Cirque du Soleil unveils Amaluna - A new touring show directed by Diane Paulus

IN MONTREAL'S OLD PORT STARTING APRIL 19
Under the blue and Yellow Big Top

MONTREAL, April 4, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Cirque du Soleil unveiled Amaluna today in Montreal, a new creation presented by Desjardins Group. Directed by Diane Paulus, a renowned theatre director from New York, Amaluna will be presented under the Big Top at the Old Port of Montreal as of April 19, and at the Port de Québec as of July 25.

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.

A tribute to the work and voice of women
For the first time at Cirque du Soleil, the cast of a show is 70% female and the band, 100%. "Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women," explains Director of Creation Fernand Rainville. "The show is a reflection on balance from a woman's perspective," he adds. Show Director Diane Paulus says: "Amaluna is less about feminism and more about reconnecting to our world in a different way." 

Amaluna has a cast of 50 artists hailing from 15 different countries.

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 and Gilles Ste-Croix:

Guy Laliberté	Artistic Guide
Gilles Ste-Croix	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 Larivée	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

CREATORS' BIOS:
Creators' bios are available for download in our press room:
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/press/kits/shows/amaluna.aspx

PHOTOS:
Photos are available for download in our press room :
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/press/photos-videos/photos/amaluna/page-1.aspx

Ticket Information
Amaluna will be presented under the blue and yellow Big Top at the Old Port of Montreal (starting April 19), and at the Port de Québec (starting July 25). Tickets can be purchased online at www.cirquedusoleil.com. The tour will then stop in Toronto and Vancouver before heading for the United States.

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 32^nd 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.
To find out more about the ONE DROP Foundation, visit www.onedrop.org. 
 

Isabelle Longtin
Roy & Turner Communications
[phone], extension 207
[email protected]