Cirque du Soleil to Return to Houston Next Spring with KURIOS

Cirque du Soleil returns to Houston in 2017 with its most acclaimed touring show, KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities. KURIOS will premiere under the iconic blue-and-yellow Big Top April 6, 2017.

Written and directed by Michel Laprise, KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities is a tale in which time comes to a complete stop, transporting the audience inside a fantasy world where everything is possible. In this realm set in the latter half of the nineteenth century, reality is quite relative indeed as our perception of it is utterly transformed. The name of the show refers to the humble and strange characters that inhabit the Seeker's Cabinet of Curiosities.

Access to the best seats and prices are available for existing Cirque Club members starting September 19. Visit cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueclub to sign up for a complimentary membership. Cirque Club members receive advance access to the best seats under the Big Top, deals and discounts for tickets, promotions with our partners and a chance to experience never before seen exclusive Cirque du Soleil content. Tickets will be available for purchase to the general public beginning September 29, 2016 by visiting cirquedusoleil.com/kurios or calling 1-877-9 CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783). Tickets range from $35-$175.

KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities had its world premiere in Montréal April 2014 and is Cirque du Soleil's 35th production. In an alternate yet familiar past, in a place where wonders abound for those who trust their imagination, a Seeker discovers that in order to glimpse the marvels that lie just below the surface, we must first learn to close our eyes.

In his larger-than-life curio cabinet, the Seeker is convinced that there exists a hidden, invisible world - a place where the craziest ideas and the grandest dreams await. A collection of otherworldly characters suddenly steps into his makeshift mechanical world. When the outlandish, benevolent characters turn his world upside down with a touch of poetry and humor in an attempt to ignite the Seeker's imagination, his curios jump to life one by one before his very eyes.

Michel Laprise, Director, KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities

Michel Laprise worked in theatre for nine years as an actor, director and artistic director before joining Cirque du Soleil in 2000. At Cirque du Soleil, Michel spent five years as a talent scout before taking on, in 2006, the role of Special Events Designer. In that capacity, he directed the act with Quebec diva Diane Dufresne during the Opening Ceremonies of the Montreal 2006 Outgames; the large-scale performance event created for the launch of the Fiat Bravo in Italy (2007); the Cirque du Soleil performance event celebrating Quebec City's 400th anniversary (2008); the launch of Microsoft's Kinect console at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo, broadcast on MTV; the opening show at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Russia in 2009; and the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 FIBA International Basketball Federation World Championships in Istanbul. In 2012, Michel collaborated with pop star Madonna, providing artistic direction for her performance at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show; he later went on to direct her MDNA tour. In 2013, he directed the musical Robin des Bois - Ne renoncez jamais which toured in Europe. Michel co-wrote and directed the VR movie "Kurios : Inside the Box" which won three prizes, one of them being the Emmy Daytime award in the Outstanding Interactive Media category. Michel is currently working on two Cirque du Soleil upcoming shows.

The creative team of KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities consists of 17 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté (Guide) and Jean-François Bouchard (Creative Guide):

Michel Laprise Writer and Director

Chantal Tremblay Director of Creation

Stéphane Roy Set and Props Designer

Philippe Guillotel Costume Designer

Raphaël Beau Composer and Musical Director

Bob & Bill Composers and Musical Directors

Yaman Okur Choreographer

Ben Potvin Choreographer

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Choreographer

Susan Gaudreau Choreographer

Andrea Ziegler Choreographer

Jacques Boucher Sound Designer

Jean-Michel Caron Sound Designer

Martin Labrecque Lighting Designer

Rob Bollinger Acrobatic Performance Designer

Germain Guillemot Acrobatic Performance Designer

Boris Verkhovsky Acrobatic Performance Designer

Danny Zen Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer

Eleni Uranis Makeup Designer

KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities is Cirque du Soleil's 35th production since 1984. The company, who celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2014, has brought wonder and delight to close to 150 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. Find us on Facebook or Twitter: @Cirque #Kurios

KURIOS About: The Webseries! Follow the cast and crew of KURIOS on tour, and discover what hides in their Cabinet of Curiosities. Watch the 13 episodes on Cirque du Soleil's YOUTUBE channel or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

To find out more about the ONE DROP Foundation, visit www.onedrop.org.

Photo Credit: Martin Girard / shootstudio.ca

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