Interview: Emma Horvath on ALEGRÍA by CIRQUE DU SOLEIL at Morinomiya Big Top [Osaka]

"I would really love to use the skills that I have from stage management, project management, event management to impact the world in a positive way."

By: Sep. 11, 2023
Interview: Emma Horvath on ALEGRÍA by CIRQUE DU SOLEIL at Morinomiya Big Top [Osaka]

Emma Horvath is one of the stage managers and show callers with Alegría (Click here to see “Review: Alegría by Cirque du Soleil) by Cirque du Soleil. In addition to working in both Cirque du Soleil's Resident Shows and Touring Shows divisions since 2017, Emma has been a key member of the production team for a variety of special events, independent circus performances, and community-based projects around the world.

What is your favorite part of Alegría?

It’s hard to pick. I love the music, the lighting and the circus performances. I think my favorite part is when all the elements come together to create a really big storytelling moments. Like the snow storm or the flying trapezes at the end when everybody is watching. I love the storytelling on it.

Interview: Emma Horvath on ALEGRÍA by CIRQUE DU SOLEIL at Morinomiya Big Top [Osaka]
Trapeze performance from Alegría

What part of Alegría would you like to recommend?

I wouldn't want to recommend too much because I want them to be surprised. I think the best part of Alegría is to be surprised. But I would say, if you are wondering if you should come to the show, come if you want to see a really joyful performance from a diverse group of performers and technicians and something that will stick with you for a long time.

What was the hardest part during the rehearsal?

For this show, I was not a part of the original creation rehearsal process. We rehearse on a day-to-day basis when we want to add new things or change something. The hardest part I think is paying attention to all the small details. Because in my job, we coordinate the difference at departments to make sure we have everything we need for the rehearsal. So everyday, we’re sending out a schedule information on what's going to be in the show, who is needed to be at each rehearsal. So staying on top of that is challenge. But we have a great team. We all work together and cover each other.

How about comparing to other Cirque du Soleil’s productions you have involved with?

I used to work at Mystère in Las Vegas. I also was on tour with Crystal before and I think Alegría is that we see different parts of the show, big group acts and small solos and duos. You saw sort of a special version today with here. In Japan, we have many different acts in rotation because we knew so many shows. We don't want people to get too tired and worn out. So we have a variety of acts coming through today. You saw a show that had more solos in it than usual. Sometimes we have more group acts and they all are wonderful so come back and see it again! We also have longer rehearsal days now because we have all these extra acts. Also, if you were to look at my calls script, you would see that I have the main acts that were in the show when we were in North America, and then the additional backup and rotational acts that we sort of switch out every day, depending on what's in the show. So we do have to stay really alert and we sort of do a different show every day.

When you have a such a hard time, how do you manage it?

When I start to feel a little bit down or a little bit stress, I think what really brings me back is, I'm lucky I get to call the show, so I get to see the audience and to hear the audience reactions and see everybody enjoy Alegría and enjoy our work. That's really rewarding. In fact, last week, we had a group of full house from a school, middle school and high school students, and they were so excited to see the show. Reacting loudly and with enthusiasm and it was a real gift for us.

What do you think is the best part being part of Cirque du Soleil?

There are two parts right there. The shows and The people. I get to meet people I never would have met working for Cirque du Soleil. I never would have traveled to Japan, maybe I would have gone on vacation, but I wouldn't get to spend nine months here. Just looking at my colleagues right now, and I’m looking at people from probably eight different countries, who speaks just as many different languages, people of different specializations who share our knowledge together. And it's not just a circus performance. We get to create worlds with the set and the lighting. We get to take you from the forest to the underground, to the palace, all around this world of Alegría. So both of them are very special to me.

How did your career with Cirque du Soleil start?

When I was in university, I studied stage management. And when I graduate it I was lucky enough to get an internship with Cirque du Soleil. So I went to Las Vegas for 3 months. I worked at the show, Zumanity as an intern and I got to learn from that stage management team. And then, I went out into the world, have had some more stage management experiences, and grew my career a bit. And then after a while, I was hired at Mystère in Las Vegas, full-time. I started as an assistant stage manager. So I was running the backstage tracks and working on the schedule and the office task. And then at Mystère, I learned calling a circus show.  Calling this types of shows is more intricate and more challenging than calling just a play or a musical because you hold people’s life on your hands. So I I got that education at Mystère and that was really wonderful.  And then, I wanted to explore the touring world and go out and travel and see the world. So I joined first Crystal and now Alegría.

Anything you want to try in Cirque du Soleil?

I know that I've been really fortunate to work on several shows that have a long history. Mystère and Alegría are some Cirque du Soleil’s oldest shows. And I would like to try doing something newer or creating a new show or working on the the frontier of Cirque du Soleil even. Trying out what’s new and what hasn't been done before. 

What's your future career goal?

I think my future career goal would probably be to continue to work with incredible people making art. But maybe to make art in a way that feeds those communities that don't have as many advantages, people who might not get as much arts education, otherwise students or people who don't have as much access to buy tickets to Cirque du Soleil. I would really love to use the skills that I have from stage management, project management, event management to impact the world in a positive way.

Do you have any advice for those who admire you or admire your job?

I would say, be true to what brings you happiness in your career. It's great to have goals and aspirations. But at the end of the day, what's going to give you the life that you want, is to follow what makes you happiest. Not what makes you the most money or the biggest amount of prestige. But if you really want to work for Cirque du Soleil, I would say, get involved with circus arts in whatever way you can. And try to meet as many people as you can. Almost every job I’ve gotten has been because I knew somebody who knew somebody who could introduce me to the right person so that I could show my value to the right person.

Photo Credit: [Matt Chichelli, Cirque du Soleil 2021 / Costumes: Dominique Lemieux]




RELATED STORIES - Japan

1
独占インタビュー: 美 少年、初の単独主演舞台「少年たち」を経て Photo
独占インタビュー: 美 少年、初の単独主演舞台「少年たち」を経て海外公演も視野に

美 少年:佐藤龍我、岩﨑大昇、浮所飛貴、那須雄登、金指一世、藤井直樹の平均年齢20歳の6名で2017年に現在のグループの形になった。過去にも出演していた舞台「少年たち」では、今年10月に初の単独主演を果たした(参照 公演レポート:「少年たち」 闇を突き抜けて)。「少年たち」は1969年の初演以来、進化を遂げながら現在まで繋がれ続けている。美 少年はデビュー前にも関わらず、舞台、CM、ドラマ、バラエティーとその活動は多岐に渡り、今注目の若手グループ。レギュラーでは日本テレビ系「嗚呼!!みんなの動物園」に那須氏が、WOWOW×東海テレビ「ギフテッド Season2」に浮所氏が出演している。また、NHK総合「超多様性トークショー!なれそめ」に岩﨑氏と那須氏が、NHKラジオ第1「らじらー!サタデー」に週替わりでメンバーが出演中。来年春には、堂本光一氏がスーパーヴァイザーを務める帝国劇場での公演への出演も決まっている。

2
Interview: Bishonen on SHONENTACHI 2023: is Showing Enthusiasm for Overseas Performances Photo
Interview: Bishonen on SHONENTACHI 2023: is Showing Enthusiasm for Overseas Performances

Bishonen: Ryuga Sato, Taisho Iwasaki, Hidaka Ukisho, Yuto Nasu, Issei Kanasashi, Naoki Fujii - a group of six with an average age of 20, formed in 2017 with current members. In the past, they had also appeared in the stage production “SHONENTACHI' and achieved their first solo lead role in “SHONENTACHI 2023: Through The Darkness” (Click here to see Review: 'SHONENTACHI' 2023) in October of this year. SHONENTACHI has been continuously evolving since its first run in 1969 and remains connected to the present day. Despite being pre-debut, Bishonen has engaged in various activities, including stage performances, commercials, dramas, and variety shows, gaining attention as a rising young group. Notably, Yuto appears on 'Ah, Minna no Doubutsuen(嗚呼!!みんなの動物園)” on NTV, Hidaka joined the main cast of 'Gifted (ギフテッド)Season 1 & 2” on WOWOW and Tokai TV, Taisho and Yuto appear on, 'Cho Tayosei Talk Show! Naresome(超多様性トークショー!なれそめ)” on NHK General, and NHK Radio 1’s 'Radirer! Saturday' features rotating members every week. Additionally, they are set to perform in a spring production at the Imperial Theatre supervised by Koichi Domoto.

3
公演レポート:RYO NISHIKIDO Fan Club Tour 2023 “Untitled Photo
公演レポート:RYO NISHIKIDO Fan Club Tour 2023 “Untitled'

錦戸亮:2000年CDデビュー。グループではドーム公演を100公演以上行い、2019年よりソロ活動開始、主宰レーベル「NOMAD RECORDS」を設立した。全ての作詞・作曲を手掛けた1stアルバム『NOMAD』は、オリコン週間アルバムチャート初登場1位を獲得。数々のドラマや映画では主演も務め、2023年にTBS制作Netflixシリーズドラマ「離婚しようよ」、NHKBS「家族だから愛したんじゃなくて愛したのが家族だった」に出演、2024年3月1日には日英合作映画「コットンテール」が全国で上映予定。また、10月23日より横浜を皮切りに6回目のソロライブツアー「FANCLUB LIVE 2023 ”Untitled”」が、全国6都市10公演で開催中。こちらでは錦戸氏39歳誕生日前夜(11月2日)に行われた大阪ライブの様子をお届けする。

4
Review: RYO NISHIKIDO FAN CLUB TOUR 2023 UNTITLED at Zepp Namba (Osaka) Photo
Review: RYO NISHIKIDO FAN CLUB TOUR 2023 'UNTITLED' at Zepp Namba (Osaka)

​​​​​​​Ryo Nishikido: Debuted in the music scene in 2000, Ryo and his group have performed in over 100 dome concerts. In 2019, he embarked on his solo career and established his label, 'NOMAD RECORDS.' His first album, 'NOMAD,' for which he handled all the songwriting and composition, debuted at the top of the Oricon Weekly Album Chart. He has also taken on leading roles in numerous dramas and movies. In 2023, he appeared in the TBS-produced Netflix series 'Let's Get a Divorce”(離婚しようよ) and NHK BS's 'Kazoku dakara ai shitan janakute aishita no ga kazoku datta,”(家族だから愛したんじゃなくて愛したのが家族だった) and on March 1st in 2024, a Japan-UK collaborative film titled 'Cottontail' is scheduled for nationwide release over the nation. Furthermore, from October 23rd, he kicked off his 6th solo live tour, 'FANCLUB LIVE 2023 'Untitled',' starting in Yokohama and spanning 6 cities with 10 performances. In this article, we'll be covering the Osaka live performance held on the eve of Ryo’s 39th birthday (November 2).

Videos


KANO - A Thousand-Mile Walk To Koshien in Japan KANO - A Thousand-Mile Walk To Koshien
Botchan Theater (4/01-3/31)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You









close sound sound