A cross between a European circus and a Broadway musical, Cirque Ingenieux will check into the Pantages Theatre April 27 for a two-week run. The company's Los Angeles engagement is presented as part of the ongoing Broadway-L.A. musical season.
Neil Goldberg, president and artistic director of Cirque Inc., and theatrical producer Ken Gentry have collaborated in creating a different kind of spectacle. Literally translated, Cirque Ingenieux means "ingenious circus." But it is more than just a typical circus, though it does offer acrobats, strongmen, jugglers and illusionists from around the world. It is also theatre, carefully scripted, timed and rehearsed.
Providing a musical framework for this hybrid is wellknown composer Kitaro (Oliver Stone's "Heaven and Earth).
"I first heard about Cirque Ingenieux when it was playing in Atlantic City in 1996," said producer Gentry in a statement. "The word of mouth was so great that I had to go to see what all the excitement was about. Once I saw what Neil had created, I knew I wanted to be a part of the project. More importantly, I knew I wanted to see Cirque touring the country so that people could enjoy it coast to coast."
Since founding Cirque Inc. in 1993, Goldberg has produced more than 100 Cirque appearances worldwide. In addition to performances like the one Gentry saw in Atlantic City, he has brought Cirque Ingenieux to private galas, corporate conventions and lavish fundraising events. When the troupe was featured on NBC's "Today Show," it gained an enthusiastic audience of millions. The show plays through May 9 at the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Call (213) 365-3500 or visit www.ticketmaster.com
-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent