Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter.
There is nothing wrong with your computer. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. For now we will control all that you see and read. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to the outer limits! For you are about to experience a very special issue of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter – a rare double issue!
*Zzzzzzt!*
Okay, enough with the Outer Limits introduction, am I right? What you have here is only the second double issue in our publication history. We’ve had quarterly and bimonthly issues in the past, of course, but this issue is truly a daily double – with news and features articles we intended for a May/June issue (#126) and those for the more current time frame – July/August (#127). But something always seemed to come up to keep us publishing – SONGBLAZERS announcement, LOVE’s closing, a new STUDIO – you name it, it just kept coming! Plus, we had to take a brief time to head out to Las Vegas to give LOVE one final look-see. So, while it’s been a while since we’ve last gotten together and talked about our favorite circus, let me stop yappin’ and welcome you to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter, and let’s go get caught up!
The Beatles™ LOVE™, the groundbreaking collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Apple Corps Ltd., concluded its historic run at The Mirage Hotel & Casino. The gravity-defying acrobatics, high-energy choreography and vibrant visuals set to the hits of The Beatles dazzled two sold-out crowds of fans on Saturday, July 6, and an invited audience of VIPs, team members and longtime supporters on Sunday, July 7.
To kick off the honorary Sunday evening, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group CEO Stéphane Lefebvre and the performer who portrays Mr. Piggy took the stage, thanking the audience for their unwavering support over the years and sharing in the bittersweet goodbye to one of the world’s most beloved productions. The spectacular artists left the audience in awe before returning to the 360-degree stage with the show’s incredible crew to take their final bow as they received a standing ovation from the full house, which included Cirque du Soleil co-founder Gilles Ste-Croix, LOVE Music Director Giles Martin, Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones along with Jonathan Clyde and other Apple Corps representatives, Cirque du Soleil Executive Vice Chairman of the Board Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO Stéphane Lefebvre, Resident Show Division President Mike Newquist, show director Dominic Champagne as well as other creative team members and former LOVE artists.
The only licensed Beatles production in the world, The Beatles LOVE fused together the iconic and extensive catalog of the legendary rock band with the breathtaking artistry of Cirque du Soleil to create the first show of its kind. The Beatles LOVE soundtrack, produced and mixed by The Beatles’ original producer George Martin and his son Giles Martin, is Cirque du Soleil’s first and only GRAMMY®-winning soundtrack and features a mix of over 130 songs on its 26 tracks.
During its 18 historic years at The Mirage, The Beatles LOVE welcomed over 11.8 million guests to the one-of-a-kind theater, including more than 500 musicians and celebrities. The iconic production previously brought Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison together for its inaugural and milestone performances, and in the past month, Ringo Starr and Olivia Harrison have both returned to bid their farewells and thank the cast and crew for their dedication.
Goodbye, LOVE. You will be missed.
Cirque du Soleil has announced that its beloved resident production KÀ will continue performances at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino through November 2026. A staple on The Strip since 2005, the cinematic masterpiece redefines storytelling with its heroic journey of love and conflict, taking adventure to an all-new level as world-class performers enthrall audiences with gravity-defying battle scenes and combat acrobatics punctuated by immersive technology. “KÀ is truly one of a kind and has amassed an incredible fan base around the world,” said Mike Newquist, President of the Resident Shows Division for Cirque du Soleil. “We’re thrilled that, alongside our amazing partners at MGM Resorts International, we can offer Las Vegas visitors the chance to experience the epic adventure that is KÀ for at least two more years.” The company says “KÀ” will head into a new schedule for this summer, offering shows at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Performances will continue at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The summer schedule began June 29 and runs through Sept. 1.
On June 27, 2024, Cirque du Soleil announced the creation of its new Cirque du Soleil STUDIO. This new division will produce long-form content with programming that harnesses Cirque du Soleil’s DNA, to drive revenue, serve the company’s existing fanbase and to draw new fans to the brand. Under the direction of Susan Levison, all genres of programming will be produced within this division, including unscripted and scripted television, film, animation and documentaries. Read the press release about the STUDIO within.
When Cirque du Soleil moved to reboot its flagship production, O, more than a year after an abrupt global shutdown, both performers and crew members faced uncertainty as they worked to return to their world-class standards in time for the (re)opening night curtain in Las Vegas. With unprecedented access, filmmaker Dawn Porter (John Lewis: Good Trouble, Trapped) captured the dramatic personal highs and lows of the world’s most famous circus act on its journey back from the existential brink. And you can finally see this documentary from the comfort of your own couch, as it will stream globally on Prime Video beginning July 25, 2024. It runs 1 hour and 38 minutes and is rated PG-13.
BMG and Cirque du Soleil have formed a partnership to handle the live entertainment company’s musical catalog, as well as explore a number of music-oriented initiatives. The agreement calls for BMG to be the label home for Cirque’s catalog of original scores and soundtracks, administer its music publishing and jointly create new music. The first release under the pact is the country-themed Songblazers, out now. Songblazers is Cirque’s newest production, presented in conjunction with Universal Music Group Nashville, about two characters who go on a journey to find their own path to country music stardom. The soundtrack was produced by Grammy-winning producer Daniel Tashian.The partnership will be led by Cirque du Soleil’s new music division, Cirque du Soleil Studio, which is tasked with expanding the brand’s fan base. Fans might recall that Cirque du Soleil’s music interests were previously published through BMG-RCA/VICTOR in the past, so this is more of a homecoming than anything too shocking.
And there’s so much more. So, let’s get into it!
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