Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter.
Greetings!
Since we’ve last spoken, Cirque du Soleil has gone through a number of startling and interesting internal changes.
On February 28th, a headline from the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Cirque du Soleil executive Mike Newquist abruptly departed his role. A little more than two weeks prior, Cirque du Soleil exec Mike Newquist said, “I think the overall future of Cirque is so bright.” On Friday the 28th, he left the company.
Newquist had taken his position on Feb. 6, during a series of company cutbacks under the ONECirque initiative, in which more than 100 positions were cut and other positions consolidated. Cirque’s chief revenue officer’s departure was confirmed by company officials in Montreal, who stated Newquist’s departure was not related to the company’s recent downsizing. Other than stating Newquist has left to pursue other opportunities, no specifics were provided.
“Mr. Newquist is departing from the company to pursue new ventures,” the company reps said. “This leadership transition is not related to the recent restructuring, aimed at simplifying the structure, maximizing efficiency, streamlining decision-making and driving long-term growth. We are confident that we have established not only the right structure but also a strong team that will continue to build on the success of our 6 Las Vegas resident shows, which have captivated audiences for over 30 years.”
Newquist had previously worked at Cirque for two years before taking a position with the Raiders in August 2023, returning to Cirque in January 2024. The search for Newquist’s replacement “will begin shortly,” the company states. In the interim, veteran Cirque exec Daniel Lamarre, executive vice president of the Board of Directors, will oversee the company’s revenue sector.
Then on March 12th, a post by Vital Vegas suggested that Cirque du Soleil might be preparing for a sale or another bankruptcy filing. “So many key executives shown the door to boost the bottom line (common when companies are being shopped),” they stated. Mr. Newquist was on their list, as well as two others not previously mentioned: Amanda Moore-Saundres; Global Head of Marketing and Growth for Cirque du Soleil Resident Shows Division, and Ann Paladie; Director of Communications, after 23 years with Cirque du Soleil.
Then on April 1st, another internal memo was obtained by the press that laid out a change in the company’s leadership: out was Stéphane Lefebvre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil and in was Daniel Lamarre.
Within we have transcripts of two of the most recent internal memos the press was able to obtain with regards to these internal machinations at the company. The first, from February 6th, entitled “ONE CIRQUE, ONE TEAM”, discusses the company’s new operating strategy: the elimination of show divisions to bring everyone together as one team. The second, from April 1st, announces the unexpected change in the company’s leadership and re-introduces Daniel Lamarre. You’ll find those in our FEATURES section this month.
In case you missed it… on March 15th, Cirque du Soleil released their next musical album in collaboration with BMG: LUZIA LIVE! It is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and various other music streaming platforms.
01: "Corre" .................... (1:44) 02: "Así es la vida" ........... (5:54) 03: "Tiembla la tierra" ........ (5:27) 04: "Flores en el desierto" .... (7:09) 05: "Pez volador" .............. (5:49) 06: "Cierra los ojos" .......... (4:35) 07: "Los mosquitos" ............ (5:59) 08: "La Lucha" ................. (1:30) 09: "Tlaloc" ................... (5:49) 10: "Marimba no 7" ............. (5:43) 11: "Alebrijes" ................ (6:41) 12: "El swing del amor" ........ (7:22) 13: "Fiesta finale" ............ (3:14)
Running 1 hour, 7 minutes, this recording actually had been on the shelf for a while – recorded in Mexcio City back in 2018!
On April 2nd, Cirque du Soleil excitedly announced the launch of its new Free Ad-supported Streaming Television (FAST) channel, now available at no cost through Amazon Prime Video. This creative content, produced at the newly established Cirque du Soleil STUDIO, is also available on Anoki, DistroTV and Plex.
With just a click on their smart TV, mobile or computer, fans can now enjoy a wide array of Cirque du Soleil’s breathtaking acrobatic performances, innovative acts, and stunning visuals, including long-form documentaries, curated compilations, best-of highlights, and short-form unscripted content. This product creates a new revenue stream for the company, serving its existing fanbase and drawing new fans to the brand.
“We are thrilled to introduce the FAST channel as an exciting new addition to our offering. This innovative product allows us to expand our reach, connect with new audiences, and integrate seamlessly into their day-to-day lives. By offering high-quality content through a free, ad-supported streaming experience, we are committed to delivering high value to viewers while solidifying our place in the evolving media landscape”, says Susan Levison, General Manager at Cirque du Soleil STUDIO.
“Cirque du Soleil has always been about creating awe-inspiring moments that transport audiences into a world of imagination and wonder. With the launch of our FAST channel, we are extending that magic beyond our live shows, bringing the Cirque experience directly into people’s homes. This is a natural evolution of our customer journey—one that now spans from our spectacular in-person performances to year-round digital touchpoints, including music, AR & VR experiences, AVOD content on social media, PPV, and more. FAST is an integral part of our vision to reach as many fans as possible around the world while delivering meaningful value to our partners and sponsors. It’s not just about watching Cirque du Soleil—it’s about feeling inspired, anytime, anywhere.” adds Anne Belliveau, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
The company is actively engaging in discussions with additional partners to expand the availability of its content across other platforms, bringing the magic of Cirque du Soleil to audiences worldwide.
“No one leaves the Palace of Illusions unchanged”
Accompanied by his 4 grandchildren, a colourful and endearing papi visits this great Palace of Illusions, which he has been longing to see for years. As they move through the rooms, each as surprising as the last, we discover that papi knows everyone and reveals a mysterious past unknown to his young grandchildren. The journey through this palace is both poetic and out of the ordinary, allowing them to discover themselves from an unexpected angle. It’s a funny and touching adventure that illustrates how generations that are far apart are not so different from each other.
“For our 11th year, we’re bringing IL·LU to Andorra—a bold, colorful world inspired by the playful chaos of a Fun House. Follow Papi and his twins into the House of Illusions and discover the unexpected.” – Marie-Hélène Delage, Creative Director, Events & Experiences
IL·LU performances will take place from July 4th to August 3rd 2025, from Tuesday to Sunday. The show, which will start at 10 pm, will last 60 minutes and will be preceded by an animation.
But, of course, that’s not all. Since we last spoke ‘AUANA, Cirque du Soleil’s recent resident show in Hawai’i has made its debut and so within we have a small collection of articles related to that event – a couple of interviews, a review or two – just a few odds and ends that might help you get an idea of the show. And more.
So, let’s get into it!
TEXT FILE — https://www.cirquefascination.com/Issues/Issue229.txt
