2023

DISCOVER THE EXTRAORDINARY

A year after the relaunch of its shows worldwide, Cirque du Soleil would renew its commitment to take audiences beyond expectations, to the outer limits of the imagination, and to feel the deepest emotions, through a new brand campaign entitled “Discover the Extraordinary.” Four decades later, this commitment to always go further in creating the extraordinary fuels its daily mission.

"We are all born from the sun. We reach beyond. Beyond the expected. Beyond the infinite. Beyond, beyond. Cirque du Soleil is renewing its commitment to take audiences beyond expectations, to the outer limits of imagination, color, and to feel the deepest emotions. A commitment to the extraordinary we made four decades ago and continue to uphold to this day. The experience of a Cirque du Soleil show goes beyond the expected and transcends languages, countries, and cultures. Why should we bend to boundaries when we can challenge ourselves to disrupt what's rational, practical, or expected? Beyond is where our future lies. For those who've just now been introduced to Cirque du Soleil: welcome to the show, we are thrilled that you're finally joining us!

As our fans know well, we are so much more than just a troupe of acrobats. We travel the world to do outrageous things, subversive things, wildly artistic things. Things other people haven't. And when we are ready to set sail towards tomorrow, we leave everywhere better than we found it. Where others can only imagine a better world, we bring it forth for all to see. Our creative spirit pushes us further, beyond, so our people can radiate brightly all over the globe. It takes a lot of moxie to reinvent creativity, and it takes the outlook of many different voices to do so. At Cirque du Soleil, we're firm believers that our strength resides in the natural diversity, equality, and inclusivity we've nurtured over the course of our long history. As a superhuman family, it is our responsibility to those within our community and surrounding it to be daring and spearhead the era of change that's upon us. Endless optimists that we are, we take pride in celebrating this diversity and lead by example."

For the first time in several years, the company wanted to create brand awareness and mark its post- pandemic evolution with a unique and touching message that targets new and younger audiences while helping longtime fans rediscover Cirque du Soleil. With this positioning, Cirque du Soleil wanted to reinforce that its shows went beyond the expected and transcended languages, countries, and cultures. The company has always been more than a circus; it defied the rules of convention and is an emotion generator. It creates the most daring reality. "As we all know, the Cirque du Soleil experience goes beyond the expected, and as a follow-up to "Intermission is Over" and "The Sun Rises" campaigns, "Discover the Extraordinary" infuses renewed energy into our brand message to help our fans and new audiences discover the extraordinary that we create every day," stated Nickole Tara, Chief Growth Officer at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

NEW GROWTH AND INITIATIVES

To meet young fans where they're at, Cirque du Soleil brought Nickole Tara into the fold as its new Chief Growth Officer, and with her appointment, came a number of new initiatives for 2023, such as...

/// Content to the Digital Masses

Said Cinedigm Yolanda Macias/Chief Content Officer, "This partnership with Cirque du Soleil is a benchmark moment for Cinedigm as the word 'unique' simply does not do justice for the brand of entertainment and innovation this group of immensely talented performers brings to the stage." She added, "Our enthusiast viewers who have seen these shows will enjoy watching them again, and people who are new to the Cirque du Soleil creative universe will find themselves completely engrossed while consuming these amazing world-class events."

"We are excited to partner with Cinedigm to continue expanding our entertainment offering beyond our staged productions,'" said Sebastien Ouimet, Head of Filmed and Immersive Entertainment for Cirque du Soleil. This partnership allows us to provide our fans with exclusive access to the front-row seats and behind-the-scenes of Cirque du Soleil's most iconic productions, directly from home."

Cirque du Soleil fans have often lamented the absence of the company’s content availability online, so this announcement was a step in the right direction.

/// Cirque Joines the Metaverse

On May 24, 2023, Cirque du Soleil and Gamefam, a leading metaverse game developer, joined forces to create Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever immersive experience on ROBLOX, a global immersive platform where millions of people connect and communicate daily.

"Cirque du Soleil Tycoon will channel the influence of global online platform Roblox for immersive shared experiences and harness Cirque du Soleil's high-end entertainment expertise, creative DNA, and multi-generational fanbase. To launch Cirque du Soleil's first-ever digital experience on a major immersive platform like Roblox made a lot of sense for us just like the story of ECHO which centers around connection, Roblox is all about bringing people together, and in this case, also enabling us to offer a coveted behind-the-scenes experience to millions of fans at once, sans distance or other physical limitations," said Sebastien Ouimet, Head of Filmed and Immersive Entertainment at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

This unique experience supports Cirque du Soleil's newly defined mission to diversify its offering beyond live shows by bringing its world-renowned creative development engine to the immersive world of Roblox and allowing new and existing fans to engage with a first-of-its-kind metaverse experience. "With the creation of Cirque du Soleil Tycoon, we underscore the increasing importance of widening our portfolio of brand experiences across 3D immersive and filmed entertainment, premium content, gaming, and beyond," notes Nickole Tara, Chief Growth Officer, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

In “Cirque du Soleil Tycoon”, users can build their own Cirque du Soleil universe filled with performers, artists, sell-out crowds, and some of the most visually stunning performances in the metaverse. Community members will have the chance to build and manage their own Big Top performance, try their skills in interactive challenges and mini-games, hire acrobats, and set the stage to create their very own custom Cirque du Soleil site. Inspired by Cirque du Soleil's brand-new touring show, "ECHO", which explores the relationship between humans and nature, the experience incorporates whimsical and fantastical Cirque du Soleil details and brings existing and new fans together for a behind-the-scenes look at how Cirque du Soleil productions work. Roblox community members will also have access to unique virtual items, such as animal head masks inspired by real-life ECHO costumes, allowing them to customize their avatar and express their creativity in true Cirque du Soleil fashion.

By tapping into Gamefam's metaverse gaming expertise, Cirque du Soleil aims to engage some of the 66 million+ daily active players on Roblox, attract a new fan base, and provide people globally an easily accessible way to experience the creativity and universe of Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil Tycoon will be available for free on Roblox via most platforms and devices, including consoles, PCs, mobile, and tablets starting in summer 2023.

/// Shared Realities?

And also on May 24, 2023, Cirque du Soleil announced a partnership with COSM, a leading immersive technology, media, and entertainment company, to deliver a completely new way to experience Cirque du Soleil. Under the agreement, COSM will produce and present an iconic Cirque du Soleil at its forthcoming venues, the first of which is slated to open in Los Angeles in the spring of 2024 and showcase a 26.6-meter diameter LED dome in a 65,000 total square feet facility.

"From our research we know our fans are seeking immersive, emotionally fulfilling experiences featuring creative storytelling through innovative formats that ignite the imagination and foster human connection. This partnership with Cosm will allow us to once again push production and technology boundaries to seamlessly blend virtual and physical worlds and cultivate our connection with fans beyond the stage,'' commented Sebastien Ouimet, Head of Filmed and Immersive Entertainment at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

Cosm's new generation of venues will bring entertainment to life by utilizing its revolutionary domed and compound curved LED technology to create a larger-than-life ''Shared Reality'' experience that bridges the virtual and physical worlds, all with corresponding sights and sounds. Merging the energy of the crowd, elevated food and beverage service, and state-of-the-art visuals, fans will be able to experience Cirque du Soleil's avant-garde creativity from a brand-new perspective.

/// Influencing the Influencers

And on October 12th, Cirque du Soleil announced the launching of the Cirque du Soleil Artist Influencer Network, a platform that connects brands with the company’s diverse talent roster to create influencer-style content. Offering creative talent from all corners of the world, Cirque du Soleil will support and prioritize the amplification of their artists by connecting them with brand partners that match their values, passions, skills, and aesthetics to produce social-first content that resonates with their target audiences. Understanding the value their creative talent brings beyond each performance, the Artist Influencer Network was created as another outlet for artists to express their creativity and connect with fans through their individual passion points.

"At Cirque du Soleil, our commitment to creativity and wonder extends beyond the stage. We've witnessed significant organic social growth and interest among our on-stage artists, technicians, and other creative employees over the past two years," stated Christopher Bower, Head of Global Brand & Social at Cirque du Soleil. "The Artist Influencer Network represents the next natural progression, providing brands with access to our exceptional roster of individuals who offer original content and unique perspectives."

Talent will span diverse backgrounds and age demographics and across verticals such as acrobatics, fitness/wellness, family & kids, travel and comedy. In addition to the Talent, the Artist Influencer Network will supply brands with social media experts ready to oversee a seamless process from start to finish by supporting artist identification, onboarding, creative strategy, project management culminating in custom content, paid distribution and success metrics. The network will host over 1,500 artists at launch, totaling over 35 million followers across nano, micro, and macro audiences within the network.

RAMPING UP?

Yes, Cirque du Soleil was hard at work on a number of new initiatives for the company, but it was not ignoring its traditional set either. ECHO, the previously-titled “Under the Same Sky”, would go on to launch to much fanfare ("It was with great excitement and enthusiasm that numerous political, cultural, and sports personalities walked the red carpet at the grand premiere. The 2,500-seat Big Top was packed to the rafters to applaud the 51artists of ECHO”). And the Cirque would also announce a number of shows for its Special Event division:

VIZION, the second in the so-called "best-of" series of shows, which opened on Thursday, April 27th at King Adbulla Sports City near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This new creation followed FUZION, which played in Jeddah last year. Next, there's "GUY! GUY! GUY!", the seventh in the company's HOMAGE SERIES that pays tribute to Quebec artists. This creation is a joyful and colorful celebration of hockey legend Guy Lafleur, who "infused his imagination on the ice to create an electrifying game." It made its debut at the Amphitheatre Cogeco in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec on July 19, 2023. And Cirque du Soleil invites you to check into extraordinary at FESTA, a make-believe hotel in the heart of the Andorran mountains where wonder and imagination come to play. With celebratory storytelling, colorful characters and epic acrobatics, FESTA drew you into a world with no limits and left you feeling uplifted like never before while paying tribute to the vibrant beauty and culture of Andorra.

But perhaps more exciting were the announcements of new resident and touring shows across the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and from “Sea to Shining Sea”...

On April 11, 2023, Cirque du Soleil and Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel broke the news that they teamed up to bring Honolulu residents and visitors a bespoke new multi-year resident show, exclusive to Hawaii. Anticipated to open in late 2024, the show will fuse the world-renowned acrobatics and innovation that Cirque du Soleil is known for with the natural beauty and unique culture of the islands. Native Hawaiian Aaron J. Sala, PhD has been retained as the creative cultural producer to assist in creating this show's storyline along with other prominent Hawaiian artists, musicians and dancers.

"Cirque du Soleil is an iconic company at the apex of entertainment; we are confident that the show created for Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel will delight and astound our guests and residents. This collaboration with Cirque was years in the making and perfectly aligns with Outrigger's brand elevation strategy, which includes a promise to provide authentic live music and signature experiences in renowned beach locations," said Jeff Wagoner, president and CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group.

"We are thrilled to partner with a company as prominent as Outrigger to bring a brand new world-class immersive experience to life in Honolulu," said Eric Grilly, Cirque du Soleil president of resident and affiliate shows. "We look forward to having a new home in Hawai'i and drawing on the rich culture of the islands as inspiration for the show."

A joint venture is being made by both parties to create this opportunity and transform the 20,000 sq. ft. showroom venue at Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, previously used by Magic of Polynesia. The necessary permits for renovation work to commence and create the nearly 800-seat theater with state-of-the-art audio-visual system are now in the process of being submitted. The venue architect is Hawaii-based G70 with project estimating done by RLB in Honolulu.

Then, in September 2023, Variety reported that Cirque du Soleil could soon have a permanent U.K. home. A permanent Cirque du Soleil residency in the City of London has been a dream for the company ever since hopping the pond and finding success there with Saltimbanco in 1997. It has, as of yet, been unable to make that particular dream a reality. So, the recent news that Cirque could soon have a permanent UK home at iconic London venue The Saville Theatre has certainly raised eyebrows here. Located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the heart of London's West End theatre district, the 110,000 sq. ft, Grade II Saville opened its doors in 1931 with a play "For the Love of Mike." It was subsequently home to live performances and known for hosting the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, The Who and Jimi Hendrix, before being converted to a four-screen cinema in its later years. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group has confirmed it is exploring the Saville as its first permanent home in the UK. Perhaps this... (oh, I've lost count) time's the charm?

Eric Grilly, president, resident and affiliate show divisions at Cirque du Soleil, said: "We see a unique opportunity to bring back live entertainment to a beloved venue with fresh content and new ideas." And doing so "would complement Cirque du Soleil's annual Royal Albert Hall residency and offer theater-goers a more intimate space to enjoy incredible performances all year round."

Well-regarded architecture firm SPPARC is leading the proposed masterplan designs to accommodate Cirque du Soleil's intended needs as well as the wider conversion plans that will look to incorporate a boutique hotel by luxury lifestyle and hotel brand citizenM and a food and beverage offering provided by Incipio Group. Following public consultation, Yoo Capital – a real estate firm that has invested over £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) into central London since its formation in 2010 – will submit planning permission when all elements have been considered and finalized.

Lloyd Lee, managing partner, Yoo Capital, said: "We are committed to contributing this beautiful building back into the wonderful tapestry of live performance around the West End by revitalizing its theatrical and hospitality history in a modern way. It has been relatively forgotten and underinvested in comparison to its sibling theaters and the buildings along Shaftesbury Avenue. Our plans will look to optimize benefits to the local community and the West End theatrical, live entertainment and hospitality industry."

And by year’s end, Cirque du Soleil announced that it was going... COUNTRY.

Cirque du Soleil will bring audiences of all ages a new theatrical touring show starting in Nashville in July 2024 in collaboration with Universal Music Group Nashville.

While introducing the perfect harmony of captivating acrobatics and soulful melodies of beloved country legends and contemporary stars, this ode to country music’s rich heritage promises an unforgettable experience. With deep roots in storytelling, heartfelt emotions, and the ability to resonate with audiences from all walks of life, both country music and Cirque du Soleil embody themes of love and resilience – as well as a passion for breathtaking, powerful performances.

“Our collaboration with Universal Music Group Nashville presents an exciting opportunity for us to expand our creative horizons and reach new audiences, as we delve into the vibrant world of country music entertainment.” Stéphane Lefebvre, President, and CEO of Cirque du Soleil.

“We are thrilled at the idea of joining forces with Cirque du Soleil to offer a one-of-a-kind show celebrating classic and modern country music. Cirque du Soleil is a shining example of making the impossible, possible through creativity, collaboration, and emotion. The opportunity to highlight our incredible catalog and bring the history of country music to life in a live theatrical setting, will allow our music to live on with a new generation of audiences and country music fans,” said Cindy Mabe, Chair and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville.

So, hold onto your cowboy hat as you two-step into a mesmerizing world of breathtakin’ guitar grooves & aerial moves with a boot stompin’ journey into the heart & soul of country.

CELEBRATING LAS VEGAS

To wrap up the year, Cirque du Soleil decided to pull out the stops and celebrate a momentous occasion: 30 years in Las Vegas!

When Cirque du Soleil created its first permanent Las Vegas production with Mystere at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in 1993, founder Guy Laliberte said his fledgling circus troupe wanted to "grow a flower in the desert." Safe to say that flower became a bouquet even he couldn't have imagined or anticipated. This year, the world-renowned entertainment group will celebrate significant milestone anniversaries for three of its Las Vegas resident productions: Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino marking 10 years in June, "O" at Bellagio Resort & Casino celebrating 25 years of aquatic brilliance in October and Mystere, at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, the show that started it all, commemorating 30 years in December.

"These three remarkable shows illustrate the creative diversity and staying power that has transcended through Cirque du Soleil since the company began," said Eric Grilly, President, Resident Shows Division and Affiliate Shows Division at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. "Each of these productions remain as vibrant, inspiring and popular as they did when they debuted, and that is a true testament both to the creators and the cast and crew who continue to dazzle audiences from around the world each night."

Bobby Baldwin, former senior executive with Mirage Resorts and MGM Resorts, was a key figure in first introducing Cirque du Soleil to Las Vegas and said the impact of that partnership has forever changed what visitors expect from Las Vegas entertainment.

And what are we celebrating?

• Setting the stage for Cirque du Soleil's overwhelming success in Las Vegas, Mystere has been seen by over 17 million fans with more than 13,000 shows performed since its first performance in 1993. The original must-see Cirque du Soleil production pushes the boundaries of what dreams and artistry can achieve when fusing together high-energy acrobatics with evocative choreography.
  
  
• Since opening in 1998, "O" has performed over 11,000 performances featuring breathtaking acrobatics under, on and above the water creating an unparalleled experience that engages the audience's imagination and sense of wonder. The unique production that has been seen by more than 18 million fans delivers an innovative display of spectacular acrobats and artistic swimmers, including Olympians who perform 60-foot-high dives into a 1.5-million-gallon pool, taking the show to new heights night after night.
  
  
• Inspired by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson ONE premiered in 2013 and has been seen by over five million guests. The electrifying production continues to stun fans through a blend of dynamic acrobatics, dance, mesmerizing visuals and a state-of-the-art surround-sound theater immersing audiences into Jackson's iconic discography.
  
  

With the launch of ECHO on tour and Mad Apple in Las Vegas, as well as celebrating 30 years in Sin City, Cirque du Soleil ended 2023 on a high note. But would the good vibes continue?

2022

2024