In March 2017 Cirque du Soleil and Disney announced that La Nouba would host its final performance on December 31, 2017. At that time, no plans for a new show were announced.[2] On December 18, 2017, Disney announced that Cirque du Soleil would produce a new show to replace La Nouba that would "draw its inspiration from Disney's heritage of animation", though no further information was given.[3] On August 26, 2019, tickets for the new production went on sale with preview performances to begin on March 20, 2020, and an official premiere date of April 17, 2020. The show was revealed to be about "a young girl and her father, who was a Disney animator" though the name of the show was not announced.[4] On December 10, 2019, the name of the new production was announced as Drawn to Life, along with the show's synopsis and creative team.[5]
On March 17, 2020, three days before the first scheduled performances, Cirque du Soleil announced that the opening of the show would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] On March 19, 2020, Cirque du Soleil announced it would lay off 95% of its staff worldwide due to the impacts of the pandemic.[7] In July 2020, with no new opening date announced, tickets were made available for purchase on the Cirque du Soleil website for performances beginning November 5, 2020.[8] In August 2020, performances through February 10, 2021 were removed from sale and ticketholders refunded.[9]
In an April 2021 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lemarre stated that Drawn to Life "should be able to open sometime in the fall".[10] On August 17, 2021, Disney announced that tickets would go on sale starting August 20 for performances beginning November 18, 2021.[11] The show had its first public performance on November 18, 2021, as part of Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary celebration.[12]
Set and technical information
The theater housing Drawn to Life was the first freestanding permanent structure built for Cirque du Soleil, originally built for La Nouba. The theater was designed by Michel Crête, Michel Aubé of Scéno Plus, Walt Disney Imagineering, and the architects of the Rockwell Group of New York. The building incorporates elements of fabric and tension reminiscent of the form of a circus tent.[13]
The Inner World of Animation - Synchronized acrobatics on an inflatable airbag mat
Aerial Pencil - An acrobat guides an aerial pole, stylized as a giant pencil, to soar across and above the stage while performing stunts as a nod to the pencil test used by animators. The aerial pencil act is created and performed by Saulo Sarmiento.
Forest - Icarian Games
Animating A Ball - Juggling
Dream of Colors - Cradle Wheel/Aerial Hoops
Garden of Lines - Synchronized unicycles, inspired by the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio
The Old Mill - A double wheel of death inspired by the 1937 animated short of the same name
Hand to Hand Love
Squash & Stretch - Teeterboard
Swing to Swing - Russian Swings
Retired acts
Forest and Stilts - The larger-than-life movements of stilt-walking are skillfully made via the three-meter extensions of their body. Communicating with Julie—and at times entirely trusting themselves—the artist demonstrates immense strength and balance, presenting stilt walking in a captivating and culturally inspired way. (November 18th, 2021 - December 2022)
Music
The music for Drawn to Life is composed by Benoît Jutras, who also composed the music for La Nouba.[4]
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