A Cirque Du Soleil show, Corteo, is coming to Greenville, SC at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena! We talked to the director of the show and have all the details on what it’s like + a review of our own.
Coreto, a Cirque Du Soleil show, is coming to Greenville, SC and we’re here for it. The last time a Cirque show came to Greenville was many years ago and wow, I still remember the awe I felt watching the artists. The costumes were fantastic and the entire show just transported the audience to another world.
You can expect more of that trademark, otherworldly experience when Corteo takes the floor of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena from March 21-24, 2024.
I got to talk to Michael Veilleux, the Cirque Du Soleil Corteo Tour Director, ahead of the show here in Greenville and he is thrilled to be in town and excited for audiences to experience the magic of the show.
About Corteo
In Italian, Corteo translates to “a joyous procession.” In this show, the joyous procession is a funeral procession. If that doesn’t sound fun, trust the reputation of Cirque Du Soleil and know that it’s going to be amazing.
“The theme is very joyous and playful,” said Veilleux.” It’s not serious but it’s also mysterious and full of imagery.”
The main character is a clown – not a scary one – named Mauro, who dreams about his funeral but the story isn’t so much about death but about celebrating the life he lived.
“The setting is so rich visually,” said Veilleux. “It’s this joyous procession with Mauro’s friends and family and you have all these different characters. The audience will see some pretty unique things they have likely never seen before like a beautiful acrobatic number with chandeliers. Other acts involve dancing, suspended poles, and a teeterboard. The show is divided into earthly and heavenly acts.”
In total, there are 53 artists. The entire show is moved from city to city by 21 trucks. It’s massive. You’ll probably see them lined up near the arena.
Corteo is directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca and first premiered in Montreal in April 2005. Since its creation, the show has amazed over 10 million spectators, in 20 countries, and on four continents.
Family-Friendly Aspects of Corteo
Of course, I needed to know if Corteo was family-friendly, which Veilleux enthusiastically agreed it is.
“It will amaze the whole family – there are so many things happening at the same time,” said Veilleux. “Adolescents will enjoy all the acrobatics. Older people will appreciate the quality of the music.”
He suggested Corteo would be good for ages 4 and up, mostly just because of the louder music and lighting. He said it may be too jarring for smaller kids. Overall, if a family brings kids, he said that there is so much going on that they will enjoy it.
The show is divided into two 50-minute acts with a 25-minute intermission.
Costumes and Makeup in Corteo
If you’ve ever been to a Cirque Du Soleil show before, you know how beautiful the costumes are. Corteo is no different except that there are just more costumes in this show, over 2,000 in fact.
“Corteo is an Italian creation so you can just imagine the details,” said Veilleux. “This is one of the shows that have the most detailed costumes. There will be some beautiful handmade costumes that are very rich in color.”
I also needed to know about the clowns and their makeup. While I don’t have any issues with clowns, some people are terrified of them. But in Corteo, Veilleux assured me that the clowns aren’t scary and their makeup is very light, reminiscent of the 1800s where only slight powder and a little lipstick were used to accentuate a person’s natural features.
Mom Review of Corteo
I got to see Corteo on opening night and Greenville and was awestruck the whole time. The music and costumes transport you to another time and the stage is small and intimate so you don’t feel like you’re at this huge production (even though you are).
Parts of the show were hilarious and right from the start, the action happens in the air with artists literally swinging from chandeliers. My 9-year-old asked me if those were real and I could see the wheels turning in her head as contemplated where she could find a chandelier to swing from. The next scene was with two trampolines disguised as beds so, of course, the same kid was already envisioning jumping on her bed.
My kids, ages 9 and 13, absolutely loved it. We saw a lot of other kids there as well. This was probably one of the very best shows I’ve seen at the Bon Secours Arena. I was so impressed with the movements of the artists and the emotional music and absolutely recommend to our readers.
Corteo Shows in Greenville, SC
There are five shows in Greenville at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena:
Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 pm
Friday, March 22nd at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 23rd at 3 pm and 7 pm
Sunday March 24th at 1 pm
Tickets start at $65 and can be bought online or at the box office.