Cirque coming to TDL

[Sarangel]

The Cirque du soleil is taking advantage of its popularity in Japan to establish a permanent theatre at the Walt Disney Resort in the suburbs of Tokyo.

The deal with the American entertainment conglomerate and Oriental Land Co. Ltd. was announced Wednesday by Daniel Lamarre, the Cirque's president and chief of operations.

The $140-million project is to include a theatre for 2,000 spectators. Oriental Land is providing $115 million to build an earthquake-proof building, with the remainder coming from the Cirque, Lamarre said during a conference call from Japan.

An original show is scheduled to premiere in August 2008.

The Tokyo project is expected to create 150 jobs at the Cirque's headquarters in Montreal.

The company will continue its strategy of running unique shows in each permanent location, Lamarre said.

"People who want to see 'O' (show) have to go to Las Vegas and people who want to see this show will have to come here to Tokyo," he told reporters.

The most Cirque du soleil tickets in the world are sold in Tokyo, the conference call was told.

The company is also interested in establishing permanent sites in Paris, London and several other cities, said Lamarre.

"There are certainly five or six big cities in the world where we wish to have a permanent show in 10 years."

Now, if we could only get one in California....

 

[WDSearcher]

Do you have a source for this?

Cirque has a permanent location in LA already, I think, as well as complete ownership of Vegas -- they may not have enough artistry at this point to add another space out west!

 

[Sarangel]

The above story comes from Canada.com but it's also been reported in the Ottawa Sun, Variety & several other sources.

Sarangel

 

[DancingBear]

Or from the horse's mouth:

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/pressroom/prinfo/news/news_96.htm

 

[WDSearcher]

Thanks!