====================================================================== ____ _ ____ / ___(_)_ __ __ _ _ _ ___ / ___|___ _ __ | | | | '__/ _` | | | |/ _ \ | / _ \| '_ \ | |___| | | | (_| | |_| | __/ |__| (_) | | | | \____|_|_| \__, |\__,_|\___|\____\___/|_| |_| __|_| ___ _ ___ |___ \ / _ \/ |/ _ \ __) | | | | | | | | / __/| |_| | | |_| | |_____|\___/|_|\___/ N E W Y O R K C I T Y & M O N T R É A L ====================================================================== UPDATE #13: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 ====================================================================== ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 DAYS UNTIL CIRQUECON 2010: NEW YORK CITY & MONTRÉAL! TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 through SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Greetings, Cirque Passionates! We're inching ever closer to our Cirque-filled week and we hope you're as excited as we are to kick off this celebration! By now news of BANANA SHPEEL's most recent delay has made the circuit - rather than start its performance previews on March 17th as previously announced, Cirque du Soleil will now begin preview performances on Thursday, April 29th. Due to the schedule change we're going to be treated to a premiere rather than a regular performance. Could we get any luckier?! Aaaand, because our viewing now falls within the "preview period", the cost of tickets has been reduced $20.00 USD - hooray! Members who paid $75.00 USD with us earlier will receive a refund at the convention. You'll find President Jackson tucked in with your BANANA SHPEEL ticket. Otherwise, we've got just a couple of other event items to announce with more to come, so, on to the update! In This Update... ------------------------------------- o) BANANA SHPEEL Delayed Again! o) Playing with Cirque /// Cirque Activities o) CirqueCon 2010 T-Shirts /// Get'em Soon! o) Eat with us - Group meals now taking RSVPS! ===================================================================== o) BANANA SHPEEL DELAYED AGAIN! Here's a little press release relating to the recent delay with BANANA SHPEEL, courtesy of Cirque du Soleil: BANANA SHPEEL PRODUCTION UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Producer gone bananas with revised performance schedule New York, March 10, 2010 - Marty Schmelky, producer extraordinaire of such box-offices smashes as The Phantom of the Banana; Annie Get Your Banana; Fiddler on the Banana; The Best Little Banana in Texas; Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Banana; and Gentlemen Prefer Bananas, announced today that he has closed the deal with Cirque du Soleil to allow Schmelky Productions to produce the new show Banana Shpeel. Under his management, Banana Shpeel will begin performances at the Beacon Theatre (2124 Broadway) on April 29, 2010, instead of March 17. "To the good people of New York and the entire tri-state area who have so wonderfully supported my shows for all these decades, my newest creation Banana Shpeel still needs more time to ripen. The truth is, my friends, that the bananas are still a little green," explains cigar- puffing Schmelky. "I am still holding auditions because Banana Shpeel has to be like me: bold, wacky and colorful." In describing the new show, Schmelky is moving in a new direction from his previous productions. "I'm mixing together different ingredients and we will showcase dance, comedy and circus arts in the fancy schmancy Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side." o) PLAYING WITH CIRQUE /// CIRQUE ACTIVITIES Cirque du Soleil, having heard that CirqueCon is coming to town, is working hard behind the curtain for a grand Cirquey welcome. Just what they may have planned for us is currently under wraps at this time. As such we do not yet have a firm idea as to when, what, or where any activites (and in what form they may be in) will take place. All I can say is keep your calendar clear! Invitations have been extended for us to visit OVO's Grand Chapiteau the afternoon of our group performance for a chance to see how the critters and creatures of their microcosmic insect world train for their performances. And afterward perhaps meet a few of the cast and crew to ask some of our most burning and pressing questions. Director Schmelky, producer extraordinaire, has heard through the grape-vine that we're attending the premiere of his new show. He and his crew are quite anxious to meet with us. We only hope his schedule can be cleared in time - he's a busy man these days, after all. Stay tuned! o) CIRQUECON 2010 T-SHIRTS /// GET'EM SOON! Okay CirqueCon Passionates - coming soon! Thanks to Francisco and a generous sponsor in Mexico, we're pleased to offer you CirqueCon 2010 branded T-shirts for our upcoming event soon. And due to the unique nature of our event this year - Three Shows, Two Cities, One Event - Francisco has two different designs from which to choose! Each T-Shirt should be approximately $14.00 USD ($15.00 by PAYPAL) a piece and are available in Small, Medium, Large, X-Large and XX-Large. All we need to know is how many, in which colors (Green or Black), and at what size (S/M/L/XL/XXL). Check out the T-shirts on our website at: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/goodies.htm#tshirt > We'll have convenient payment options available shortly! NOTE: Due to the printing and shipping costs associated with the T-shirts, we're only able to offer them through this special order. Unfortunately we will not have extras for Passionates to purchase on site. There will only be one print run so get your orders in today! o) EAT WITH US -- GROUP MEALS NOW TAKING RSVPS! We'd love to see everyone at our official Group Meals in both New York City and Montréal - the Amsterdam Ale House in New York City and Restaurant du Vieux Port in Montréal. We'd also love to see you at Dallas BBQ in New York City before we embark for OVO's Grand Chapiteau. For information pertaining to costs involved, restaurant locations, or even a peek at the menus, use the links below, which will take you to our website: NEW YORK CITY | Dallas BBQ: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/social-NYC.htm#magicbus > NEW YORK CITY | Amsterdam Ale House: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/social-NYC.htm#meal > MONTREAL | Restaurant du Vieux Port: < http://www.cirquecon.com/2010/social-YUL.htm#meal > RSVP & PAYMENT NOTES: *) AMSTERDAM ALE HOUSE /// Payment must be received by no later than Thursday, April 15th to guarantee your spot. *) RESTAURANT DU VIEUX PORT /// RSVP deadline is Friday, April 2nd. On Monday, April 5th we will calculate the cost of the meal in US Dollars based on the exchange rate in effect at that time. We will then update with ticket costs and payment information. Payment must then be received by Wednesday, April 2nd to guarantee your spot. *) DALLAS BBQ /// Pre-payment is not necessary. Please, come on by! Members will pay their on tab on premises before departing. # # # That's it for this update. Come join us as we take on Manhattan (and Montréal!) at CirqueCon 2010! Ricky, Keith, LouAnna, Rodolfo & Francisco CirqueCon 2010: New York City & Montréal! On the Web: < www.cirquecon.com > Facebook: < http://www.facebook.com/pages/CirqueCon/272446895013 > Email: < newyork@cirquecon.com > ======================================================================