Cirque du Soleil is coming to Broadway in the upcoming 2016-2017 season. Cirque du Soleil is Canada's entertainment vehicle which is the largest theatrical producer in the world. Cirque plans to spend $25 million to mount "Paramour" at the Lyric Theatre, one of the largest Broadway houses, and it will run indefinitely after opening next spring, according to The New York Times.
President and Managing Director of Cirque du Soleil Theatrical Scott Zeiger said, "Bringing 'Paramour' to Broadway is the culmination of years of work, planning, and countless creative discussions. The 'Paramour' creative team, led by our remarkable director Philippe Decouflé, has designed the show specifically for the Lyric Theatre, and it is the perfect fit for the incredible experience we have in store. I am certain that our audiences will be surprised and delighted by our vision for the production," according to Broadway World.
Cirque will reportedly spend about $25 million to mount "Paramour" - pricey for a Broadway show, but not a massive investment compared to what the company spends on many of its spectacles. The storyline, set in the Hollywood golden age, will follow a poet faced with a tough choice. The production will blend elements of musical theater and circus with a cast that mixes performers from both worlds, according to The Variety.
Cirque is a huge global entertainment operation - it has 18 shows running (nine of them touring), employs 1,300 artists (from 47 countries), and sold 11 million tickets last year with revenues of $855 million. The troupe says that over the last 31 years, it has played to more than 150 million spectators, in venues ranging from theaters to big-top tents to large arenas.
"Paramour" begins previews April 16, 2016 at the Lyric ahead of an opened set for June 2.
