2022

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

Intermission might be over, as Cirque du Soleil is wont to say, but the theme for the year seems to be more akin to “keep on keeping on” as best you can. For a moment there it looked like Cirque du Soleil (and the rest of the performing arts world) would be able to get back to doing what they loved to do... performing... alas, Omicron, the latest variant of the gift that keeps on giving (a.k.a. COVID-19), washed over the globe instead, causing a number of shutdowns once again. Remaining of performances of 'Twas the Night in New York City were canceled, the last few performances of Alegria-In a New Light in Houston were canceled, and some performances of LOVE were been canceled. Although this variant appeared more contagious than previous versions, it also seemed less virulent than those that came before, and so we hoped that Omicron was but a brief roadblock to "back to normal"... whatever that was.

And it turned out to be.

Cirque du Soleil was slowly but surely returning to life, though it’s still very much in an identity crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt what could have been a mortal blow to the Montreal-based creative company, forcing it to shutter all 45 of its shows around the globe and lay off nearly 5,000 employees, which represented 95 per cent of its staff. Then it had to seek bankruptcy protection. The company's revenue dropped to zero overnight, and it was unclear when the Cirque would be able to raise another big top or return to the stages of Las Vegas. The Cirque survived, but not without a few radical changes. Following a drawn-out legal battle, the previous owners U.S. equity firm TPG Capital, China's Fosun International, and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec lost control of the company and it was taken over by a group representing the creditors, notably including Catalyst Capital Group, Sound Point Capital, CBAM Partners and Benefit Street Partners. Then longtime Cirque CEO Daniel Lamarre stepped down in December 2021, replaced by Stephane Lefebvre, who was chief operating officer. Many openly wondered why the financial guy was taking over an organization that has always been about creativity and bold artistic choices.

Cirque shows are finally returning. It began last June with the reopening of Mystere and O in Vegas, and now there are five Cirque shows on stage in that city, including KA, The Beatles Love and Michael Jackson One. There are also five touring shows, with three more to come this year: Kooza, Crystal, and Corteo. But this is a stripped-down version of the Cirque. That's only 13 shows in all, down from 45 before the pandemic. The question is: Where is the Cirque headed post-bankruptcy protection? And what kind of Cirque will it be?

In a phone interview with the Montreal Gazette, Lefebvre said those are precisely the questions he's grappling with in his new job. First off, he insisted the new owners were not really having a big impact on what the Cirque is doing. "I think this company needs to reaffirm its creative leadership," said Lefebvre. "In certain markets we hadn't been there for two years pre-pandemic, which means we haven't been in certain markets for four years. So, there's a real need for us to go back and show the world, to show people in all of our markets, that we exist that we're relevant."

NYC’S WILDEST NIGHT OUT?

One of the first new shows would be MAD APPLE, which would make its premiere on May 12th at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This is not a traditional Cirque creation it stars comedian Brad Williams and features a slew of songs about New York played by the house band, along with acrobatics, dance and comedy.

Mad Apple is a nonstop New York thrill ride from the moment you step into the theater. From pre-show magic and boozy libations at the stunning stage bar, to the band playing the biggest musical hits inspired by the city, Mad Apple blurs the lines between circus, live entertainment, and New York nightlife culture. Featuring six brash acts and a dynamic makeup of musicians, dancers, comedians, magicians, and circus performers, Mad Apple rewrites the script on Las Vegas entertainment. Each act is like a snapshot from a different nocturnal side of New York, brought to life by underground stars, high-flying acrobats, street performers, up-and-coming entertainers, and the biggest musical hits to come out of the city.

"MGM (which owns the New York-New York Hotel and Casino) was looking for that kind of content at the theatre, where people would stick around," said Lefebvre. "You go there, you have an amazing experience before the show and you stick around after the show. We'll have some DJs. It's a richer experience before and after the show. It does have acrobatic acts in there, but it won't be competing with our other shows in Vegas."

The little secret behind the Cirque's near-death experience is that while the company was dealt a ferocious blow by the pandemic, it was already in big trouble before there was a single COVID case in North America. Many believe the major issues started when Laliberte sold the company in 2015 for US$1.5 billion to the consortium that included TPG Capital, Fosun and the Caisse. They started creating more and more content, which critics felt watered down the Cirque's brand.

In 2020, Cirque co-founder Gilles Ste-Croix told the Montreal Gazette things changed when Laliberte sold. "Already last year we could see that there were some problems," Ste-Croix said at the time. "They were putting out many, many shows, and a couple of them didn't work out. It was a question of how they were going about the development. Having so many shows out on the road demands lots of money to finance, hoping to make a buck out of it. But it didn't work out that way, and they were, I'd say, stretching to finance all this debt -- and finally COVID came and it stopped all the revenue."

A source close to the creditors group that took over the Cirque told the Gazette in 2020 that the Cirque's debt increased from $300 million to $1.2 billion in the five years following Laliberte's sale. There were also a few high-profile failures in that period, most notably R.U.N, a Vegas show that was supposed to be permanent but closed in less than five months and cost investors $60 million. "This company took some risks pre-pandemic, and some worked and some didn't," said Lefebvre. "Just to be clear, if there was no pandemic, I don't think the company would have gone through this (bankruptcy protection) process. I don't think this was ever an option.

It was all due to COVID. We had some success. We had some good acquisitions. But we did some shows that didn't work. We have to learn from that.”

“I think it's the way we manage risk,” Lefebvre continued. “This company has to take creative risks, but within some financial boundaries. And that's something we learned so not spending too much money on something that is further from our core business."

In the end, it's about recreating the magic that first turned people on to the Cirque, and everyone including Lefebvre knows that is harder to do today. People already know what the Cirque is, and they also have more entertainment options than ever before. "At the Cirque, we need to be more creative than we've ever been. I was talking to our employees and the creative production team recently about innovation. Innovation doesn't just mean technology -- it's this idea of coming up with new experiences. So, people would see with a new production, things on stage that would be new, not something people have seen at Cirque du Soleil many times in the past. It's about giving people a richer experience."

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT...

Cirque du Soleil opened "Mad Apple" at New York-New York on time and with much fanfare, but suggested the company was not planning another new production on the Strip anytime soon.

The Strip's six-pack of original Cirque productions is now "Mystere," "O," "Ka," "Michael Jackson One," "Love," and now "Mad Apple." Blue Man Group, a Cirque acquisition, continues to perform at Luxor. And Daniel Lamarre, Cirque Executive Vice Chairman, is fine with that collection. For now, at least.

"Right now, all of our shows are doing great," Lamarre said to the Las Vegas Review-Journal at the red (or, pink) carpet walk before “Mad Apple" premiere. "As long as it's going how it is now, there is no need for an extra show in Las Vegas. But we've always got ideas."

By design, "Mad Apple" is the smallest-scale residency show that Cirque has ever presented on the Strip. There is no lake-sized stage (as in "O"), 50-foot-tall rotating stage (as in "Ka"), or troupe of zombies performing over the crowd on aerial harnesses (as in "MJ One"). The company has no interest in wagering $62 million on an original production, as it did in "R.U.N" at Luxor, only to pack up after 4 months. But new shows can remedy old failures. So can fiscal recalculation. "Mad Apple" is reportedly about a $7 million production. The show it replaced, "Zumanity," was originally a $66 million investment, or $20 million if you don't count what was spent on design and construction of the beautiful theater "Mad Apple" has inherited.

Lamarre says the days of grand designs are not totally over for Cirque. "Mad Apple" hits the spot for a themed show at New York-New York, but the company remains committed to developing spectacles for Las Vegas. "I think we'll have both types of shows," Lamarre said, referring to the smaller and larger concepts. "Some shows work in markets like Hawaii, Miami, and those destinations. Our big Cirque shows work in huge markets, New York, London, Tokyo. There are two types of shows and two types of markets. The only city that can afford them all is Las Vegas."

But MGM, Cirque du Soleil’s biggest partner in Las Vegas, is in the process of selling The Mirage to Hard Rock International, where The Beatles LOVE has performed since 2006. The sale would close by the second half of this year – the question here: what happens to LOVE?

Though LOVE has been extended to perform at The Mirage through 2023, the existing contract between Cirque and Hard Rock would need to be extended again for the show to continue to run on the strip. Hard Rock's owners are planning to take down the hotel's famous volcano and build a guitar-shaped tower, which would ideally match the Beatles' branding and imagery. But LOVE is reportedly selling only between 30 and 40 percent of capacity in its pandemic reopening. Those numbers are a concern no matter how groovy the show is. "There's an emotional attachment to LOVE because it is different than the other Cirque shows. But it still feels like a musical and (those types of productions) haven't done fantastically in Vegas," says Scott Roeben, founder of the Vital Vegas blog and columnist for Casino.org. "It's done fine (financially), but ‘fine’ isn't enough for the Hard Rock to say, this has to stay."

Roeben notes the audience demographic for a Beatles-centric production might not be a priority for the Hard Rock. "The Beatles are kind of beloved, but that audience is getting older, and while they are a ticket-buying audience, that audience is not growing," he says. "LOVE is a very specific show. You'd better like The Beatles and if you're 20 years old, you might not know (their music) that well. Hard Rock is looking at two years, five years, 10 years from now. What are they going to build for a foundation? I don't think it's The Beatles."

But the Cirque camp remained sanguine. Eric Grilly, president of resident and affiliate shows divisions for Cirque du Soleil, tells USA TODAY in a statement, "We look forward to working with MGM Resorts and Hard Rock International through this transition. We hope to have news to share in the coming months when the sale is finalized." For now, the international cast of nearly 70 artists and 100-plus crew and tech specialists continue to romp through "Love" twice a night, five times a week.

REST IN PEACE

While Cirque du Soleil fans contemplated the future of one of the company’s best shows, they were also faced with the uncomfortable truth of finality of three of its best collaborators.

First, on January 23rd, with the loss of Designer Manfred Thierry Mugler, the founder of the brand Mugler and costume designer for Zumanity. His personal Instagram account first reported the news: "We are devastated to announce the passing of Mr. Manfred Thierry Mugler on Sunday January 23, 2022," they wrote. "May his soul rest in peace."

Then on February 22, 2022, with the announcement that composer Violaine Corradi, had died. "We are sad to hear of the passing of Composer Violaine Corradi, known for her beautiful melodies. Zaia, Dralion & Varekai would not have been the same without her inspiration & musical gifts. A talented soul has left us too soon, her music will always live on in our hearts."

And lastly on September 30, 2022, with the announcement that Franco Dragone, Cirque du Soleil’s prolific director during the 1990s, passed. Dragone died of a heart attack while conducting business in Cairo, Egypt. He was 69. Dragone was a heavy smoker, but was known to be in relatively good health after recovering from leukemia the previous year. News of Dragone's death was posted on his official social media pages at about 11:45 a.m. Friday. The message was simply: "Franco Dragone, 1952-2022."

Cirque du Soleil said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Franco Dragone. Our hearts go out to his friends, family, and the entire Dragone organization. Franco was an industry icon. Responsible for some of our most successful productions, including Nouvelle Experience, Alegria, Mystere, ‘O,’ and ‘La Nouba,’ he has contributed invaluably to the success of Cirque du Soleil. His passing is a loss not only for his family, but for the entire industry."

"This was a devastating surprise to all of us,” Dragone CEO Francois Girard said. “We will look to the future with the strength of the past, on the path paved by an extraordinary man, the legend we have lost."

THE WORLD IS YOURS

Cirque du Soleil would round out the year by announcing a new touring production – one simply titled ECHO, directed by Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar, based on the original concept of Es Devlin.

Cirque du Soleil's 20th Big Top show will bring bold new visuals and a different aesthetic approach. High-level acrobatics will be woven within a striking and disruptive visual universe.

"We are thrilled to announce Cirque du Soleil ECHO, a new Big Top show that will premiere in the Old Port of Montreal in April 2023. After this summer's amazing success with KOOZA and now seeing our fans' anticipation for Corteo at the Bell Center during the Holidays, we are looking forward to launching this new creation and premiering it in our hometown as per our long-time tradition.", commented Stephane Lefebvre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Group.

"Cirque du Soleil ECHO is a show whose production had started before the pandemic. Three years have passed, and we are in a different world now than the one we were in 2020. This brought us to rethink the intention of the show, to bring innovation to it and to even revert to Es Devlin's original proposed title ECHO because it was fitting better with the new story line. We also invited new people to join the show creation team, including the director Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar.", says Chantal Tremblay, creation director.

Director, Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar adds: "Creation should always be at the heart of Cirque du Soleil, and one of our biggest excitements anchors itself in our ability to deliver a new show to our audience. Cirque du Soleil ECHO will push the values of connection, inspiration and the power of intention.

We have the ability to create and manifest the world we want to live in, if we all put our collective minds together and encourage a movement that is pushed by the youth of today. What really excites me most about this beautiful project is the ability to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in a Big Top setting and deliver a joyful experience, full of surprises, to millions of people around the world."

Cirque du Soleil would bring new and surprising twists to its big top magic with a story about evolution and the symbiotic unions that our future depends on. Poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics and technologies come together in a spectacle exploring the precious balance between humans, animals and the world we share. As they navigate the phases of evolution, our main female protagonist Future and our characters learn that their actions have the power to shape the world. Inspired to collaborate, they come together to rebuild our planet piece by piece, creating the world we all want to live in. Fueled by the power of invention, the hope of the youth and the importance of empathy, Cirque du Soleil ECHO invites the audience to participate in a universe of color, wonder and infinite possibilities.

Will the new year bring infinite possibilities to Cirque du Soleil?

"As far as our Big Top shows go, we have been incredibly surprised and pleased that the demand across the world is still there for our Big Top shows," Duncan Fisher, vice-president of operations and general manager of the touring show division said in an interview with the Montreal Gazette. "Here in Montreal, Kooza did the most tickets ever for a Cirque show. In London, when we opened with (Ovo), we broke the record there. In Madrid, we're currently going to break the record there (with Luzia). We've been able to come back with the Big Top shows without missing a beat."

2021

2023