Cirque du Soleil returns to the Bay Area for first time in 3 years

Cirque du Soleil is finally coming back to the Bay Area.

The acclaimed arts organization, which was forced to shut down and seek bankruptcy protection during the pandemic, will present its first Bay Area production in three years as it brings the arena show “Corteo” to three local venues in August.

The show, which is directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca and first premiered in Cirque’s home base of Montreal in April 2005, runs Aug. 9-13 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Aug. 17-20 at Oakland Arena, and Aug. 23-27 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Dec. 19, cirquedusoleil.com/corteo. Ducats are already available to Club Cirque members (for free subscription, visit clubcirque.com).

The production “is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown,” according to a news release. “The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.”

The show reportedly features a clown, who is imagining “his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels.”

That could almost be a reflection of the ordeal Cirque faced during the pandemic. The Montreal company was forced to shut down some 70 shows worldwide, lay off thousands of employees and seek bankruptcy protection. The company started reopening its Las Vegas residency shows last year and touring productions are gradually returning.

As for “Corteo,” Cirque du Soleil writes:

“Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us.”

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
SAP Center (San Jose) – 8 performances
Wednesday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 12 at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 13 at 1pm & 5pm

Oakland Arena – 6 performances
Thursday, August 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 19 at 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 20 at 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Chase Center (San Francisco) – 8 performances
Wednesday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 26 at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 27 at 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.