Cirque Shanghai: Dragon's Thunder Begins May 22 at Navy Pier

Cirque Shanghai returns to Chicago's Navy Pier this summer with a magnificent new show "Cirque Shanghai: Dragon's Thunder" beginning Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The production will run through September 2, 2013 (Labor Day), rain or shine, at the Navy Pier Pepsi Skyline Stage, the 1,500-seat, canopied, open-air theater on Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.

Tickets go on sale today and will be available via Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com/shanghai.

Press opening will be Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m.

"Cirque Shanghai: Dragon's Thunder" is a spectacle for audiences of all ages, featuring performers direct from China who are leaders in their craft of tumbling, juggling, balancing and more. With a total of 36 troupe members, "Dragon's Thunder" is the largest Cirque Shanghai cast to ever visit the U.S.

This year's production features an incredible line up of awe-inspiring acts, including "The Chinese Flex Bar," the heart stopping "Gravity Swings," and the awesome sounds of the traditional Chinese "Dragon Drums." For the first time in Cirque Shanghai's North American engagement, the traditional Chinese drums will be an integral part of the production.

Back from last year's show is the fate tempting "Wheel of Destiny," and China's finest daredevil motorcycle troupe, "Imperial Thunder," returns with not two, not four, but five motorcyclists riding at break-neck speeds within a steel globe.

Audiences and critics alike have raved about last year's production, "Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon." The Chicago Sun-Times says "No doubt about it, this 'Dragon' breathes fire," and Newcity regarded the production as "athletically mind-blowing." Chicago Parent believes "This is one of those rare shows that works for everyone," and Northwest Indiana Times raved that "This season's Cirque Shanghai show can be summed up in three words: 'Seeing is Believing.'"

Directed by Miao Miao Chen, "Cirque Shanghai: Dragon's Thunder" is presented in this exclusive U.S. engagement by Navy Pier in conjunction with International Special Attractions, Ltd. (ISA) production headquarters in Shanghai, China.