2010

Richard "Richasi" Russo -- Event Chairman

Besides handling all the duties of “the one in charge,” Ricky facilitated CirqueCon’s presence on the World Wide Web, developing and keeping CirqueCon.com and its Facebook page up to date, created and constructed the programme book, was Cirque du Soleil liaison between CirqueCon and all three Cirque shows, facilitated ticket sales with Cirque du Soleil, arranged the activities with Cirque and was the general orchestrator of events and activities.

Keith Johnson -- Accommodations & Treasurer

This year Keith once again joins us as Treasurer, handling all the membership, ticket, and group meal payments sent to us via check and Paypal behind-the-scenes. He was also instrumental in facilitating accommodations in New York City and Montréal..

LouAnna Valentine – Social Events & Legal

This year she spearheaded the “Meet & Greet” activities in both New York City and Montréal for us and assisted Keith with restaurant contacts and hotel accommodations in both cities.

Rodolfo Elizondo /// Cirque Liaison & Deliverables

Rodolfo helped us get in touch with Cirque du Soleil OVO, initially worked on hotel accommodations in New York City, and facilitated the creation and delivery of our two T-Shirt designs.

Francisco Fernandez /// Graphics & Deliverables

After stepping in and rising to the challenge of developing and producing graphics and various deliverables for our CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey event, Francisco has officially joined us for our 2010 event in the same capacity. Many of the logos, posters, and other graphics work this year was produced by his amazing talent. He designed the programme book cover, the CirqueCon 2010 badge, the various “activity tickets” and the T-Shirts.

SOCIAL EVENTS

One of the most important aspects of CirqueCon is facilitating activities and events that allow our guests the opportunity to mingle and acquainted with one another in an understanding and relaxed environment. It's something that brings us together as a community. For the very first time we included a second destination as part of our event "weekend"; therefore, in order to accommodate both cities, we added two extra fun-filled days to our schedule!

Broadway Night /// The Lion King

Although we came to New York City for spectacles by Cirque du Soleil, who said we couldn't take in a musical on Broadway too? Therefore, we dedicated Tuesday night to be our night on the Great White Way. We invited to do whatever interested our guests; the night was theirs! Some of the CirqueCon staff saw Disney’s THE LION KING at Minskoff Theatre near Times Square, which some were very welcome to join us for!

Meet & Greet - New York City

A hallmark of CirqueCon, it's our chance to socialize as a group in a much more relaxed, slow-paced setting. We hosted our New York City Meet & Greet in the lobby of the hotel within a specially designated space at "On the Ave". It was a nice get-together on our first morning together!

Group Meal NYC /// Amsterdam Ale House

We were pleased to announce our selection for our first of two group meals during this unique event - AMSTERDAM ALE HOUSE in New York City! Billed as a charming neighborhood restaurant on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, they're commitment to serving the finest ales and lagers available is unmatched. Not to mention a fine selection of foods one comes to expect from a great ale house. And at 76th Street and Amsterdam Avenue - it was just a couple of blocks from ON THE AVE, our Headquarters Hotel and from the Beacon Theater where we assembled for BANANA SHPEEL following dinner!

Meet & Greet - Montreal

Much like for our CirqueCon 2005 event, we hosted our Montreal meet-and-greet from our hotel rooms at the Headquarters Hotel - Springhill Suites Vieux Port!

Group Meal YUL /// Restaurant du Vieux Port

Passionates who joined us in Montréal for CirqueCon 2005 may remember the Restaurant du Vieux Port, a wonderful historical restaurant situated in the heart of the Old Port of Montréal and just a few moments walk to/from the Grand Chapiteau perched on the Quays at the waterfront. We loved them so much we went back!

CIRQUE ACTIVITIES

Cirque du Soleil opened their arms and hearts as passionates embraced all things Cirque.

Cirque du Soleil had invited us to the Grand Chapiteau Wednesday afternoon for a chance to see how the critters of the microcosmic insect world of OVO trained for their performances; however, that fell through at the last moment. Instead, Cirque allowed us to stay immediately following the performances for a chance to ask some of the cast and crew a few of our most burning and pressing questions! Then, on Thursday morning, Cirque invited us to the Beacon Theatre for a peek at final rehearsals and a chance to speak with Serge Roy, Director of Creation for Banana Shpeel! Then, to complete the tour, on Saturday in Montreal, Passionates got an opportunity to peek behind-the-scenes at TOTEM and speak with one of the directors of the new show!

OUR EVENT SCHEDULE

Time

Location

Activity

6:30pm - 10:00pm

Broadway
--
Minskoff Theater

Broadway Night! - "The Lion King"

Doors open at 6:30pm; show begins at 7:00pm

Although we've come to New York City for spectacles by Cirque du Soleil, who says we can't take in a musical on Broadway too? Therefore, we've dedicated this night to be our night on the Great White Way, so please enjoy its various theatrical and musical offerings. Do whatever interests you; the night is yours! The CirqueCon staff will be seeing Disney's THE LION KING at Minskoff Theatre near Times's Square, which you're very welcome to join us for - who knows who we might meet tonight! Contact the theater box office directly to purchase tickets!

Time	Location	Activity
8:30am - 9:30am	Hotel (On the Ave)	CirqueCon Registration Open We're opening up our registration table a little early so patrons can mix and mingle at our Meet & Greet without worry - come by and pick up your programme book, badge, and/or T-Shirts! You'll find us within the lobby of On the Ave, so come by and see us!
9:00am - 10:30am	Hotel (On the Ave)	Meet & Greet /// New York City Begin the day by meeting us and your fellow Cirque Passionates before we set you lose on Manhattan and its environs at our Meet & Greet. There'll be plenty of room to spread out and chat, so come on by and pick up your programme book, badge, and/or T-Shirts!
7:00pm - 10:30pm	Grand Chapiteau -- Randall's Island	Group Show /// Cirque du Soleil: OVO Doors open at 7:30pm; show begins at 8:00pm Then join us at Randal's Island for our first Cirque du Soleil group show of the event: OVO, an immersion into the teeming and energetic world of insects!
10:30pm - Midnight	Grand Chapiteau -- Randall's Island	Cirque Activities /// Q&A at OVO CIRQUECON 2010 BADGE REQUIRED Cirque du Soleil has invitied us to stay in our seats following our evening performance to get a chance to ask some of the cast and crew a few of our most burning and pressing questions! Stick around to meet the creepy crawlies of OVO!

Time	Location	Activity
2:45pm - 3:15pm	Hotel (On The Ave)	CirqueCon Registration Open If you've still not picked up your packet, badge or other goodies, come by and see us before we walk down to the Beacon Theatre for our special Cirque Activities with the BANANA SHPEEL cast and crew! We'll be hanging out in the lobby of On the Ave!
3:30pm - 4:30pm	Upper West Side -- Beacon Theater	Cirque Activities /// Meet Schmelkey! CIRQUECON 2010 BADGE REQUIRED Mr. Schmelkey of Schmelkey Productions has invited the CirqueCon Group to his theatre to witness last-minute rehearsals for BANANA SHPEEL before tonight's performance! We'll also get a chance to speak with a member of the creative team.
5:00pm - 7:00pm	Upper West Side -- Amsterdam Ale House	Group Meal /// New York City GROUP MEAL TICKET REQUIRED Billed as a charming neighborhood restaurant on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, they're commitment to serving the finest ales and lagers available is unmatched. Not to mention a fine selection of foods one comes to expect from a great ale house. And at 76th Street and Amsterdam Avenue - it's just a couple of blocks from ON THE AVE, our Headquarters Hotel and from the Beacon Theater where we'll assemble for BANANA SHPEEL following dinner!
7:30pm - 10:30pm	Upper West Side -- Beacon Theater	Group Show /// Cirque du Soleil: Banana Shpeel Doors open at 7:30pm; Show begins at 8:00pm After filling our tummies with scrumptious foods from one of New York's best restaurants, join us then for our second circus excursion, Cirque du Soleil's BANANA SHPEEL, a new twist on Vaudeville - Cirque style. It is a theatrical mix of comedy and dance you won't want to miss!

Time	Location	Activity
Day	In Transit!	Transfer to Montréal Make the trek because we're transferring our event flag to Montréal for the remainder of our time. There's more Cirquein' to do!
7:30pm - 9:00pm	Vieux Port Montréal -- Hotel (Marriott SpringHill Suites)	"Welcome to Montréal" Cocktail Party Now that we're in Montréal - with TOTEM dark to the public tonight (unless you purchase a special ONE DROP ticket) - we'd love to see you! CirqueCon is holding a "Welcome to Montréal" Cocktail Party out of our joining hotel suites at the Marriott Spring Hill to welcome all Passionates to our second home - among the quays of the Old Port. Please come mix and mingle!

Time	Location	Activity
Morning	Hotel	CirqueCon Registration Open Come by Ricky's Room at SpringHill Suites in the morning to pick up your tickets and other CirqueCon goodies if you've not yet done so. Because we're not yet sure when the Cirque activities may occur, a time has not yet been set. We'll let you know during the Meet & Greet the following evening.
Day	TBD	Cirque Activities /// TBA CIRQUECON 2010 BADGE REQUIRED Cirque du Soleil, having heard that CirqueCon is coming to town, is working hard for a grand Cirquey welcome. Just what they have planned for us is being kept behind the curtain at this time, but it's sure to be great! Make sure you keep your calendar clear!
5:00pm - 7:00pm	Vieux Port Montréal -- Restaurant du Vieux Port	Group Meal /// Montréal GROUP MEAL TICKET REQUIRED One of the highlights of CirqueCon is when Cirque fans gather at a local eating establishment, enjoying a meal and getting acquainted (or re-acquainted) with each other. Passionates who joined us for CirqueCon 2005 may remember the Restaurant du Vieux Port, a wonderful historical restaurant situated in the heart of the Old Port of Montréal and just a few moments walk to/from the Grand Chapiteau perched on the Quays at the waterfront. We loved them so much we're heading back!
7:30pm - 10:30pm	Grand Chapiteau -- Jacques Cartier Pier	Group Show /// Cirque du Soleil: TOTEM Doors open at 7:30pm; Show begins 8:00pm TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations. Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

Time	Location	Activity
9:00am - 11:00pm	Hotel	Our Kaffeeklatsch On Sunday morning, join us once again in our hotel rooms for the Kaffeeklatsch - an impromptu get-together to give us your thoughts about the weekend. Come have a cup of coffee or tea and let us know how we did and what can be improved for our next adventure: CirqueCon 2011: Hollywood! Or, just stop by to say goodbye!

THANKS THIS YEAR

On the behalf of everyone here behind the scenes at CirqueCon 2010: New York City & Montreal, we wish to take this moment to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to these following individuals and organizations who have helped us greatly to put on our event this year!

at Cirque du Soleil:

Roxane Prince – Conseillère Marketing Internet & Superviseure Club Cirque Internet
Solange – Ventes corporatives, Corporate Sales North America (OVO/TOTEM)
Reggie Lyons – PR Activities, Banana Shpeel
Frédérique Gagnier – Publicist, Attachée de Presse
Serge Roy - Director of Creation, Banana Shpeel

in New York City:

Tal Lavi – Amsterdam Ale House
Courtney Hudson – Group Sales, Madison Square Garden (BANANA SHPEEL)
Karen Mahrous – Group Sales Manager, “On the Ave” Hotel
Bindia La Paz – Sales Manager, “On the Ave” Hotel
Yana Teper – Group Sales Coordinator, “On the Ave” Hotel
Christina Cruz – Executive Assistant, “On the Ave” Hotel
Audrey Love – Sales Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea
Charmaine Murray – Director of Sales, Hampton Inn 35th St/Empire State
Uli Altricher – Hilton Mainz / Mainz City

in Montréal

Jay Pujol – Sales Manager, Marriott SpringHill Suites Vieux Montréal
Tina Mourdoukoutas – Group Service Coordinator, Restaurant du Vieux Port

For Helping Out:

Rich Alford – for attempting a "Magic Bus" to OVO and Dallas BBQ Meal
Robert Gross – for volunteering to be our guinea pig
Heather Smith – for her help with Hotels/Restaurants/Flights for NYC