The insects really came all out of the woodwork for OVO at the Amway Center!
Cirque du Soleil is no new name or face in Orlando. With Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs being home to La Nouba, Cirque du Soleil has become a household name here. Yesterday, a new Cirque name arrived in town for a short run (until Sunday). OVO, which translates to egg in Portuguese, showcases the life of bugs and how they work together in a large colony. I had the privilege of getting a backstage look at the show and attending the opening night performance and wanted to share my experience with you all!
OVO by Cirque du Soleil started back in 2009 under the Big Top. After a worldwide tour that ended in 2015, OVO was transformed into the arena show that it is today. The show has the same characters, however some of the acts have changed. I spoke with the publicists for the show and he said some of the changes were to accommodate the fact that the show could allow new acts due to the arena setup. I also asked why the show was transformed in the first place from the Big Top show. His response was that they could do more shows in cities that did not have the space for the Big Top and bring OVO to more people!
First off, you have no idea what it really takes to put on a show of this magnitude. The show arrived with its own rigging a day prior to opening to set up the entire arena. This show takes 21 semi truck to bring all the setup, costumes, makeup and props to bring OVO to life. They literally bring everything including their own washers and dryers to wash each costume each and every day!
Before the show started, I had the chance to sit thru the rehearsal of the Russian Cradle, which is the act that ends the first half of the show. This act showcases “Scarabs” flying thru the air from one platform to another by swinging and tossing. The rehearsal was fun to watch because I got to see some of the act beforehand, and also see them try out new stunts to be put into the show later on. It was amazing to see not only the complexity of the act, but also the communication skills and extreme talent with this troupe!
I also had the chance to check out the costuming and makeup department. The people that work in the department are the first to arrive to the arena and the last to leave. They are in charge of the over 100 costumes, clothes, makeup and more for each and every performance. The team, which consists of 4 people, is not only there to do the laundry but to also to make sure each costume is show ready. They travel with a full room of machines to polish, sew, and repair the clothes, shows, headpieces and more!
Now onto the show! From the beginning to end of the show, the audience was mesmerized with the visually stunning costumes, set design, and complexity of feats that these performers do each and every day! The show, which consists of 8 different and unique acts lasts approximately 2.5 hours with a 20 minute intermission in the middle. The different acts include Ants that foot juggle, the transformation of a cocoon into a beautiful butterfly, and spiders that contort their bodies in the web.
The best part of the show for me was the way that the storyline plays out! I won’t give much details about the main characters and their progression but just know that you could see this show 5 different times and see something new and exciting each and every time!
To learn more about OVO at the Amway Center and to purchase tickets, click on the link here!
I would like to thank the cast and crew of OVO for allowing me backstage access and tickets to the show! Make sure you get out to see OVO before the insects pack up and head off to their next destination!
Jason Mayhew
My name is Jason Mayhew, and I am the owner of OFF On The Go. When not traveling with the website, I own my own marketing and PR company, J Mayhew Marketing. I have the best job where I get to travel the world and showcase the most amazing and unique experiences!
