'Michael Jackson ONE' is still a Cirque dazzler after a decade

www.usatoday.com: Michael Jackson is still the G.O.A.T. – at least in Vegas. As the centerpiece of the last music-themed Cirque du Soleil show on the Strip, Jackson’s music and dance moves – seismic stylistic innovations in the ‘70s and ‘80s – are regularly celebrated in “Michael Jackson ONE.”

Spectacular play of light and rain in Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Luzia’

DC Theater Arts: A clown falls from the sky, buoyed by a parasol, and finds himself in a field of marigolds. A large key, as if from a music box, sticks out of the ground, and, unable to resist, he turns it. Behind him, the sun appears to rise, and a woman with gauzy monarch butterfly wings falls into a sprint, a giant metal horse galloping behind her, as dancers in elaborate hummingbird costumes flit around the stage. At this moment, every person under the Big Top is locked in and ready to be awed by Cirque du Soleil’s Luzia.

“O” To Return July 4th!

www.cirquefascination.com: The fuse has been excruciatingly long, spanning the globe and smoldering for more than a year. But Cirque du Soleil is eager to set off a firecracker on the Fourth of July by reopening its long-running aquatic hit “O” on the Las Vegas Strip.

Cirque Launches All-New CirqueConnect Digital Experience

www.cirquefascination.com: Cirque du Soleil is proud to unveil its exciting fall programming along with a brand-new lookfor its CirqueConnect content hub. Featuring an enhanced library of titles, the newly revamped CirqueConnect platform will provide fans with inspiring freshly-produced never-before-seen series and exclusive content.

The Show Must Go On: How Cirque de Soleil Survived China’s Lockdown

www.sixthtone.com: Even by circus standards, the past 12 months have been a wild ride for Cirque de Soleil’s newest troupe.

Last August, the Canadian entertainment company launched its first resident show in Asia in years — a lavish production titled “X: The Land of Fantasy” — in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

Cirque du Soleil Creditors Win Control; TPG, Fosun Wiped Out

www.cirquefascination.com: Lenders to Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group won control of the company in a court-supervised restructuring.

The bid by the creditors’ group, which represents holders of about $760 million in Cirque debt and includes Toronto-based Catalyst Capital Group Inc., must still receive the approval of a Canadian court. Lenders are planning to inject $375 million of new capital into the Montreal-based company to restart its shows.

The Show Must Go On: How Cirque de Soleil Survived China’s Lockdown

The Theatre Times: Even by circus standards, the past 12 months have been a wild ride for Cirque de Soleil’s newest troupe.

Last August, the Canadian entertainment company launched its first resident show in Asia in years — a lavish production titled “X: The Land of Fantasy” — in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

At the time, the premiere appeared to herald the start of a new era for Cirque, whose global showbiz empire already encompassed over 40 shows. China’s live events market was booming, surpassing 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) for the first time in 2019. Foreign franchises from “Mamma Mia!” to “Cats” were filling arenas across the country.

Then, COVID-19 happened.

As the curtain falls on Cirque du Soleil, our circus industry is under threat

thenewdaily.com.au: As the curtain falls on Cirque du Soleil, Australia’s internationally renowned circus arts industry is also under threat.

On Tuesday it was revealed that Canada’s iconic Cirque du Soleil would slash 3500 jobs and file for bankruptcy, with the coronavirus pandemic blamed for the cuts.

The Montreal-based outfit will lay off 95 per cent of staff, and seek to restructure.

Coronavirus: Cirque du Soleil artists hold protest over work contracts they say went unpaid

Globalnews.ca: On the day of the Cirque du Soleil’s 36th anniversary, some of its employees and artists gathered in front of the circus’ marquee in Montreal’s Old Port on Tuesday to mark the occasion and to demand they get paid nearly $1.5 million they claim they are owed for services they provided before the novel coronavirus pandemic hit.

Franco Dragone joining Guy Laliberte in Cirque buyback effort

Las Vegas Review-Journal: The man who has heightened the art of aquatic productions is making waves again in Las Vegas.

We speak of the esteemed entertainment trailblazer Franco Dragone, creator of “O” at Bellagio and “Le Reve” at Wynn Las Vegas. The veteran producer and director confirmed Monday he has joined Guy Laliberte’s effort to buy back Cirque du Soleil, which would mean a reunion between artistic visionaries who worked together for 13 years ending with “O’s” debut in 1998.

How COVID-19 brought down Cirque du Soleil

www.fastcompany.com: The slow-motion shutdown of Cirque du Soleil should have been an early warning of the disaster to come. The novel coronavirus was still considered a local problem in late January, when the world’s largest circus producer canceled performances of The Land of Fantasy, its first and only permanent offering in China. Within two months, the virus had spread to every corner of the world.

CDPQ In Talks to Throw Lifeline to CDS

www.cirquefascination.com: Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is in talks with Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec for rescue funding after the company’s shows were halted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Bankruptcy Looms Large for Beloved Cirque du Soleil

vitalvegas.com: Las Vegas fixture Cirque du Soleil is in a world of financial hurt, and closure of all its shows due to the coronavirus—44 productions in all—is likely to lead to the company filing for bankruptcy protection.

Cirque du Soleil explores options including bankruptcy - sources

Reuters: Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is exploring debt restructuring options that include a potential bankruptcy filing, after it was forced to cancel shows because of the coronavirus outbreak, people familiar with the matter said.

Lou D’Angeli on Evolving the Brand and Promoting a New Show

www.cirquefascination.com: It’s an incredibly busy time for Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal-based live entertainment giant that has redefined Las Vegas shows over the past 25 years. It maintains seven of the most popular and successful productions on the Strip and is currently gearing up to expand the performance schedule for “O” at Bellagio to seven nights per week.

Cirque du Soleil Celebrates 30 Years In The UK

www.cirquefascination.com: Cirque du Soleil marks its 30th anniversary in the UK with a celebratory exhibition from 19 September to 9 October with free entry at London’s historical Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Fans can immerse themselves in the story so far, understand the journey of Cirque du Soleil, from creation to the travelling circus today, hear the music, and take an up-close look at costumes, masks and more! A truly global company with shows that have visited more than sixty countries and using themes evoked from different cultures around the world, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is the perfect venue for this exhibition celebrating 30 years in the UK alone.

How Cirque Turned to the Genius of Messi for Inspiration

www.cirquefascination.com: A red-and-white ball was the gift that Lionel Messi received on his fourth birthday, on June 24, 1991. A legend was born at that precise moment, as he reportedly proceeded to execute a series of mind-blowing moves with his present. “We froze when we saw all the things he knew how to do, because he had never played soccer before,” says his father, Jorge, in Luca Caioli’s biography, Messi.

Cirque du Soliel teams with Madison Square Garden Company to bring world premiere of holiday spectacle to Chicago

www.chicagolandmusicaltheatre.com: Cirque du Soleil and The Madison Square Garden Company (NYSE: MSG) are pleased to announce that an all-new, family theatrical production, ‘Twas the Night Before… will make its debut at The Chicago Theatre this holiday season. ‘Twas the Night Before… is an exhilarating new spin on the beloved Christmas classic as only Cirque du Soleil can imagine.

Davide Pisanu: Leading in the Age of Constant Decision-making

www.cirquefascination.com: Davide Pisanu, Senior Vice-President Affiliated Businesses at the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and CEO of the Blue Man Group, has worn many hats within the world-renowned performance company since starting there three years ago. On top of his involvement with the Cirque du Soleil’s partners, he currently oversees the group’s strategy and transformation and serves as the interim Senior Vice-President for the Resident Show Division in Las Vegas.

Davide Pisanu: Leading in the Age of Constant Decision-making

www.cirquefascination.com: Davide Pisanu, Senior Vice-President Affiliated Businesses at the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and CEO of the Blue Man Group, has worn many hats within the world-renowned performance company since starting there three years ago. On top of his involvement with the Cirque du Soleil’s partners, he currently oversees the group’s strategy and transformation and serves as the interim Senior Vice-President for the Resident Show Division in Las Vegas.