Every Hollywood-based enterprise hopes for that hallowed Hollywood ending, but for Cirque du Soleil's "IRIS" it was not to be.
The elaborate production, which has held a permanent home at the Dolby Theatre since July 2011, announced on Friday night that it would be ending its Tinseltown run. The reason given to Facebook fans? "(D)emand has not met projections."
The circus-y spectacular, which featured whimsical reveries about the film industry, is produced by the Montreal-based company, an organization known for sending its quirky, clown-packed extravaganzas to all points of the globe. When "IRIS" was announced in 2010 no end date was given to the run; a multi-year show that could anchor live entertainment on the heart of the boulevard was the initial hope.
"IRIS" has been performed over 500 times. The company will "redeploy" the performers and behind-the-scenes-ers employed by the show to other Cirque projects.
The final date is Jan. 19, and all later shows in January have now been canceled. Cirque du Soleil is offering refunds or exchanges for those tickets; details are here.
Certainly the colorful cameo by "IRIS" characters in the recent Hollywood Christmas Parade feels bittersweet, indeed.
