Cirque du Soleil’s holiday theatrical “‘Twas the Night Before…” will return to Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre in December for a season of dazzling lights and gravity-defying acrobatics.
Tickets for the 16 Hippodrome shows will go on sale starting Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. through BaltimoreHippodrome.com, Ticketmaster, and the in-person box office at 12 N. Eutaw St.
Inspired by Clement Clarke Moore’s long-beloved poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” “‘Twas the Night Before…” follows the story of a young girl named Isabella who rediscovers her love for the holiday season as the magic of Moore’s poem comes to life.
The cast of 26 artists from around the world will transform the historic Hippodrome stage into a winter wonderland featuring an aerial Straps Duo, a team of daring hoop divers, and a gravity-defying hair suspension artist. Audiences can also expect high-speed roller skating, diabolo juggling, and other signature Cirque du Soleil performances inspired by scenes from the poem.
Behind the scenes, the makeup and hair department utilizes 13 unique makeup concepts throughout the show, going through 25 pots of glitter, 60 cans of colored hairspray, and 340 makeup brushes each night.
During the Roller Skates number, performers reach speeds of up to 30 mph while skating on a circular platform measuring just 6 feet in diameter. The Diabolo act features eight spinning diabolos in motion simultaneously, each reaching speeds of up to 20 revolutions per second.
The aerial Straps Duo act, inspired by swirling snowflakes carried by winter winds, is performed 20 feet above the stage. In the Hair Suspension act, a performer spins as fast as seven turns per second while suspended solely by her hair, which can withstand up to 250 pounds of pressure.
The production culminates with the energetic Hoop Diving number, inspired by Santa’s reindeer from Moore’s poem. Performers leap through hoops positioned as high as 10 feet above the stage, with some hoops measuring just 18 inches in diameter.
Blending holiday storytelling with Cirque du Soleil’s trademark acrobatics, “’Twas the Night Before…” offers a family-friendly theatrical experience that celebrates imagination, wonder and the magic of the season.
Theatergoers looking to plan ahead for the holiday season can find more information on the production here.
