2 Weeks of performance added
San Jose - February 15, 2010 - Due to unprecedented demand for tickets, Cirque du Soleil has added 2 additional weeks of performances to the San Jose engagement of OVO. The final OVO performance in San Jose will be March 21, 2010, under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau at the Taylor Street Bridge (corner of Taylor Street & Highway 87). OVO tickets for these final performances (March 9-21) will be available to the general public starting Monday, February 15, 2010 at 9am at www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo or at 1-800-450-1480.
The name
The name OVO means “egg” in Portuguese. This timeless symbol of the life cycle and birth of numerous insects represents the underlying thread of the show. Graphically, OVO hides an insect in its name: The two letter “Os” represent the eyes while the letter “V” forms the nose.
About OVO
OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.
When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.
It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.
OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.
Cast and acts
The cast of OVO comprises 54 performing artists from 13 countries and director Deborah Colker, a renowned choreographer, has integrated dance movements into many of the numbers in the show. Deborah Colker is the first female Director at Cirque du Soleil.
OVO features many acrobatic acts including a stunning flying trapeze act: Six flyers fly as high as 14m, making this act the biggest of its kind ever presented under a Grand Chapiteau by Cirque du Soleil. This act is the most difficult in the world to execute in terms of the distance between stations. It combines many circus disciplines: banquine, Russian swing and swinging chair. The finale features 20 artists running; jumping and leaping straight up an 8m vertical wall.
The creators
Most of OVO’s 10 creators are working in that capacity for the first time at Cirque du Soleil:
| Artistic Guide | Guy Laliberté |
| Artistic Guide
| Gilles Ste-Croix |
| Writer, Director and Choreographer
| Deborah Colker |
| Director of Creation
| Chantal Tremblay |
| Set and props Designer
| Gringo Cardia
|
| Costume Designer | Liz Vandal |
| Composer and Musical Director
| Berna Ceppas |
Lighting Designer
| Éric Champoux |
Sound Designer
| Jonathan Deans |
| Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer | Fred Gérard |
| Acrobatic Performance Designer | Philippe Aubertin |
| Makeup Designer | Jonathan Deans |
Sponsors and partners
iShares is the presenting sponsor of the 2010 U.S. tour of OVO. CGI, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Sun Life Financials and American Express are the official sponsors.
Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Quebéc-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,200 artists from close to 50 different countries.
Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to close to 100 million spectators in 300 cities on five continents. In 2010, Cirque du Soleil, will present 21 shows simultaneously throughout the world. The company has received such prestigious awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gémeaux, Félix, and Rose d’Or de Montreux. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.
For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.
To find out more about the One Drop Foundation, visit www.onedrop.org.
PRESS ROOM: For downloadable images and additional information, please visit the on-line Press Room at: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/pressroom/default.htm
Contact: Kevin Kopjak
CHARLES ZUKOW ASSOCIATES / 415.296.0677 / kevink@charleszukow.com