THE WHITE BIG TOP IN SAN JOSE

ODYSSEO RAISES ITS WHITE BIG TOP FOR FIRST VISIT TO SAN JOSE. THE LARGER THAN LIFE PRODUCTION OPENS SEPTEMBER 14.

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – August 19, 2016 – #OdysseoSJ – The traffic-stopping, 125 foot tall White Big Top was raised today in downtown San Jose next to Hwy 87 at Julian Street Exit to welcome Odysseo, the world’s largest touring production and Cavalia’s latest equestrian and acrobatic adventure. Following the Montreal company’s original and eponymous production Cavalia, which enjoyed an extended sold-out engagement in San Jose four years ago, the $30 million theatrical production imagined by Normand Latourelle will open on September 14 with matinee and evening performances scheduled through October 2. At last, San Jose audiences will have the chance to experience what more than 2 million spectators across North America did throughout the last five years.

Covering a surface area of 68,000 square feet – the size of an NFL football field – Odysseo’s impressive White Big Top is a mix of art, technology, and advanced engineering, and is twice the size of the one that housed Cavalia. Wanting to break the limitations of standard big top tents to allow for more flexibility in the performance area and give the horses the space they need to feel free and comfortable, Normand Latourelle, Cavalia’s artistic director and founder, partnered up with specialized companies in Europe and Canada to create this high-tech structure. By removing the usual supporting masts from the stage and shifting the weight of the structure from the masts to three arches above the tent, this specially-designed White Big Top is the best environment for the horse and acrobats to perform breathtaking numbers and for the creative team to design large-scale staging.

This unprecedented structure is also accompanied by several exceptional features like the grandiose stage – larger than the SAP Center ice rink – that enables large-scale, cutting-edge, and creative performances. In front of bleachers with 2,000 seats, the 17,500 square feet stage requires 10,000 tons of stone, earth and sand to create so that it offers a vast space of freedom where 65 horses and 48 artists can display their intimate collaboration. To help immerse the audience in the magical world of Odysseo, an 8,103 square feet screen is built on stage on which images of the most beautiful landscapes from around the world are projected throughout the show. The technical grid, worthy of the largest permanent installations in Las Vegas, New York or London, supports 80 tons of equipment for the stage needs of the show, including the majestic life-sized merry-go-round.

Never afraid of using unparalleled technical, visual, and sound infrastructure, the Odysseo creative team has invented a feast for the eyes, a multi-dimensional spectacle with staggering effects created by state-of-the-art scenery. During the breathtaking finale, a vertiginous virtual waterfall overhangs a lake made possible by an underground drain system that releases 40,000 gallons of recycled water onto the stage, in which horses, riders, and artists join to frolic, leaving behind them the traces of their splashes—and an astonished audience.

The White Big Top is part of a larger ensemble, the Odysseo village, which a team of 80 experienced workers will be in charge of building in the next few weeks along with the inside of the tent. The Odysseo village includes five tents: the White Big Top, the stable tent, the exclusive Rendez-Vous VIP tent, the warm-up & artistic tent, and the kitchen tent for the 200 employees. In total, 110 semi-trailer trucks will be required to transport the world’s largest touring production to San Jose. Soon, the two and four-legged stars will wow the audiences by performing this veritable revolution in live entertainment that marries the equestrian arts, stage performance, and high-tech theatrical effects in never-before-seen ways.

TICKETS – Tickets are priced from $29.50 to $154.50 + applicable taxes and fees. For a memorable evening, the Rendez-Vous package offers the best seats in the house, exquisite buffet-dining before the show, open bar, desserts during intermission and an exclusive visit of the stables after the show. This unique VIP experience takes place in a tent alongside the White Big Top. The Rendez-Vous package prices range from $129.50 to $264.50 + applicable taxes and fees. Special pricing and packages also available for groups, children (2-12), juniors (13-17), and seniors (65+).

ABOUT CAVALIA INC. – Cavalia Inc. is an entertainment company that specializes in the creation, production and touring of innovative shows. Founded by Normand Latourelle, the company reimagines the equestrian and theatrical arts. With its headquarters in Montreal, Cavalia Inc. is an integral part of Canada’s cultural heritage, and the largest Canadian-owned cultural enterprise. Its expertise in high technology, multimedia and special effects creates magical, unique, never-before-seen experiences. Its first show, Cavalia, has been seen by more than 4 million people across North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia since its 2003 debut. Odysseo, the company’s second show, has toured to rave reviews and public acclaim since its 2011 premiere. Follow Cavalia’s latest developments at www.twitter.com/cavalia or www.facebook.com/cavalia#OdysseoSJ

MEDIA CONTACT 
CARLA BEFERA & COMPANY
Carla Befera | carla@cb-pr.com | Office: 650-327-1200
Christina Yoshihara | christina@cb-pr.com | Office: 650-327-1200