Laliberte, Guy

▪ 2006

      Glitzy Las Vegas productions featuring elaborate costumes and high-stepping showgirls gave way in recent years to a new sensation—the circus. More specifically, Cirque du Soleil, the brainchild of French Canadian Guy Laliberté. By the end of 2005, Cirque du Soleil had four shows drawing large audiences in Las Vegas, including its newest production KÀ, which debuted in February at the MGM Grand hotel and casino. The success of Cirque du Soleil was firmly rooted in the passion and energy of Laliberté, its founder and CEO, who during a 20-year span had built a ragtag collection of street performers into one of the world's most recognizable and profitable entertainment enterprises, revitalized the circus in North America, and vaulted onto Forbes magazine's billionaires list. In 2005 Cirque du Soleil boasted five permanent shows (four in Las Vegas and one at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.) and six touring shows.

      Each of Cirque du Soleil's productions was unique, but all of them shared the core elements of Laliberté's distinctive vision of a circus. There were no animal acts or star performers, and there was no talking. Instead, the shows were built around an imaginative fusion of varied acrobatic and artistic disciplines culled from around the world. The shows were known for their musical scores, which were rooted in global popular music; simple but engaging plot lines; fantastic costumes and special effects; and, above all, spellbinding feats of physical daring. O, the celebrated production at Las Vegas's Bellagio casino, was performed in, on, and above a large pool of water. KÀ was the fiery adventure of a set of twins that drew heavily upon the martial arts. The touring production Corteo was a festive parade that also examined the contradictions embodied by the character of the clown. In 2004 almost seven million people worldwide attended a Cirque du Soleil performance.

      Laliberté was born on Sept. 2, 1959, in Quebec City. At age 18 he left home to hitchhike across Europe, where he earned money playing his accordion and met street performers who taught him the arts of fire-eating and stilt walking. Back in Quebec he joined a group of performers in Baie-Saint-Paul, and in 1982 he helped to organize an international festival for street performers in the town. The success of this and subsequent festivals prompted Laliberté to seek a grant to create the Cirque du Soleil as part of Quebec's 450th anniversary celebration in 1984. The circus struggled initially (the tent collapsed on the first day) but soon hit its stride. At the end of its run, it had netted a tidy $40,000 profit. Inspired by this success, Laliberté and his band of kindred spirits determined to keep the Cirque du Soleil operating. He cultivated both public and private investors who were taken by the group's originality and determination, and in 1985 Cirque du Soleil began touring North America. The success of the company grew rapidly, and by the early 1990s it was mounting productions in Europe and Asia. In 1993 the troupe debuted its first permanent show, Mystère, at the Treasure Island casino in Las Vegas. In 1997 Laliberté was awarded the National Order of Quebec, in recognition of his contribution to Quebec's culture.

James Hennelly

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