Cirque du Soleil's Iris Highlights the Circus of the Film Industry

After 3 years in development and a summer of preview performances, Cirque du Soleil's Iris premiered 3 weeks ago at LA's iconic Kodak Theatre. What was once the home of the Academy Awards and American Idol will now exclusively house Cirque du Soleil's newest production, going dark solely for the annual Oscars Ceremony. As a resident show, this is the only venue in the world where audiences will be able to see Iris.

Designed for Los Angeles, and specifically for the Kodak Theatre, Iris takes audiences on a visually stimulating journey through the history of cinema. Remaining true to its origins, Iris merges circus arts and street entertainment into stunning, jaw-dropping acts with a cinematic twist. Tying each act together is the story of Buster and Scarlett - two artists pursuing their dreams all while trying to find love in an industry where distractions abound.

Iris refers to both the adjustable opening that controls the amount of light passing through a camera lens and the colored part of the eye. The production is aptly named to reflect both the cinematic and illusory components of the production. With 20 video projectors and over 600 lighting features, audiences will find themselves in wonder as they sift through illusion versus reality. Interestingly enough, very few of the scenes visualized on stage were pre-shot.

The production unites dance, acrobatics, animation, live video and filmed sequences to give audiences a glimpse into not only the place and time where film began, but the entire process of film-making. The journey includes the evolution and advancement of an industry fueled by technology. Take a step back in time when films were shot in black and white without sound...where film strips and illustrations served as virtual drawing boards. Throughout the production, pay close attention to each act, which weaves together acrobatics and choreography while paying tribute to various aspects of cinematography.

The incredible artistry displayed on stage is complimented by live music, which was composed and produced by Oscar-nominated composer Danny Elfman. His music is integral to the production and adds emotion and depth to the performances on stage.

Cirque du Soleil's Iris is currently performing at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Cirque du Soleil: Iris
Kodak Theatre
6801 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 308-6300
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