So I didn’t need to climb Cardiac Hill on Wednesday afternoon and search for the loading dock entrance into the Petersen Events Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus. But it was an unbeatable opportunity to take a look at Cirque du Soleil artists preparing for their appearances here in Pittsburgh. While waiting to be escorted to the open rehearsal, I looked over the names on the placard beside the guard, most of them virtually unspellable. There were also notices for strength testing, a reminder that this job is briefer than most.
After a long hike with my escorts (all of whom wore 4-inch heels), we emerged in the performing area with the Cirque stage reaching out to the audience in Enterprise style (beam me up, Scotty). The back section was angled upwards, where the orchestra would be housed and the geometric front pierced into the audience.
A group of Eastern European trampoline artists (an educated guess judging by the accents and probably the owners of some of those names on the placard) was rehearsing its trampoline act. Over and over. Higher and higher. More twists. An occasional fall to prove that they are human.
Underneath the orchestra area is the entrance backstage, where the Cirque-ers could warm-up with Pilates equipment to stretch and what looked like steel rigging for more high-flying moves. Artistic director Brooke Webb took a few minutes to talk about the details behind the imagination.
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