Esther Daack Comes Back to PDX with Cirque du Soleil
Esther Daack backstage at Cirque du Soleil's Dralion
DAACK IS BACK: Cirque du Soleil is coming back to Portland.
And so is its General Manager Esther Daack.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Esther has had a varied career in the entertainment industry. Her TV credits include The Mickey Mouse Club, Wheel of Fortune, and Bill Nye The Science Guy. Esther was employed by the Walt Disney Company for seventeen years. Other entertainment-related work experiences include Production Manager at Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus. She has also worked on independent projects including creating and producing her own musical, Bathhouse.
But this is the first time Daack has toured to Oregon with the arena tour of Cirque's Dralion (it's the second time the show has appeared in Portland. In 2002 it had a long run under the Grand Chapiteau on the waterfront). Bearing the unmistakable signature of Cirque du Soleil and featuring 50 international acrobats, gymnasts, musicians and singers, Dralion soars to new heights as it defies the laws of nature.
Dralion is a signature Cirque du Soleil production seen by more than seven million people worldwide since it premiered in 1999 in Montreal, Canada. After many years performing under the big top, Dralion is now be presented in arenas throughout the United States and Canada. Fusing the 3,000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature.
The show’s name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West. In Dralion, the four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form. Thus embodied, each element is represented by its own evocative colour: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre. In the world of Dralion, cultures blend, Man and Nature are one, and balance is achieved. The show will pop up at Portland's Rose Garden on June 15.
I had the chance to talk to Esther, 36, who studied at Oregon Episcopal School as well as Pacific University, prior to the show's arrival and here is what she has to say:
Esther, does your family still live in the area?
Esther Daack: My mom still lives in the same house in Eastmoreland that I grew up in.
So how did a gal from Portland end up with such a cool career?
Perseverance and a little luck I suppose. I was recruited by the Walt Disney Company to work as a college intern in Florida at what was then called the Disney/ MGM Studios. That was my start working in entertainment. When I returned to school at Pacific University, I found myself spending more time at the theater than at the microbiology lab. After graduating, I continued working for the Mouse and parlayed my studio experience and degree in Biology into a gig in Seattle working for Bill Nye the Science Guy. When that show was cancelled, I continued to work for Disney and freelanced for other companies and one job kind of led to another.
What do you miss most about Portland?
Besides my mom and childhood friends….Sushiland. We go right from the airport to the Clackamas location every time I visit.
Click "read more" below to hear Esther's thoughts on Cirque, Bill Nye and Dralion:
What compelled you to join the Cirque du Soleil family?
Cirque du Soleil has had a resident show “La Nouba” at the Walt Disney World resort since 1998. The first time I saw that show, I remember feeling like for 90 minutes I was living inside a Salvador Dali painting. I knew I had to be a part of the Cirque team. After about a ten year process, the folks in Montreal decided I would be a good fit to lead the stage management team on “Dralion”.
Which of the following is wackiest character you've ever worked with: Mickey Mouse, Pat Sajak or Bill Nye?
Definitely Bill Nye…Did you know he was an engineer at Boeing? I have a huge respect for folks that can bridge the arts and sciences.
Do you miss working in television as opposed to arena tours?
Both have their benefits: Live entertainment is so immediate and ever changing, and as a stage manager, you always have to be prepared for any number of contingencies that can come your way, which keeps you on your toes. When you work in television and film, you may not get to see the finished produce for six months, but at least you have something that you can tell your friends and family to tune into and watch from their homes. I think that’s why I’m so excited to be able to bring Dralion to Portland. I can finally show my mom what I’ve been up to all this time!
What can audiences expect with Dralion?
Thrills, enchantment, beauty, excitement: This show is a representation of everything that Cirque du Soleil does best. We have an amazing roster of talent from all over the world that will dazzle, delight, and inspire you. I know because, I am continually amazed and inspired by what our artists do every day.
Where does the name come from?
It’s a combination of the two words “Dragon” and “Lion” which is the icon of our show.
What's the first thing you are going to do when you arrive home?
I will be returning home to two cats and my very own circus performer that I left behind. We will all take a very long nap together!
Can you tell me a bit about your musical?
“Bathhouse: The Musical!” is a show that I co-wrote with Tim Evanicki for the 2006 Orlando International Fringe Festival. Since playing in Orlando, it has gone on to tour the US, Canada, and played in London. A French language version of the show, “SAUNA le Musical” premiered earlier this year in Paris, France. It’s basically musical tale about life and love… at the baths!
What does the future hold for Esther Daack?
Hopefully lots of fun adventures!
Do you ever see yourself moving back to Portland?
Of course!
Details: Dralion show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, June 15 and 16; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 17 and 18; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, June 19. Tickets range from $40 to $85 for adults, $39 to $69 for children 12 and younger, and $36 to $72 for military personnel, seniors and students. Click here for tickets
!joomlacomment 4.0 Copyright (C) 2009 Compojoom.com . All rights reserved."
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Last Updated (Thursday, 19 May 2011 11:27)
Miss you my friend...