Returning to Atlantic Station under the blue and yellow big top this fall is Cirque du Soleil. Witness the troupe's gorgeous presentation of Amaluna when it returns to Atlanta for a month-long stay (October 3 through November 16). Back for the first time since 2012’s successful TOTEM, the troupe will share this stunning show, written and directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus.
Cirque du Soleil performers fly above on aerial straps — Photo courtesy of Laurence Labat / Cirque du Soleil
The femme-fueled show is set on a utopian island called “Amaluna,” (a combination of the words for “mother” and “moon”) a land ruled by a league of beautiful goddesses. When a ship full of men wrecks on the island, an epic love story unfolds between the daughter of Prospera, the island’s queen, and one of the passengers, appropriately named Prince Romeo. The story teems with emotion, jealousy and obstacles – all apt for a soaring interpretation on the stage.
The transportive experience is one that’s intensified by fantastical costumes, conceived by Meredith Caron and featuring more than 130 dramatic ensembles crafted from some 800-odd items. Watch in wonder as her other-worldly creations take center stage in a performance driven by incredible visual effects. In typical Cirque du Soleil fashion, awe-inspiring feats set the stage performance apart and help to propel the tale.
The island's diverse goddesses each have powers and allures of their own, which are showcased during floor and aerial acts that showcase the characters’ strength, power and beauty. Cue characters like the Peacock Goddess, the Moon Goddess, the Balance Goddess and the Valkyries in scenes that include a hovering aerial dance over a pool of water, a jungle-inspired take on the uneven bars, an acrobatic performance with glowing watermelons and a four-dimension aerial chase/rescue scene.
The shows by Cirque du Soleil tend to be both visually stunning and acrobatic — Photo courtesy of Laurence Labat / Cirque du Soleil
Aiding in the performance’s mesmerizing quality are the set designs depicting verdant forest scenes with ample open spaces ideal for showcasing the vibrant costumery, enchanting aerial performances and ethereal vocals. And, for the first time in Cirque du Soleil’s history, the majority of the cast (70 percent) is female.
The show also boasts an all-female band, who divide their time between the orchestra pit and on the stage alongside the actors. Band members will play a contemporary set of music, relying primarily on guitar, but also featuring bass, drums, cello, vocals, keyboards and percussion.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit CirqueduSoleil.com.
