After a three-year hiatus from the United States, Cirque du Soleil’s most critically acclaimed touring show, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities is back in the Washington, DC area at Tysons, Va. now through September 25.
Here are 10 fun facts about KURIOS with its steampunk-inspired universe, jaw-dropping acrobatics, colorful characters, and uplifting message of the power of imagination:
- To make the Accordion Man’s attire, the costume-maker spent an entire week sewing inside the costume.
- Rima Hadchiti, the artist who plays Mini Lili, is 3.3 feet tall and weighs 41 pounds. She is one of the 10 smallest people in the world.
- The mechanical hand weighs 750 pounds and measures 15 feet by 6.8 feet.
- More than a hundred costumes were created to dress the cast of KURIOS.
- There are 426 props in the show, the most of any production in Cirque du Soleil’s history.
- Some 65 trucks transport close to 2,000 tons of equipment for KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities.
- This is the first time that Cirque du Soleil presents a welcoming act on top of the big top before the show starts. When weather permits, 3 artists climb up the big top and greet the guests from above while playing music and acting. Guests get a taste of the KURIOS experience as soon as they enter the site.
- The 122 tour members come from 23 different countries. Some have been touring with Cirque du Soleil for more than 15 years.
- It took the team of props makers approximately 250 hours to build Mr. Microcosmos’ round belly.
- All performers are responsible for applying their own make-up every show, which can take them between 40 minutes to two hours.
Tickets for KURIOS start at $40 and are available online.
