Ovo (Cirque du Soleil)

Ovo
Company Cirque du Soleil
Genre Contemporary circus
Show type Touring show
Date of premiere April 23, 2009
Creative team
Writer, director, and choreographer Deborah Colker
Creation director Chantal Tremblay
Set and props designer Gringo Cardia
Composer and musical director Berna Ceppas
Costume designer Liz Vandal
Lighting designer Eric Champoux
Artistic guides Guy Laliberté
Gilles Ste-Croix
Sound designer Jonathan Deans
Makeup designer Julie Bégin
Rigging and acrobatic equipment designer Fred Gérard
Acrobatic performance designer Phillipe Aubertin
Other information
Preceded by Criss Angel Believe (2008)
Succeeded by Banana Shpeel (2009)
Official website

Ovo is a touring circus production by Cirque du Soleil and premiered in Montréal, Canada, in 2009. Ovo's creator and director, Deborah Colker, took inspiration from the world of insects. The idea for Ovo was not to be about the acts, nor dancing, nor insects, but about movement.[1] The movement of life permeates the entire show with creatures flying, leaping, bounding, and crawling. Composer Berna Ceppas brought additional life to Ovo with a score inspired by the music of Brazil. ovo means "egg" in Portuguese and represents the underlying thread through the show. Graphically, inside the logo of Ovo, is an insect. The two O's represent the eyes and the V forms the nose and antennas.[2]

History

During late April 2011, Ovo had to cancel performances in Ohio due to flooding at Coney Island. The Ohio River began flooding due to heavy rains over the period of a few days. The team had been running pumps, adjusted parking, as well as the show's layout, but finally did have to cancel multiple performances (April 22 - May 1, 2011).[3][4][5][6]

Set and technical information

The stage and set for Ovo were designed by Gringo Cardio and utilize irregular shapes throughout. The rear wall is 19 metres (62 ft) wide by 8 metres (26 ft) high and is only supported at the sides, thus allowing the trampolines for the final act to slide into place. During it's arena tour, Ovo used the stage from the classic cirque show, Dralion. Ovo's big top stage would later be reused when Corteo premieres it's arena tour in 2017. Inset in the wall are 24 "firefly eggs"; these are moulded fibreglass bulbs fitted with LED bulbs which can produce a full color spectrum of light. The "membranes" seen throughout the performance are quite large in scale, the largest being 24 metres (79 ft) wide by 17 metres (56 ft) high. The egg seen at the beginning of the show is inflated to the size of 8.5 metres (28 ft) wide by 7 metres (23 ft) high.[1]

Ovo has the largest flying act yet undertaken by Cirque du Soleil, as of 2010. To support the act there are 80 cables which have to be installed during the performance; this requires the assistance of upwards of 40 performers and technicians. The trapeze net itself is 3 metres (9.8 ft) off the ground and spans 30 metres (98 ft) in length and 15 metres (49 ft) in width.[1]

Cast

Many characters are seen throughout Ovo, three of which are the main characters. The cast of Ovo, as of its premiere, included 54 performing artists from 16 different countries.[7]

Acts

Ovo has ten acrobatic-related acts, whereas the rest are dancing or supplemental to the storyline.[7]

Retired acts

Costumes

Liz Vandal's costumes for Ovo

The costumes of Ovo were designed by Liz Vandal and evoke the appearance of insects.[8] The costumes were created to have areas that appear as sections to replicate the segmented bodies of insects; this was achieved by using permanent pleating, varying finishes, and coloring methods. To also provide the illusion of exoskeletons, a mixture of fabrics were used to create both hard and soft flexible fabrics, thus providing the look of a hard shell without inhibiting the artists' movements.[9]

The crickets have detachable legs, which are removed for the powertrack act, to give the sense of an insect with six legs. The legs also provide the illusion the cricket is oversized, aiding the spectator's illusion of being the size of an insect in this world.[9]

Due to the rigidity of some of the costumes, most characters have two versions of their costume. The first is more lightweight and functional for their acrobatic performance. The second, on the other hand, is more richly detailed and heavier, and worn while not performing their act.[2]

Music

The show's musical influences stem primarily from Brazilian genres such as samba; both the creator and music director are Brazilian. Additional texture is added by the use of sounds of insects throughout the soundtrack. Below is a list of the tracks featured on the CD, which was released on April 13, 2010.[10]

  1. Brisa Do Mar (Pre-show and opening)
  2. Foreigner (Cricket dance)
  3. Ants (Foot juggling and Icarian games)
  4. Cocoon (Interlude into Spanish Web Duo)
  5. Frevo Zumbido (Diabolos)
  6. Orvalho (Handbalancing)
  7. Carimbo da Creatura (Creatura dancing)
  8. Love Duet
    • Spanish Web Duo (2009–2015)
    • Aerial Straps (2016-present)
  9. Scarabee
    • Volants (2009–2015)
    • Aerial Cradle (2016–present)
  10. Sexy Web (Contortion)
  11. Legs (Interlude into Power Track, Trampoline, and Wall)
  12. Flea Girls
    • Acrosport (2009-2015)
    • Acro-trio (2016–present)
  13. Super Hero (Slackwire)
  14. Secret Samba Luv (Clown Act)
  15. Parede (Power track, trampoline, wall)
  16. Banquete (Banquet and Bows)
Further information: Cirque du Soleil discography

Vocalists

Tour

Ovo started touring in April 2009 in Montréal, Canada.[11][12] They performed their 1000th show on January 29, 2012, while in Santa Monica, California.[13][14] Now that the Japanese run of Ovo has ended, it has been confirmed that the show will no longer perform under the Grand Chapiteau, instead it will be converted into the arena format for its remaining tours.

On April 8, 2016, OVO began re-premiered in the arena format in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Just one week later, on April 15, Cirque du Soleil announced the cancellation of OVO in both Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina citing the recent signing of the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act by North Carolina governor Pat McCrory, the Company announced in a press release that "Cirque du Soleil strongly believes in diversity and equality for every individual and is opposed to discrimination in any form. The new HB2 legislation passed in North Carolina is an important regression to ensuring human rights for all."

The following colorboxes indicate the region of each performance:
 EU   Europe  NA   North America  SA   South and Central Americas  AP   Asia/Pacific  OC   Oceania  AF   Africa

Grand Chapiteau tour

Arena tour

2016 schedule

  •  NA   Erie, PA - From 17 Nov to 20 Nov 2016
  •  NA   Quebec, QC - From 23 Nov to 27 Nov 2016
  •  NA   Montreal, QC - From 29 Nov to 4 Dec 2016
  •  NA   Kingston, ON - From 7 Dec to 11 Dec 2016
  •  NA   Grand Rapids, MI - From 14 Dec to 18 Dec 2016
  •  NA   Detroit, MI - From 22 Dec to 25 Dec 2016
  •  NA   Kansas City, MO - From 28 Dec 2016 to 1 Jan 2017

2017 schedule

  •  NA   Sioux Falls, SD - From 4 Jan to 8 Jan 2017
  •  NA   Loveland, CO - From 11 Jan to 15 Jan 2017
  •  NA   Colorado Springs, CO - From 18 Jan to 22 Jan 2017
  •  NA   Tulsa, OK - From 25 Jan to 29 Jan 2017
  •  NA   Spokane, WA - From 16 Feb to 19 Feb 2017
  •  NA   West Valley City, UT - From 22 Feb to 26 Feb 2017
  •  NA   Rio Rancho, NM - From 1 Mar to 5 Mar 2017
  •  NA   Lubbock, TX - From 8 Mar to 12 Mar 2017
  •  NA   Cedar Park, TX - From 15 Mar to 19 Mar 2017
  •  NA   Laredo, TX - From 22 Mar to 26 Mar 2017
  •  NA   Corpus Christi, TX - From 29 Mar to 2 Apr 2017
  •  NA   El Paso, TX - From 12 Apr to 16 Apr 2017
  •  EU   Salzburg, AT - From 18 Oct to 22 Oct 2017
  •  EU   Hamburg, DE - From 25 Oct to 29 Oct 2017
  •  EU   Berlin, DE - From 1 Nov to 5 Nov 2017
  •  EU   Mannheim, DE - From 8 Nov to 12 Nov 2017
  •  EU   Cologne, DE - From 15 Nov to 19 Nov 2017
  •  EU   Stuttgart, DE - From 22 Nov to 26 Nov 2017
  •  EU   Nuremberg, DE - From 29 Nov to 3 Dec 2017
  •  EU   Munich, DE - From 13 Dec to 17 Dec 2017

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cirque du Soleil (2010). Ovo Souvenir Program (in English and French). upc: 4 00005 11037 5.
  2. 1 2 "Ovo Press Kit" (PDF). Cirque du Soleil (Press Kit). Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  3. ↑ "Due to ongoing weather conditions". Cirque du Soleil. 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  4. ↑ "Ovo in Cincinnati, OH". Cirque du Soleil. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
  5. ↑ "Cirque du Soleil Cancels More Shows". WLWT-TV. 2011-04-25. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  6. ↑ "Cirque du Soleil cancels performances until May 1". WXIX-FOX19. 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  7. 1 2 "Ovo: Acts and Characters" (PDF). Cirque du Soleil (Press Kit). Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  8. ↑ "Ovo - Costumes". Cirque du Soleil (Press Materials). Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  9. 1 2 Clément, Ronald (2009). Cirque du Soleil 25 Years of Costumes (in Chinese, English, French, and Japanese). Canada: Dépôt légal, Bibliothèque et Archives Canada. pp. 138–143. ISBN 978-2-9803493-4-8.
  10. ↑ "Music of OVO". Cirque Tribune. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  11. ↑ "Ovo Tickets". Cirque du Soleil. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
  12. ↑ "Ovo (Tour Schedule)". Cirque Tribune. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
  13. ↑ "Ovo - Cirque du Soleil". Ovo. Cirque du Soleil. January 29, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  14. ↑ Emilie Nadeau (January 29, 2012). "Ovo celebrates its 1000th performance today - Sunday, January 29! Congrats to all the cast & crew!". Cirque du Soleil PR. Cirque du Soleil. Retrieved February 8, 2012.

External links

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