September 7, 2007                                                                                                                                          Associate Director of Marketing

                                                                                                                                                                             Phone: 253.573.2360

                                                                                                                                                                             Email: laceyl@broadwaycenter.org

Opening Weekend Spectacular:

See the Former Stars of Cirque du Soleil in

Cirqueworks Birdhouse Factory at the Broadway Center

Tacoma , WA – Prepare to be thrilled by the critically-acclaimed circus spectacular, which will launch the Broadway Center 's 2007-2008 Season. With three stunning performances of Cirqueworks Birdhouse Factory on September 21, 2007 at 7:30pm and September 22 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm in Downtown Tacoma's Pantages Theater. Cirqueworks has united some of the best artistic circus stars in the world including many from Cirque du Soleil , San Francisco 's Pickle Family Circus and the Moscow Circus . Together, these artists will transport audiences to a magical factory where every machine is used to defy the laws of physics and human nature.

Cirqueworks Birdhouse Factory is an energetic fusion of circus, arts and machines created in a giant mechanized factory setting where workers are acrobats, clowns, contortionists, trapeze and trampoline artists and storytellers. The high-flying modern spectacle tells a story encompassing laughter, love, flight, loss, and birdhouses.

Noted as "genius" and "inventive" by the San Francisco Chronicle , Cirqueworks Birdhouse Factory will transport you to a place where magic and hope merge in full bloom. Beginning in a dismal place, where factory workers are numb and lost amidst lifeless work creating meaningless widgets. Their spirits lift with a glimpse of beauty and sacrifice that inspires a simple, but powerful idea to build birdhouses. Sparks fly, a ray of hope spreads as a new purpose and meaning ignites their world!

Cirqueworks Birdhouse Factory was inspired by the masterful industry murals of Mexican-born artist Diego Rivera, the outrageous illustrations of cartoonist Rube Goldberg and the slap-stick style humor of Charlie Chaplin's film "Modern Times." Birdhouse Factory is brought to life thanks to the vision of its' Director, Chris Lashua, with inventive machines and the talent of its international cast.

Robert Hurwitt of the San Francisco Chronicle acclaimed that, “the beauty of Birdhouse lies in the generosity and integration of circus skills and music, light and choreography... and the glory is in the excellence of its performers.”

On sale now! Tickets are $54, $42 and $32 and may be purchased at the Broadway Center Box Office located on 9th & Broadway or by calling the Box Office at 253.591.5894. To purchase online at any time or for information about upcoming events visit www.broadwaycenter.org .

Interviews with Cirqueworks Birdhouse Factory Artistic Director, Chris Lashua and other artists are available upon request.  Contact Lacey Leffler at 253.573.2360 to make arrangements.  Images are available online at www.broadwaycenter.org/press/season-visuals.asp.

The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges the following for support of the 2007-2008 Season: ArtsFund, Ben B. Cheney Foundation, The Boeing Company, City of Tacoma , Forest Foundation, The News Tribune, Pierce County Arts Commission, Sequoia Foundation Pierce County Program, and Washington State Arts Commission.

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