Cirque du Soleil Returns to Chicago in August with KURIOS- CABINET OF CURIOSITIES
By: Sally Henry Fuller Mar. 21, 2015
KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities premiered to the world in Montréal in April 2014 and is Cirque du Soleil's 35th production. Since its debut, the critics have been raving: "KURIOS is Cirque du Soleil's strongest act in years...one of the most amazing things I've ever seen on a stage" (Toronto Star) and "KURIOS is the best Cirque du Soleil show in a long time." (San Francisco Chronicle).
Written and directed by Michel Laprise, KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities is a tale in which time comes to a complete stop, transporting the audience inside a fantasy world where everything is possible. In this realm set in the latter half of the nineteenth century, reality is quite relative indeed as our perception of it is utterly transformed. The name of the show refers to the humble and strange characters that inhabit the Seeker's Cabinet of Curiosities.
In an alternate yet familiar past, in a place where wonders abound for those who trust their imagination, a Seeker discovers that in order to glimpse the marvels that lie just below the surface, we must first learn to close our eyes. In his larger-than-life curio cabinet, the Seeker is convinced that there exists a hidden, invisible world - a place where the craziest ideas and the grandest dreams lie waiting. A collection of otherworldly characters suddenly steps into his makeshift mechanical world. When the outlandish, benevolent characters turn his world upside down with a touch of poetry and humor in an attempt to ignite the Seeker's imagination, his curios jump to life one by one before his very eyes.
Michel Laprise
Michel Laprise worked in theatre for nine years as an actor, director and artistic director before joining Cirque du Soleil in 2000. At Cirque du Soleil, Michel spent five years as a talent scout before taking on, in 2006, the role of Special Events Designer. In that capacity, he directed the act with Quebec diva Diane Dufresne during the Opening Ceremonies of the Montreal 2006 Outgames; the large-scale performance event created for the launch of the Fiat Bravo in Italy (2007); the Cirque du Soleil performance event celebrating Quebec City's 400th anniversary (2008); the launch of Microsoft's Kinect console at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo, broadcast on MTV; the opening show at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Russia in 2009; and the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 FIBA International Basketball Federation World Championships in Istanbul. In 2012, Michel collaborated with pop star Madonna, providing artistic direction for her performance at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show; he later went on to direct her MDNA tour. In 2013, he directed the musical Robin des Bois - Ne renoncez jamais, currently on tour in Europe.
Creative team
The creative team of KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities consists of 17 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté (Guide) and Jean-François Bouchard (Creative Guide):
Michel Laprise Writer and Director
Chantal Tremblay Director of Creation
Stéphane Roy Set and Props Designer
Philippe Guillotel Costume Designer
Raphaël Beau Composer and Musical Director
Bob & Bill Composers and Musical Directors
Yaman Okur Choreographer
Ben Potvin Choreographer
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Choreographer
Susan Gaudreau Choreographer
Andrea Ziegler Choreographer
Jacques Boucher Sound Designer
Jean-Michel Caron Sound Designer
Martin Labrecque Lighting Designer
Rob Bollinger Acrobatic Performance Designer
Germain Guillemot Acrobatic Performance Designer
Boris Verkhovsky Acrobatic Performance Designer
Danny Zen Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer
Eleni Uranis Makeup Designer
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