(Photo courtesy Cirque du Soleil)
Cirque du Soleil returns to the Miami area this year with its acclaimed touring show, “KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities” presented by Visa Signature. KURIOS will premiere under the iconic blue-and-yellow Big Top next to hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 10.
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 19th 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.
Tickets are available for purchase by visiting cirquedusoleil.com/kurios or calling 1-877-9 CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783). Tickets range from $39 to $160.
“KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities” had its world premiere in Montréal in April 2014 and is Cirque du Soleil’s 35th production.
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 await. 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 worked in theater 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, he 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’ which toured in Europe.
Michel co-wrote and directed the VR movie “Kurios : Inside the Box” which won three prizes, one of them being the Emmy Daytime award in the Outstanding Interactive Media category. Michel is currently working on two Cirque du Soleil upcoming shows.
“KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities” is Cirque du Soleil’s 35th production since 1984. The company, who celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2014, has brought wonder and delight to nearly 150 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has some 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from around 50 countries.
For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.
