Exclusive interview with Mark Beiler of Cirque du Soleil's Alegria

The circus is coming to town! But this isn’t an ordinary circus—not like the ones you remember from your childhood, with the smelly sawdust, worn-out-looking animals, and garishly-painted (enough to give some of you nightmares) clowns.

Alegria is a Spanish word that means happiness, joy, and jubilation. If you’re looking for a Kansas City Getaway right here in town, you probably won’t find an experience more amazing than the upcoming Cirque du Soleil show, Alegria, at the Sprint Center.

Alegria is a Cirque du Soleil classic that has entertained more than 10 million people worldwide since its premiere in Montreal in 1994. Last year Alegria began touring in arenas across North America, and this month Kansas City is the lucky recipient of its magic.

Acts include the Synchro Trapeze and the intense Aerial High Bars, in which daring aerialists fly more than 40 feet above the stage. The vibrancy and high energy of youth is alive in Power Track, a brilliant display of synchronized choreography and tumbling on a trampoline system hidden under the stage floor. In Russian Bars, artists soar through the air and perform spectacular somersaults and mid-air turns, landing on bars perched on the sturdy shoulders of catchers. The special effects are nothing short of exquisite.

And, as always in Cirque du Soleil shows, there is a fairytale-like storyline. Despite its joyous name, Alegria is an enigmatic and troubling world, with trials, tribulations, and uncertainty. But the human spirit remains implacable, shining and invincible. Most of all, Alegria is an ode to the energy, grace, and power of youth. You’ll find yourself holding your breath, without even realizing it. The spectacle is that moving.

It takes a special kind of performer to keep up the grueling pace in Cirque du Soleil’s touring productions, and 24-year old Mark Beiler, High Bar Catcher, who will be wowing Kansas City audiences this week at the Sprint Center, definitely fits the bill. Beiler is just one member of the cast of 55 performers from 17 different countries, but he has enough enthusiasm for the whole troupe.

Beiler, originally from Calgary, says that he has been a gymnast “my whole life. I was always a hyperactive kid, rolling around since I was three years old. My parents took me to kindergym when I was little, and then I was basically taken under the wing of a good coach.”

Beiler’s gymnastic career was exceptional, and he captured gold at the B.C. Championships, the Western Canada Championships and the Canadian National Championships at age 16. His twin brother, Matt, also one of Canada’s top gymnasts, is “going for Olympic glory,” but Mark decided instead to run away to join the circus.

“I can see my life through a parallel world,” Beiler says, of the way his life has branched out in a different direction from his brother’s.

Both young men were fortune enough to have been offered a four-year scholarship to the University of Iowa. “It was a great experience,” Beiler says. “I was more into academics there than I was into gymnastics. I had a few injuries along the way. I really enjoyed going to school in the States, and earned a degree in Economics. It was an excellent situation, and I really like Iowa City.”

How did Beiler decide to join Cirque? “The first Cirque show that I ever saw was ‘Love’ in Las Vegas. I was so impressed with the dynamics of the show. It was really entertaining. I wanted to be part of something that was bigger than me.”

Beiler is convinced that he made the right decision. “I’m now doing something that I love, and getting paid for it. I wasn’t getting that from gymnastics.”

There’s a huge difference between competing and performing, Beiler says, and much less pressure when you’re performing. “In Cirque, we can mess up, and still improvise, and not mess up the performance.” He added, “But we don’t mess up too often!”

According to Beiler, the Cirque troupe is “very much like a family---we all get along with each other. All the different performers are true professionals. They’re all top-level and efficient. It’s a real honor to work among people like that. And it’s also very pleasurable to work in that kind of environment, where you’re surrounded by such high-level professionals.”

Beiler says that he is “treated very well in Cirque,” and he doesn’t mind the extensive traveling. “I golf a lot—once or twice a week. I get Mondays and Tuesdays off, and I take full advantage of my down time to play golf and explore the city I’m in.”

He’s looking forward to this week’s stay in Kansas City, and jokes that he’s “looking for Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.”

He also wants to see a big storm. “A tornado ripped through Iowa City while I was there, and I got to see it. It was coming right at us. The best experience ever!”

Anything else? “I’ll definitely hit the barbecue.”
 

THE FINE PRINT: The acclaimed touring production of Alegria will perform in Kansas City at the Sprint Center from May 12-16, 2010 for eight performances only. For more information, read this review of Alegria weaving dreams in Kansas City. To buy tickets, go to www.cirquedusoleil.com/alegria or call 800-745-3000.