Omaha Dancer Selected to Perform with Cirque Dreams ILLUMINATION

DREAMS COME TRUE...Today, Broadway producer Neil Goldberg, creator and director of CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION surprised one Omaha resident as the winner of the "Run Away with Cirque Dreams" contest.

Ian Monaghan of Omaha, Neb. is the winner who will be trained locally by the Cirque Dreams design team for his debut performance in CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION. Ian will premiere in the Saturday, November 21 matinee performance at 2 p.m. CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION will have performances on Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22 at Omaha's Orpheum Theater. Ian Monaghan, an accomplished step dancer, was born and raised in Omaha. He, his identical twin brother Russell, and their 14-year-old sister Rhiannon have been dancing for eight years. They began dance lessons at Bellevue Dance Academy where they studied for three years before transferring to classes at Craoí Na Tíre.

The latter is certified with the Irish Dance Commission in Ireland and promotes student participation in competitions, something the Monaghans wanted to do.For the past two years Ian has competed in the Oireáchtas regional championships and over Thanksgiving weekend will be competing again. Winners in that competition will move forward to the World Championships over Easter weekend. Ian, home schooled in grade school through high school, is now a sophomore at Metropolitan Community College where he is studying architecture. Ian has performed at wedding receptions, parties and for a number of community groups."Ian's step dancing skills will enable us to create a very unique role for him in the show," said Broadway producer and Cirque Dreams creator Goldberg. "His performance at the Orpheum Theater will captivate audiences as it did our creative team when he auditioned in October at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. It's just passing the dream forward." Goldberg added, "I too was once that dreamer who imagined one day being part of a professional Broadway experience...now it's Ian's turn."

On October 26, the creative team from Cirque Dreams held a citywide casting call, seeking aspiring performers, acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, dancers, singers and anyone with a special talent who has ever dreamed of performing in a Broadway show, to audition for their chance to perform with the internationally renowned Cirque Dreams company. Each participant had up to two minutes to impress the Cirque experts with their skills. In addition, performers from CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION were on hand to showcase a sneak peek preview of the show.

So get ready for the all-new CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION from the creators of the groundbreaking hit and only show of its kind to ever perform on Broadway, CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY. "Vaudeville meets the future in Cirque Dreams Illumination" raves the Norwich Bulletin and proclaimed, "Dazzling! A reason to stand up and cheer", by the New York Daily News, CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION will ignite Omaha when it performs at the Orpheum Theater beginning November 20, 2009 for four performances only.

Journey with fascination into the depths of a city that ignites with illumination when Cirque Dreams imagination, suspense and theatrical innovation turn EVERDAY ORDINARY...INTO BRIGHT AND EXTRAORDINARY! Audiences of all ages will marvel as city dwellers reinvent familiar objects, balance on wires, leap tall buildings and redefine the risks of flight in a story filled with astounding occurrences.

One of a kind artists populate the streets of this magical metropolis and breathe energy into its landscape with urban acrobatics and never before seen phenomenal thrills of disbelief. Cirque Dreams critically acclaimed dazzling costumes come alive to the sounds of jazz, ballroom, pop and more in this original score. CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION will surely live up to the Cirque Dreams brand of notoriety proclaimed "the grandest circus spectacle east of Vegas" by New York Magazine.

Created and directed by Neil Goldberg, CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION is the latest brainchild of Goldberg's theatrical imagination and the Cirque Dreams brand of entertainment, creators of international performance, touring and Broadway sensations CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY, CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE, CIRQUE DREAMS PANDEMONIA, CIRQUE DREAMS COOBRILA, CIRQUE INGENIEUX and the first show of its kind at sea...CIRQUE DREAMS & DINNER on board the Norwegian Cruise Line EPIC. Over 50 million fans have attended a Cirque Dreams show throughout the U.S. and abroad in the past 5 years. CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION is the company's 14 th production since originating in 1993.

"The Cirque Dreams brand of quality, originality and value combined with Broadway theatrics and international circus artistry continues to transcend imagination and appeal to audiences of all ages" says Goldberg. Critics and audiences alike have praised Cirque Dreams shows as "A whiz-bang family friendly spectacle" (LA Times), "Pure talent on a stage" (New Yorker) and "Executed to perfection."(Chicago Sun Times). CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION will run for just four performances, Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22. Performances will be at the Orpheum Theater Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. (no evening performance). Tickets are priced from $28 to $54.For more information on CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION visit www.cirqueproductions.com. For more information on this and other Omaha Performing Arts presentations visit www.OmahaPerformingArts.org.

Omaha Performing Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing world-class performances to theOmaha metropolitan area. Omaha Performing Arts' commitment to the arts extends into its own series, OmahaPerforming Arts Presents, and includes a partnership with Broadway Across America to bring the finest in touringBroadway productions to Omaha, as well as education and community involvement programs that help ensure thearts have a far-reaching impact.The organization manages two landmark venues, the Holland Performing Arts Center and the OrpheumTheater. Omaha Performing Arts also provides comprehensive ticketing services for cultural and performing artswithin the region through Ticket Omaha.Omaha Performing Arts performances are supported in part by the Nebraska Arts Council, NebraskaCultural Endowment, the Mid-America Arts Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Omaha and theDouglas County Visitor Improvement Fund.

For more information on Omaha Performing Arts visitwww.OmahaPerformingArts.org.

ABOUT Broadway Across America

Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B.McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, familyproductions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America isalso dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway,across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced Irving Berlin's WHITECHRISTMAS on Broadway, while current and upcoming productions include WEST SIDE STORY, BLITHE SPIRIT, MINSKY'S, and the DeafWest production of PIPPIN. Broadway tours include DORA THE EXPLORER,FROST/NIXON, SPAMALOT, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. For more informationor to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com