NEAR WEST SIDE — "Kurios," Cirque du Soleil's latest production, rolled into Chicago this week, bringing acrobatics, high-flying "acro net" artists and more back under the Big Top.
"Cirque du Soleil's Kurios — Cabinet of Curiosities" debuted Thursday night in the Big Top tent near the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. The touring show runs in Chicago through Sept. 20.
Tickets, which range from $35-$145, are available online.
To celebrate the show's arrival in Chicago, here are six facts about the inspiration, cast and crew of the production.
• "Kurios" brings Cirque back to its roots.
Inspired by cabinets of curiosities — the precursor to museums — the whimsical "Kurios" brings Cirque du Soleil back to its humble Québec beginnings, said Amélie Robitaille, the production's publicist. Back in 1984, Cirque was just a band of colorful characters striding on stilts, juggling, dancing, breathing fire and playing music on the street.
"Before Cirque became the world-renowned name that it now is, it was 20 street performers," Robitalle said on site Wednesday. "Kurios" "is really high tech in some points, but we wanted to keep it really mechanical — [focused] on human power."
To do that, "Kurios" includes a number of traditional circus disciplines "presented in a different way," and incorporates Cirque's lowest stage ever so the performers can best interact with the audience, Robitaille said.
"We want to keep them on the edge of their seat," she said.
The contortion act performs in Cirque du Soleil's "Kurios." [Martin Girard]
The cast includes acrobatics, contortionists, an aerial bicyclist and high-flying "acro net" artists, who pirouette, bounce and rebound on a net that covers the entire stage.
"Kurios" is Cirque du Soleil's 35th production since 1984. There are currently 19 different Cirque shows in operation — 10 resident shows and 8 touring shows.
Today, the company employs close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 artists from more than 50 countries.
• The show's director worked on Madonna's Super Bowl halftime show.
In 2012, Cirque's writer/director Michel Laprise collaborated with pop star Madonna, providing artistic direction for her performance at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. He later went on to direct her "MDNA" tour.
• "Kurios" features one of the 10 smallest people in the world.
Antanina Satsura, the artist who plays Mini Lili in "Kurios," is 3.2 feet tall and weighs 39 pounds.
The Seeker and Klara, The Telegraph of the Invisible, in Cirque du Soleil's "Kurios." [Martin Girard]
• For the first time, the show starts before you enter the Big Top.
"Kurios" is the first of Cirque du Soleil's shows to feature a welcoming act on top of the Big Top tent before the show starts. As weather allows, three performers will climb atop the tent to welcome audience members, playing music and acting.
• The cast includes artists from 14 different countries.
"Kurios'" 46 performers are from 14 different countries, and the 109 tour members include newbies and veterans who have more than 20 years of touring experience with Cirque.
The Banquine act performs in Cirque du Soleil's "Kurios." [Martin Gerard]
• The costumes and props are elaborate, to say the least.
To make the Accordion Man's attire, a "Kurios" costume maker spent an entire week sewing inside the costume.
There are 426 props used in "Kurios," the most of any show in Cirque du Soleil's history. The team of prop makers spent about 250 hours alone building the show's Micro-Cosmos ball.
Cirque du Soleil's "Kurios" opened in the Big Top tent near the United Center Thursday. [Cirque du Soleil]
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