‘AMALUNA’: BY THE NUMBERS
- "Amaluna" currently has 114 employees, including 46 artists, from 17 different countries.
- 70 percent of the artists are women, including the entire band — a first for Cirque du Soleil.
- "Amaluna" performs between eight and 10 shows a week.
- "Amaluna" has a kitchen on site, preparing from 250 to 300 meals daily.
The big top
- The site of the big top takes eight days to completely set up and three days to tear down. This includes the installation of the big top, the VIP Rouge tent, entrance and artistic tents, box office, administrative offices, and a kitchen and dining area for cast and crew.
- A total of 65 trucks transport close to 2,000 tons of equipment for "Amaluna."
- The big top stands 19 meters high, is 51 meters in diameter and is supported by four masts, each 25 meters tall.
- It seats around 2,600 people and requires a team of approximately 85 people to raise it.
Source: Cirque du Soleil (www.cirquedusoleil.com)
SHOW PREVIEW
“Amaluna”
Oct. 3-Nov. 30. Atlantic Station under the big top. $25-$275. The price will vary depending on the show selected and how far in advance the tickets are purchased. Cirque du Soleil is using a new form of demand-based pricing that will allow them to make more tickets available at lower prices to the public. Ticket prices on the show's website will be adjusted in real time and will reflect the most current price for each performance based on demand. Tickets are also available on site at the box office. 1-800-450-1480, www.cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna.
When Cirque du Soleil's "Amaluna" opens Friday in Atlanta, it will be all about girl power.
For the first time in the show’s 30-year history, 70 percent of the artists are female.
The lead characters are women.
And the performances feature an all-female band.
It “showcases the strength, beauty and grace of women,” said Rowenna Dunn, a spokeswoman for the show, which runs Oct. 3-Nov. 30 at Atlantic Station. “It’s a real flip on the usual and traditional casting.”
“Amaluna,” which premiered in Montreal in 2012, is Cirque du Soleil’s 33rd production and one of the newest big top touring shows. It’s the first time “Amaluna” has been shown in Atlanta.
“Amaluna” blends the words “ama,” which is “mother” in some languages, and “luna,” which means “moon” and is a symbol of femininity.
The scene is set on an island ruled by goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. The queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance.
In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, which leads to a love story between the daughter, Miranda, and a young suitor.
But love can be complicated — especially under the big top.
The storyline is true to its classical influences, which are based on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and tales from Norse and Greek mythology and Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.”
The young lovers experience numerous setbacks before they achieve mutual trust and harmony.
The idea of a female-centric show is the brainchild of Cirque’s owner and founder Guy Laliberté. In 2010, he decided it was time to create a show that focused on women. Typically a cast is 70 percent to 75 percent men.
It “was a conscious effort to incorporate more women into the storyline and acrobatic acts,” Dunn said. “We have so many strong women throughout the company, so the creators thought it was about time we showcased their strength and what they can do. We demonstrate that the girls are just as good as the boys, if not better.”
Laliberté brought in writer and director Diane Paulus, winner of a 2013 Tony Award for “Pippin,” to help develop the storyline, characters and theme.
The show also differs from previous ones because of the strong narrative. Other shows have been very ethereal with “audiences taking away their own perceptions of the show.”
There are other new features for the show. “Amaluna” has a 6,000-pound water bowl, which takes 1,500 liters of water and four hours to fill.
The show, for the first time in Cirque du Soleil history, uses the uneven bars.
Company manager Franck Hanselman said the show is for all ages.
“As usual, it’s a combination of acrobatics, the costumes are beautiful, the sound, lighting and design are fantastic,” he said. “It’s the whole package.”
