Cirque du Soleil skates into Cedar Park on tour for its first

Crystal Clear

Cirque du Soleil, the famous international circus troupe, already has many audiences' hearts with 42 original shows, but a new show this winter makes a dramatic change in the entire experience. This will be the company's first-ever venture on ice.

Cirque du Soleil brings Crystal (formatted CRYSTAL), its acrobatic ice show, on tour through the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in February of 2024, with a promise that it will be the most dazzling and magical production yet.

Real snowballs and world-class skating will be some of the chillest new additions, but the Cirque's signature acrobatics and surprisingly deep storytelling will remain a main theme.

“It’s Cirque du Soleil’s very first foray into this world,” Crystal senior publicist Christine Achampong tells CultureMap. “Our entire ‘stage’ is an ice rink, so everything and everyone slides and glides across the surface, which creates another layer of speed and spectacle in the show.”

Audiences will join the main character, Crystal, on a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance as she moves through an exhilarating adventure colored by whimsical encounters, movement, and plenty of playful imagination. While the show’s message offers a universal appeal, it’s the intricate and intentional details of the production that are sure to make the most lasting impact on audiences.

It's not just ice that sets this show apart. Crystal is the only currently touring Cirque du Soleil production to use top pop songs within its soundtrack, a distinctive departure from the musical scores of creations past. Additional new changes for Crystal include large-scale interactive projections and an integrated spotlight tracking system to provide audiences with a hyper-immersive experience.

To help execute the gravity-defying stunts and high-speed precision choreography planned for the show, more than 5,000 pieces of custom-made costuming were created to withstand the cold and rigorous conditions of the stage.

Achampong says that the show features a team of professional acrobats and world-class skating performers all outfitted with adaptive garments. Some of these costume elements include Kevlar gloves to combat cold surfaces, shoes with ice-resistant traction, and water-resistant, insulated costuming material to provide safe, dry, and warm conditions.

“Our skaters are former World Champions, Olympians, and competitive skaters across multiple disciplines including solo and pairs skating, freestyle skating, and extreme skating,” Achampong says. “Combined with the tumbling, acro, aerial numbers, cinematic-style music, and comic characters, this show is incredible to watch from beginning to end.”

All signs point to Crystal being a truly unique production marked with several moments never before attempted by the Cirque team. Crystal performances are scheduled for February 21-25, 2024, at various showtimes. General ticket sales start on Monday, August 28, at cirqueudusoleil.com. This show is suitable for viewers of all ages.

Photos by Matt Baker & Olivier Brajon

Cirque du Soliel's first-ever ice show, CRYSTAL, flurries to the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in February 2024.