A behind-the-scenes look at Cirque du Soleil: Corteo
Catherine Duval and her team were inspecting each piece of clothing and accessory.
They were in search of missing buttons, torn fabric or stains, holes or anything out of the ordinary.
It’s their mission to make a repair or replace the piece before the show can go on.
“If a costume needs love, we give it the love it deserves,” said Duval, head of wardrobe for Cirque du Soleil: Corteo, as she stood among racks of costumes back stage inside PPG Paints Arena on Thursday morning. “For this show, everything has to fit perfectly.”
That’s because the 53 artists perform acrobatic feats. They can’t have a piece of clothing get caught on any of the apparatus they use or not fit properly while they flip in the air — nor can they lose a button in flight.
Each costume is tailor made to the artist’s body.
In this show, artists will make at least two, possibly three changes, which involves getting dressed and undressed and making sure their safety harnesses are in place.
The performance is 100 minutes long and there is an intermission. It opened Thursday. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets start at $49.
Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown.
The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in this carnival atmosphere complete with angels and horses.
“The story is up to your own perception,” said Alexandra Gaillard, senior publicist for Cirque du Soleil: Corteo. “Is he dreaming of his funeral or celebrating his life?”
There is definitely emotion in this show, Gaillard said.
The production, directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, first premiered in Montreal under the Big Top in April 2005. Montreal is the headquarters for Cirque du Soleil and where the costumes are made.
The stage divides the venue, with each half of the audience facing the other half. As a result, the show looks different depending on which side of the venue you are sitting. There is a curtain with hand-painted drawings on each side.
Guests often come twice to see it from both angles, said Alison Crawford, artistic director.
There are two backstages — artists and staff roll on skateboards under the stage to get to the other side. They spent part of Thursday morning warming up by riding a stationary bicycle or climbing ladders or rolling inside a large hula hoop and juggling.
In addition to the artists, there are musicians.
“I love so many things about this show,” said artist Stephanie Waltman. “It’s a human show, and I get to play myself.”
Waltman spent some one-on-one time with student Dante Santilli, a sophomore at Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School in Wilmerding. The Penn Township resident wants to be a performer and was there with some of his classmates.
“I am in love with the artistry and that each artist portrays themselves,” Santilli said. “I know it takes lot of practice and strength and confidence to do what they do. This has been such a wonderful experience.”
The show brings 18 trucks. In addition to its own staff, which includes 37 technicians to set up the stage and check for safety requirements, the show hires 100 local professionals to help.
Most of the clothing is made from polyester fabric, which allows it to be washed easily and steam ironed.
They bring their own washers and dryers because clothing is cleaned between performance days. And it’s not just clothing that gets checked — headwear and footwear get a once over, as well. There are shelves and shelves of hats and stacks and stacks of shoes.
Charlotte Foret is the shoe artist for Corteo. She was painting and polishing shoes from size 3 to 18. If she can’t repair footwear, there are backup pairs available.
She was working on a pair of size 3 pink shoes with buckles and gemstones and 1 and 1/2-inch heels for an artist who will fly above the audience with four helium balloons.
Guests can engage in pushing her through the air during the performance.
“I love to know that I have a small part in making them look beautiful on stage,” Foret said. “These shoes are all so beautiful, and the wonderful colors are bright and bold. “
The costumes are such an integral part of the show because each artist wears an outfit that reflects their personality. Most of them, except the clown characters, learn how to do their own hair and makeup.
Duval said she has always been fascinated with costumes and dressing people. She said this is a challenging career and she feels “fulfilled to watch the performance happen.” She said the lighting in the arena enhances the beauty of the clothing, making it brighter and bolder.
She compares the Cirque du Soleil team to a soccer team where everyone is focused on the same goal. There are players on the field who you need to score the goal, but there are coaches and trainers and other staff who help prepare the players and support the players so they can score the goals — and in a show such as this, give the audience an enjoyable performance.
Duval said the show is like the tip of an iceberg — you see that part. But there’s a big part underneath that you don’t see, but it’s there and it’s necessary.
“It’s fun and challenging to be backstage because it never stops,” said Duval. “There is a lot of energy behind the scenes. “The costumes are so powerful. It’s all in the details.”
Duval then walked back in between the clothing racks to continue checking each garment.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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