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| MUSAP ready for Cirque Week |
The reason for my trip to Nevada was to attend Cirque Week 2013 - celebrating 20 years of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. This was their 4th year of offering Cirque Week and the first one I was able to attend. They offer a variety of ticket packages and once you have purchased your show tickets you can then register for special events that are associated with each of the 8 shows that are currently in residence along the Strip. I opted to see 7 of the shows and attend all 8 of the afternoon events, once I was there and enjoyed the Zumanity event I added that show to my adventure. http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/americas/usa/nevada.aspx
Inevitably when people hear about my adventure they ask which show is my favorite, or which show would I recommend. There isn’t a simple answer to either question. Each show is different, each show has it’s own unique qualities, and yes some are better than others but it depends what you are looking for in your entertainment.
That being said ~ here are some of my thoughts about each of the 8 shows and the events that went with them for Cirque Week 2014. The thoughts are presented in the order that I saw the shows. I’ve added links to the Wikipedia pages about each of the shows too - some interesting info there.
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| the 'O' pool/stage above the water |
‘O’
“O” is Cirque’s water show. The theater is in the Bellagio - one of the more elegant hotels along the Strip. This theater has an amazing stage - it’s a 1.5 million gallon pool (per wikipedia) with platforms that come and go allowing the performers to be in, around, on, and above the pool. The costumes and makeup were all specially developed because the artists are in and out of the water throughout the show. The fire dancers act is well done and the combination of fire and water is spell binding. I think this is the most expensive of the CdS shows.
The event was all about the fire dancers and fire effects in the show. The ran through their acts for us and then followed up with a Q&A with the artists and with the artistic directors. It was interesting and we learned a lot about how they make everything happen safely night after night show after show. Our event gift was an ‘O’ 15th anniversary pin.
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| 'O' Fire Dancer |
ZUMANITY
This was the show that I wasn’t going to see on this trip, but after attending the afternoon event I changed my mind and am happy that I did. It’s located in New York New York. Zumanity is the other side, the sensual side of Cirque - it’s for adults only and you need to keep that in mind going in. I really like the artistry in Zumanity - the acts show strength and beauty. This show has more of a cabaret feel and is possibly the funniest Cirque show. All of the costumes are a little over the top or are almost nonexistent, the shoes are not to be missed. Edie is the Mistress of Ceremonies and ‘her’ real name is Christopher - you can’t tell if you don’t already know.
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| The Sensual Side of Cirque |
The Zumanity event was a full cast rehearsal of new ending. When we started all of the artists were one stage in their regular dance/rehearsal clothes but with their costume shoes which are amazing. The guys walk and dance in heels with such ease! After running through all the changes that the director wanted many times she sent them off to change into in costume to run it all again. It was great to see the process that they go through to make a change in a show that has been running for 10 years. Alas it there was a no photography rule for this event. Our gift was a Zumanity poster - a little hard to get home, but it made it.
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| over the top headpiece available in the Zumanity store |
ZARKANA
I had seen Zarkana before when it was at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. After touring in Europe for a while it became a resident show at Aria. The set is grand, alas I don’t feel that the show quite added up to the grandeur of the stage. The opening juggling act was excellent. The sand artist - unique, mesmerizing, a pleasant pause in the activity. She creates pieces of art using sand on a light table with the images projected to a screen over the stage. The trapeze act has some unusual tricks, but for the number of flyers on the board I expected to see more. I didn’t think the clowns were that funny and there was too much clowning for my liking. One of the featured acts is the Wheel of Death ~ the artist had fallen the week before so it wasn’t in the show, there was a straps act in it’s place.
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| the grand Zarkana set |
I thought perhpas I was being too critical until I swa this while I was there ~ “Cirque du Soleil is temporarily shuttering its year-old magical-circus show “Zarkana” at Aria to give it a makeover.” http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2013/nov/13/zarkana-aria-close-temporarily-cirque-refreshes-sh/
The event this time was Zarkana University. When we arrived there were choices of workshops for small groups and each group was limited to 20 participants. Choices included 30 minutes learning about rigging, clowning, music, or wardrobe with some of the Zarkana crew.
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| behind the scenes ~ learning about rigging at Zarkana |
MYSTERE
If someone wants ‘pure Cirque’ then heading to Treasure Island to see Mystere is the way to go. It opened on Christmas Day in 1993. It’s a very balanced show - all the acts are well done, none stand out way above the rest. There is a nice amount of audience/clown participation. The artists perform multiple roles throughout the show. There is a new tissu act and a new flying trapeze act - so there is something new to see even if you have seen the show before. Of course with Cirque you can never see it all in one viewing. The hand to hand act - amazing. The aerial cube act is pretty unique and holds your interest. Chinese Poles, bungee, Brian Dewhurst - clown, Taiko drumming - all great acts.
I was pulled during pre-show when Brian Dewhurst was doing his clown usher routine. I was sitting front row center and he had me get up and move so he could seat someone else in my seat - all good fun. Later in the show ‘Baby’ rolled his ball towards me so I got to roll it back on stage - again fun to be a part of the show.
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| Brian Dewhurst ~ CdS stage name: Brian LaPetit, 81 year old CdS clown |
The Mystere event was a meet and greet with some of the characters in costumes - intros by Artistic director followed by a Q&A session. We each received a Mystere bag as a gift.
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| Mystere stilt walker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst%C3%A8re_(Cirque_du_Soleil) |
Michael Jackson ONE
At the far end of the strip is the theater in Mandalay Bay for Michael Jackson ONE. It has a different feel than traditional Cirque show ~ mix of a concert and a Cirque show. There is lots and lots of wonderful dancing and if you’re a fan of Michael Jackson you will be happy with the music. They put together great lighting and special effects for the show. There are 4 characters who are supposed to represent MJ during different phases of his life - I was never able to make the connections.
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| not to be confused with Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour |
This event was one of my favorites - we had a dance lesson with dance captains and learned the Thriller choreography.We were split into 3 smaller groups so we had plenty of space and attention from the ONE dancers who were helping us. All of the dancers were wonderful and enthusiastic - I think it was a fun activity for them too. After about half an hour of practice we all came back together in the theater where we got up on stage and performed with the music, lights, and smoke effects! We each got a ONE poster to bring home.
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| with Wellington after the Thriller dance session |
Kà
Kà is on stage at the MGM Grand. The entire theater sets the mood and from the moment you arrive and are greeted by the Gatekeepers you are transported to another place and time. It is without a doubt a technological masterpiece - stage moves up and down, front and back, horizontal to vertical. This is one of the few CdS shows that has a storyline. There is great costuming and great make-up. There are incredible puppets - sea turtle, crab, potato bug, starfish. The shadow act is fantastic and I think it serves as a lesson that we should let children make shadows when we turn on projectors in classrooms. I will never be a fan of the Wheel of Death act - I close my eyes through most of it and hope no one gets hurt. Sadly an artist dies performing in Kà earlier this year - it was a freak accident during one of the scenes when the stage was vertical.
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| Kà gatekeeper welcoming MUSAP to the theater |
The Kà event was all about the wash up scene. We learned that the ‘sand’ made of cork and we were given a jar of the cork as our gift. We got to see each of the artists in their puppet costumes and discover how they are made and how they work.
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| cork from the Wash Up scene |
Criss Angel Believe
Believe is more of a magic show than a Cirque show. It’s in the Luxor and was the only show where you have to go through metal detector and bag check before entering the theater. Criss Angel is the star of the show - it’s the only CdS show that has a star. The other shows all have characters and most of the acts have have other artists that can rotate in if someone gets hurt or has to miss a show for any other reason.Believe has Criss and only about 8 or 10 Cirque artists performing with ihm. There is lots of talking back and forth with audience and getting audience stirred up and enthusiastic. It seemed as though there was a lot of self promotion by Criss, many mentions of his TV show. There was lots of white rabbit merchandise in gift shop, but not much white rabbit in the show - someone mentioned that the show had changed and that a lot of rabbit things had been cut. The show has lots of illusions and not much other magic. Criss Angel has a shoulder injury and the show will be going dark in January when he has surgery, perhaps the show will include more contortion/escape scenes when he has recuperated.
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| Criss Angel at the end of his show |
I wasn’t sure how the event for Believe was going to go - a showing of episode of his TV show on Spike network, followed by Q&A with Criss. Seeing the show was okay, then I was pleasantly surprised by his down to earth attitude and willingness to talk with the group. It was scheduled from 3-4 but he kept taking more questions. After a group photo on stage he invited everyone to see backstage which wasn’t planned. We got to see his dressing room and his 2 little dogs. I don’t think he’s a typical CdS artist - he marches to his own drummer and the CdS folks do their best to make it all work.
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| part of the Believe set |
LOVE
LOVE is at the Mirage. It is all Beatles music with their recordings, so there is no live Cirque music. If I had to choose between the 2 CdS shows that are based on famous music I would choose Love over MJ’s ONE. in Love there is a nice balance of dance and aerial acts. The dance numbers have a street feel - breakdancing. This is done in theater in the round so there are no bad seats.
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| MUSAP ready for Love |
This event was my favorite - we got on the Love stage to learn the choreography to Get Back with Dance Director and Dance Captains Matt & Laura. It was even more fun than Thriller - there was a smaller group, better space, and we were allowed to take photos/video.
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| Love dance captains |
Le Reve
Here’s the real Cirque Week surprise - my favorite show might be Le Reve at the Wynn! It was created by Guy Lalibertere, who was a CdS founder, but it has no connection to Cirque beyond that. It’s another water based show, this time with a theater in the round - so every seat os a good seat.
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| Le Reve has lots of aerialists performing at the same time |
After seeing the show this is my review to TripAdvisor ~
Le Reve is an amazing show - a 'must see' for all ages if you are visiting Las Vegas! It's at The Wynn on the north end of the Strip. There are no bad seats - it's theater in the round and the action moves in literally all directions. The set is a pool with a stage that rises and sinks into the water in different configurations continually throughout the show. The artists enter and exit from the sides, from the water, and from above the pool/stage. During the show audience is spellbound from start to finish - the music, the pool, the lighting, the special effects all draw you in.. The artistry and the choreography are beautiful. The costumes are beautiful - how do they create them to be in and out of the water? All of the artists are performers and athletes - their strength is incredible. This show has so many aerialists in the air at the same time that it's hard to know where to look next. An added bonus - non-flash photography is allowed.
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| Le Reve in motion |
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