Cavalia brings its newest horse and human extravaganza, Odysseo, to Marymoor Park starting Feb. 19. The event, which continues through March 9, includes 63 horses and 47 artists performing under the world’s largest touring big top.
The larger-than-life show is presented on a 17,500 square feet stage, in the middle of which rise two hills each three stories tall. Some 10,000 tons of rock, earth and sand are trucked in and then sculpted to create the vast space for the humans and horses. Above the stage hangs a technical grid capable of supporting 80 tons of equipment including, a full-sized merry-go-round.
The show’s world of dreams begins in a misty, enchanted forest where horses graze and frolic under a sky of rolling clouds and a setting sun. Horses, riders, acrobats and musicians embark on a soulful journey that leads them from the Mongolian steppes to Monument Valley, from the African savannah to Nordic glaciers, from the Sahara to Easter Island.
The Odysseo epic wraps up as the stage is inundated with 80,000 gallons of water in just a few minutes. A high, virtual waterfall overhangs the resulting lake, in which horses, riders and artists join to frolic.
The tent is an attraction in itself. It stands 125 feet tall and is more than twice the size of the structure created for Cavalia’s original production. The White Big Top is the size of two NFL football fields. The 17,500 square feet stage, larger than a hockey rink, and the 50-foot wide backstage area offer a vast playground for more than 30 cantering horses.
Ticket prices vary by weekday or weekend and regular or VIP. Details are available at 1-866-999-8111.
By the numbers
- 63 horses and 47 artists
- 350 costumes and 100 pairs of shoes and boots
- The White Big Top is 350 feet long by 240 feet wide
- There is seating capacity for 2,000 people
- It takes 110 semi-trucks to move the production from a city to the next
- It takes 80 employees to set up and tear down the show
