Cirque Du Soleil Returns to L.A.
AEG partners with Cirque du Soleil, making Microsoft Theater their new SoCal venue, presenting “OVO” as their first production after a 15 month shutdown
The COVID-19 pandemic paused Cirque du Soleil productions for 15 months. Now, the famous Canadian based acrobatic company is back to tour the world, said Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lamarre, during a press event on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Staples Center's Lexus Club in Los Angeles.
The event featured a sneak peak of Cirque du Soleil's production "OVO", which will open March 16, 2022 at the Microsoft Theatre in L.A. Live.
"OVO", said Lamarre, creates an artistic frame within nature to showcase the performers' talents. The production uses acrobatics and insect characters to emphasize how movement permeates life, even at its' origins. "Ovo means egg in Portuguese...Our director and composer [Deborah Colker and Berna Ceppas] were actually Brazilian." said Mike Newquist, Senior Vice President of Cirque du Soleil, regarding the show's premise and Brazilian music inspired soundtrack.
Cirque du Soleil has an internationally diverse cast of performers, three of whom acted out a short sampling of "OVO", and gave personal insight into their recent experiences.
Canadian, Svetlana Delous, started with Cirque in late 2017. In "OVO" she plays the vivacious Red Spider, an acrobatic character. During the COVID-19 performance shutdown what she missed most was performing as a team, "It's one big family that relies on each other," Delous said.
Kyle Cragle, from the United States, has worked with Cirque as an acrobat and makeup artist since 2016. He often plays OVO's Dragonfly character, which is a hand balancing act. During the shutdown he began creating his own costumes. "I took the time in quarantine to learn how to sew, get creative, learn some new wardrobe skills," Cragle said.
Brazilian born Wellington Lima, a 20 year veteran of Cirque, plays a cricket in the trampoline-wall act of "OVO". During the break in production, he coached other performers, and worked as an Uber driver in Las Vegas. Being a driver helped him fill the void caused by missing interaction with live audiences and provided him the opportunity to meet new people and feel connected to the public.
Downtown Los Angeles was the location for Cirque du Soleil's first performance outside of Canada. Cirque then moved to Santa Monica Beach, setting up their performance tents next to the pier 12 times between 1987 and 2014. Dan Beckerman, CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), lived in Santa Monica for 10 years and said, "The first time I ever saw Cirque, actually, is when they were there."
Cirque will now return to Southern California, calling the Microsoft Theatre, a home-away-from-home. This was made possible through a partnership with AEG, according to Beckerman.
"We are very happy that we are finally able to welcome full capacity live audiences back to our shows." Beckerman said. He explained that they've worked with state, county and city authorities regarding implementation of mandated health measures.
Acrobats twisting through mind-blowing feats, costumes that enhance the imagination, and an audience experience at full capacity, sets the scene for the timeless and beautiful world of Cirque du Soleil's "OVO" — now calling the Microsoft Theatre its home.
