Cirque du Soleil, Disney revamp ‘Drawn to Life’ finale
“Drawn to Life,” the Cirque du Soleil-Disney collaboration that has a permanent home at Walt Disney World, now features a new finale.
The change comes as the show — the first time Disney and Cirque partnered on a production — celebrates its second anniversary in the big white tent at the western end of Disney Springs. “Drawn to Life” replaced the long-running “La Nouba,” which closed in 2017, though its opening was delayed until 2021 by the COVID-19 shutdown.
Wednesday’s announcement of the new “Drawn to Life” finale says the final act now is focused on “honoring the relationship at the heart of its story, between a father and his daughter.” In the show, young Julie is remembering her father, a Disney animator who has died. The show’s visuals and music contain cues to Disney characters and films.
The “Drawn to Life” finale will still feature a swing-to-swing act of acrobats performing aerial stunts while leaping between two moving swings. But the previous all-woman act will now include men. The female performers will be dressed to represent Julie, while the male performers will represent her late father.
“The new finale swing-to-swing act celebrates the completion of the triumphant journey of Julie as she finishes the lines started in an animation left to her by her father to forever link them to one another,” said Justin Sullivan, artistic director for “Drawn to Life,” in Wednesday’s announcement. “The daring acrobats in the number are kaleidoscopic animated renditions of Julie and her father soaring, flying and swinging through the air in a touching and thrilling display of amplitude, connection and skill.”
The number features new costumes inspired by the art of animation from designer Philippe Guillotel, as well as new acrobatic stunts and choreography, according to Cirque du Soleil.
The previous ending had been criticized by me, as the Orlando Sentinel’s theater critic. After a first viewing, I wrote the finale “lacks the pizazz of a larger-than-life, stage-filling showstopper.” Later, at a second visit some months later, I thought the number had improved but “still pales in comparison to what has come before.”
“Drawn to Life” has seen other changes since its opening, including the addition of a flying guitarist and an Icarian Games segment — in which performers “juggle” their partners on their feet, then launch them into acrobatic feats. Scene transitions, music and the show’s opening also have been tweaked.
Such changes are not uncommon with Cirque du Soleil shows, the company’s statement pointed out.
Cirque-Disney’s ‘Drawn to Life’ flying higher, better balanced than before | Commentary
“Cirque du Soleil has a tradition of shows serving as dynamic works of art through creative enhancements and evolutions, a legacy which continues with ‘Drawn to Life,'” it read.
The 90-minute show is performed at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 1:30 and 4 p.m. Sundays at its Disney Springs venue. Tickets, which generally start at about $75 for an adult though they vary in price depending on date and seat, are available through December 2024.
For more information go to cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life.
Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment.
