Famed Cirque du Soleil is bringing a beloved show, Corteo, to life in the Queen City

Daniele Finzi Pasca, the creator and director of Cirque du Soleil’s show Corteo, is bringing the story of the clown Mauro to life with inspiration from 18th century European art and philosophy. The show will be held in Cincinnati at Heritage Bank Center May 9 to 12. 

The nostalgic clown Mauro dreams about his funeral while looking back on his personal experiences, and the story of it all is intricately woven into the details of the sets and costumes in a carnival atmosphere.  

Rather than mourn the passing of Mauro, the funeral cortege celebrates the here and hereafter with both laughter and exuberance thanks to extravagant memories and reflection on what was. 

According to Senior Tour Director of Corteo Michael Veilleux, what makes this show unique is that the stage is central in the arena and divides the venue so that each half of the audience is facing the other half. “The gives a unique perspective to not only the show, but also a performer’s eye view of the audience,” he says. “This show is an atmosphere like never before seen in Cirque du Soleil arena shows.” 

This two-hour show is full of entertainment, but the goal is to give audiences members more than just that. Veilleux said the show aims to be a reflection of how precious life is, and to cherish the friends and family in our lives.  

Get tickets for this weekend’s shows at its website.