Cirque du Soleil Corteo in Dayton: 5 reasons to see the show

Cirque Du Soleil’s latest North America arena tour “Corteo” brings its special brand of theatrical magic to Wright State University’s Nutter Center May 8-12.

First produced in Montreal in 2005, “Corteo,” meaning cortege in Italian, centers on a clown who imagines his own funeral taking place within a festive carnival atmosphere. Here are five reasons why you should see this incredibly entertaining tour, which has been seen by 8 million people in 19 countries on four continents.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Corteo is Cirque Du Soleil’s ‘most enchanting’ show yet, and it will soon be in Dayton

1. IT’S A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

“Corteo” invites its audiences to reassess the idea of death, to particularly find joy in the midst of sorrow. As the clown envisions his funeral, which is being watched over by angels, the production becomes a world of comedy and spontaneity “situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.” “Think about when you see a film in which a person who is about to die suddenly has flashbacks and they see all the things that happened in their lives – that’s what you’re going to see on the stage,” said “Corteo” publicist Max Batista. “The clown sees all the greatest memories of his life including (memories) from childhood and the people he traveled with on the road with the circus. A funeral is a moment for us to remember all the greatest moments we had with the (deceased). It’s a celebration.”

Credit: Cirque Du Soleil

2. IT HAS A THRILLING CAST AND DESIGN

Under the direction of Daniele Finzi Pasca, the wonderfully diverse, dynamically athletic cast of “Corteo” includes 51 acrobats, musicians, singers, and actors from around the world. Also, the set curtains are inspired by the Eiffel Tower and the hand-painted central curtains greatly add to the grandeur, opulence and excitement. “We have 18 different nationalities in this beautiful, high-energy show,” Batista said. “Audiences will have a lot of emotional feelings throughout.”

>> PHOTOS: Sneak preview of Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo in mesmerizing photos

Credit: Cirque Du Soleil

3. IT’S A TRIBUTE TO TRADITIONAL CIRCUS

Every Cirque Du Soleil production notably relies on its astounding, eye-catching acrobats and “Corteo” is no exception. Expect to be wowed by this homage to traditional circus aesthetics. “We have two big trampolines on stage featuring our acrobats performing amazing, difficult acrobatic tricks,” Batista said. “We also have other entertaining acts to delight audiences from beginning to end because ‘Corteo’ is a tribute to the traditional circus. We have jugglers, gymnasts, dancers, and so much more combined in a very beautiful setting.”

>> BEST EVENTS: 35 ways to spend your May days

Credit: Cirque Du Soleil

4. IT’S A HUGE UNDERTAKING

Unlike the Cirque productions in residence in Las Vegas such as the mesmerizing duo of Beatles “Love” at the Mirage and “Michael Jackson: One” at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the technical and overall production demands of “Corteo” are immense, primarily because it’s a road show. Over 100 individuals are responsible for providing audiences with a one-of-a-kind evening. “Of our group of 110 people who travel with the show, 34 are technicians from many different departments such as rigging, sound, lighting, props, makeup, and carpentry,” Batista explained. “We also travel with 20 trucks and it takes an entire day to set up the stage. There is a great show happening on stage, but there is definitely another performance happening backstage making sure ‘Corteo’ comes to life.”

Credit: Cirque Du Soleil

5. IT HAS UNPARALLELED UNIQUENESS

Whether you’ve witnessed Cirque Du Soleil in the past or are curious to see what the fuss is about, it’s no secret that the troupe, originally composed of 20 street performers in 1984, supplies an amazing spectacle unlike any other. The troupe has performed to over 180 million people in close to 450 cities in 60 countries. “Cirque Du Soleil is known all over the world for bringing people together to have an experience,” Batista said. “You’re not coming just to see a show.”