A first-of-its-kind exhibition, “Stories from Backstage: Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas” is on display at Las Vegas City Hall’s Grand Gallery through July 17.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 07: Cirque du Soleil performers attend The Neon Museum’s “Stories from Backstage: Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas” exhibit at Las Vegas City Hall on February 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for The Neon Museum)
Getty Images for The Neon Museum
Global entertainment producer Cirque du Soleil and the Neon Museum, the Las Vegas museum dedicated to collecting and preserving the city’s history, have jointly created the exhibition.
The presenters said “Stories from Backstage: Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas” “offers an inside look at one of the world’s most iconic entertainment brands, showcasing the creativity, innovation and craftsmanship that power productions by Cirque du Soleil. Visitors can discover how athletes become artists, how characters are brought to life and how technology continues to evolve costume design. With an array of fabrics, costumes, masks, and more on display, the exhibition unveils the behind-the-scenes artistry that has made Cirque du Soleil a defining part of the Las Vegas experience since the 1990s.”
The exhibition includes iconic costumes, makeup, measurement sheets, shoes, 3D-printed fabrics and much more from the five current Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas shows, including Mystère, “O,” Mad Apple, KÀ and Michael Jackson ONE.
Also on display here are the Spearmen shoes from KÀ; wigs worn by the synchronized swimmers in “O”; the Red Bird costume from Mystère; and the Bateau from “O.”
Sarah Hulme, the exhibition’s chief curator who is also the deputy director of the Neon Museum, said, “Cirque du Soleil is a pillar of our city’s cultural identity, and this collaboration has resonated deeply with our visitors, shining a spotlight on the extraordinary artistry and innovation that happens behind the curtain. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Guests are all fascinated by the artistry and behind-the-scenes magic that defines Cirque du Soleil.”
Aaron Berger, executive director of the Neon Museum—which was founded in 1996 and features a “neon boneyard,” an outdoor exhibition space that displays historic Las Vegas neon signs that are no longer in use—called the exhibition “a powerful reflection of our expanded mission to celebrate the creative forces that shape Las Vegas and we are proud to continue telling the many untold stories of Cirque du Soleil.”
Also on display at the Neon Museum are Brilliant! Jackpot, an immersive audiovisual experience that reilluminates over 50 non-operational neon signs using advanced technology, and a neon boneyard park, a green space that enables visitors to learn more about Las Vegas’ history.
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group said it is “a world leader in live entertainment. Building on four decades of pushing the boundaries of the imagination, the artistic entertainment company brings its creative approach to a large variety of artistic forms such as live shows, multimedia productions, long-from content, music, immersive experiences, and special events. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group celebrates 40 years of defying reality, defining entertainment, and illuminating the world through art and creativity. Since its creation in 1984, more than 400 million people have been inspired on 6 continents and 86 countries. The Canadian company now employs more than 4000 employees, including 1200 artists from more than 80 different nationalities.”
