OVO, an insect-inspired Cirque du Soleil show, comes to the KFC YUM Center
Cirque du Soleil brings “OVO,” a colorful invasion of an insect colony, to the KFC YUM Center in Louisville. Here’s what to expect.
- Cirque du Soleil’s “OVO” is a colorful, fast-paced, gravity-defying experience of a special kind.
- The show takes audiences into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and search for love in a nonstop riot of energy and movement.
- Tickets for “OVO” at KFC YUM Center September 5-8 are now on sale at kfcyumcenter.com.
For nearly 40 years, Cirque du Soleil has thrilled audiences across the United States with death-defying acrobatics, spectacular sets, and a variety of new and innovative storylines.
This September, the Canadian circus show returns to Louisville with an entirely new experience, this time with insects as the backdrop. The high-energy and acrobatic production, titled “OVO” (the Portuguese word for “egg”), comes to the KFC YUM Center, 1 Arena Plaza, for five show dates September 5-8.
Like every Cirque du Soleil show, OVO is a colorful, fast-paced and unique gravity-defying experience. This ultra-family-friendly production transports audiences into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and search for love in a nonstop riot of energy and movement.
To learn more about the hype surrounding “OVO,” the Courier Journal spoke to veteran Ciruque du Soleil artist Alessandra Gonzalez, the show’s only singer and Primavera.
“I’m a glamorous singing cockroach in this show,” Gonzalez said. “There’s definitely nothing like a Cirque show. It’s all human-powered. The costumes are amazing, there’s top-notch acrobatics and live music, and we have two former Olympians performing. (Plus) a huge set and incredible lighting. It’s a brilliant show for the whole family.”
The unique mix and combination of choreography, aerial stunts, dance, music and storytelling is a work in progress, said Janie Mallet, Cirque du Soleil spokesperson.
“The performers and the backstage crew train all day leading up to the show. They work on transitions, new tricks, new sound cues, lighting, whatever. They’re constantly training and tweaking the show.”
Here’s what else you need to know about upcoming Cirque du Soleil shows in Louisville:
What is Cirque du Soleil’s “OVO” all about?
As Gonzalez points out, while this show is all about insects, Cirque du Soleil doesn’t feature any animals – or actual bugs – in the performance. In the case of “OVO,” human performers portray several species of insects featured in the show, including crickets, scarabs, butterflies, red ants, fleas, fireflies, dragonflies, black spiders, red spiders, white spiders, flies, ladybugs, beetles, cockroaches, mosquitoes and forest insects.
What is the connection between Louisville and “OVO”?
Gonzalez told the Courier Journal a little behind-the-scenes secret of OVO. Although we never see Louisville resident James Doubleday on stage, he is responsible for all of the tour’s IT.
“I’m proud to be able to show my friends and family what I do for a living,” Doubleday told the Courier Journal. Before the cast and crew arrived in Kentucky, Doubleday briefed them on local attractions and dishes, including Ale-8 and Modjeskas, an iconic caramel and marshmallow candy invented in Louisville.
How do I get tickets for Cirque du Soleil’s OVO in Louisville?
Tickets for “OVO” at KFC YUM Center, running September 5-8, are on sale at kfcyumcenter.com.
Reach reporter Kirby Adams at [email protected].
