The DC Traveler

Honing his craft as a street mime and clown for years in both the U.S. and Europe, and after joining his first of two European circuses in 1984, David Shiner later became a featured clown for two and a half years in Cirque du Soleil’s 1990 production of Nouvelle Experience.

Fast forward 18 years later and he’s directing Cirque du Soleil’s latest production to visit Washington, DC, KOOZA.  He also wrote and created the production, which opens October 30th, 2008 at the new Nation Harbor.

I had a chance recently to chat with David about the upcoming production of KOOZA.

Besides winning a Tony "Live Theatrical Presentation" Award in 1999 for Silent Tongue, David launched the role of the Cat in the Hat, in the Broadway musical Seussica, a musical based on the books by Dr. Seuss. He has also appeared in several movies, including Lorenzo’s Oil and on The Tonight Show.

KOOZA uses the classic Jungian theme, the duality of man — the good and the bad — the light and the dark. The show’s main character, a loner, seeks his place in the world, by exploring a wide range of emotions of the human condition. From power to fear, through solitude to laughter, the characters show us how we are all the same in our hopes, joys and fears.

When asked how long the production took from concept to stage, he related that the show’s concept is based on some of his European clowning and circus experiences, which he described as more classic in their technique and approach. But the show adds in a familiar America style of humor – slapstick, in the forms of the Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy.

The first six months of development of KOOZA were dedicated to the creation of the concept, followed by another 18 months of production development with his team of over a dozen creative associates. During that period, all aspects of the show were developed, including the music – a key element of the show, as well as the costumes, sets and each performance. But he reminded me that it doesn’t include the years and years performers invest to make any Cirque show look effortless as they seem to defy gravity and much of natural law.

“It the first show where the clown’s performances were created specifically for the show in the studio,” he said. “And KOOZA is one of the most physical Cirque du Soleil shows in years.” A comment such as that is hard to comprehend, as all of the shows I’ve experienced have been exceptionally physical and seemed to push the performances to the limits of physical strength, agility, balance and control.

When asked if he is creating another Cirque show in the future, he hesitated and replied somewhat coyly, “Yes…one for production in 2010”.  Based on his somewhat reluctant answer, it seems he’s like so many other creative types, preferring to hold their work close to the chest until it’s ready for public consumption. 

I asked him what Washington DC audiences should look for, he replied that the audience should leave the performance with a feeling of inspiration and hope. “Hopefully feeling like a kid again.”

Something I suspect we could all use a bit more of these days.

For more details on performances and tickets, check out my original announcement on the KOOZA on The DC Traveler.  The scheduled performance run has been extended another two weeks, now ending on December 14, 2008.

Images – All courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, © Cirque du Soleil 2007 – headshot – by Olivier Samson-Arcand – C2007 Cirque du Soleil Inc.

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