The Stage & Stylings of Alegría

The stage before the show starts, showing the large Crown with an empty throne .

The first thing you'll notice upon entering the Big Top is the majestic Crown at the back of the stage with its organic curves and lighted branches. Lush vines have invaded the structure, as if nature was reclaiming its right to this tired kingdom.

Even the lighting design is based on the idea of duality between light and shadow, shifting from traditional to more contemporary as the show progresses.

Symbolism exists throughout the set of Alegría. It’s through these details, textures, and compositions that the show creators evoke a world that’s changing and evolving. 

The stage itself is spread out on two levels separated by three steps. The highest level symbolizes the monarchy overlooking the royal court, while the lower level represents the street. The old king’s throne, which has lost some parts and a lot of polish, stands at the top of the steps.

When Alegría was restaged in 2019, so were its costumes. In total, over 20,000 hours have gone into creating the costumes for the performers. Mr. Fleur's costume alone took 300 hours to create, and contains 5 meters (16.4 ft) of electric wire!

With themes of resilience and humanity in mind, the show’s makeup designers created a visual style that brings the performers' humanity into focus. 

For some characters, that means you’ll see the performer’s actual hair instead of a wig. For others, it means using makeup to highlight the artists’ natural shapes, facial features, and skin tones.