Cirque du Soleil Chief Executive discusses reopening plans for Drawn to Life at Disney Springs

Apr 22, 2021 in "Cirque du Soleil"

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New 'Drawn to Life' Cirque du Soleil show at Walt Disney World

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Posted: Thursday April 22, 2021 10:25am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Cirque du Soleil Chief Executive Daniel Lamarre announced yesterday that several of the company's shows will return this summer in Las Vegas, but no date was given for "Drawn to Life" at Disney Springs.

"Drawn to Life," that was set to open in Spring 2020 at Disney Springs, and was just days away from opening when the COVID-19 shutdown began. Asked by the LA Times about "Drawn to Life," Lamarre said, "We should be able to open sometime in the fall."

We understand that limited rehearsals have been taking place among small groups of performers at the Cirque theater in Disney Springs.

This news comes in addition to Disney's January 1 "things to do in the new year" list, which listed Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life as coming later in 2021.

New Cirque du Soleil sign on building exterior

The show was originally planned to begin on March 20 2020, but was cancelled due to the arrival of COVID-19. Since then, Cirque du Soleil has gone through a turbulent period with mass layoffs and filing for bankruptcy.

Here is the mention in the "21 Ways to Kick Off 2021 with Magic at Walt Disney World Resort" press release from Disney in January:

Get Excited for Even More Magic Later this Year – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the new family-friendly attraction coming to the France pavilion in EPCOT, will debut in 2021. And the new Cirque du Soleil show “Drawn to Life,” coming to Disney Springs, will be a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering. More details about these experiences and other excitement happening around Walt Disney World will be released at a later date.

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WondersOfLife25 days ago

They had two of them in the finale... But I also wonder if they were both the same position or not... I actually don't think the show needed the two acts to be honest. It was the best version of the show I had seen. There was not... But the pre-show lasted a bit longer and there was a LOT more interaction throughout the middle of the audience instead of just around the stage this time. Maybe that helped take up promised time.

TrainsOfDisney27 days ago

When I saw the Teeterboard act a couple weeks ago it was really rough…. One of the guys was very solid and did a triple to a mat - but lots of the act was really rocky. also - only one set of foot juggling, so i Guess both are out now. I definitely felt like the show as a whole is in pretty good shape now - much better then when I first saw it. Are there not any alternates for foot juggling and Teeterboard?

HauntedMansionFLA27 days ago

Most likely injury. The teeter board act isn’t the same since Jerome’s contract ended.

WondersOfLife27 days ago

No rubber band act or feet tumble act tonight. But part of their actors were there in the finale. Must be sick? Idk

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