Cirque Dreams Casting Call

I wasn't sure what to expect at the Cirque Dreams casting call but we had a great time and the opportunity to see local performers as well as some Cirque Dreams performances. Cirque Dreams is promoting their new show "Illumination" which will be at The Long Center in November (can't wait!). I'm really excited to see more circus performances and activities in the Austin area (and especially in Cedar Park since I live north).

Run Away with Cirque Dreams

This sounds like fun..... (I got this information in an email from The Long Center):

Casting call at Lakeline Mall on Sunday, November 7th at 12:30 p.m. JCPenny's rotunda at Lakeline Mall - 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Cedar Park, TX, 78613

CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION and The Long Center for the Performing Arts have teamed up to offer one lucky dreamer the chance to "Run away with Cirque Dreams" and perform in a feature role when the show performs at The Long Center, November 23-28, 2010.

The creative team from Cirque Dreams will hold a casting call, limited to the first 100 dreamers of all ages, on Sunday, November 7, 2010, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Lakeline Mall and encourage aspiring performers, acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, dancers, singers and anyone else with a special talent who has ever dreamed of performing in a Broadway show, to audition for their chance to perform with the internationally renowned Cirque Dreams company. Each participant will have up to 2 minutes to impress the cirque experts with their skills. Performers requiring music should bring their own CD. In addition, performers from CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION will be on hand to give a sneak peek of the show.

The winner of the "Run Away with Cirque Dreams" competition will be trained locally by the Cirque Dreams design team for their debut performance in CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION and will receive six complimentary tickets to their debut performance.

Climb aboard the all-new CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION journey, from the creators of Broadway's groundbreaking hit and only show of its kind to ever perform on Broadway, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy. "Full of streetsmart stunts and acrobatic invention" raves the Columbus Dispatch, and proclaimed, "Dazzling, A reason to stand up and cheer", by the New York Daily News, CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION will perform 8 shows at the Long Center beginning Tuesday, November 23-Sunday, November 28, 2010.

www.thelongcenter.org

Two Circus Events Coming Up...

Contortion

A couple of events to check out:

1. On October 29, 2010 at 7:00 Blue Lapis Light is performing at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The show titled "Limitless" will also be performed on November 4th and 5th at the same location.

2. The Shrine Circus is returning to the Cedar Park Center. Although I didn't have the best experience last year (horrible seats), I've already bought tickets to go again. This time I got my tickets from Ticketmaster so I can be sure the seats I bought are the ones indicated on the seating chart. The shows are running from January 14-17, 2011 at the Cedar Park Center. Last year they allowed cameras so I'm hoping to be able to take pictures again this year.

Blue Lapis Light - One

Blue Lapis Light is performing a site specific dance (title "One") at the Long Center all this week (September 27 - October 3). Unfortunately, the 8:30pm start time is conflicting with my schedule this week but hopefully others are getting there to see the show. Here's a link to Blue Lapis' website:
www.bluelapislight.org

And some very nice photos from the rehearsal:
http://galleries.austin360.com/gallery/one-rehearsal/#128225

Cirque Du Soleil is returning to Cedar Park

I just found out that Cirque du Soleil is returning to the Cedar Park Event Center next March (2011). This time the show is Dralion, which has been touring around the world for 10 years (or so). I saw the original tent version in 1999 (I think?) but I've heard the show has added a few acts since then - most importantly a trampoline act :-) Here's a link to the Dralion page on Cirque's website: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/dralion/show/acts.aspx The show is in presale right now and will be on sale to the general public later in September (through Ticketmaster). Just a word of caution, I had problems getting Cirque's new website to work consistently so you might have to try a few times.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing Metamorphoses at the Zach Scott Theater in downtown Austin. It's based on some of the stories of Greek Mythology with a modern twist. All the stories were fantastic (and very emotional) and the performers did an excellent job. There are also some students of Blue Lapis Light that perform on aerial silks throughout the show. We were in the front row, which was definitely a "splash zone", and we got wet - but it was fun (dress comfortably). Here's a link for information about Metamorphoses: http://www.zachtheatre.org/show/metamorphoses

Aerial Silks Drop at Ringling Brothers

I had a great time at Ringling Brothers show "Zing Zang Zoom" last weekend. At the last minute, I decided to see the show twice (Thursday and Sunday) so I could take more pictures. It goes without saying that the acrobatic acts were my favorites. I also thought the clowns were more entertaining than usual. It was a very acrobatic group of clowns, with one guy doing a side flip over 4 audience members. I'm slowly working on editing the photos and posting them to my Flickr stream (www.flickr.com/flipimages).

Here's one of my favorite shots of one of the aerial silks performers:


Aerial Silks Drop

Just got my tickets for Metamorphoses

I just purchased front row tickets for Metamorphoses in September. Yay! I've heard that the show is fantastic, so I'm really excited. Yes, I'm prepared to be in the "Splash Zone" :-)

Here's a link for more information: http://www.zachtheatre.org/show/metamorphoses