Manila on the Entertainment Map of Asia

When staging huge productions, foreign artists look to our neighbors like Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Macau, and Taipei, to host shows that will cater to a more affluent market. Big productions such as the “Lion King”, “Wicked” and “Phantom of the Opera” have been staged in some of these Asian countries and have done exceptionally well in terms of market sales.


Over the years, Manila rarely gets the opportunity to stage big productions due to the lack of infrastructure and the Filipino market has always been underestimated.

Macau, on the other hand, has become an entertainment hub for its five-star hotels and casinos as well as entertainment shows for all ages. The Venetian Hotel in Macau, for example, was able to stage big ticket productions including “ZAIA”, one of the many offerings of Canada-based international performing group Cirque du Soleil. And for years, Filipinos wishing to witness such international caliber stage productions had to spend more money by travelling to other neighboring Asian countries.

In an effort to bring world-class entertainment to the country, Hoopla Inc., official promoter of Cirque du Soleil in the Philippines, finally brings one of the Cirque du Soleil big top live production Varekai.

Varekai has been touring in the last nine years in North America, Australia,New Zealand and Europe. This year, Varekai finally visits Asia beginning with Taiwan in January. They are currently performing in South Korea and will be premiering in the Philippines in June 2011.

Hoopla, Inc. believes that the Manila staging of Varekai will help boost the image of the Philippines as an entertainment destination and will encourage other big-ticket productions to consider the country for their shows. The official promoter also shares that they are very excited to bring Cirque du Soleil to the Philippines because they feel that the local audience deserves only the best. Made possible by the show’s presenting sponsors, Manila Hotel and Banco De Oro, together with its official sponsor, Sun Life Financial,they stressed that there is huge market for high-quality productions in the Philippines, affirming the Filipinos’ passion for art, music and entertainment.

Cirque du Soleil will set up its trademark blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) which can house up to over 2,500 audiences across Quirino Grandstand. Varekai will perform in Manila for a limited engagement from June 22-July 8, 2011. Tickets are available through our online box office at www.hoopla.ph or www.cirquedusoleil.com. For inquiries, call 775-0939, 881-0947, 0919-4508125
and 0917-4436463.

About Cirque du Soleil

From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from close to 50 different countries.