Kick off the holiday season and treat your family to a cornucopia of performance artistry at the newest performance of Cirque du Soleil Crystal — A Breakthrough Ice Experience, now playing at the Sears Center Arena in Hoffman Estates through Sunday, November 19, 2017. With the addition of the element of ice, Cirque du Soleil Crystal weaves the excitement of figure skating into a dramatic story complete with acrobatics, aerialists, choreography, music and stunts, plus the delightful sprinkling of traditional circus elements.
Image source Cirque de Soleil
Cirque du Soleil Crystal executes a dramatic story line in way that will appeal to all audiences. Crystal, a young skater, plunges through the ice and into the world of her own imagination. Through her travels, she discovers the very elements she needs to succeed. The story line encourages us all to view our own lives from different angles, and demonstrates the potential to unleash new perspective when we take risks and even fall.
While the main character is an adolescent girl, the journey through her imaginary world is playful, fast-paced and dynamic, and relatable to all. In one of my favorite scenes, the stage is transformed into a larger-than-life pinball machine playground, complete with hockey stick-wielding skaters performing rapid-fire acrobatics and ramp stunts.
And no Cirque du Soleil performance would be complete without the gravity-defying aerialists, trapeze artists and balancing stunts, highlighted by the dazzling costumes designed to perfectly complement every act.
Cirque du Soleil has once again pushed the boundaries of creative performance over the top with its latest, and 42nd original production, Crystal — A Breakthrough Ice Experience. With live music interwoven with and contemporary songs — selections that your kids will recognize, by artists such at Beyoncé and Sia — and a theatrical set that changes by the minute, you will savor every second of this show. My tween daughter and I were mesmerized by the entire performance on opening night, and she has asked to attend future performances, which in my mind is testimony to the brilliant performance of Cirque du Soleil.
A few tips for attending:
- Bring cash to pay for parking; your $20 is money well spent to park in the arena lot.
- Official programs are available for purchase for $15, again, bring cash.
- Plan to arrive about 20-minutes early to take a few photos in front of the official Crystal backdrops located around the inside entrance to the performance stage.
- Browse the official Crystal boutique before the performance to avoid long lines during intermission.
- Concessions are available at the area; again, cash is preferred.
Cirque du Soleil Crystal — A Breakthrough Ice Performance
Performances through Sunday, November 19, 2017
Friday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 18 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 19 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Sears Center Arena
5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy., Hoffman Estates
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Have you attended Cirque du Soleil? Tell us what performance is your favorite in the comments section below.
Disclosure: The writer was provided with complimentary tickets for this performance in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are the author’s own.
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