Cirque du Soleil Announces Amaluna, Opens In Old Port of Montreal 4/19

Cirque du Soleil has announced the launch of a new creation in Montreal presented by Desjardins Group : Amaluna. Directed by Diane Paulus, a renowned theatre director from New York, Amaluna will be presented under the Grand Chapiteau on the Quays of the Old Port of Montreal as of April 19, and at the Port de Québec as of July 25. Following its Montreal engagement, Amaluna will perform in Quebec City and Toronto. Future Canadian and U.S tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks and months.

The Show
Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon.

Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honours femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next.

In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony.

The name
Amaluna is a fusion of the words ama, which refers to “mother” in many languages, and luna, which means “moon,” a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where the story unfolds.

Diane Paulus
Diane Paulus is the Artistic Director of the A.R.T. (American Repertory Theatre). Her recent work with A.R.T. includes The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, a new production adapted by Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, and OBIE-winning composer Diedre Murray, playing on Broadway; Prometheus Bound; Death and The Powers: The Robots’ Opera, a new opera by Tod Machover in collaboration with MIT Media Lab, which world premiered at l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo; The Donkey Show, a disco adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which ran for six years Off-Broadway and toured internationally; Best of Both Worlds, and Johnny Baseball.

Diane’s other recent theatre credits include The Public Theatre's Tony-Award winning revival of HAIR on Broadway and London’s West End and, as an opera director, The Magic Flute (Canadian Opera Company), Il mondo della luna at the Hayden Planetarium in New York, Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Turn Of The Screw, Cosi fan tutte, and the Monteverdi trilogy Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, L’incoronazione di Poppea, and Orfeo at the Chicago Opera Theatre.

Diane is a Professor of the Practice of Theatre in Harvard University’s English Department and was recently named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Boston by Boston Magazine. She is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Boston Conservatory. This is Diane Paulus’ first collaboration with Cirque du Soleil.

The creative team
Amaluna’s creative team comprises 16 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté:
Guy Laliberté Artistic Guide
Fernand Rainville Director of Creation
Diane Paulus Director
Scott Pask Set and Props Designer
Mérédith Caron Costume Designer
Bob & Bill Composers
Jacques Boucher Sound Designer
Matthieu Larrivée Lighting Designer
Karole Armitage Choreographer
Debra Brown Acrobatic Choreographer
Caitlan Maggs Acrobatic Choreographer
Rob Bollinger Acrobatic Performance Designer
Fred Gérard Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer
Patricia Ruel Props Designer
Eleni Uranis Makeup Designer
Randy Weiner Dramaturge

Ticket Information
As of today, tickets are on sale for Amaluna’s performances in Montreal (starting April 19) and Quebec City (starting July 25). Tickets can be purchased online at www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Sponsors and Partners
Amaluna is presented by Desjardins Group, the presenting sponsor of the 2012 Canadian tour of the show. Infiniti, CGI, Xerox and Rogers are the official sponsors.

Cirque du Soleil
Amaluna is Cirque du Soleil’s 32nd production since 1984. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

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