Le Grand Cirque begins run at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin

MIRAMAR BEACH — By his own admission, executive producer Simon Painter likes to think big — grand, if you will.

He hopes the anticipated success of Le Grand Cirque, which opened Tuesday for a summer run at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, leads to an ongoing relationship with the Emerald Coast.

“We have a 10-year plan,” the London resident said last week during a behind-the-scenes look arranged for the Daily News. “I’d like nothing better than to have a permanent facility here for us some day.

“We have five versions of our show including a Rockettes-style Christmas show that I’d love to bring here.”

In the meantime, Le Grand Cirque’s home through Aug. 15 is a custom-made venue of three, cream-colored Italian-style tentlike structures located adjacent to Grand Park in Grand Boulevard.

All of the tents will be air conditioned to precisely “73 and a half degrees,” Painter said, with 3½ tons of equipment.

The first tent houses the box office, will call and concessions.

“It will be the first impression,” Painter said, “so we want it to be gorgeous, fun and exciting.”

To that end, artists from the Harry Potter movies painted the floor design at the center of the tent and a giant chandelier will light it from above. Painter expected the chandelier to arrive and be installed the day of our visit.

The performance, which runs two hours with a 20-minute intermission, will take place in the Grand Arena tent, which seats 1,063 people.

The show puts on display the international talent of more than 40 performers from Brazil, Russia, Mongolia, Europe and China.

There will be evening and matinee shows throughout the week. Evening shows are scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Matinees are planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Ticket prices are $29.50 for children (ages 3-12) and $35.50-$75.50 for adults depending on proximity to the stage.

“You’re never more than 90 feet from the stage in any direction,” Painter said.

What you’ll see on, and above, the stage likely will amaze you. Even a short demonstration by contortionist Chen Jing, who balanced a sparkling crystal chandelierlooking object on the bottom of her foot while performing complex gymnastic-like maneuvers, drew applause from a group of onlookers.

The multi-million dollar production is two years in the making, Painter said. Training takes place mostly in China with some other elements developed in London.

“Some acts come to us fully developed, and we just tweak them. Other acts we develop specificially for the show,” he said.

The production, which boasts being the biggest selling show ever in the history of the Sydney Opera House, features contortionists, tumblers and aerial acts in dazzling costumes. They’re lighted to perfection with more than 100 fixtures, and it’s all set to modern interpretations of classical music.

“People will recognize the music,” Painter said. “We did that intentionally. We wanted them to know what they were hearing.”

The show requires 19,000-20,000 pounds of equipment that was brought here in “12 reticulated lorries (semi tractor trailer rigs),” Painter said.

Addressing what he considers an obvious question, Painter said the main difference between Le Grand Cirque and Cirque du Soleil is that Le Grand Cirque is more family friendly.

“There’s not a dark moment in our show,” he said. “It’s light-hearted and very funny.

“It’s appropriate for people ages 2 to 92. Nothing pleases me more as a producer than when a parent comes up to me after the show and tells me their 3-year-old, who never sits still for anything, was mesmerized by the show.”

The show’s grand finale features an apparatus called the Wheel of Death, which is suspended 45 feet off the stage and spins at up to 30 miles an hour as performers navigate it.

“The only thing between them and the floor is the floor,” Painter said “It’s always scary to me.”

Painter said he scouted locations all along the Emerald Coast.

“Sandestin just seemed a good fit,” he explained. “You have millions of people, with tourists coming to visit, and no shows.

“Plus, there’s so much already here with the shops and the restaurants. We want this to be a complete experience.”

Grand Boulevard public relations manager Angela Triplett and director of communications Stacey Brady said many of Grand Boulevard’s restaurants are planning special menus and hours to accompany Le Grand Cirque before and after the show.

One example is Fleming’s Cirquetini. Another is that Kilwin’s kiosk will be open for ice cream afterward.

Le Grand Cirque attendees will have lots of help and direction finding the venue and parking, Triplett and Brady said. There will be signs as well as actual attendents at four of Grand Boulevard’s entrances.

For the most current ticket information and pricing, visit the website at cirquedestin.com or call the ticket office at (866) 973-9610. Tickets are also available at Silver Sands Factory Stores Shopper Services (850) 654-9771 and the Hilton Sandestin Beach.