Zaia Opening Night and Pool Party

Opening night (soft opening) and monstrously fun party for Cirque Du Soleil’s ZAIA at the Venetian July 26, 2008.

Our first public show went very smooth – no apparent tech glitches or problems – and we had an incredibly enthusiastic audience – so we’re all very happy. Here little snippets of my opening night and the great party afterwards for my friends back home.

I have a custom of clearing my day on any openings of shows. So I leave for work a couple hours early and walk slowly to meditate in the park by the lake across from the Venetian. I think about my long road to working with Cirque Du Soleil, the trials we’ve been through to get there, think of my friends back home and say thanks to the big guy upstairs.

An hour later I start my trek across the street to the Venetian and ZAIA theater.

At my station doing sound checks and tech run throughs before the show.

Here’s a view of both keyboard stations.

Ed (percussion) checks over his gear during sound check.

Before the show the director gives us our marching orders: “Invoke, Evoke and Provoke” the audience. He tells us that the show is now ours and he is handing over the keys. Over the next several months we will slowly take ownership and make the show our own – a unique work. We go to our stations and BAM – Zaia is born. (Thank you for understanding that I do not post photos of characters in costume or makeup, and do not post photos from the live show).

The show is complete and we all meet with Guy LaLiberte. He tells us he appreciates from his heart all our hard work and knows that creating a Cirque show is not easy – “Believe me, I know this!” he says. He lets us know he is pleased with the current state of the show and that we will continue to refine and tweak the show over the next several months.

Show is over, now time for the long awaited Zaia party! My girlfriend and I get ready for the party.

The party was outside by the pool at the Venetian. Probably 20 chefs on hand preparing food at more than a dozen tables. It was first class and uber cool. Here I am with Onofrio, one of the clowns for ZAIA.

Jay Elfenbein (cello, viol in the ZAIA band) and his wife Andre. Jay makes me cry with his playing because it’s so beautiful, and Andre makes me laugh because she is such a warm person. I had the grand idea of throwing Jay into the pool and asked Andre if his pockets were empty – she let me know that Jay is the LAST person on earth I would want to throw into a pool. So I’m glad I asked! See, I’m growing up and getting smarter!

Gilles Maheu (director of ZAIA) and myself at the party. He’s VERY funny.

Steve Bach (Zaia bandleader) wearing his party hat.

Dave (monitor engineer) and myself. Dave is from Australia and likes heavy metal music.

Ah….one problem. We’re all having a great time and drinking – and there’s this gigantic pool staring at us. An hour or more goes by and nobody has jumped in yet. Finally one of my bandmates breaks the ice and makes the first jump into the pool. It was Racheal our recorder player – in her brand new $4,000 MOP dress! As I found out later, there were several expensive dresses drenched that night as people made the jump.

I also found out later that their were bets going on as to which department would be the first in the pool. One person contacted me that they had bet on Rigging or Carps to be first in, they said “I should have never underestimated the musicians!”

Olivier (plucked strings, guitar) and myself were the 3rd and 4th to make the jump I think. We could not hold back the temptation. There we go…

Security was on us in a heartbeat – so here I am explaining to the staff that it was a mistake, we must have been pushed. I don’t think they believed me. 🙂

Olivier (I call him the cool “French Dude) offers no apologies for his jump…

Enjoying our short time of being in trouble with the coppers…

My girlfriend Dyta thinks we are a little silly for jumping…

But what do you know, 30 minutes later and security cannot stop the onslaught of the Cirque party crew. The DJ plays hardcore dance music and we all go crazy in the pool for several hours. It was SO much fun! Professional acrobats partying in a pool – that’s awesome! Lots of great jumps.

Olivier jumps on our shoulders and does the Twist.

3:30 am – Ok, I’m tired. What a great day! Time to go home and finally take a couple days off.

Thanks to the Cirque crew for throwing us such a wonderful party!