A schedule change at the Cirque du Soleil-Disney spectacle “Drawn to Life” at Disney Springs could make it easier for locals to attend performances.
“Drawn to Life,” the first show developed jointly by Cirque and Disney, currently runs Tuesdays-Saturdays — but in January 2023 that will change to a Wednesday-Sunday schedule. The two Sunday performances will both be matinees, one at 1:30 p.m. and a second at 4 p.m., more convenient times for those who have an early wake-up call for work or school on Monday mornings.
The earlier showtimes could also help bring more families with children to “Drawn to Life,” which features a young girl as its protagonist and uses Disney animation in its storytelling. Showtimes Wednesdays-Saturdays will remain at 5:30 and 8 p.m.
“Based on feedback from guests, we determined this new schedule will offer great daytime opportunities for travelers and locals to see the show, especially those with children,” said Heather Reilly, the company manager of “Drawn to Life” in a statement.
“Drawn to Life” tells of a daughter’s love for her father, a Disney animator, through the Cirque du Soleil repertoire of acrobatics, choreography, Disney-flavored original music and colorful costumes.
Ticket prices can vary according to demand but generally start at around $80 for adults and $60 for children at cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life.
Delayed by the COVID-19 shutdown, “Drawn to Life” opened in November 2021 as the successor to the long-running “La Nouba” which closed in 2017 after 19 years of performances in the distinctive white tent-like theater at Disney Springs.
This week Cirque du Soleil has been mourning the death of Franco Dragone, theacclaimed theatrical creative executive who wrote and directed “La Nouba.”
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Franco Dragone,” the company said in a statement after Dragone’s death from a heart attack at age 69 on Sept. 30. “Our hearts go out to his friends, family, and the entire Dragone organization.”
Dragone created lavish entertainment spectacles such as Celine Dion’s record-breaking Las Vegas residency concert, “La Reve” in Las Vegas and productions worldwide in locales such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Macao, where his “The House of the Dancing Water” was the largest water-based show in the world.
But his impact on Cirque du Soleil was particularly extraordinary.
“Franco was an industry icon,” the company’s statement said. “Responsible for some of our most successful productions, including ‘Nouvelle Expérience,’ ‘Alegría,’ ‘Mystere,’ ‘O’ and ‘La Nouba,’ he has contributed invaluably to the success of Cirque du Soleil. His passing is a loss not only for his family, but for the entire industry.”
Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts, facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theater and arts news and reviews? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts.
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