We were lucky enough to be invited to a virtual media event for Drawn To Life by Cirque du Soleil, and now I am even more excited to see this show! All Cirque du Soleil shows are mesmerizing, but this show will have the added bonus of extra Disney magic! Bringing together these two iconic powerhouses of creativity can be nothing short of magical. Every detail has been carefully planned, something that you can expect from anything associated with Disney! For those unfamiliar with the premise of the show, it is a love letter to animation that follows Julie, the daughter of a Disney animator, who, after the loss of her father, must find her own way to end the story he left for her. She goes on a journey of discovery and meets plenty of new friends along the way.
This show was inspired by the overlap between classic 2D Disney animation and acrobatics because they both convey emotion through movement. There is something about classic pencil-on-paper animation that is so organic that resonates well will acrobatics. It began with drawings on a warehouse floor in 2016, and now, with the help of incredible artists, creators, and even legends in animation, it has evolved into a timeless and iconic new show that integrates Disney Characters and melodies from an original live score in strategic ways that will trigger emotion in the same way that only true animation can.
Originally, the show was set to premiere just three days before the world changed, but the extra 20 months have allowed the creators of the show to make an already incredible show perfect. Those involved were given the opportunity to not only appreciate even more the ability to perform live on stage and support one another in the return, but they were also able to see the show through new eyes and the context of the new world. The show is about loss and life, so they were able to ensure that the show respected how the world has changed. Additionally, those involved have grown as individuals and developed more patience and respect for one another because of the realization that it is truly a privilege to be able to perform live. I know that this love and familial bond will show brilliantly on stage, so I can’t wait to experience it live for myself!
The long delay in opening the show also allowed the creators to bring in two new acts that have revitalized the excitement surrounding the show after such a long break! These include a double wheel of death act titled “The Old Mill” that is inspired by the Walt Disney short, The Old Mill. This act features artists, owls, and death-defying acrobatics that are sure to have the entire audience on the edges of their seats!
The other act is a five woman unicycle act from Japan titled “Garden of Lines” that is inspired by the original story of Pinocchio, the authentic roots that led to the Pinocchio we know and love today! Julie finds Pinocchio as just a line drawing, and the unicycle artists are each Blue Fairies! Their costumes include giant bell skirts that cover the unicycles completely, so they look as if they are gliding across the stage! They even jump rope on unicycles! I can’t even jump rope normally! The closing act of the show is also the first all-female closing act in a Cirque du Soleil show, and it was even choreographed by a female! These changes are all so exciting because they were made because they wanted to and they had the time to, not because they had to!
This show features 10 stunning acts from 62 artists from nearly 15 different countries all performing on a gorgeous stage designed to be a giant animation table with a multiplane camera-inspired background to create the illusion of depth in the same way that the camera did for Walt Disney, eventually winning him an Oscar for special effects! Artists are transformed into new Characters by stunning costumes and makeup that serve as masks! I had no idea performers did their own makeup! How cool is that!?
Because this show is about life, everything–from the stage to the lobby to even the bathrooms–has been transformed, but if you look closely, there is one surprise prop in the show from La Nouba, which is a way for Drawn to Life to give thanks to the iconic show that paved the way for this one! I also can’t wait to see the new lobby that celebrates the history and transformation of Disney animation!
This iconic show, which happens to be Cirque du Soleil’s 50th show coinciding perfectly with The World’s Most Magical Celebration, will premier on November 18th! If you can’t wait until then to get a glimpse of the magic, the merchandise store is actually open now, so you can check out the fabulously transformed store, and maybe even pick up some Drawn to Life merchandise!
Are you as excited as we are about Drawn to Life by Cirque du Soleil premiering at Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments below!
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