Cirque du Soleil's AVATAR-Inspired TORUK - THE FIRST FLIGHT Soars to NY, NJ Next Fall

The new Cirque du Soleil touring show inspired by James Cameron's record-breaking movie AVATAR, TORUK - THE FIRST FLIGHT, will be presented in New York and New Jersey next fall. Engagements will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on September 7-11 and at Prudential Center in Newark on September 16-18, as part of a global tour in arenas around the world starting November 2015. The show is presented by Visa Signature in association with United MileagePlus.

TORUK - THE FIRST FLIGHT is a live immersive multimedia spectacle that brings to the stage the breathtaking world of James Cameron's AVATAR like you have never seen it before.

Through a riveting fusion of cutting-edge visuals, puppetry and stagecraft buoyed by a soaring cinematic score, Cirque du Soleil applies its unique signature style to James Cameron's imaginary world and "makes the bond" between two kindred artistic visions that capture the imagination.

This live immersive experience also bears the distinct signature of directors and multimedia innovators Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon. It is a living ode to the Na'vi's symbiotic coexistence with nature and their belief in the basic interconnectedness of all living things.

Narrated by a "Na'vi Storyteller" and populated by unforgettable characters, TORUK - THE FIRST FLIGHT is a mythical tale set thousands of years before the events depicted in the film AVATAR, and before any humans ever set foot on Pandora.

When a natural catastrophe threatens to destroy the sacred Tree of Souls, Ralu and Entu, two Omaticaya boys on the brink of adulthood, fearlessly decide to take matters into their own hands. Upon learning that Toruk can help them save the Tree of Souls, they set out, together with their newfound friend Tsyal, on a quest high up in the Floating Mountains to find the mighty red and orange predator that rules the Pandoran sky. Prophecy is fulfilled when a pure soul rises among the clans to ride Toruk for the first time and save the Na'vi from a terrible fate.

TORUK - THE FIRST FLIGHT comprises 13 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté (Guide) and Jean-François Bouchard (Creative Guide) for Cirque du Soleil, and James Cameron, Jon Landau, Kathy Franklin and Richie Baneham for Lightstorm Entertainment:

Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon - Show Writers and Directors, Multimedia Directors

Neilson Vignola - Director of Creation

Carl Fillion - Set and Props Designer

Kym Barrett - Costume and Makeup Designer

Tuan Le and Tan Loc - Choreographers

Bob & Bill - Composers and Musical Directors

Jacques Boucher - Sound Designer

Alain Lortie - Lighting Designer

Patrick Martel - Puppet Designer

Germain Guillemot - Acrobatic Performance Designer

Pierre Masse - Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer

TORUK - THE FIRST FLIGHT will be presented at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on September 7-11, 2016 and at Prudential Center in Newark on September 16-18, 2016. Tickets for those performances will be on pre-sale for Cirque Club members beginning today, November 12. Public on-sale will start November 20 at 10:00am. Tickets can be purchased at www.cirquedusoleil.com/toruk. Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/torukthefirstflight and on Twitter #TORUK.

TORUK - THE FIRST FLIGHT is Cirque du Soleil's 37th production since 1984. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 155 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com. To find out more about the ONE DROP Foundation, go to www.onedrop.org.

Photo Credit: Errisson Lawrence