Cirque Du Soleil

CHICAGO – Contrary to what James Cameron may have you believe, a 3D movie theater is not the best venue to showcase the super-human physical feats of Cirque du Soleil. In fact, it’s a pretty awful substitute for the visceral thrill of a live performance. The audience experiences it like an English-speaking agnostic attending a Latin mass—there’s plenty of loud pageantry on display, but none of it makes any sense.

CHICAGO – In a move that I can only describe as head-scratching, the 84th Academy Awards producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer have invited Cirque du Soleil to perform at this year’s Oscar ceremony. The decision is not head-scratching because Cirque du Soleil is a bad act, but because they have cancelled other performances that actually pertain completely to this year’s awards to make room for other parts of the telecast.

CHICAGO – The confetti-filled, fist-pumping import “Fuerza Bruta: Look Up” recently stormed into Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre stage. Lauded by audiences as an experience the bridges the gap between the fervor of a night club and the aesthetics of traditional theatre, the production is known for its use of 360 degree spectacle. Diqui James, the co-creator and Artistic Director of the piece, recently caught of with ShowBiz Chicago to discuss the concept of the hands-on “Fuerza Bruta”, and why the art may just be in the discovery.