Cirque du Soleil’s first Christmas show ‘Twas the Night Before…’ comes to Playhouse Square

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cirque du Soleil has entertained audiences worldwide since its founding in 1984. The French Canadian circus company has staged more than 50 productions, each more thrilling and dazzling than the last. But it had never put on a Christmas-themed show until “’Twas the Night Before…” premiered in 2019.

Featuring everything you’ve come to expect from a classic Cirque production, the family-friendly spectacle makes its Cleveland debut with a 12-day run at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre starting Wednesday, Dec. 4.

“The show is a melding of all the Cirque elements — sound, music, effects, dancers, acrobats and costumes,” said touring artistic director Alison Crawford. “It really brings you into another world that is magical.”

Directed by James Hadley (“Delirium,” “Mystére”), “’Twas the Night Before…” draws inspiration from Clement Clarke Moore’s enduring poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” The show opens with a father trying to read the poem — perhaps better known by its opening line, “‘Twas the night before Christmas…” — to his tween daughter, Isabella. Distracted by her iPad, Isabella dismisses the tradition until meddling pixies (elves?) intervene, conjuring a blizzard that separates her from her father.

“She’s whisked away by someone — it may be Santa Claus, you don’t know yet — into this magical world to help her understand the magic of Christmas again,” Crawford said. “It’s a world filled with many acrobatic acts and lots of snow.”

Many and lots might be understatements. The production stars a cast of 26 acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, roller skaters, tricksters and other talented artists from over a dozen countries, performing on a stage that requires nearly five dump trucks of artificial snow for every show.

“Lots of snow throughout: snowball fights, snowmen, snow falling,” Crawford said. “There’s a bed explosion of snow that brings us into the chaotic snowstorm that Isabella gets taken away in.”

Part “The Nutcracker,” part “Alice in Wonderland,” the story follows the young girl as she journeys through an enchanting winter wonderland. Along the way, Isabella encounters a series of Cirque acts, with each scene inspired by a line from the poem and conveying a heartwarming lesson. Composer and musical director Jean-Phi Goncalves’ original songs and Cirqued-up arrangements of beloved Christmas carols such as “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night” set the mood.

“The music is fantastic,” Crawford said. “You get that holiday spirit right away.”

Expect gravity-defying strap artists dressed as snowflakes, reindeer (human) diving through hoops, a juggling elf named Jolly, a mystical figure suspended from the ceiling by her hair and a nimble aerialist who does interesting things with a hotel luggage cart. But that’s only the beginning.

“The diabolo act is something many people haven’t seen — it’s on a dark stage with lit diabolos, making them look like they’re floating,” adds Crawford. The diabolists can spin the yo-yos as fast as 20 turns per second.

Their speed is matched only by the roller skaters, who perform on a platform just six feet in diameter and can reach up to 30 miles per hour.

“They do crazy, crazy stuff, spinning and hanging on their necks while they’re on their rollerblades,” the touring artistic director said.

Put it all together, and “‘Twas the Night Before…” delivers an unmatched holiday experience full of joy and wonder, Crawford assures.

“It’s Cirque du Soleil. That’s all I can say.”

“’Twas the Night Before…” by Cirque du Soleil plays at the KeyBank State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Dec. 4-15. Tickets are $35-$130 and available at playhousesquare.org.