Cirque du Soleil
By Christina Castle
By Christina Castle
Cirque du Soleil’s ALEGRIA will be at the American Bank Center Arena February 17th – 20th for six shows and will be bringing 100 people with them including a cast of 55 performers and musicians from 15 countries. Alegria – a Spanish word for elation, joy, and jubilation – is a Cirque du Soleil classic that has entertained more than 10 million people worldwide since its world premiere in Montreal in 1994. This will be the 3rd time Cirque du Soleil brings an internationally acclaimed show to Corpus Christi’s premier event center, showcasing breath-taking acrobatics. Alegria is perfectly adapted to our arena and allows the performers to stay close to the audience and connect with them. “We also receive a warm welcome, we know the Arena, and we know it works well,” adds Laurendeau.
In February 2007, the American Bank Center Arena hosted Cirque’s DELIRIUM for one show only, drawing a full –house crowd. In March 2008, Cirque du Soleil brought us SALTIMBANCO and stayed for the weekend delighting audiences with three shows and doubling their overall attendance for the Corpus Christi market. Also in 2008, a zip code analysis of SALTIMBANCO ticket holders found more than 22% of tickets were purchased by residents of Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and the Valley area including Harlingen, Weslaco, Brownsville and McAllen.
The numbers for the Alegria show will be reviewed again following Cirque’s departure this February, but we already know 100 hotel rooms have been booked in downtown Corpus Christi to accommodate the performers, “Everyone gets their own hotel room,” says Laurendeau. She also says artists have Monday and Tuesday off to explore their new surroundings, “They are given attraction information, where to go for coffee and where to have a nice dinner.” It’s her job to research each city and supply everyone on the tour with a list of places to go to shop for clothes, shoes and groceries. The USS Lexington and McGee beach are just two of the many places Laurendeau is looking forward to seeing. It’s also important to note, Cirque du Soleil travels with their own catering company and will be purchasing food and supplies here in Corpus Christi as they do for all of their tour stops. Laurendeau explains it’s easier to purchase the food in each city they visit instead of bringing extra busses and equipment to keep food fresh along the way.
Another benefit for Corpus Christi, Cirque du Soleil hires local workers to help with setting-up the staging for their show and to assist in the kitchen and wardrobe areas. It takes between 12 and 15 hours to unload trucks and to set-up staging, therefore, the tour typically hires up to 120 people locally to get the job done in time for opening night and that night is sure to impress. “We transform the arena into another world – the world of Alegria!,” Laurendeau explains with excitement. For the Alegria performances, the Arena will be split in half with seating open on only one side of the horseshoe-shaped venue. This arrangement creates a more intimate environment similar to big-top tent acts. Laurendeau says the idea is to “re-create the ambiance, so the audience establishes a real connection to the show and are touched by what they see on stage.” You can also be sure there will not be a bad seat in the house.
If you would like to see the show, tickets may be purchased at the American Bank Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Additional fees may apply. Discounts are available for opening night and non-peak show times. A discount is available for children 2 to 12 years of age, students, military and seniors (may be asked to show ID). A discount is also available with the purchase of a family 4-pack or for groups of 10 or more people. Discounts may be limited to certain show dates and times and/or price levels while supplies last. Please visit the American Bank Center Box Office for more information (Box Office hours: Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm), or call the American Bank Center Executive Offices at 361-826-4700.
For a list of upcoming events at American Bank Center, visit www.AmericanBankCenter.com. Follow American Bank Center on Facebook (ww.Facebook.com/AmericanBankCenter), Myspace (www.Myspace.com/AmericanBankCenter) and on Twitter @AmericanBankCtr.
Let us welcome Cirque du Soleil once again this February (Show Dates: February 17 – 20) and encourage them to continue to return to Corpus Christi! Remember, these artists and tour personnel will be shopping, dining and spending their days and nights in downtown Corpus Christi for an entire week. This is only the beginning of what is expected to be a busy year at the American Bank Center. With your help, we can continue to attract first-class entertainment to Corpus Christi and assist our out-of-town guests in discovering the many hidden treasures throughout our historic downtown district.
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