The Academy Awards are getting a new roommate, as the Cirque du Soleil has unveiled plans for a permanent, movie-inspired show based at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
Guy Laliberté, founder of the Montreal-based circus giant, joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in announcing the plans in the California city on Monday.
"The circus is coming to our town, and the people of Los Angeles can't wait," Villaraigosa said at a news conference.
Cirque has signed a 10-year deal with the theatre's owners, CIM Group, to use the massive venue for a new show that will pay tribute to Hollywood's role in cinematic history.
Hollywood films "don't just entertain — they inform, inspire and move audiences all around the world," Laliberté said.
They have "changed the way we think and the way we live, and they've certainly had a positive influence on Cirque du Soleil."
Cirque plans to stage 386 performances a year in the more than 3,000-seat venue. The show's only dark period will be a four- to six-week break during the run-up to the Academy Awards.
Currently, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — which organizes the Oscars — is in the sixth year of a 20-year contract with the Kodak Theatre.
Cirque officials have earmarked $100 million US for the show: $40 million to create the new production and $60 million on adapting the theatre.
Unlike several of its permanent shows in Las Vegas, however, they won't be making significant changes to the Los Angeles space, dubbed the first permanent home of the Academy Awards.
Laliberté pointed out that the theatre's high ceilings are ideal to showcase Cirque acrobatics — a feat that was tested in 2002 when they performed live for that year's Oscar broadcast.
The Cirque's new Hollywood show is scheduled to open in 2010.
In addition to its shows that tour around the world, Cirque has a growing number of permanent productions, mostly in Las Vegas, including the long-running Mystère, O, Zumanity, Ka and the Beatles-themed Love. In the works are shows inspired by Elvis Presley and magician Criss Angel.
In April 2006, Cirque officials also broke ground at Tokyo's Disneyland complex in preparation for its first permanent venue in Asia.
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