China’s Dalian Wanda group held a launch ceremony at the weekend for its latest entertainment projects, Wanda Movie Park and Han Show Theatre, in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Located at opposite ends of the Wuhan Central Cultural District, an $8bn (RMB50bn) development project in downtown Wuhan, the two sites cost a combined $1.14bn (RMB7bn).
Described as the world’s first indoor movie theme park, Wanda Movie Park was designed by architect Mark Fisher and features six attractions including ‘Ultimate Energy’, which combines 3D projection, live actors, props, stunts and special effects to transport riders to a future where man is at war with machines.
Also designed by Fisher with Franco Dragone as director, the Han Show Theatre features aerial, aquatic and immersive stage performance technology, including seating that lifts and pivots to enable the audience configuration to change shape.
Fisher was previously art director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing...
Located at opposite ends of the Wuhan Central Cultural District, an $8bn (RMB50bn) development project in downtown Wuhan, the two sites cost a combined $1.14bn (RMB7bn).
Described as the world’s first indoor movie theme park, Wanda Movie Park was designed by architect Mark Fisher and features six attractions including ‘Ultimate Energy’, which combines 3D projection, live actors, props, stunts and special effects to transport riders to a future where man is at war with machines.
Also designed by Fisher with Franco Dragone as director, the Han Show Theatre features aerial, aquatic and immersive stage performance technology, including seating that lifts and pivots to enable the audience configuration to change shape.
Fisher was previously art director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing...
- 12/22/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Las Vegas, Nevada (X17online) - Celine Dion is back in Vegas headlining a new show at The Colosseum, but when she takes a break later this year, country superstar Shania Twain is thinking about filling in. John Meglen, president of Aeg, admits "those talks are ongoing." As for Celine, Meglen adds, "This is now the songs the fans want and the show they expect. The first show we presented was a collaborative -- part Franco Dragone -- but this is all Celine, 100 percent. She has transcended the level of superstar and moved on to become legendary." Dion's new show will pay tribute to old Hollywood while including her number one hits. The singer has sold more than 200 million albums to date. Shania Twain has yet to confirm whether she'll be filling in for Dion in Vegas. ShaniaTwain.com...
- 3/17/2011
- x17online.com
Celine Dion has cancelled the next five performances of her A New Day show and an appearance at the Billboard Music Awards because of a highly contagious respiration infection. The 38-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer is being treated for mycoplasma bronchitis, a contagious bacterial infection, and has been ordered to rest during her recovery. Performances of her show at Caesars Palace, which were created by former Cirque Du Soleil Artistic Director Franco Dragone, were cancelled from Wednesday through Sunday, after which Dion was scheduled to take a holiday break from the five-shows-a-week regimen before returning December 28. Dion also backed out of a scheduled appearance at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday. A spokesman for A New Day says ticket-holders will receive refunds or can book other show dates.
- 11/30/2006
- WENN
Canadian singing sensation Celine Dion previewed her spectacular Las Vegas show in Louviere, Belgium on Monday night. The singer, 34, and her producer, Belgian Franco Dragone told the world's media they were planning a Sin City show like no other, which begins in the Nevada city on March 25 and runs for three years. Celine enthuses, "It will be the beginning of a new adventure, of something incredible. I can't wait until the curtains rise. I'm so excited." The Grammy-winning artist is to sing nightly at Caesars Palace's new $100 million 4,000 seat Colosseum theater, built especially for Celine. Franco, who directed the Cirque Du Soleil's Las Vegas production O and Mystere, revealed the concert would involve theatre, dance and clowns in addition to Celine's singing. Franco says, "The story will be Celine. Our tableau will be built around her. Celine, she will dance, fly, she will do percussion instruments." Celine has been rehearsing with a cast of 60 in a secret studio in Dragone's hometown La Louviere over the past month. She adds, "I am very tense and stressed. I'm having the best time of my life right now, it is really amazing."...
- 10/24/2002
- WENN
"Alegria" is a Spanish word meaning joy, elation and jubilation, and that's the defining characteristic of this film. Narratively, it could be described as early Fellini lite swathed in MTV-like compositions as a street mime goes through a physical and emotional rejuvenation after falling in love with a circus girl.
Well-received at the 10th annual Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival, "Alegria"'s most joyous tents may well be on the festival circuit and big-city art houses, where its elliptical structure and abstract acrobatics may have its most receptive audience appeal.
Billed as "a film event inspired by the Cirque du Soleil," "Alegria" is not a traditional narrative, although it borrows heavily from "Oliver Twist" and perambulates around Fellini territory with its focus on outcasts and circus performers. In this high-wire saga, forlorn street mime Frac (Rene Bazinet) lays down on the train tracks to end it all but, amazingly, is saved by 11-year-old Momo (Clipper Miano), who takes him to his circus troupe. There, Frac experiences an immediate emotional resuscitation: He falls in love with lissome performer Giuletta (Julie Cox).
Indeed, so affectionately transparent are the film's Fellini trappings that it could easily be renamed "Giuletta of the Circus", not in small measure because Cox's lilting performance as the circus girl is, perhaps, the film's dramatic high point, while Frank Langella is captivating as a Fagan-like despot. Certainly to further address the nebulous narrative is to miss the essence of "Alegria" -- its essential excellencies and character come through its movements, colors and splendid costumes.
Director Franco Dragone, who has directed the Cirque du Soleil since 1985, has fashioned a swirling, entrancing film of visual treats. Like a multi-ring circus, there is always something going on in Dragone's lively frame, in part because of the expert technical contributions. Costume designer Dominique Lemieux's eye-popping plumery and production designer Ben Van Os' moody trimmings add to the viewing joy.
ALEGRIA
Overseas Filmgroup
Co-producers: Rudy Barichello, Stephane Reichel, Alexandre Heylen, Hans de Weers
Director: Franco Dragone
Screenwriter: Rudy Barichello
Director of photography: Pierre Mignot
Costume designer: Dominique Lemieux
Production designer: Ben Van Os
Editor: Jean-Francois Bergeron
Color/stereo
Cast:
Frac: Rene Bazinet
Fleur: Frank Langella
Giuletta: Julie Cox
Marcello: Heathcote Williams
Momo: Clipper Miano
Old Taps: Brian Dewhurst
Little Box: Jade Fafieanie
Deaf Clown: Sergei Chachelev
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Well-received at the 10th annual Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival, "Alegria"'s most joyous tents may well be on the festival circuit and big-city art houses, where its elliptical structure and abstract acrobatics may have its most receptive audience appeal.
Billed as "a film event inspired by the Cirque du Soleil," "Alegria" is not a traditional narrative, although it borrows heavily from "Oliver Twist" and perambulates around Fellini territory with its focus on outcasts and circus performers. In this high-wire saga, forlorn street mime Frac (Rene Bazinet) lays down on the train tracks to end it all but, amazingly, is saved by 11-year-old Momo (Clipper Miano), who takes him to his circus troupe. There, Frac experiences an immediate emotional resuscitation: He falls in love with lissome performer Giuletta (Julie Cox).
Indeed, so affectionately transparent are the film's Fellini trappings that it could easily be renamed "Giuletta of the Circus", not in small measure because Cox's lilting performance as the circus girl is, perhaps, the film's dramatic high point, while Frank Langella is captivating as a Fagan-like despot. Certainly to further address the nebulous narrative is to miss the essence of "Alegria" -- its essential excellencies and character come through its movements, colors and splendid costumes.
Director Franco Dragone, who has directed the Cirque du Soleil since 1985, has fashioned a swirling, entrancing film of visual treats. Like a multi-ring circus, there is always something going on in Dragone's lively frame, in part because of the expert technical contributions. Costume designer Dominique Lemieux's eye-popping plumery and production designer Ben Van Os' moody trimmings add to the viewing joy.
ALEGRIA
Overseas Filmgroup
Co-producers: Rudy Barichello, Stephane Reichel, Alexandre Heylen, Hans de Weers
Director: Franco Dragone
Screenwriter: Rudy Barichello
Director of photography: Pierre Mignot
Costume designer: Dominique Lemieux
Production designer: Ben Van Os
Editor: Jean-Francois Bergeron
Color/stereo
Cast:
Frac: Rene Bazinet
Fleur: Frank Langella
Giuletta: Julie Cox
Marcello: Heathcote Williams
Momo: Clipper Miano
Old Taps: Brian Dewhurst
Little Box: Jade Fafieanie
Deaf Clown: Sergei Chachelev
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 1/13/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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