KA, the latest creation from Cirque
du Soleil, was revealed today during a special press conference at MGM
Grand. Preview performances will begin November 26 in an unprecedented
performance space, the KA Theatre at MGM Grand. Tickets are now on sale.
KA combines acrobatic performances, martial arts, puppetry, multimedia and
pyrotechnics to illustrate the nature of duality. Created and directed by
acclaimed theatre and film director Robert Lepage, the show applies the
visual vocabulary of cinema to a live spectacle creating a vibrant
narrative that conjures an entire empire on stage.

KA tells the epic saga of separated twins—a boy and a girl—who
embark on a perilous journey to fulfill their linked destinies. As the
plot unfolds, danger lies in wait for them at every turn. Archers and
spearmen hunt the twins relentlessly, as their quest takes them through a
succession of challenging landscapes, from a mysterious seashore through
menacing mountains and foreboding forests.

The show’s creative elements are essential to invoking the world of KA.
The costumes for the international cast of 72 artists have an Asian
influence, as reflected in the lavish imperial court costumes and robust
martial artists’ warrior uniforms. Additionally, the mood is set by the
original score, which incorporates soaring melodies and richly textured
arrangements driven through an elaborate audio system that literally
surrounds the spectator in sound.

Another important element is the ambivalent power of fire to create and
destroy. “Fire is the one thing that holds everything together,” says
Lepage. “It’s the storyline and the saga. It creates conflict and
destruction as it gives life and light.”

Cirque du Soleil Founder and CEO, Guy Laliberte, describes KA as “the most
theatrical show we’ve ever done.” It is scripted with a strongly defined
almost cinematic narrative, with clearly identified characters and story
arcs. The execution of that narrative called for more technologically
advanced visual effects than Cirque du Soleil has ever attempted. “That’s
why I wanted Robert Lepage to write and direct the show. With his vast
experience in theatre and film, his knowledge of the technology and his
curiosity and innovative spirit, he was the only man for the job.”

The KA Theatre is an astonishing performance space, seating 1,951 guests.
“The arrival of KA is the crown jewel in the renaissance of MGM Grand,”
says Gamal Aziz, MGM Grand president and COO. “Throughout our reinvention,
we have strived for the best in dining, entertainment and service. With
the unveiling of KA, MGM Grand is taken to a new level.”

The show’s title, KA, is inspired by the ancient Egyptian belief in the
“ka,” an invisible spiritual duplicate of the body that accompanies every
human being throughout this life and into the next. That concept is also
reflected in the show’s visual signature, which evokes the central theme
of duality as personified by the twins and the symbolic use of fire. The
logo is influenced by Asian iconography.
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