Cirque du Soleil's Alegria to visit Bryce Jordan Center this fall

Photo: Cirque de Soleil

University Park, Pa. -- Cirque du Soleil is pleased to announce that the new Alegría Arena Tour will stop at the Bryce Jordan Center this Fall. Alegría will perform eight shows from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, 2009.

Advance tickets are now available online to Cirque Club members, and to the general public on the Cirque du Soleil Web site or by phone. To purchase tickets, go to www.cirquedusoleil.com/alegria or call (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at usual ticket locations and the Bryce Jordan Center, or by calling (814) 865-5555 or online at www.bjc.psu.edu.

Alegría is a Cirque du Soleil classic and an internationally acclaimed production that has entertained more than 10 million people worldwide since its premiere in Montreal, Canada in April 1994. In May 2009, Alegría embarked on a new journey, performing in arenas throughout Canada and the United States, giving more people than ever the opportunity to enjoy a Cirque du Soleil show in their own town.

The Show

Alegría is a Spanish word that means happiness, joy and jubilation. An operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth, Alegría relates the tale of power versus weakness, the king versus his jesters, and age against youth.

A kingdom without a king, Alegría is a world where everyone feels imbued with power, from impish court jester Fleur to the young and vital Bronx, to the aged and aristocratic Birds. Alegría is inhabited by minstrels, rogues, beggars, nobles, children and clowns, the only characters able to adapt to the changing times and the upheaval it brings. In this enigmatic, troubling world of profound changes and uncertainty, despite all the trials and tribulations, there is only one constant: the human spirit remains implacable.

Alegría features an international cast of 55 performers and musicians from 17 countries and showcases breathtaking acrobatics. Acts include the Synchro Trapeze and the high-speed, high-energy Aerial High Bars in which daring aerialists fly to catchers swinging more than 40 feet above the stage. The vibrancy of youth is alive in Power Track, a brilliant display of synchronized choreography and tumbling on a trampoline system hidden under the stage floor. In Russian Bars, artists fly through the air and perform spectacular somersaults and mid-air turns, landing on bars perched on the sturdy shoulders of catchers.

Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009. From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has more than 4,000 employees from over 40 countries, including 1,000 performing artists.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to almost 90 million spectators in over 200 cities on five continents. In 2009, Cirque du Soleil will present 20 shows simultaneously throughout the world. The company has received such prestigious awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gémeaux, Félix and the Rose d’Or de Montreux. Cirque du Soleil’s International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com. At the Bryce Jordan Center, performances will take place on the following dates: Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Tickets are priced from $40 to $95 for adults, and from $32 to $76 for children 12 and under, plus applicable charges.