Spiegelworld

Spiegelworld is a traveling and resident circus, known for its productions that feature a combination of circus, burlesque, music, cabaret style and acrobatics, set inside a Belgian-style Spiegeltent.

Produced by Ross Mollison,^[1] Spiegelworld first opened in the summer of 2006 with Absinthe located on South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 under the Brooklyn Bridge on the East River in New York City. The 2007 season marked the return of Absinthe and the premiere of La Vie.^[2] Spiegelworld returned to New York City for its third summer in August 2008, for the first time featuring two Spiegeltents and three shows. Spiegelworld also traveled to Miami, and Los Angeles in 2008. In 2009 Spiegelworld set up a location at the Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Australia. 1500 people were allowed into the Spiegelworld area at one time. The main tent seated 300 for Absinthe performances during the day and acoustic concerts by Australian artists at night.

Spiegelworld opened its revamped hit show Absinthe at Caesars Palace Las Vegas on April 1, 2011. The show was presented in a 26 metre, 650 seat Spiegeltent called the Salon Marlene and is a co-production with BASE Entertainment, producers of hits such as Jersey Boys, Peepshow and Phantom of the Opera. After an initial six-month season, the show was extended and moved into a custom-built tent at the same location.

On May 31, 2012, Spiegelworld returned to New York City with the new show, Empire, though it moved away from its traditional South Street location, to an unused car park on Times Square. Empire commenced its 2013 tour of Australia at the Entertainment Quarter, Sydney on January 4, 2013.

Current Productions

Absinthe

Absinthe^[3] is currently playing on the forecourt of Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, after opening on April 1, 2011. The show is hosted by The Gazillionaire,^[4] played by actor and former Cirque du Soleil clown Voki Kalfayan^[5] and his assistant, Penny Pibbetts,^[6] portrayed by actress Anais Thomassian.^[5]

They introduce the acts that have been brought together from around the world, such as Melody Sweets,^[7] Maxim Popazov, Atlantis, Ssens Duo, Ede Atlas Muz, Oxana Solamachuk, Duo Vector, The Esteemed Gentlemen of the High Wire^[5] and Angel Porrino, who features on the reality TV show Holly's World.^[8]

Writing in a review of Absinthe, Paul Carr of The Huffington Post, proclaimed "If I could only see one show my entire life," he said, "I'd want it to be that."^[9]

The show was directed by Wayne Harrison and choreographed by Lucas Newland. In 2011, it was named "Best New Show" by Vegas Seven Magazine.^[10]

Empire

EMPIRE Spiegelworld

Empire^[11] debuted in New York City on May 31, 2012, and was created by the same creative team as Desír, including Director Wayne Harrison, Academy Award Winning Choreographer John ”Cha Cha” O’Connell (Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge!, Enchanted, 2008 Academy Awards) and Costumer Design Angus Strathie, and Lighting Designer Martin Kinnane. The show features a central character, the Impresario, who, following the Global Financial Crisis tried to rebuild his empire. Acts include Elena Lev, foot-juggling, roller-skaters, quick-change routine, shoulder ballet and german wheel. Following its premiere, The New York Times proclaimed that "Spiegelworld has made it the big time",^[12] and Time Out New York rated it four stars, saying of the acts, "this is timeless stuff: physical feats and illusions that have been practiced for centuries."^[13]

Empire played in a 440-seat Spiegeltent on West 45th Street, New York City until September 2, 2012.^[13] It then commenced its 2013 Australian tour on January 4 at the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney, in a 700-seat spiegeltent.

Previous shows and Seasons

The 2008 Season

The 2008 New York City season marked the return of Absinthe, as well as the premiere of two shows, Desír and The Gazillionaire’s Late Night Lounge. Other performances included music concerts by artists Amanda Palmer, Ute Lemper, Justin Bond, The Bird and the Bee, Deerhoof, The Yard Dogs Road Show, The Citizens Band and many others; twenty DJs including Headphone Disco; Meow Meow, The New York Fringe Festival and Friday night performances by Earl Dax and Weimar NYC.^[14]

Desír

Desír, which premiered August 14, 2008, features an international cast of acrobatic performers, contortionists, singers, and dancers. The creative team includes former Sydney Theatre Company director Wayne Harrison, choreographer John ”Cha Cha” O’Connell (Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge!, Enchanted, 2008 Academy Awards) and music director Josh Abrahams (Moulin Rouge!). Desír also featured design work by Parisian jewelry house Boucheron, the production’s design collaborator.

Other productions

Spiegelworld has also presented shows including The Gazillionaire's Late Night Lounge, and co-produced La Vie with Les 7 doigts de la main, a French-Canadian circus troupe.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links

• Spiegelworld Official Website