Photo Flash: Cirque du Soleil/OVO Has Big Top-Raising In Randall's Island Park

The first visible sign of the arrival of Cirque du Soleil and its latest live production OVO, in the city of New York is the raising of its trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) and the set up of the Cirque du Soleil Village. This event took place at the Randall's Island Park, Thursday, April 1 where a team of 60-plus men and women hoisted more than 100 steel poles from the ground up.

A few technical facts on the Grand Chapiteau and the Cirque du Soleil Village:

The Grand Chapiteau stands 66 feet high, 167 feet in diameter and is supported by 4 masts, each 80 feet tall.
The Grand Chapiteau seats more than 2,500 people in a climate-controlled environment, and it requires a team of approximately 80 people to raise.
The entire site set-up takes seven days and includes the installation of
the Tapis Rouge VIP tent, entrance and artistic tents, box office, administrative offices, and a kitchen and dining area for cast and crew.
OVO travels city to city in 50 tractor trailers.

About OVO
OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects' home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

Direction to Site
Please refer to: www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ovo/tickets/new-york/maps-infos.aspx

Cirque du Soleil box office:
As part of the Cirque du Soleil Village, a box office will be set up at the front of the Grand Chapiteau. As of Thursday, April 8 between 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., tickets for OVO may be purchased in person.

Please note: Box office regular hours are from 2 hours prior to show time to 30 min after beginning of the show. It is closed on Mondays. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo or by calling 1 800 450-1480.

Performance schedule: Tuesdays thru Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. No performances on Mondays.