（Macau, SAR China–
May 30, 2008） – Following
the launch announcement of the very first Cirque du Soleil permanent production,
ZAIA, in Macau, the company
today announced the opening of its Asia Pacific Regional Office in Zhu Kuan
Building, NAPE, Macau. The new office joins the company’s other offices in Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Melbourne and the International Headquarters in Montreal. BASE
Entertainment Asia shares the new Cirque du Soleil Macau
office space.
Presiding over a traditional Chinese lion
dance and firecrackers performance and a western ribbon cutting ceremony, which
was held at 3pm today, were Mr. Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO, Cirque du
Soleil, Mr. Gilles Ste-Croix, Senior
Vice-President - Creative content,
Cirque du Soleil, Mr. Alan Hills, Vice President and Managing Director,
Cirque du Soleil Asia Pacific Resident Shows Division, Ms. Lauren Reid, Chief
Operating Officer, BASE Entertainment, Ms. Cindy
Wilson, Managing Director of Base Entertainment Asia, and Ms.
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Director, Macau Government Tourist
Office.
“We are extremely
pleased to establish a base in Macau and bring our first permanent production into
Asia,” said Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO
of Cirque du Soleil. “The Asia Pacific Regional Office will represent Cirque du
Soleil throughout the region, including our permanent show in Macau and Tokyo, Japan
as well as touring shows in Japan,
Taiwan, Korea and China.”
Cirque du
Soleil Asia Pacific Regional Office is led by Alan Hills, Vice President and
Managing Director and Milan Rokic, Vice
President Marketing Asia Pacific. The office currently has 25 staff managing over
400 show employees representing more than 22 nationalities, including Australia, Brazil,
Britain, Canada, France,
Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong,
Italy, Russia, Macau, Singapore, Sweden,
Taiwan, and United States.
Cirque du Soleil has to date successfully
toured to 13 cities in Asia, including Singapore,
Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo,
Taipei and Shanghai
with Big Top productions but ZAIA will be the first production to be housed
within a permanent theatre in the region.
BASE Entertainment
“This office
opening represents BASE Entertainment’s commitment to deliver first-class,
compelling entertainment in one of the most exciting and fast growing markets
in the world,” said Lauren Reid, Chief Operating Officer of BASE Entertainment.
The show
ZAIA is about a young girl who journeys
into space on a strange, yet familiar voyage of self-discovery. As she travels,
she encounters the beauty of humanity and eventually brings it back with her to
share with the inhabitants of earth.
ZAIA presents a young girl’s perception of
the stars and planets, space and infinity, all populated by a panoply of
fantastic, literally out-of-this-world creatures. ZAIA is a show that
highlights dance, movement and aerial acrobatics, soaring to the farthest
reaches of space and human beauty.
ZAIA will be presented in a custom-built
1,800 seat theatre at the Venetian Macao-Hotel-Resort. The combined cost of
show creation and the custom-built theatre for ZAIA is in excess of USD150
million.
Preview
performances begin July 26,
2008 and the Gala Premiere will be held Thursday, August 28, 2008.
About Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers
at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based
organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has
close to 4,000 employees from over 40 different countries, including 1,000
artists.
Cirque du Soleil has
brought wonders and delights to almost 80 million spectators in over 200 cities
on five continents. In 2008, Cirque du Soleil will present 18 shows
simultaneously throughout the world. The company has received such prestigious
awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gémeaux, Félix, and Rose d’Or de
Montreux. Cirque du Soleil International
Headquarters are in Montreal,
Canada.
For more information
about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.
About BASE Entertainment
BASE Entertainment is a leading producer, presenter and venue programmer
which specializes in live, theatrical entertainment and events worldwide. BASE Entertainment is headquartered in New York, with offices in Las Vegas,
Houston and Macau. BASE Entertainment has produced Andrew Lloyd
Webber’s Phantom- The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian, among other
shows. Through its close relationship
with Las Vegas Sands Corporation, BASE Entertainment Asia has an agreement to
develop and bring top-tier live entertainment programming to Macau
and the new theaters on The Cotai Strip.
For more information about BASE Entertainment, visit www.BASEentertainment.com.