A look at the thrilling new acts joining Drawn to Life by Cirque du Soleil and Disney as part of ongoing show evolution

Apr 19, 2023 in "Cirque du Soleil"

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New acts join Cirque du Soleil Drawn to Life

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Posted: Wednesday April 19, 2023 7:52am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

After more than 650 performances in front of more than 600,000 guests, Drawn to Life by Cirque du Soleil and Disney has recently introduced two new thrilling acts, following a Cirque du Soleil tradition of regularly updating its shows.

We recently got a sneak peek at the new acts - watch the video below to see the thrilling acts on stage.

The first new addition to Drawn to Life is Icarian Games, paying tribute to Disney's animated forests – and the mysterious creatures that inhabit them – featuring a pair of Ethiopian artists performing acrobatic feats in which one lies on his or her back and uses his or her legs and feet to toss the other performer in the air.

Icarian Games act

The Icarian Games scene also features all-new live music performed by the show's band, featuring live vocals.

You can hear about the evolution of the show's cinematic music from Drawn to Life's bandleader Thomas Lipps in the video below.

The second new addition is the Aerial Hoop artists taking to the air, performing tricks during the "Dream of Colors" act, a tribute to the ink and paint animation artists, featuring dramatic colors "painted" by human trapeze artists on a suspended wheel.

The 'Dream of Colors' act at Drawn to Life

Aerial Hoop artists performing tricks during the 'Dream of Colors' act

The Aerial Hoop artists bring the action even closer to the audience as the trapeze artists perform overhead.

The 'Dream of Colors' act at Drawn to Life

The show's creative team is not done yet, and the team told us that more changes are coming in the months ahead.

The 'Dream of Colors' act at Drawn to Life

Drawn to Life debuted at Disney Springs on November 18, 2021, and features a blend of Disney magic and Cirque du Soleil artistry. The family-friendly show tells the story of the love between a father and a daughter, drawing inspiration from Walt Disney Animation Studios' 100-year heritage of storytelling. The show celebrates iconic Disney stories and characters through quintessential Cirque du Soleil acrobatic performances, live musical scores, and brand-new animation created by Disney Animation artists.

Tickets start at $85, with performances usually taking place Wednesday through Sunday, at 5:30pm and 8:00pm. On Sunday, showtimes are 1:30pm and 4:00pm. Visit Cirque du Soleil to buy tickets.

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WondersOfLifeAug 30, 2024

Possibly. But I certainly cant do that sh**. So its nice to watch people who can do that, do that. 👉

MisterPenguinAug 29, 2024

The original swings were a big miss for me. A swing -- powered by others pushing -- throws you into the air... you do a simple acrobatic flip/twist, and you land on super thick mats which the other ladies are holding up off the ground and let go when you land. And if they're going to land on the other swing, there's no timing. The other team holds the landing-swing up in place for you. I'm glad they're evolving the acts over time to make the weaker ones better.

WondersOfLifeAug 29, 2024

I swear to god i dont remember so many people being involved in the big swings act. Ive seen it done with 6 women. Then 9 women. All the men were new to me. Maybe it was a covid thing. I sweat the cast grew by double. But it was more exciting than i remember it being for sure.

TrainsOfDisneyAug 29, 2024

That was my favorite part - but I also love the Old Mill and was so happy they included a fairly obscure IP in that show. How is the finale act - the big swings? It was really lacking when I saw it.

WondersOfLifeAug 29, 2024

Just saw the show for an 8th time yesterday. I haven't seen it 8 times for myself. I have seen it 8 times to take people who haven't seen it. I think it's a great experience for people to have if they haven't seen it. After 8 viewings, my only complaint about the show are 2 things. 1). Some acts really overextend their interest. I thought the re-working of the lady being tossed in the air while integrating the cyclists and hoops and other things going on at the same time saved that scene... The rotating fan scene is the weakest scene in the show and a bit overdone in the 'cirque' industry. It would be fine if it wasn't so dang long. The show could use a half hour cut. But... For a first timer, it really is a fantastic show. After seeing the Vegas cirque shows, I definitely see where people are coming from on quality. But as someone who initially saw it with no previous Cirque du Soleil experience, I thought it was phenomenal. So that is what I assume most people going into this show will experience. And for that, it is worth it.

wdwmagicAug 29, 2024

Drawn to Life: Cirque du Soleil and Disney's 2025 Show Schedule Announced, Page to Stage Experience Expands to More Nights https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/cirque-du-soleil/news/29aug2024-drawn-to-life-cirque-du-soleil-and-disneys-2025-show-schedule-announced,-page-to-stage-experience-expands-to-more-nights.htm

DCBakerJul 01, 2024

There's a new offer out for Disney Visa cardholders: Take advantage of your perk early! Save up to 20% on tickets to upcoming performances of Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney at Disney Springs®. Tickets may be purchased at the Drawn to Life box office at Disney Springs® or online. Visit Cirk.me/WDWVisa and use your Disney Visa Card to purchase tickets today! More details via the Cirque link: Disney Visa Cardholder Offer is only valid for performances of Drawn to Life through 9/27/25 (subject to availability and blockout dates). Valid for seat categories Golden Circle, 1, 2 and 3. Limit eight (8) tickets per valid Disney Visa for the entire Offer period. Tickets must be purchased with a Disney Visa credit card and may be purchased online at cirk.me/WDWVisa or at the Drawn to Life Box Office at Disney Springs® area located at Walt Disney World® Resort. All tickets purchased online for the Disney Visa Offer must be picked up at will call at the Drawn to Life Box Office and the purchaser must show their valid Disney Visa to collect tickets. Tickets sold by Cirque du Soleil. Tickets are subject to taxes and fees. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. The Disney Visa Offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offers. Blockout dates apply, including 11/27/24-12/1/24, 12/18/24 - 1/5/25, 2/19/25-2/23/25, 3/14/25-3/23/25, and 4/16/25 - 4/20/25

TrainsOfDisneyMay 18, 2024

That sums it up well - Drawn to Life is honestly the type of show that should be in the parks. It’s good - but La Nouba was 100% Cirque. I’m actually quite nostalgic for the Downtown Disney that used to be…. Disney Quest, La Nouba, Pleasure Island, nightly fireworks…. There was alot to offer that is drastically different now.

Miss RoriMay 09, 2024

I do get the sense that La Nouba was far more popular at its height than Drawn to Life is now. Cirque hadn't overextended itself when La Nouba was new (there were only a handful of tours and two other "resident" shows, both in Las Vegas, in 1998), so there was more novelty, and the two times I saw it (2005 and 2015) it had a good-sized audience. But also, I think one thing that drove La Nouba's success was that it had nothing to do with Disney while still being family friendly; it was high-quality but in a more adult way than other stuff at the resort. The Unofficial Guide's writers regarded it as THE best thing at Disney World and they never received negative mail from readers over it, even getting comments like "it was the best money we spent". But it's telling they haven't done a review of the new show as yet.

wdwmagicMay 08, 2024

We Go Behind the Curtain with Cirque du Soleil's new VIP 'Drawn to Life' Experience https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/cirque-du-soleil/news/08may2024-we-go-behind-the-curtain-with-cirque-du-soleils-new-vip-drawn-to-life-experience.htm and more photos at https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/cirque-du-soleil/gallery/01may2024-page-to-stage-signature-experience-backstage-tour-at-drawn-to-life-by-cirque-du-soleil.htm