Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA Resumes Tonight in San Francisco After Death of Co-Founder's Son

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA will resume its regular performance schedule tonight, Tuesday, December 6 at 8 p.m., under the Big Top at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

The show had been cancelled in San Francisco last week after the sudden death of technician Olivier Rochette, son of the company's co-founder Gilles Ste-Croix. Rochette was struck in the head by an aerial lift an hour before the start of the performance. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

"Cirque du Soleil wishes to thank fans, friends, family members, the San Francisco community and the entire Cirque du Soleil family from around the world for their love and support through these difficult times," the company said in a statement today.

After the accident, a statement on Cirque du Soleil's official Facebook page read:

"The entire Cirque du Soleil family is deeply saddened by the accidental death of LUZIA technician from Quebec, Olivier Rochette that happened on November 29th, in San Francisco. His immediate family, including his father Gilles Ste-Croix, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, has been informed of the accident. Our thoughts are with Gilles, his family and all Cirque du Soleil employees. We kindly ask the media representatives to respect the wishes of the family to mourn in private.

"I am heartbroken. I wish to extend in my name and in the name of all Cirque du Soleil employees my sincerest sympathies and offer my full support to Gilles and his family. Olivier has always been a member of our tight family and a truly beloved colleague," said Cirque du Soleil CEO, Daniel Lamarre.

"We have been working with the appropriate authorities and have offered our full cooperation. The performance of LUZIA has been cancelled today."

In other news, Cirque du Soleil's PARAMOUR, currently playing on Broadway, will be moving venues while the Lyric Theatre undergoes renovations for HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD next spring.