A galaxy of stars came along for the grand opening of Cirque du Soleil's new show, Varekai, in New York.
The Big Apple's famous inhabitants were so eager to attend that they left their beloved Manahttan in order to take part. The fact that Cirque du Soleil has pitched its tent on Randall's Island couldn't stop stars like Melanie Griffith, Susan Sarandon and Isabella Rossellini bringing their families along.
"It is part of the experience to create a destination location from scratch and to bring people to a place they have never been," said director Christine Mariano. "They will seek us out as long as we bring them good shows."
The athletic performances, which combines jaw-dropping feats of acrobatics with breathtaking costumes, have been captivating audiences around the world since 1982. Indeed the circus has proven so popular that it now boasts seven different tours running simultaneously.
And it seems to be just as attractive to performers as it is to spectators. Two of the acrobats, British twins Andrew and Kevin Atherton, turned down an offer to represent the UK in the Sydney Olympics in favour of their circus job.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
