Cirque Italia has vowed to remain animal-free.
The traveling circus instead relies on human skill and dexterity along with 35,000 gallons of water to entertain its audience.
“The show consists of an acrobatic performance with performing arts and circus arts. It really sets a different mood under the tent. It’s not your traditional circus,” said Chante DeMoustes, producer and COO of Cirque Italia, which comes to Gurnee May 26 through June 4.
“Each act has its own scene and it’s geared toward different ages,” she said. “The actors are performing on top of the water and around it. They do get wet. It makes it more challenging to do what they do. The water is constantly moving. There are fountains and a curtain of rain.”
Cirque Italia has been to Gurnee twice before to full houses, so an extra week was added this year, she said.
A former dance choreographer, DeMoustes has created several new acts for this year’s show.
“We’ve got a new jet ski act. We have three performers, including two mermaids, who do stunts and tricks on an apparatus above the water. It’s very special and different. You’re never going to see that in another show,” she said.
Youngsters can pose for photos with the mermaids during the event, she said.
“We also have new this year an amazing laser man act. He manipulates laser lights. Everybody loves that act.”
The audience also will see a roller skating duo, bicycle tricksters, a contortionist and a dinosaur act, which DeMoustes said the youngsters love.
Coco, the clown, from Argentina, will return. He’s in the Guinness World Book of Records for riding the world’s smallest bicycle, she said.
“You have to see it,” DeMoustes said. “The bike is about 12 inches.”
Another performer will sing in Italian while balancing upside down on a chair.
All that happens beneath a custom-designed tent brought from Italy and set up in the Gurnee Mills parking lot.
DeMoustes said the performers are past Olympians and gymnasts who want to continue “doing their passion.” They come from different parts of the world, including Poland and Italy.
DeMoustes works with Cirque Italia owner Manuel Rebecchi, who grew up in Italy with a family that produced one of the largest circuses in the world, she said.
“He got to experience that show, which had animals, but he wanted to do something different,” she said.
“There are bad animal trainers and there are good animal trainers out there. Manuel has seen both. He loves animals so much and I love animals so much. We just said we have so much talent that humans can do. So we’re animal free. We’re just going to show talent from people all over the world.”
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The duo tested the concept of a circus act with water in 2012, and found it was well-received. Since then, they’ve been traveling the U.S. with sold-out shows and hope to expand into other parts of the world.
DeMoustes works to provide variety in the show — something a 2-year-old might like and something else Grandma might like. “I also look at how the performer can connect with the audience. It’s not an easy job — you have to think about the beat of music, and the attention span of people. It has to have a nice flow. It’s very intimate under the tent … We have fans who come back year after year.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.
Cirque Italia’s Big Top Silver
When: May 26-June 4
Where: Gurnee Mills, 6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee
Tickets: $20-$70
Information: 941-704-8572; http://www.cirqueitalia.com