O (Cirque du Soleil): Difference between revisions

'''''O''''' is a water-themed stage production by [[Cirque du Soleil]], a Canadian circus and entertainment company. The show has been in permanent residence at the [[Bellagio (resort)|Bellagio]] in [[Las Vegas Strip|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], [[United States]], since October 1998. ''O'', whose name is pronounced the same way as ''eau'', the French word for "water", takes place around and above a {{convert|1.5|e6USgal|m3|adj=on}} pool of water. It features water acts such as synchronized swimming as well as aerial and ground acts. The ''O'' theatre, which is designed to resemble a 14th-century European opera house, has 1,800 seats, thus allowing the performance to be watched by 3,600 people a night since the performance usually plays twice in a given day,. The theatre was also designed to meet the special demands of the show.<ref name="MgmPr">{{cite web| url=http://static01.cirquedusoleil.com/en/~/media/press/PDF/o/General_Release.pdf| title=Press Releases - Cirque du Soleil - O, 4/10/2014| publisher=Cirque du Soleil| access-date=2014-04-10| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222212938/https://static01.cirquedusoleil.com/en/~/media/press/PDF/o/General_Release.pdf| archive-date=2015-12-22| url-status=dead}}</ref>

''O'' was inspired by the "infinity and elegance of water's pure form," which pays tribute to the beauty of the theatre. A group of 150 stage technicians assistassists in the production of the show, the cast of which is 85 performers: international acrobats, synchronized swimmers, and divers. Some of them are former Olympic athletes.<ref name="MgmPr">{{cite web| url=http://static01.cirquedusoleil.com/en/~/media/press/PDF/o/General_Release.pdf| title=Press Releases - Cirque du Soleil - O, 4/10/2014| publisher=Cirque du Soleil| access-date=2014-04-10| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222212938/https://static01.cirquedusoleil.com/en/~/media/press/PDF/o/General_Release.pdf| archive-date=2015-12-22| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since late October 2010, Cirque du Soleil has offered backstage tours of the ''O'' theatre. The experience allows visitors to see the backstage wings, training rooms, costume workshop, break area, underwater lighting area, and go up to a catwalk into the sound and lighting booths. Not every experience will be the same as the tour is conducted around a "regular day", so performers may or may not be training, rehearsing, or even working out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestofvegas.com/Shows-Tickets/Cirque-Du-Soleil-Insider-Access-O-Bellagio/|publisher=Best of Vegas|title="O" - Cirque Insider Access|access-date=2011-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lvrj.com/neon/-o-tour-enhances-appreciation-of-cirque-du-soleil-s-creativity-120440094.html?ref=094|title='O' tour enhances appreciation of Cirque du Soleil's creativity|publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=2011-04-22|access-date=2011-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.8newsnow.com/category/28259/8-news-now-video?clipId=5507979&a|title=Cirque: Backstage Pass|publisher=Las Vegas News Now|access-date=2011-04-22}}</ref>

As of early 2011, ''O'' has grossed over a$1 billion dollars since the show opened in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/cirque-du-soleil-swings-to-1bn-revenue-as-it-mulls-shows-at-o2-2191850.html|title=Cirque du Soleil swings to $1bn revenue as it mulls shows at O2|work=The Independent|date=2011-10-22|access-date=2015-11-10}}</ref>

* ''Las Vegas Review-Journal'', best production show, 1999–2006<ref name="MgmPr" />

* Most of the props that are used during the show are actually driven by the Performersperformers who ride them. For instance, the carousel horses have a small propeller underneath their tails; they are controlled by a joystick located on the back of the horse.

* Confluence ''(Interlude from Cerceaux)''