‘Cirque Dreams: Illumination’ lights up IU Auditorium

Acrobatics, magic and fantasy will make the way to Bloomington at 8 p.m. Friday at the IU Auditorium.

“Cirque Dreams: Illumination” was produced by Cirque Productions, the first American company to perform European “cirque style” for the theater and on tour, according to the Web site, www.cirqueproductions.com.

Doug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium, explained what the show is about.

“‘Cirque Dreams’ is a European stage circus following the theme of city life. Acrobats, aerialists, musicians and clowns all play a role in the show,” Booher said.

Erik Alden, director of marketing for Cirque Productions said “Cirque Dreams: Illumination” is the most recent and 13th production for the company. He described the show as being set in an urban city, like Chicago or New York City, and the setting is on an “elevated train” where ordinary things are transformed into the extraordinary.

“A college professor can fly through the air while he’s reading books,” Alden said.

Alden said during some scenes audience members will be able to come on stage and participate.

He added that the show will include more modern, hip music than in past tours. Types of performers will include acrobats, singers, dancers, contortionists and others.

Neil Goldber  founded “Cirque Dreams” in 1993 and since then the company has put more than 12 original shows in different venues, such as theaters and casinos.

Although “Cirque Dreams” might seem like a spin-off of “Cirque du Soleil,” a Canadian entertainment company, the shows have two different approaches.

Booher said the two shows are similar, but “Cirque Dreams” is more simplified.

“While they both have roots in the same genre, ‘Cirque Dreams’ shows are more tightly packaged so that they can effectively tour and rely less on the design of the theatre and elaborate staging.”

In an Atlantic City Weekly review of “Cirque Dreams,” reporter Lori Hoffman distinguished the two shows.

“While ‘Cirque du Soleil’ has morphed into large-scale stage shows in which the human element takes a backseat to the spectacle, ‘Cirque Dreams: Illumination’ emphasizes the art of the performers,” Hoffman said.

“Cirque Dreams” is a costume, makeup and visual-oriented show. Linda Pisano, associate professor of costume design in the Department of Theatre and Drama, said the costumes for the performers have to be more durable than for other shows.

“On the practical side, they’re incredibly agile and athletic, so they need costumes that will move with them that are pretty much a second skin to help them, so they can have the range of motion and do aerial work,” Pisano said. “From the artistic perspective, like any artistic performance of any size, costumes are vital between creating a sense of color, motion and movement on stage.”

Pisano said the costumes are most likely made from stretchy Lycra, spandex, or even a good polyester fabric. She said other fabrics such as silk and linen would not be sufficient for traveling, washing and repair work.

“Touring is really hard,” Pisano said. “If you could see the costumes after the end they are pretty disgusting. Wardrobe has to repair them, so it’s constant being manipulated and packed up.”