Cirque du Soleil and Grupo Vidanta Unveil Details of Exclusive Entertainment Experience in Riviera Maya: JOYA

RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico, May 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Cirque du Soleil, a leading entertainment company, and Grupo Vidanta, a leading developer of world-class resorts and tourism infrastructure in Mexico, unveiled the name and plans for JOYA, an intimate and immersive theatrical and culinary experience that will open this fall and take residency exclusively at the Cirque du Soleil Theater in Riviera Maya near The Grand Mayan resort.

JOYA combines culinary and performing arts in an intimate theater setting to engage the audience's five senses. Drawing on Mexico's history and heritage, JOYA tells the story of an alchemist and his granddaughter embarking on a transformative quest to uncover the secrets of life. Through their wonderfully disorienting journey they will discover a hidden gem in the mangrove, passing along the poetry of love and life to future generations.

About the name

The name JOYA is rooted in the Spanish "joya" meaning jewel or pearl, and alludes to a person or event of great value. Through the performance, the alchemist's granddaughter will discover joy and wisdom by sharing an extraordinary experience in an unlikely place.

JOYA will be housed in a 600-seat theater custom-built for Cirque du Soleil, which draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the surrounding jungle. Stage Director Martin Genest and Culinary Designer Alexis Bostelmann of Grupo Vidanta, who created the culinary experience, will begin preview performances of JOYA on November 8, 2014, and it will Premiere on November 21, 2014.

"This new creative collision of cuisine and immersive performances is tailor made for Cancun and Riviera Maya," said Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil. "We reveled in the creative challenge of introducing something completely different in JOYA. Through the integration of premium food and beverage service into a Cirque du Soleil theatrical experience that draws on Mexico's rich culture and heritage, JOYA will deliver an immersive, multisensory offering beyond anything that currently exists for residents and visitors of Mexico, or elsewhere in the world."

Additional press details on JOYA are available at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/press/news/2014/riviera-maya-grupo-vidanta-name-reveal-may-7-2014.aspx.

To reserve tickets or more information on JOYA, visit cirquedusoleil.com/joya.

Video - http://youtu.be/GtECdtsI_9c

SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil

Greg Miller, Grupo Vidanta, [phone], [email protected]; or Renee-Claude Menard, Cirque du Soleil Inc., [phone] x7366, [email protected]

http://grupovidanta.com

http://youtu.be/GtECdtsI_9c