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GURNEE – Cirque Italia is returning to Gurnee Mills at the end of this month with four days of thrills for all ages including high-wire and balancing acts, contortionists, acrobatics, flying jet skis, lasers, clowns – even a dinosaur and a mermaid.
Unlike a typical circus, there are no animal acts to be found here.
Cirque Italia is a traveling water circus. Acts perform on a 35,000-gallon water stage surrounded by a curtain of glistening rain and fountains.
“Our water feature is what makes us unique. Our show is like something you’d see in Las Vegas, only it goes on the road,” said Tim Orris of Cirque Entertainment’s booking and media relations.
The European-style tent circus was created by Miguel Rebecchi, nephew of famed Italian circus impresario Moira Orfei, and debuted in Florida in 2012. Cirque Italia is on the road throughout the year, performing everywhere from shopping mall parking lots to race tracks.
“Gurnee Mills’ expansive parking lots are utilized as a venue for numerous events and help bring a range of popular attractions to the community,” said Elizabeth Striegel, Gurnee Mills director of marketing and business development. “We're delighted to have Cirque Italia returning to Gurnee Mills for the second year for Lake County families to enjoy.”
Cirque Italia will pitch its tent outside Burlington Coat Factory from May 27-30.
The performers come from all over the world including Italy, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, Romania, Bulgaria and the United States.
Contortionist and hand-balancer Julliet Carballo, 15, is a sixth-generation circus performer from Florida.
“I was born into it. I saw other girls doing it and I just started practicing. It took a lot of work,” said Carballo, who practices two hours a day and is home-schooled.
Though Carballo has performed in many other shows, this is her first year with Cirque Italia. “I really like this show because it’s very different from all the others,” she said.
Working surrounded by water takes extra concentration, but Carballo said she really enjoys the challenge. “I love performing and seeing the looks on the kids’ faces and how impressed they are by what we all do," she said.
“I get nervous sometimes, but most of the time I’m concentrating," Carballo said. "I think it’s easier to learn if you grew up doing it. I started practicing at age 6.”
Excitement growing
When Cirque Italia rolls into the Gurnee Mills parking lot several days before performances begin, it is sure to draw a lot of attention, especially when they start pumping in the 35,000 gallons of water needed for the stage.
“Our set-up acts as the world’s biggest billboard,” Orris said.
The tent, which can be heated or air-conditioned depending on the weather, is a 120-foot circle with stadium seating capacity for 1,244 people. No matter where you are inside, you’re never more than 40 or 50 feet away from the center ring.
“It will feel very intimate,” Orris said.
The show also has an interactive element where performers make guests feel like they’re part of the performance.
“In one of our acts, a performer goes into the audience and picks out two small children and encapsulates them in a big bubble. The clowns will also come out in the audience and get them involved,” Orris said.
Because Cirque Italia is a European-style circus, Orris said their clowns differ from American circus clowns in that they don’t wear big floppy shoes or much face paint.
“They allow their facial expressions to tell the story,” he said.
Cirque Italia is also unique in that there is no ringmaster making announcements before and after each act, so the show is more fluid. The show runs two hours with a 15-minute intermission. Concessions will also be available.
“It’s a long show. You get your money’s worth,” Orris said.
If you go:
Cirque Italia
Where: Gurnee Mills parking lot, outside Burlington Coat Factory, 6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee
When: 7:30 p.m. May 27; 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. May 28-29; 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. May 30
Cost/Info: Tickets range from $10-50. Tickets are available at cirqueitalia.com, by calling 941-704-8572 and at the on-site box office starting at 10 a.m. May 24. Purchasers receive one free child's ticket (age 12 or younger) for every adult ticket purchased in tent levels two or three.