EE News: Hydraulics & Cirque Du Soleil

http://www.entertainmentengineering.com/v5.issue08/index.html?page.18-19.html
While in Las Vegas a few months ago, we visited with Technical Director Erik Walstad and Operations Production Manager Keith Wright from Cirque du Soleils KA show, which is housed in the citys MGM Grand hotel. They took us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the theatre, where we saw many cool applications of technology in and around the interrelated stages that make up KA. They use hydraulics, pneumatics, and electromechanical technologies as well as a lot of computers and software programs for each show. Its probably the most technologically advanced stage show weve ever seen.
The KA stage is actually made up of several individual decks. Each of the decks move independently, but different technologies are employed for different types of motion control and movement.
The Main Stage feature is a 25- x 50-ft Sand Cliff deck. It weighs more than 100 tons and is lifted more than 70 ft in the air.
To lift the main stage, Cirque engineers use hydraulic power. If you are interested in learning more about the specific hydraulic products used in this particular Cirque show, be sure to check out the new episode of EETV we just produced. It is sponsored by Parker-Hannifin, the company that supplied the hydraulic pumps, valves, and other components used to lift the KA stage during performances.
Much of the technology we witnessed was originally created for applications in other industries. Parkers products, for example, were originally developed for aerospace, construction, and many other industries, but then later applied to this and other types of entertainment.
Same thing goes for other technologies employed in the KA show. Look for more of these stories on other technologies and video in upcoming issues of Entertainment Engineering.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Hydraulics
• cirque
• du
• soleil
• las
• vegas
• pistons
• entertainment
• engineering
• science
• power

[gospelsouth]

That is the most AMAZING thing I have EVER seen!

[EduardoWesleyLeite]

i love the show!!!

[dieselducy]

It is amazing what you can do with hydraulics!!

[spaceye]

*drool*

[MrJaybee61]

I was the construction manager for one of the contractors that saw that project through from the demolition of the old EFX theatre to the completion of the KA theatre. What a nighmare.

[DeepSeaDv]

WOW

yes sir, I like it[/ren&stimpy}

[thelosthikers]

yup, she just did a show i think the day before yesterday at night. But this week shes going back to mongolia to see her parents for about a week.

[unreelz77]

yes there is aa caterpillar is she still in the show?

[thelosthikers]

the one with the funny hat, that big square hat thing. yeah hhahah. I think that she also played some sort of catipillar...? nto sure

[unreelz77]

the princess ey are you talking about one of the twins or the tall lady with the funny hat?

because my stepmom plays the girl imperial twin but it is reall cool i just recently went and when we left we walked literally behind the stage it is huge!!!! its really cool just ask your trainer to see if you can get in but ill add you i have some interesting facts to share

[thelosthikers]

WHAT?! LUCKY!!!! My trainer, Zula, plays the princess in Ka, im kind of too afraid to ask her if i could go backstage, im too scared to even ask her for tickets, i feel like its too much trouble.

So how was it back stage???