CHAMPAIGN, IL– Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco will debut at Assembly Hall on November 9 at 7:30PM and November 10 at 3:30PM and 7:30PM. Tickets go on sale next Monday, September 17 at 10:00AM.
This summer, after 14 years of touring the world with its big top and playing to more than 9.5 million spectators, Saltimbanco is embarking on a tour of more than 40 arenas across Canada and the United States. The new tour model will allow Cirque du Soleil to bring its shows to cities unable to host a big top, allowing more people than ever a chance to enjoy a Cirque du Soleil show in their own town.
The show
Saltimbanco—from the Italian “saltare in banco,” which literally means “to jump on a bench”—explores the urban experience in all its myriad forms: the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likenesses, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. Between whirlwind and lull, prowess and poetry, Saltimbanco takes spectators on an allegorical and acrobatic journey into the heart of the city.
Saltimbanco is a characteristic Cirque du Soleil show inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope.
The production features 47 artists, about 15 of whom were a part of the show's last big top tour. The cast hails from Canada and 14 other countries.
An intimate arena setting
Restaging the show for the arena required a number of modifications. The stage on which the artists perform was raised, and the sound and lighting were adjusted to reflect the venue's size and the stage's different position within it. Saltimbanco can now be presented to 4,000 to 5,000 spectators every night with the same feeling of intimacy as under the big top.
How to purchase tickets
Tickets for the Champaign performances are available at the Assembly Hall box office, or can be purchased by the local Ticketmaster at (217) 333-5000 or by Internet at www.cirquedusoleil.com. Tickets are $35.00 - $65.00. A $10.00 student discount is available at the Assembly Hall box office only with a valid student ID.
Sponsors
iShares® is the presenting sponsor of the 2007 U.S. arena tour of Saltimbanco. CGI, American Express and Delta Air Lines are the official sponsors.
Cirque du Soleil
From the 20 or so performers that the company featured when it all began in 1984, Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil has become a leading provider of quality entertainment with over 3,500 employees, including 900 artists, from 40 different countries.
Cirque du Soleil has thrilled nearly 60 million spectators in over 100 cities on five continents. In 2007, the organization will be presenting 15 shows simultaneously around the world. Cirque du Soleil has received such prestigious awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gémeaux, Félix and Rose d'or de Montreux. Its International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.
More information on Cirque du Soleil is available at www.cirquedusoleil.com.