If you're going to see Cirque du Soleil during its Hartford run, check out my 10 Tips for Attending a Cirque du Soleil Performance.
It's not a Big Top, it's a Grand Chapiteau, and it's not just any circus that will make its triumphant return to Hartford in 2008: It's Cirque Du Soleil!
The avant-garde traveling circus founded in Canada in 1984 has impressed worldwide audiences with its mix of circus acts and street performances, amazing acrobatics, colorful costumes and dazzling lights and music. In 2003, Cirque du Soleil made its Hartford debut with "Dralion." Cirque du Soleil returned to Hartford in 2005 with "Varekai."
In 2008, Cirque du Soleil makes its third Hartford appearance with the East Coast premiere of "KOOZA," the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world. The production, which combines acrobatic performance and clowning, marks a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil. According to a press release: "The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor." Since its debut in San Francisco in November of 2007, the traveling production of "KOOZA" has visited several cities in the U.S. and Canada.
"Dralion" and "Varekai" were both huge successes in Hartford, and you won't want to miss the opportunity to see Cirque Du Soleil during its third limited engagement in our city. Here's everything you need to know to get tickets and see the show:
Dates: April 1-27, 2008
Performance Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1 and 5 p.m. (Note: There will be no performance on Friday, April 4.)
Location: Under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau on Market Street in Hartford, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the intersection of I-84 and I-91.
Ticket Prices: Prices range from $50 to $85 for adults and from $35 to $59.50 for children ages 2 to 12. For students ages 13 and up and senior citizens (65 and up), prices range from $45 to $76.50 for performances on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and for the Friday performance at 4 p.m.
Be a VIP: The Tapis Rouge VIP experience includes one of the best seats in the house and access to the exclusive Tapis Rouge suite one hour prior to show time and during intermission. The cost is $215 for adults and $152 for children ages 2 to 12.
Tickets: Tickets may be purchased online at the Cirque Du Soleil Web site, or purchase tickets by phone by calling toll free, 800-678-5440. Tickets for all performances went on sale to the public at 11 a.m. on October 10, 2007.
Special Offer: Use your American Express Card to purchase tickets, then present your ticket at one of the American Express Service Points at the show, and you'll receive a complimentary KOOZA Performance Guide packed with interesting facts and fascinating information about KOOZA, including the running order of the acts you will see performed in the show. Included in your Performance Guide is a $5 discount voucher, which can be redeemed when you use your American Express Card to purchase Cirque du Soleil merchandise on-site.
Group Reservations: Call 800-450-1480 for discount pricing and reservations for groups of 20 or more.
