The Cirque tribute show to the Beatles, Lovepresented since 2006 at The Mirage hotel-casino in Las Vegas, will be “committed indefinitely” at the end of 2024.
The suspension of The Beatles, Love, will allow the new owner of the Mirage, Hard Rock International – which acquired the hotel-casino last December for the tidy sum of 1 billion US – to carry out major transformation work.
The news was confirmed to us on Wednesday by Daniel Lamarre, now executive vice-president of the Cirque du Soleil board of directors.
In a press release published at the time of the acquisition, Hard Rock International had hinted that the Cirque show would end in 2023. “We have won an additional year,” says Daniel Lamarre, who is hopeful that Love, directed by Dominic Champagne, will return to the poster thereafter. The contract should be signed in the next few days.
PHOTOMONTAGE PROVIDED BY HARD ROCK INTERNATIONAL
Model of the transformed Mirage, borrowing a form of guitar
“We have a great relationship with them. I met the CEO of Hard Rock [Jim Allen] several times. They have several other activities in Vegas, so we’re looking at what we can do together. What will it culminate in? I don’t know yet, but it’s changing from month to month. »
Work on the Mirage, which should extend over a period of at least two years, will begin in 2025. The hotel-casino will notably take the form of a guitar.
19 more contract years… in total
The other Cirque shows presented in Las Vegas are well under way. And for good reason. The Press also learned that during the pandemic, Cirque’s new CEO, Stéphane Lefebvre, and his predecessor, Daniel Lamarre, have entered into long-term agreements with MGM and Treasure Island, hosts of Cirque’s six shows on the Strip, in addition to the Blue Man Group show (which he owns).
PHOTO KARENE-ISABELLE JEAN-BAPTISTE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Cirque du Soleil CEO, Stéphane Lefebvre, with his predecessor, Daniel Lamarre, Executive Vice-President of the Board of Directors
MGM owns the MGM Grand, New York-New York, Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, Luxor and, until recently, the Mirage (sold to Hard Rock International). Treasure Island, owned by billionaire Phil Ruffin, is host to Mysterythe Cirque’s first show – created in 1993.
“During the pandemic, there was a lot of insecurity,” recalls Daniel Lamarre.
Our role then was to demonstrate that when [où la pandémie serait] over, the Circus would be able to regain some stability. It is in this context that we added years of contract to our shows. For a total of 19 years [si on additionne les ajouts d’années de chacun des six contrats].
Daniel Lamarre, Executive Vice-President of the Cirque du Soleil Board of Directors
Cirque did not want to specify the number of years of contract extension for each of its shows.
Mad Apple well launched
A year after its launch, the show Mad Apple – who replaced Zumanity in New York-New York – is doing well, assures Daniel Lamarre. “It’s a great success,” he said. We are talking about an occupancy rate of more than 80%. The cabaret formula, with dancing, music and comedy numbers that change periodically, works very well. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The premiere of Mad Apple took place in May 2022.
As for Kacreated in 2004 at the MGM Grand in a staging by Robert Lepage, there is no question of withdrawing it from the programming of Vegas for the moment.
“As we speak, it is not in the plans. Ka still performs quite well, but there is a constant dialogue with MGM. We must continually have in our boxes projects for new shows that we can bring to Vegas, Orlando or elsewhere. »
At the moment, we have two or three new concepts that we are looking at to be ready the day a theater becomes available to ensure that it is Cirque that will occupy it.
Daniel Lamarre
Re Othe star show of Cirque à Vegas – created by Franco Dragone in 1998 – it has resumed with a vengeance.
“This show is beyond all comprehension,” says Daniel Lamarre. We are never below 90% [de taux d’occupation]. The Phantom of the Opera sold 1.4 billion in tickets. O has reached 2.4 billion in revenue since its creation. It is a unique worldwide success. »
Diversify the offer
If Las Vegas has always been an important source of income for Cirque – we are talking about 50% of the company’s profits –, management is now seeking to diversify its markets to “better balance” its portfolio of shows.
We have a responsibility to go into other markets.
Daniel Lamarre
“We are going to launch a permanent cabaret-type show in Hawaii, but we want to target other tourist markets as we did with joya, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, details Daniel Lamarre. There are talks going on right now for four or five shows. »
Tourist destinations, therefore, but without forgetting the great capitals of entertainment such as London or New York, always on the Cirque’s radar.
However, Cirque has no intention of leaving its place in Vegas. “As long as we have theaters available from MGM, we will not hesitate to add shows. Six is a minimum for us. I could easily imagine us with seven or eight shows. »
To bring these show projects to fruition, Stéphane Lefebvre and Daniel Lamarre can now count on Matt Nichols, who has been named head of creation and production, and Michel Laprise (Drawn to Life), which is now the new Cirque Creative Guide.
The Circus in Vegas now
- Mystery (1993), at Treasure Island. Director: Franco Dragone.
- O (1998), at the Bellagio (MGM). Director: Franco Dragone.
- Ka (2004), at the MGM Grand (MGM). Director: Robert Lepage.
- The Beatles, Love (2006), at the Mirage (Hard Rock International). Director: Dominic Champagne.
- Michael Jackson One (2013), at Mandalay Bay (MGM). Director: Jamie King.
- Mad Apple (2022), at New York-New York (MGM). Director: Simon Painter.
- Blue Man Group (2015), at the Luxor (MGM).
Some important old Circus shows in Vegas
- Zumanity (2003-2020), at New York-New York. Directed by: René Richard Cyr and Dominic Champagne.
- Criss Angel Believe (2008-2016), at Luxor. Director: Serge Denoncourt.
- RUN (2019-2020), at Luxor. Director: Michael Schwandt.
- Viva Elvis (2010-2012), at the Aria. Director: Vincent Paterson.