Apr 12, 2015

London, UK Jan 7, 2015 to Feb 8, 2015

Bern, CH

Mar 1, 2015 to Mar 15, 2015

San Francisco, CA Nov 14, 2014 to Jan 18, 2015

Seattle, WA

Jan 29, 2015 to Mar 22, 2015

Calgary, AB Apr 9, 2015 to May 3, 2015

Denver, CO

Jun 11, 2015 to Jul 5, 2015

Chicago, IL Aug 6, 2015 to Sep 20, 2015

Nagoya, JP Nov 20, 2014 to Feb 1, 2015

Fukuoka, JP

Feb 21, 2015 to Apr 5, 2015

Sendai, JP Apr 23, 2015 to Jun 7, 2015

Syndey, AU Oct 28, 2014 to Jan 11, 2015

Melbourne, AU

Jan 21, 2015 to Feb 15, 2015

Brisbane, AU Apr 10, 2015 to May 17, 2015

Adelaide, AU

Jun 11, 2015 to Jul 5, 2015

Perth, AU Jul 31, 2015 to Aug 16, 2015

ITINÉRAIRE TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION

Lisbon, PT - Dec 18 to Dec 28, 2014 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES - Jan 3 to Jan 11, 2015

Bucharest, RO - Jan 29 to Feb 1, 2015 Bratislava, SK - Feb 5 to Feb 8, 2015

Budapest, HU - Feb 13 to Feb 15, 2015 Copenhagen, DK - Feb 18 to Feb 22, 2015

Rotterdam, NL - Feb 27 to Mar 7, 2015 Oslo, NO - Mar 5 to Mar 7, 2015

Helsinki, FI - Mar 11 to Mar 15, 2015 Vilnius, LT - Mar 19 to Mar 21, 2015 Minsk, BY - Mar 26 to Mar 29, 2015

Moscow, RU - Apr 16 to Apr 26, 2015 St. Petersburg, RU - May 13 to Mar 24, 2015

Tel Aviv, IL - Jul 2 to Jul 16, 2015

Minneapolis, MN - Dec 25 to Dec 28, 2014 Colorado Springs, CO - Dec 31, 2014 to Jan 4, 2015

St. Louis, MO - Jan 7 to Jan 11, 2015 Wichita, KS - Jan 14 to Jan 18, 2015 Tulsa, OK - Jan 21 to Jan 25, 2015

Oklahoma City, OK - Jan 28 to Feb 1, 2015 San Antonio, TX - Feb 4 to Feb 8, 2015 Phoenix, AZ - Feb 18 to Feb 22, 2015 San Diego, CA - Feb 25 to Mar 1, 2015 El Paso, TX - Mar 18 to Mar 22, 2015 Fresno, CA - Mar 25 to Mar 29, 2015

Bakersfield, CA - Apr 1 to April 5, 2015 Sacramento, CA - Apr 9 to Apr 12, 2015 Stockton, CA - May 6 to May 10, 2015

Berlin, DE - Oct 8 to Oct 11, 2015 Leipzig, DE - Oct 14 to Oct 18, 2015

Stuttgart, DE - Oct 21 to Oct 25, 2015 Mannheim, DE - Oct 28 to Nov 1, 2015

Vienna, AT - Nov 4 to Nov 8, 2015 Dortmund, DE - Nov 11 to Nov 15, 2015 Cologne, DE - Nov 19 to Nov 22, 2015

Innsbruck, AT - Nov 25 to Nov 29, 2015 Munich, DE - Dec 2 to Dec 6, 2015

Hamburg, DE - Feb 10 to Feb 14, 2016 Luxembourg, LU - Feb 17 to Feb 21, 2016

Hanover, DE - Feb 24 to Feb 28, 2016

Kamloops, BC - Dec 24, 2014 to Dec 28, 2014 Prince George, BC - Dec 31 to Jan 4, 2015

Fairbanks, AK - Jan 8 to Jan 11, 2015 Anchorage, AK - Jan 14 to Jan 18, 2015

**Closing, Anchorage, AK - Jan 18, 2015**

ARENAIn Stadium-Like

Venues

Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas Performs: Saturday through Wednesday

Dark: Thursday/Friday 2015 Dark Dates: Jan 8-23, Feb 1, Mar 25-27,

May 14-22, Jul 15, Sep 10-18, Nov 11 Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm Added performances in 2015: April 2,

December 31 (Only 7 pm performance)

Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas Performs: Wednesday through Sunday

Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm & 10:30pm

2015 Dark Dates: Feb 1, Mar 8 and 20, Apr 13-21, Jun 14, Aug 3-11, Oct 11, Nov 30-Dec 15

Added performances in 2014/2015: Dec 29, Mar 17 & 31, Dec 29

Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando Performs: Tuesday through Saturday

Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 6:00pm & 9:00pm

Added performances in 2014: December 29

Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas Performs: Friday through Tuesday

Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm & 10:00pm (Only

7pm on the following days in 2015: Jan 20, May 8, 15, 19, 20, Dec 31)

2015 Dark Dates: Jan 4-19, Mar 7 & 20, Apr 12-20, Jun 16, Aug 16-31, Oct 31, Dec 6-14

Added performance in 2015: Dec 27

Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas Performs: Tuesday through Saturday

Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm (Only 7pm performances on May 9, 16 & Jun 21)

2015 Dark Dates: Jan 5, Feb 1-2, Mar 15-21, May 28, Jul 28-Aug 5, Sep 15-17, Oct 20-22,

Dec 1-16 Added performances in 2015: Jan 1-2, Apr 3

Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas Performs: Thursday through Monday

Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm

2015 Dark Dates: Jan 5, Feb 1-2, Mar 15-21, May 28, Jul 28-Aug 5, Sep 15-17, Oct 20-22,

Dec 1-16Added performances in 2015: December 30

Location: Luxor, Las Vegas Performs: Friday through Tuesday

Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 10:00pm

2015 Dark Dates: Jan 1, Jan 12-27, Feb 1-3, Mar 20, Apr 13-21, May 25-Jun 2, Jun 22-30,

Aug 31-Sep 8, Nov 9-17, Dec 14-22Added Performances in 2015: Dec 29

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.

Location: Aria, Las Vegas Performs: Friday through Tuesday

Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm

2015 Dark Dates: Jan 6, Jan 18-Feb 2, Mar 7, May 10-18, Jul 14, Sep 6-14, Nov 10

Added performances in 2015: Mar 30, Dec 28

Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas Performs: Saturday through Wednesday

Dark: Thursday/Friday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 10:0pm

2015 Dark Dates: Jan 28-Feb 5, Apr 14-16, Jun 3-18, Aug 11, Oct 14-22, Dec 15

Added performances in 2015: Jan 1, Mar 26, Aug 19, Nov 25, Dec 30

Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico Performs: Tuesday through Saturday

Dark: Sunday/Monday One/Two Shows Nightly - 9:00pm (Weekdays),

7:00pm & 10:15 pm (Fri, Sat & Holidays) Added performances in 2014: December 26

RESIDENTen Le

Théâtre

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, we do not accept responsibility for the accuracy of these listings.

For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit Cirque's website.

An Inside Look at JOYÀ A Gem in the Mangrove Jungle

FASCINATION! FEATURES

THEATRE AND SITE

An oasis within an oasis – The Cirque du Soleil Theatre is perched above a massive lagoon overlooking the Mayan jungle on the Vidanta Riviera Maya property. It is an oasis within an oasis.

When guests step onto the gently sloped wooden walkway that winds them from the site entrance all the way to the Cirque du Soleil Theatre entrance 11 meters above, they gradually escape to another universe – a world of lush vegetation, waterfalls, and rich flora and fauna, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

When he imagined the theatre and site layout for JOYÀ, Grupo Vidanta architect Arturo Hernandez based his designs on three guiding principles: have the utmost respect for the jungle environment, conceal the theater among the mangroves, and play with sinuous lines and organic shapes.

A large cenote in the jungle – Abundant in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, cenotes (pronounced say-no-tays) are naturally occurring sinkholes resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that expose groundwater underneath. The Maya believed these pools were sacred gateways to the afterlife, their openings representing sacred portals to a mythical underworld, a place of awe. The architecture and esthetics of the JOYÀ site reflect and celebrate the Maya’s reverential respect for nature and are inspired

by the natural beauty of the surrounding jungle, which sits atop an intricate underground labyrinth of rivers and cenotes. In fact, the entire JOYÀ site concept is meant to give the impression one is stepping into a large cenote among the mangroves, complete with crystal-clear water pools, coral rocks, and a magnificent waterfall.

A deep respect for the environment – Construction in this ecologically rich part of Mexico is subject to stringent environmental controls and restrictions; it is prohibited, for example, to build anything above the 12-meter tree line of the lush, low-lying jungle that is not made of natural materials. During construction of the JOYÀ site, trees, rare plants and animals were all displaced. To better preserve the natural habitat, a wooden walkway leading to the theatre was deliberately built above ground, allowing animals to pass freely underneath.

The leaning palm tree – At the end of the wooden walkway, the Cirque du Soleil Theatre evokes a palm tree leaning forward, like a giant flower gently brushing the water. The structure resembles a palapa (a Spanish word meaning “pulpous leaf”), a type of opensided dwelling with a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves very common on Mexican beaches. Stepping inside the theatre is, once again, like walking into a cenote: with its high ceiling and organic feel, the volume seems to live and breathe.

THE SHOW

An engaging, immersive, multisensory experience in which joy, courage and friendship conquer all! Behind the veil of the lush Mayan jungle exists a world of crystal-clear water pools, coral rocks, and rich flora and fauna – an oasis within an oasis. A wooden walkway leads to a theater perched above a massive lagoon cascading in a majestic waterfall. This is the world of JOYÀ: a unique entertainment and culinary experience by Cirque du Soleil.

Inspired by the fabulous migratory journey of the monarch butterfly in which life is passed from one generation to the next to ensure the survival of the species, JOYÀ follows the adventures of a rebellious teenage girl whisked away to a mysterious jungle in her

grandfather’s fantastical world. Surrounded by a strange band of half-human, half-animal masters inspired by ancient Mayan iconography, the aging naturalist yearns to pass on to his granddaughter his relentless quest for the meaning of life.

Inhabited by entrancing characters that work hand-in-hand to perpetuate the love of life, JOYÀ abounds in subtle allusions to the history and culture of Mexico, from the migration of the monarch butterflies to the asteroid believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs to artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and with mariachis, masked wrestlers, pirate legends, and the rhythms and sounds of Mexico.

CREATIVE TEAM

The creative team of JOYÀ consists of 12 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté (Guide) and Jean-François Bouchard (Creative Guide):

Martin Genest Stage Director Richard Dagenais Director of Creation Guillaume Lord Set and Props Designer James Lavoie Costume Designer Bob & Bill Composers and Musical Directors Harold Rhéaume Choreographer Jacques Boucher Sound Designer Jean Laurin Lighting Designer Philippe Aubertin Acrobatic Performance Designer Pierre Masse Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer Nathalie Gagné Makeup Designer

SET DESIGN

The Naturalium – The theatre suggests a naturalium, a great library and a place of knowledge whose architecture blends with the natural environment. As Mexico is home to one of the largest universities in the world, a country in which the transfer of knowledge dates back to the ancient Mayan civilization, the naturalium is filled with old books collected over time by Zelig, an aging naturalist, and his assistants, the Masters. Certain parts of the set also evoke a vivarium (the plant world) and a terrarium (the mineral world).

To illustrate the idea of the transmission of knowledge, set designer Guillaume Lord decided to integrate two gigantic books upstage. High up above, the technical grid is hidden away behind a gigantic mechanism that represents a time machine created on the same scale as the books.

Blurred timeline – As Zelig’s naturalium is a place where knowledge has been collected over time, there is no set time period per se, but rather a collection of time periods: we see a radio from the 1920s, Renaissance patterns on the floor, clocks from the Victorian era, a preindustrial staircase, a large contemporary mural, etc.

A versatile space – Throughout the show, the space undergoes a series of transformations based on the narrative. Large scrims are used to separate the stage from the audience in order to suggest an underwater world. Hordes of pirates emerge from a large book and take the stage – and the audience – by storm. The naturalium is turned into a jungle when a giant vine descends onto the stage around an 8.5-meter-tall flower. A huge mural in the style of Mexican fresco painter Diego Rivera appears on stage to represent the inner world of Zelig’s granddaughter, Joyà.

SUBTLE ALLUSIONS TO MEXICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

When imagining JOYÀ, show writer and director Martin Genest wanted to make a series of subtle allusions to the history and culture of Mexico, far from the usual clichés and stereotypes. Migration of the monarch butterflies – One allusion, which represents a unique connection between Canada and Mexico, involves the migration of the monarch butterfly. Each year, when autumn arrives, millions of these butterflies make the long, 5,000-km journey from southern Canada to central Mexico where they hibernate for the winter. Only monarchs born in late summer or early fall undertake the round-trip migration. By the time the migration begins anew the following winter, several generations will have lived and died during the summer, and it is the grandchildren of the previous year’s travelers that will set out on the long journey south.

The asteroid – It is said that the impact of a huge asteroid that fell in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, 66 million years ago caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. It is an echo of this

asteroid that wreaks havoc in the naturalium at the top of the show and brings in Joyà, Zelig’s granddaughter. The dinosaur puppet that trots on stage also refers to this cataclysmic event.

The transmission of knowledge – In a nod to the fact that Mexico is home to one of the largest universities in the world and has a large anthropology museum, the show is set in a naturalium and a library.

Mexican art – In addition to the reference to Diego Rivera, the vines, giant flower and jungle are an oblique reference to artist Frida Kahlo. There are many other allusions including masked wrestlers, mariachis, pirate legends (famous pirates took refuge on Isla Mujeres – the Island of Women – in the 17th and 18th centuries), cucaracha marionettes, horror films (in reference to master of horror Guillermo del Toro), and even the underwater sculptures of Jason deCaires Taylor.

COSTUMESMixing time periods – The time dimension of the show is meant to feel like a familiar past, but it is a past that corresponds to our future. For costume designer James Lavoie, it was important to show an evolution from the past to the future as Zelig passes on his mission to his granddaughter.

Zelig, the aging naturalist, is a mix of Don Quixote, Charles Darwin, Faust, Leonardo Da Vinci and other great men all brought together into a lovable character. He runs the naturalium and has made it his life’s mission to collect all the knowledge of the world. His costume refers to a past mixed in with contemporary and even futurist elements. Lavoie imagined what Zelig would be writing and drawing in his book of knowledge. The prints on his rich, multi-layered costume are inspired by scientific and naturalist

drawings of different periods, from pre-Victorian to contemporary. A closer look reveals faded images of plants taken from old botanical volumes.Clear patterns emerge – The prints on the costumes of the Masters are based on their specific areas of specialty:•The prints on the Entomologist’s costume are inspired by old drawings of insects. •The Master of Time features sundial and meridian images. •The pleating on the side of the Archivist’s dress evokes the edge of a book. •The Alchemist features invented alchemy symbols based on the Fibonacci spiral, which recalls the longhorn ram head he is wearing.

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When looking at the five Masters, one can wonder if these characters are animals in weird costumes or humans whose heads have been taken over by animals wearing beaded amulets straight out of the Mayan codices (bark cloth folding books from the Maya civilization). Perhaps they are Zelig’s masked assistants, or a combination of all of these.

Material wonders – The best combinations of technology (such as laser cutting and printing) and hands-on, artisanal techniques (such as hand painting on textile fabric, sewing and lace) were sought out to support the artistic intention of the designs.

•To create the Master of Water character, the coral effect on the hand-balancing artist’s costume gives the impression that her body has gradually been taken over by sea whips and other

types of coral. It is the result of a long and arduous process of hand sewing pieces of fabric to create textures that could well be found in the natural world.

•Sublimation on neoprene was used for the hood that Joyà wears, which recalls a cloak from the Victorian era with a slightly futurist look. •The fabric used for the costumes of the creatures of the night is dipped in black silicone to create a stunning shine as if the costume had been dipped in darkness.

Some of the rich, textured costumes of JOYÀ speak to our organic, essential relationship with the natural world to which we are deeply connected. They contain the idea of oneness between humans and nature.

MUSIC

To create the music of JOYÀ, composers Bob & Bill used a cinematic approach to support the adventure-based narrative. The mood varies from festive, dance and Latintinged beats to percussion-based Mayan sonorities, soothing underwater sounds and driving rhythms during the pirate sword fighting scenes.The music of JOYÀ, which mixes classic and contemporary sounds, is acoustic, warm and melodic. The trumpet – a staple instrument in Mexican jazz

and Mariachi ensembles – is omnipresent, as are the acoustic guitar and percussion instruments. Some of Bob & Bill’s catchy melodies have become the musical signature of the show.

After the performance, some of the spectators are bound to hum or whistle these uplifting melodies as they step back out onto the wooden walkway into the Mayan jungle.

AN UNPRECEDENTED GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCE

World-class international cuisine featuring exquisite products from the Mexican terroir – One hour before the performance, comfortably seated in the breathtaking Cirque du Soleil theatre under the intricate chandeliers, 194 patrons wishing to connect all of their five senses and to take in the full JOYÀ experience get to enjoy a world-class, three-course dinner complete with a bottle of champagne. This fine dining experience features internationally inspired cuisine showcasing the finest products and flavors of the Mexican terroir that take nature’s bounty to new levels.

Blending inspiration with audacity – For Grupo Vidanta Executive Corporate Chef Alexis Bostelmann, creativity was a driving force when the time came to put together the highly inventive bill of fare, starting with the edible menu that patrons can break into pieces and enjoy in a tasty dip, or the nature-filled “breadbasket” sculpture in the form of a plant containing different breads and crackers with savory herbs and seeds. Presented in pieces of stoneware and earthenware in keeping with the show’s theme, the unusual pairings that make up the JOYÀ culinary experience blend inspiration with audacity.

With every mouthwatering bite of bright, intense flavors, the textures somersaulting against each other as they hit the palate, guests get to experience creative culinary dishes reinterpreted with local colors and ingredients cooked with supreme precision.

An hour in culinary delights – After tasting several mouth-watering appetizers (Natura) that are not food so much as meditations on anticipation, diners get to choose among a number of tantalizing dishes for the main course (Arto), each one bound to hit them in some primal spots. In the spirit of the Alchemist character in JOYÀ, they also get to experience the “dragon breath” effect – a molecular cuisine creation that causes smoke to billow out the guest’s mouth when he or she breathes out. The meal is rounded off with a stunning array of exquisite desserts (Scienco) presented inside a book.

The JOYÀ gastronomic experience sets the stage, as it were, for diners to experience the performance collectively in the spirit of the Mayan greeting “In Lak’ech Ala K’in” (which means “I am you and you are me”), which speaks of unity and oneness.

SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil PHOTOS: © Cirque du Soleil

This holiday season Cirque du Soleil would like to invite you to witness something special. As part of its 30th Anniversary, and for the first time in its history, Cirque du Soleil will present a truly unique, exclusive event celebrating its vibrant musical universe. Presented by Xerox, this ephemeral musical event will take place from December 13th to 28th, at the heart of Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Montreal!

The idea for a concert celebrating the vibrant music of Cirque du Soleil found its creative spark during a musical summit held at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in 2009. When the Cirque cultivated ideas to celebrate its 30th Anniversary, the team reflected upon the strong emotions provided during the summit. "Cirque du Soleil's music is extremely rich, but it's always supporting the acrobatics. For the 30th Anniversary we wanted to offer something more; we wanted to put our music to the fore. This time our music is the star of the evening!"

Over the course of three decades, twenty-odd composers wrote and arranged the music for the 35 shows created by Cirque du Soleil since 1984. Drawing their inspiration from world music, rock, jazz or contemporary sounds, the composers have added their own personal signature to each of the 35 productions.

The 75-minute concert will pay tribute to the music of Cirque du Soleil and will feature a choir of 70 voices (trained by Grégory Charles) and 6 soloists accompanied by 28 musicians. The audience will hear signers Audrey Brisson-Jutras, Dominic Dagenais, Mathieu Lavoie, Anna Liani, Francine Poitras and Roxanne Potvin interpreting some of the songs that have defined the music of Cirque du Soleil shows of the past 30 years.

Ste-Croix worked with Alain Vinet, a DJ, musical producer and Cirque’s in-house musical director, to create this event. Vinet has worked on several other Cirque shows, including Amaluna and Totem, in various musical roles. “He’s done a wonderful job over the years,” Ste-Croix said. “So we offered him this possibility of gathering together all the music

that covers the 30 years of Cirque du Soleil and putting the whole concept of music and chorus and singers into a format of a concert which will be played live.”

Although the venue was chosen for its wonderful acoustics as well as its spectacular architecture, the concert will not be recorded. Soundtracks of all the shows are already available on CD. And there won’t be any acrobatic numbers, but 40 costumed Cirque characters will be present.

One musical excerpt has been chosen from each of the 35 Cirque shows produced since the company’s inception in 1984. These include a Beatles song from the Las Vegas show LOVE and a Michael Jackson number from Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, as well as original music composed for the shows by René Dupéré, Benoît Jutras and others. Two to four musical minutes will be allotted for each show.

“We've chosen to illustrate the evolution of Cirque du Soleil through the various stages of life. Our dear Zoé will act as our guide on this journey, as we follow her through different stages of her life, feeling the variety of emotions that come with such a journey."

Our dear Zoé will be the connection during this whole story. We will see her at different stage of her life and feel the variety of emotion that comes with such a journey.”

THE INSPIRATION

Guy Laliberté – Artistic Guide Jean-François Bouchard – Artistic Guide

Gilles Ste-Croix – 30th Ambassador Véronique Dussault – Event Designer

Alain Vinet – Musical Director Thierry Angers – Assistant Musical Director

Frédéric Chiasson – Arranger, Orchestrator & Band Leader Gregory Charles – Artistic Director Choir Claude Chaput – Pre-Concert Arranger

Clara Antoun – Musical Coordinator Benoît Groulx – Music Consultant

Mathieu Parisien – Sound Designer Bruno Rafie – Lighting Designer

45DEGREES Events, a company of Cirque du Soleil

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Mathieu Lavoie

Originally from Mascouche, Mathieu Lavoie studied popular music at Collège Lionel-Groulx. After winning the “lauréat interprète” prize at the Festival International de la Chanson de Granby in 1995, he was recruited by Cirque du Soleil at the age of 20 for the creation of its show Quidam in 1996, and then for Varekai in 2002. He continues to work with Cirque today; with 800 performances of Quidam and 650 of Varekai in front of over 2.5 million spectators, his voice can be found on their eponymous albums as well as the DVDs of Varekai and Midnight Sun. Mathieu has taken part in numerous special events all over the world, from Kuwait to Russia to Hong Kong, and also performed on Corteo in Valencia, Spain. Nominated for a Gemini Award in 1998 for his performance at the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala, he has sung and acted in several Montreal musical reviews and productions. In 2005, Mathieu released his first solo album, Avaler le vent. In 2010, he worked with Cirque Éloize and others on seasons 2, 3 and 4 of the La Vie est un Cirque series on TV5. In 2014, he became known to the general public across Quebec as he reached the quarter-finals of La Voix (The Voice) on TVA.

THE SOLOISTS

Anna Liani

Anna Liani was born in Quebec but spent much of her childhood in northern Italy, other parts of Canada and the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. Raised by her grandmother and father, Anna began singing at the age of 10. Now she is an international singer and songwriter. Anna is best known for her great love song “Bello Amore,” which she wrote and sang for the Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity in Las Vegas. She has been involved in the production of various albums with Cirque du Soleil and other major projects presented in London, Italy, Montreal and Las Vegas. Her video “Mamma son tanto felice” has reached over 100,000 views on YouTube. In August 2012, Anna sang in the show Soleils de Nuits before an audience of over 65,000. The following November, she released the album Natale sulla Luna. In 2013, Anna featured on the album SKY by composer Simon Carpentier. In August 2014, Anna sang at Montreal’s Italian Week Festival, where she introduced works from her upcoming album.

Roxane Potvin

Growing up in Hawkesbury, a small town in eastern Ontario, Roxane was surrounded by music. As a teenager, she earned a spot in the finals of the prestigious Festival International de la Chanson de Granby. She then had the opportunity to work alongside the likes of Bruno Pelletier, Julie Masse, France D’Amour, Ginette Reno and many more as a backing vocalist. In 1997, Roxane voiced various characters in the French-language versions of Beauty and the Beast and Anastasia. Towards the end of that same year, she successfully auditioned to sing for Cirque du Soleil. In 1998, she packed her bags for Las Vegas, where she would spend the next decade gracing the magnificent stage as the lead singer in “O”. She has also occasionally worked as a vocal coach and talent scout for Cirque du Soleil on request. Having returned to Canada, Roxane’s adventure with Cirque du Soleil continues. Just listen...

Dominic Dagenais

Multidisciplinary, multitalented Montreal artist Dominic Dagenais is a singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and acrobat. Starting off as a singer and guitarist on the local scene as part of various musical projects, including Omegadom, with which he took part in the Francofolies de Montréal in 2007. He was also a semi-finalist at the Festival International de la Chanson de Granby in 2010. A former champion trampolinist, Dominic joined Productions Haut-Vol as an acrobat in the late 1990s, where he also composed his first show soundtracks. During this time, he began working with Debra Brown, developing a truly unique skill: the trampoline guitar solo. Having worked with Cirque du Soleil since 2003, Dominic has contributed to numerous major productions, including Quebec City’s 400th anniversary celebrations, the Poetic Social Mission for ONE DROP and Les Chemins Invisibles. As a creator of music for two decades, his credits include soundtracks for shows such as XTREM for Zinc Productions in 2013, Ritmos de la Noche in collaboration with Debra Brown and René Dupéré in 2012, and the fourth chapter of Les Chemins Invisibles by Cirque du Soleil in collaboration with Francis Collard and Béatrice Bonifassi.

Audrey Brisson

Audrey trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and studied classical singing at Cégep de Saint-Laurent. During her childhood and teenage years, Audrey worked extensively with Cirque du Soleil as a vocalist and acrobat, performing on their international tours of Le Cirque réinventé and Quidam. Theatre includes: Midnight’s Pumpkin and The Wild Bride (Kneehigh—UK tour / San Francisco / New Zealand); Miss Hedgehog in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Kensington Gardens); Midnight’s Pumpkin and The Wild Bride (Battersea Arts Centre / Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California / St. Ann’s Warehouse, New York); The Elephantom (National Theatre); and Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and Other Love Songs) (Kneehigh). Film includes: Hereafter directed by Clint Eastwood and W.E. directed by Madonna. Television includes: Money (BBC).

Francine Poitras

Hailing from New Brunswick, Francine Poitras studied piano and dramatic arts before completing a bachelor’s degree in classical singing at Université Laval. She then travelled to New York, Santa Barbara and Paris to hone her craft. In 1989, Francine met composer René Dupéré, lending her voice to the Nouvelle Expérience album. In 1992, she became the first singing character at Cirque du Soleil, in Saltimbanco. Working with Dupéré, she helped to develop Cirque’s hallmark “invented language.” She travelled the world with this production, playing the role of the bird woman on stage. Since then, Francine has contributed to many of Cirque’s special projects in Europe, South Africa, Russia, Scandinavia, South America and beyond. At the same time, she has taken part in numerous film and theatre productions while also developing personal projects such as her tribute to Joni Mitchell, Woman of Heart and Mind. In 2007, she produced Espacios lntimos, a show and an album showcasing Latin-American songs and compositions. Today, after so many years on the road, Francine pursues her career and shares her experience from her home base in Granby. She has established a welcoming and intimate space, La Maison qui Chante, for teaching, creation and collaboration.

Estelle Esse Although she is a pianist by training, Estelle is a versatile artist and her voice quickly became her instrument of choice. She began by singing backup on stage, on screen and on record for top artists such as Roch Voisine, Sass Jordan and Dan Bigras while pursuing her own solo career. In the 1990s, with a greater focus on musical theatre, she played a variety of singing roles in productions of Pied de Poule by Marc Drouin, Cabaret Neiges Noires, Lolita and L’Odyssée by Dominic Champagne and Beauté Féroce by Victor-Lévy Beaulieu. More recently, she has appeared in the musical comedies Neuf and Sister Act directed by Denise Filiatrault. She also teaches singing and vocal technique, and regularly works as a coach and consultant on musical comedies such as Cabaret (Juste pour Rire), L’Opéra de Quat’Sous (TNM), Une Vie presque normale (Théâtre du Rideau Vert) and Géronimo Stilton (HumanID). With a background like hers, it was only natural that Estelle would team up with Cirque du Soleil, for which she has worked as a singer, vocal coach and talent scout since June 2000. She has sung on the European and American tours of Dralion, Alegría, Corteo and, most recently, KURIOS and travelled to every continent as a vocal coach on most of Cirque’s shows.

Paul Bisson

Paul Bisson is a singer-songwriter and musician born in Asbestos, Quebec, on April 5, 1963. After years of composing music for commercials, in 1998 Paul debuted on the international scene as a singer in the musical comedy La vie en bleu with Robert Hossein in Paris and Monaco. He was then approached by Luc Plamondon in 1999 to play Quasimodo on the Canadian tour of Notre-Dame de Paris. In 2000, he reprised the role of Quasimodo in the American version, staged at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. In Montreal in 2002, he joined the cast of Roméo et Juliette to play three roles in rotation. In 2004, Paul worked as a composer, arranger, musician and vocal coach on the Denise Filiatrault production Ma vie en cinémascope. In 2005, Paul joined Cirque du Soleil as the lead singer on the international tour of Corteo. He has also composed the music for several international circus acts, including Flight of Passion, which was awarded the Golden Clown at the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in 2009. In 2010, after working with Michel Cusson on the Shanghai production of Kaleido, he took on the lead singing role of Zark in Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil in New York, Madrid and Moscow and then Las Vegas in 2012.

SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil PHOTOS: Montreal.com

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