After a long silence on the New York City entertainment scene, Cirque du Soleil is making its comeback with a spring schedule that promises to dazzle audiences once again. According to ABC7 New York, the company will raise its big top on Randall’s Island for the "Luzia" show, a spectacle that merges acrobatics, artistry, and the surprising element of water.
Behind the scenes, a flurry of activity rises to a crescendo as 126 metal poles and an intricate dance of logistics herald the show's setup. Sarah Morales, Cirque du Soleil's assistant technical director, gave ABC7 New York a sneak peek, expressing the constant rush her job entails, "It's a really cool, just coordinated dance to pop in and pop out and do that and move over there and get the tension and go." Morales, a veteran of nine years with the company, revels in the travel opportunities her work offers, humorously noting that she hardly needs to plan vacations herself.
Attention to detail is paramount as "Luzia" features a remarkable waterfront stage, perforated with about 95,000 holes from which approximately 2,600 gallons of warm water showers performers and swiftly recirculates. Effortlessly, the show transitions set pieces and effects that keep audiences in suspense. Morales hinted at the show’s dynamism in an interview with ABC7 New York: "When you think you’ve seen it and you’re like wow that’s cool, then later it does something else."
Notably, Cirque du Soleil’s New York return is part of a broader brand resurgence following a financial downturn during the pandemic. According to The New York Post, CEO Stephane Lefebvre led the company out of bankruptcy, aided by investors including the Catalyst Group and Todd Boehly, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lefebvre underscored the necessity of rebuilding after the pandemic crippled the live entertainment industry: "We got out of COVID a leaner organization. We really started the business from scratch," he said.
The group, now breaking even with about $200 million on its balance sheet, as per a Moody's Investors report, is not resting on its laurels. Cirque du Soleil is not only reintroducing their tented extravaganzas but is also expanding with dinner shows, aiming to bring their mesmerizing experience even closer to audiences worldwide. One such show in Cancun, as detailed by The New York Post, ties a full meal with their trademark performances into one package deal. Also, despite setbacks like the accident in Portland, the performers are eager to continue their high-flying acts, with Lefebvre affirming the injured acrobat’s recovery and anticipated return.
With Cirque du Soleil poised to reassert their place in the entertainment world, New Yorkers have much to anticipate this March. Ticket sales are already underway, with prices starting at $55 and performances scheduled from March 5 to March 30. It’s a revival of a dreamlike Mexico, under the canopy of "Luzia," with every indication that the show will again capture the city’s imagination.
