In the rarified milieu of world-class entertainment, a Las Vegas show is a sought-after addition to everyone's calendar. The famed desert destination draws top artists and groups from around the globe to its performance venues. In fact, several major hotels host headline performers for extended engagements.

During the winter holiday period, Las Vegas becomes a seasonal destination for visitors from many countries. The city's signature entertainment district is embellished with holiday decorations and other festive touches. And naturally, holiday season visitors often treat themselves to a show (or two) as part of their Las Vegas experience.

Cirque du Soleil Dazzles Audiences With Las Vegas Shows

The iconic Cirque du Soleil maintains a commanding presence on the Las Vegas performance scene. Six Las Vegas shows are currently running, promising a wide range of themed performance experiences. In fact, Cirque shows are often "must-see" events during holiday season Las Vegas trips.

The Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil

Headlining at The Mirage hotel and casino, The Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil takes place in a theater-in-the-round setting. The show's classic Beatles soundtrack has earned three Grammy Awards, and it serves as the backdrop for an audience journey that engages all the senses. To date, over 10 million guests have experienced The Beatles Love.

Psychedelic imagery and immersive technology draw the focus to aerial acrobats and soaring roller skaters. Electrified jellyfish and multicolored bubbles laze across the expansive stage. Classic Beatles characters and lyrics draw 21st-century audiences of varied musical tastes.

Cirque du Soleil's Mad Apple

New York City has an unmistakable, pulsing energy all its own. Known as the "City That Never Sleeps," this mega-metropolis offers a never-ending menu of entertainment experiences. Cirque du Soleil's Mad Apple perfectly captures New York's eclectic vibe. Staged at the New York, New York Hotel & Casino, Mad Apple kicks off with preperformance magic and cocktails at the iconic stage bar.

As the band plays the biggest New York City-inspired hits, the Mad Apple audience is treated to snapshots of New York nightlife. A captivating lineup of acrobats, street performers, comedians, musicians, and underground stars captures NYC's legendary energy. Note: Due to adult language and comedy themes, children under 16 are not allowed to attend Mad Apple. Attendees from 16 to 18 will be admitted with an adult.

Kà at MGM Grand

The story of Kà, or the essence that shapes human lives, takes place on the MGM Grand's 360-degree stage. Kà begins when a twin boy and girl strike out on a dangerous journey to discover their mutual destiny. Although the characters travel separate paths, they each experience love, life, and the battlefields of war.

As the show unfolds, Kà's warriors fight on land and in the air. Martial arts, acrobatic brilliance, interactive video, pyrotechnics, and puppetry play key roles in this multimedia performance. Note: Due to some scenes containing darkness and loud noises, children under 3 are not allowed at Kà performances.

Michael Jackson: One by Cirque du Soleil

Throughout Michael Jackson: One, the King of Pop's fans will experience his music in an electrifying new way. New generations will also get acquainted with one of the world's most successful recording artists. Set at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, this immersive audio and visual adventure takes the audience on a journey with four quirky misfits.

As these impetuous travelers wind their way through Michael Jackson's music, they'll be treated to stunning visuals, feats of acrobatics, and MJ's signature dance moves. Dazzling lighting effects and full-bore surround sound bring the Michael Jackson: One experience to a crescendo.

Note: Children under 5 are not permitted to attend the Michael Jackson: One show. Guests from 5 to 18 will be admitted with an adult.

Mystère at Treasure Island

In today's fast-paced digital world, taking time to laugh and play is highly recommended. Mystère, Cirque du Soleil's longest-running production, is still delivering this happy experience at Treasure Island. This energetic show takes the audience on a journey through comedy and laughter, and it's designed for all ages.

The multimedia Mystère experience is set against a background of powerful taiko drum rhythms. These precision percussion effects set the stage for colorful characters' stunning acrobatics and dance. Classic comedy abounds, drawing chuckles, laughs, and even hearty guffaws from the audience.

Note: Children of all ages are welcome. Those under age 1 must remain on a parent or guardian's lap for the entire performance. A ticket is required for children older than 1 even if they will be seated on the adult's lap. Finally, the performance's moments of darkness and loud noises may scare some children.

O at Bellagio Hotel & Casino

The remarkable O celebrates water's mesmerizing fluidity and otherworldliness. With this aquatic landscape as a backdrop, top-tier acrobats, graceful synchronized swimmers, and precision high divers create live theater above and below the waves.

Audiences will revel in an aerial duet, an epic fire-and-water battle, and an encounter with a spectral vessel. Street performers and operatic characters seamlessly blend together in O's timeless ode to the ocean. Note: Children 5 and older are welcome at all O performances. Periods of darkness and loud noises may scare some children.

Blue Man Group at Luxor Las Vegas

The wildly popular Blue Man Group maintains a commanding presence at the Luxor hotel and casino. Held in Blue Man Group's custom-designed theater, each performance is decidedly different from the last. An expansive stage, dazzling lighting effects, music-synced smoke drums, and a drum phoenix with expanding percussive wings add explosive energy to each viewing experience.

BMG shows don't contain spoken words or musical lyrics. Instead, this quirky blue-tinged trio incorporate music, art, comedy, and vibrant nonverbal communication into each performance. To date, 35 million people of different languages, cultures, and worldviews have embraced this joyous celebration of the human spirit.

Last-Minute Las Vegas Cirque Tickets: A Serendipitous Event

As often happens with popular performers, Las Vegas show seats may unexpectedly become available at the last minute. These last-minute tickets in Las Vegas offer a golden opportunity to catch a memorable Cirque du Soleil performance. Naturally, sharing the experience with family or friends is even better.

Disney Springs Serves Up Its Own Cirque Holiday Magic

There's nothing like visiting Disney Springs during the holiday season. Located at the Orlando, Florida-area Walt Disney World Resort, this much-enjoyed entertainment and shopping complex is decked out in its glittery, colorful finery. This holiday season, Disney Springs also plays host to a first-of-its-kind show that takes the collaborative spirit to a bold new level.

Drawn to Life is the fruit of an imaginative collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Disney. Based on classic Walt Disney Animation Studios vignettes, this family-friendly show tells the tale of Julie, an adventurous young girl who discovers several unfinished drawings from the pen of her late animator father. 

As luck would have it, Julie picks up a magical pencil that guides her around an oversize animation table. During her journey, she recalls many childhood Disney memories while a colorful cast of characters brings the stories to life. As Julie's story unfolds, she gradually realizes that the future holds some promising possibilities.

Cirque du Soleil's out-of-the-box set design sets the stage for lightning-fast choreography and acrobatic performances that defy the limits of gravity. Cirque's brilliantly colored costumes and a Disney-inspired original score make Drawn to Life even more compelling. In fact, this timeless show is fast becoming a favorite destination for many holiday-season Disney Springs (formerly down as Downtown Disney) visitors.

 

Cirque's Commitment to Audience and Performer Safety

During ongoing COVID-19 challenges, Cirque du Soleil regards the health of its guests, cast, and employees as its highest priority. The organization has adopted strict safety measures to enable its global performances to continue while minimizing COVID-19 transmission risks. 

Despite these precautions, a guest or employee could test positive for COVID-19 or display virus symptoms. If either scenario occurs, Cirque will quickly implement established protocols to minimize the risk of virus spread.

Cirque continues to follow guidance from each host country's government authorities and local health officials. The organization will communicate specific risk management strategies to ticket holders when appropriate.

Give the Cirque du Soleil Experience

Excitement over store-bought holiday gifts is often short-lived. The recipient discards the colorful wrappings, briefly expresses delight at the gift and moves on to the next box. Rarely does an object keep their attention for more than a moment.

This year, let their holiday gift be an experience they can savor for a lifetime. Treat them to a Cirque du Soleil show that captures their imagination and leaves them with a sense of wonder. Maybe their Cirque experience will inspire them to dream of what's possible - and take action to fulfill that vision.

Regardless of the recipient's age or tastes, there's a Cirque du Soleil show they'll absolutely love. Six stunning Las Vegas shows, and the Orlando-area Disney Springs Drawn to Life show, are popular holiday attractions for guests from across the country.

How the Cirque du Soleil Phenomenon Evolved

Cirque du Soleil's showstopping performances sprang from rather humble beginnings. In the early 1980s, Gilles Ste-Croix launched an avant-garde performance troupe in the village of Baie-Saint-Paul near Quebec City, Canada. Composed of stilt walkers, dancers, fire breathers, jugglers, and musicians, these unconventional performers formed the core of what today is Cirque du Soleil.

In 1984, the eclectic performance ensemble embarked on a provincewide tour to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Canada's discovery. The troupe's colorful, energetic street performances boasted imaginative costumes, original music, and spellbinding lighting effects.

Guy Laliberté, the troupe's leader, unveiled a group name that evoked the sun's vibrance. "The sun symbolizes youth, energy, and strength," he remarked. Cirque du Soleil had officially sprung to life.

Cirque Begins an International Expansion

In 1987, Cirque du Soleil's We Reinvent the Circus tour took the United States by storm. Wildly enthusiastic audiences in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Monica, California, embraced Cirque's bold new definition of the circus. Based on United States audiences' overwhelmingly positive reception, Cirque du Soleil embarked on its first European tour in 1990.

With three years of traveling shows under its belt, Cirque du Soleil premiered its first permanent show in 1993. Based in Las Vegas, Mystère was created in a custom-built theater that could accommodate the show's complex design and lighting requirements. In the 21th century, Mystère continues to delight audiences of all ages.

Today, Cirque du Soleil cast members regularly log Europe, Asia, and South America on their passports. New shows debut every year, introducing new generations of circus fans to these intensely personal interactive experiences.

How Each Cirque Performance Comes to Life

Cirque du Soleil is known for its wildly imaginative performances that showcase participants' no-holds-barred creativity. At Cirque's Montreal international headquarters, each show begins with a multifaceted creative team's shared dream. Almost 400 creative specialists and craftspeople embrace this vision, using every available resource to bring the dream to fruition.

Artists and Performers Take Center Stage

Cirque's gifted cadre of performers infuses each show with vibrant, infectious energy. Acrobats, athletes, and artists have total creative freedom as they pursue new ways to break the boundaries of performance art. Today's Cirque artists collectively hail from 55 different countries, and each show features 50 to 100 artists.

Performing in a Cirque du Soleil show requires exceptional skill and stamina. Fortunately, the Cirque cast's high-level physical conditioning enables the performers to meet these challenges. Two-thirds of the cast are drawn from demanding sports and circus arts disciplines. Cirque's remaining artists excel in artistic fields such as music, dance, and physical theater.

Textile Specialists Take Fabrics in Bold New Directions

Every year, the world-class Cirque du Soleil costume workshop uses over 6.5 kilometers (about 7,109 yards) of fabric from around the globe. A highly skilled in-house textile design team treats and finishes 80% of the shows' fabrics using sophisticated dyeing and fabrication techniques. Other textile specialists constantly experiment with ways to create new costume textures and on-stage special effects.

In fact, costume design specialists often tap other industries for inspiration. Key design elements have been drawn from the aviation, dentistry, and plumbing fields, among others. Costume specialists often experiment with physical elements to gauge their weight and effect on an individual costume.

Set Design and Fabrication Shape the Performance Aesthetics

Each Cirque du Soleil show incorporates specially constructed sets and stage equipment. Together, these physical elements help to convey the performance's theme and related aesthetics. At the same time, the design team wants to provide a safe, creative artistic environment for the show's cast.

Each show's set typically springs from a computer-based design. To bring the scheme to life, the design and construction team builds the set, often using proprietary materials that promote maximum strength and flexibility.

Scratch-built equipment typically undergoes an exacting testing process at Cirque's research and development center. Once the device passes with flying colors, artists can safely take to the skies with it.

Original Music and Songs Tell the Production's Story

Each Cirque du Soleil production's music reflects the performance's theme. At the same time, the music is attuned to the action unfolding on stage. A Cirque composer writes each score, adding to the show's aura of authenticity.

Shows themed around major artists, such as Michael Jackson and The Beatles, receive a distinctive musical treatment. The composer rearranges the musical tracks to include the musician's familiar elements while adding a fresh new touch. The show's singers and musicians perform every song live, adjusting the tempo to match the artists' onstage pace.

Cirque Looks Toward the Future

During this holiday season and beyond, Cirque du Soleil brings its vibrant, irresistible performances to its Las Vegas and Disney Springs audiences. And remember, checking last-minute tickets in Las Vegas could result in some unexpected seats to very popular shows. Finally, behind the scenes, Cirque's dynamic creative team and talented artists are busy dreaming (and designing) electric new shows to bring to global audiences soon.