Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel and Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group have exciting news for both residents and visitors of Honolulu.
The two companies have joined forces to bring a bespoke new multi-year resident show that will be exclusive to Hawai‘i. The announcement was made by executives from both organizations, along with Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
The show is anticipated to open in late 2024 and will showcase the world-renowned acrobatics and innovation that Cirque du Soleil is known for, combined with the natural beauty and unique culture of the islands.
To help create the show’s storyline, Native Hawaiian Aaron J. Salā, PhD, has been retained as the creative cultural producer, along with other prominent Hawaiian artists, musicians, and dancers.
The joint venture between the two parties will transform the 20,000 sq. ft. showroom venue at Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, which was previously used by Magic of Polynesia.
The venue will be renovated to create a nearly 800-seat theatre with a state-of-the-art audio-visual system. The venue architect is Hawai‘i-based G70, with project estimating done by RLB in Honolulu. The necessary permits for renovation work are currently being submitted.
“We are confident that the show created for Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel will delight and astound our guests and residents. This collaboration with Cirque was years in the making and perfectly aligns with Outrigger’s brand elevation strategy, which includes a promise to provide authentic live music and signature experiences in renowned beach locations,” said Jeff Wagoner, president and CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group.
Eric Grilly, Cirque du Soleil president of resident and affiliate shows, also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “We are thrilled to partner with a company as prominent as Outrigger to bring a brand new world-class immersive experience to life in Honolulu. We look forward to having a new home in Hawai’i and drawing on the rich culture of the islands as inspiration for the show.”
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi added, “In addition to bringing new vibrancy to Waikīkī, this project will produce significant economic impact through job creations in redeveloping the theatre space and ongoing show operations; I’m honoured and excited to welcome Cirque du Soleil as the newest Honolulu resident.”
This project will create many jobs for locals in the area and is expected to have a significant economic impact. Cirque du Soleil currently has 4,000 employees from 80 nationalities that contribute to 32 shows presented around the world, with 9.5 million tickets sold annually.
More details regarding the partnership, the show’s name and creative concept, as well as on-sale dates, will be shared in the coming months, with a target of December 2024 for the show’s debut.
The collaboration between Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel and Cirque du Soleil is set to bring an exciting new dimension to the vibrant entertainment scene in Hawai‘i.