Nearing the end of just 1 part of the journey. . .

So things have slowed down here in Montreal and I am now just tying up all the ends to head back to Vegas on Wednesday morning.  I did my final makeup today, and got a bravo, and handed my kit and sent on my way.  Tomorrow I just need to pack up - get a couple more souvenirs (I cleared up shop at the gift shop since we get a 40% discount) - and attend my departure meeting.  I report to the theatre in Las Vegas already on Thursday morning for orientation.

Today a few more people arrived in Montreal to join LOVE.  Three dancers, from all over the world again.  They are very nice and it is cool to know that I am not going to be the only new person in the large daunting cast of 70.  Alina cooked us dinner this evening and we all sat around chatting about the show, and our past work, and our different countries.  We alone were representing USA, Cuba, Germany, and Sweden.  It is very cool to hear about their experiences and journeys to the cirque and next to America.  They will be here for another couple weeks so I will be seeing them again later in May.  

Did You Know?

Some interesting did you knows about Cirque Du Soleil and how big the company is:

In 1984, 73 people worked for Cirque du Soleil. Today, the business has more than 4,000 employees worldwide, including more than 1,000 artists. 

 

• At the Montreal International Headquarters alone, there are close to 1,800 employees. 

 

• The average age of employees is 35. 

 

• Cirque’s employees and artists represent over 40 nationalities and speak 25 different languages. 

 

• Since 1984, Cirque du Soleil’s touring shows have visited over 200 cities around the world. 

 

• Close to 90 million spectators have seen a Cirque du Soleil show since 1984. 

 

• More than 15 million people will have seen a Cirque du Soleil show in 2009. 

 

• Cirque du Soleil hasn’t received any grants from the public or private sectors since 1992. 

Cirque du Soleil Shows 

In 2009, Cirque du Soleil will present nineteen different shows around the world : 

Touring shows 

• Varekai (Europe) 

• Dralion (Asia -Pacific) 

• Quidam (Europe) 

• Alegría (Asia and Middle East until April 2009)  

• Corteo (Japan) 

• KOOZA (North America) 

• Cirque 2009 (North America) 

 

Arena shows 

• Saltimbanco (North America) 

• Alegría (North America starting in May 2009) 

 

Resident shows 

• “O” (Las Vegas, Nevada) 

• Mystère (Las Vegas, Nevada) 

• ZUMANITY- The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil (Las Vegas, Nevada) 

• La Nouba (Orlando, Florida) 

• KÀ (Las Vegas, Nevada) 

• LOVE (Las Vegas, Nevada) 

• ZAIA (Macau, China) 

• CRISS ANGEL Believe (Las Vegas, Nevada) 

• ZED (Tokyo, Japan) 

• A show inspired by the life and music of Elvis Presley at Aria Resort and 

Casino at City Center 

 

Seasonal show 

• Wintuk (New York, New York) 

       from November to January each year 

 

Other Cirque du Soleil shows since 1984 that are no longer presented:  

• Cirque du Soleil  

• La Magie continue  

• We Reinvent the Circus 

• Nouvelle Expérience 

• Fascination 

• Pomp Duck and Circumstance 

• DELIRIUM 

OVO

Tonight was the Company Premiere of the new touring show named "OVO".  Reference to the egg.  The concept of the show is a world of teaming insects.  I definitely give Cirque credit for always presenting new ideas and concepts and committing to them.  There was something really cool and special being in le grand chapiteau tonight full of everyone from Cirque.  There was so much love and support, and you know every single person in that tent somehow had something to do with the final product of that show, whether it was a coach, a contract writer, a costumer, etc.  It was very cool.  There were some INCREDIBLE acts in the show.  The concept was not my favorite in Cirque history at all but it was interesting, and they have so much more time to grow during their run here in Montreal.  

Alina (Lucy)

So I have been talking about Alina alot, my new friend and new Lucy in the show with me, and Jamie brought up a point that I talk about her alot but don't really give detail about her act, so I found this video with some clips of her act so you can see the amazing stuff she actually does.  I am excited that I am on stage every night for her flying act - so I will get to watch it over and over again.  She is doing the Aerial straps, and I pretty much watch her train every day - it is very fun to see the process.  She is so sweet and nice with a great energy about her, always giving lots of kisses.  She is from Cuba.  Also I attached a picture of both of us today in our makeup!  I did mine myself - not looking to bad I must say! 

Alina and I in our show makeup.

Romantic Nowhere Man

So the character I will be playing in the show is named Romantic Nowhere Man.  Here is a video with a bunch of video clips of my specific track in the show with the orginal actor.  The video focuses mainly on him so it is kinda hard to see what is going on around him but you get the overall gist about what his journey is throughout the show.  This is not the entirety of what I will be doing - but a very good indication - his story line follows all the way through to the end of the show.  

I also included a video (#2) of the song Nowhere Man from the Yellow Submarine movie - for it is clearly the song where the Nowhere Man character stemmed from.

Costumes!

So today was my first day of actual costume fittings.  I end up having about 5 different suits/jackets I will be wearing throughout the show and a great in nothing but my undies scene. LOL.  Probably not what most people are coming to Vegas hoping to see.  They had actual suits already built to try on me but I pretty much think I have too wide of shoulders and too thin a frame to fit into anything already existing - so they had mock ups to my measurements specifically also.  I will be curious to see how much from new / scratch they will build for me. The pictures below are me in the some of the jackets - you can see the idea although nothing is perfected to me yet.  I also get to wear cool blue converse high tops in the show.  

I also had another makeup session along with Alena today.  It was fun to sit next to her and work on our makeup and chat and laugh.  I am starting to get a hang of the intense eye makeup. I am not really used to applying my own makeup so it has been fun learning to how.  I learned it all in makeup class in college but that seems years ago already again.  

Today was a rainy day here in Montreal - I hope the rain will let up tomorrow evening - because we all get to go to the company premiere of the new touring show OVO tomorrow.  I am so excited for that!

What my makeup is suppose to look like in the end.

These are all the artists currently at Headquarters training for replacements in shows this week.  This does not include all the people here for CityCenter creation, general training, and medical.  Gives you a good idea of how many people it takes to run 20 shows worldwide.   It is color coded by show.  If you can see on the right side, Alena and I are in green for LOVE!

I think I would wear this jacket out today. LOL

This suit looks exactly the same but it is rigged to be ripped off me and into my undies.  LOL

Aerial High Bar Act

So one of the touring shows Allegria is doing a big cast change over here in the next couple months and all the acrobats and artists are here training at the moment. I have been watching a group of guys training on the High Bars for a few days now for the show. I remember once seeing this act but I forgot the magnitude of how amazing the actual act they will be doing every night is.  I have included a video of their act here. Just seeing these guys everyday and having idle chit chat with them humanizes them so much to me and makes me respect what they do even more. I cannot believe that they are training to do this act 8-10 times a week!!!  So cool.