CIRQUE DU SOLEIL RETURNS TO PHOENIX WITH A NEW BIG TOP SHOW
AMALUNA
MARCH 15 – APRIL 14, 2019
UNDER THE BIG TOP AT STATE FARM STADIUM
Cirque du Soleil proudly announced its return to Phoenix with a new Big Top show, AMALUNA. The critically acclaimed production will be opening in Phoenix on March 15, 2019 for an engagement of 38 performances under the iconic Yellow-and-Blue Grand Chapiteau at State Farm Stadium. Written and directed by Tony Award-winning director, Diane Paulus, Cirque du Soleil’s 33rd production AMALUNA is a celebration of love and a tribute to the work and voice of women.
AMALUNA
AMALUNA invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next. In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony.
AMALUNA is a fusion of the words ama, which refers to “mother” in many languages, and luna, which means “moon”; a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. AMALUNA is also the name of the mysterious island where this magical story unfolds.
A TRIBUTE TO THE WORK AND VOICE OF WOMEN
For the first time in Cirque du Soleil’s history, AMALUNA features a cast that comprises mostly women, with a 100% female band. “Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women,” explains Director of Creation Fernand Rainville. “The show is a reflection on balance from a women’s perspective,” he adds. Director Diane Paulus, winner of a 2013 Tony Award (Pippin) and named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2014, says: “I didn’t want to build a ‘women’s agenda’ show. I wanted to create a show with women at the center of it, something that had a hidden story that featured women as the heroines.” Paulus drew from a series of classical influences when creating the concept of the show; including tales from Greek and Norse mythology, Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Shakespeare’s The Tempest.