Cirque Du Soleil: 20 Years under the Sun, an Authorized History »

Cirque du Soleil has become an international theatrical sensation, having thrilled the imaginations of more than 40 million people with its innovative circus experience. In 20 years, Cirque du Soleil skyrocketed from a troupe on the streets of Montreal known as "The High Heels Club" to a circus extravaganza involving 2,400 employees worldwide and some 500 artists performing in more than 130 cities around the globe in active productions that are both on tour and permanently on view in Las Vegas and Orlando.

With unprecedented access to Cirque du Soleil members in the telling of their story-including its founder, Guy Laliberté-Cirque du Soleil: 20 Years Under the Sun is the first retrospective to chart the history of this extraordinary cultural phenomenon from its humble origins to its remarkable international success. With 300-plus full-color illustrations that feature all of the company's dazzling productions-among them Saltimbanco, Mystère, Varekai, and "O"-this exceptional volume captures Cirque's magic on the printed page with the visual brio for which the company is widely renowned. The release of this book is set to coincide with Cirque du Soleil's 20th anniversary.

Author Bio: Tony Babinski is a writer, filmmaker, and musician based in Montreal. From 1994 to 2000 he coproduced, cowrote, and scored a series of award-winning experimental films. Kristian Manchester, also based in Montreal, is an art director with the Diesel design firm.

School Library Journal

Adult/High School-From one man on stilts walking 56 miles in 22 hours to gain a little attention to an international entertainment corporation with nearly a dozen shows running concurrently around the globe, the history of Cirque du Soleil is one of the brightest chapters in the chronicle of 20th-century entertainment. The story begins with a ragtag coterie of young street performers in Quebec province that, after a shaky start, achieves worldwide admiration and success. The driving force behind this inspiring tale is former fire-breather Guy Laliberte, whose rare ability to balance creativity and business has guided the fast-growing enterprise in ways that please the eyes and ears of the artist as well as the bottom-line concerns of the banker. This hefty volume is worthy of its exhilarating subject. Cirque du Soleil is part circus, part theater, part dance, and 100 percent exotic entertainment. Colorful, amazing, dramatic, and thrilling are a few of the words on the lips of those leaving a performance. And these words are equally appropriate when describing this book's design and execution. The color photos are plentiful and captivating, the drawings enchanting, and the text illuminating. The book is a masterful representation of the first 20 years of a masterful entertainment company. It will be appreciated wherever the circus is loved, which is just about everywhere.-Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.