Cirque du Soliel Announces ZARKANA for Radio City in 2011

Cirque du Soleil announced today that its major new acrobatic spectacle, Zarkana, will begin performances at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 9, 2011 for a limited engagement through September 4, 2011. Proudly presented by iShares, Zarkana is written and directed by acclaimed film and theatre director François Girard (The Red Violin, Silk).

Zarkana is a fantastically bizarre world where we follow the adventures of Zark, a magician who has lost his love and, with her, his powers. As he cries and begs for her return he is plunged into a world inhabited by surreal creatures. The diverse cast of 71 International Artists transports the audience into a fantastical and suspenseful world, blurring the boundaries between the real and imaginary.

The name Zarkana is a fusion of the words "bizarre" and "arcana" (arcana means "mystery" or "secret"). The twisted fictional world of Zarkana is an elusive destination that is fantastic yet bizarre. The name refers to the irresistibly odd and delightfully strange aura of this place and its inhabitants.

One of Quebec's most highly-regarded creators, François Girard is equally at ease in cinema (Silk, The Red Violin), opera, visual arts and theatre and has earned an enviable international reputation over the years. A keen music lover, he is particularly known for the hybrid worlds he creates in which music plays a predominant role. His works are recognized for their great musicality, both in terms of sound and image. This will be his second creation for Cirque du Soleil, following ZED, the Tokyo resident show.

Along with François Girard, the creative team consists of the following distinctive talents:
Guy Laliberté Artistic Guide
François Girard Writer and Director
Line Tremblay Director of Creation
Stéphane Roy Set and Props Designer
Alan Hranitelj Costume Designer
Nick Littlemore Composer and Musical Director
Debra Brown Choreographer
Elena Kolyadenko Choreographer
Alain Lortie Lighting Designer
Raymond St-Jean Image Content Designer
Steven Dubuc Sound Designer
Florence Pot Acrobatic Performance Designer
Danny Zen Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer
Eleni Uranis Makeup Designer

Starting today, Zarkana tickets are available exclusively to Cirque Club Members. Tickets range from $47 to $130 with a limited number of premium tickets available for all performances.

Cirque Club membership is free and benefits include access to advance tickets, special offers and exclusive behind the scenes information. To join, go to www.cirqueclub.com.

Starting November 22, tickets will be available to the general public at 1-866-858-0008 or www.cirquedusoleil.com/zarkana.

Special Offer from American Express®: Receive a complimentary gift when you purchase Zarkana tickets using your American Express Card. For Preferred Seating and other American Express Cardmember benefits, please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/amex.

iShares is the presenting sponsor of this new production. American Express and Infiniti are the official sponsors.

From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,200 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in nearly 300 cities on five continents. For more information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.