Cirque performers work together during the One Night for ONE DROP dress rehearsal in the Michael Jackson ONE Theatre on Thursday, March 20, 2014.
Published Thursday, March 19, 2020 | 9:05 p.m.
Updated Thursday, March 19, 2020 | 11:30 p.m.
Cirque du Soleil, a name that has become synonymous with Las Vegas entertainment over the past 25 years, has “temporarily” laid off about 95% of its workforce worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.
Only a fraction of the staff will remain on payroll to conduct minimal operations while the Montreal-based company tries to navigate the pandemic that shut down its residencies and touring shows, said Daniel Lamarre, president and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, Thursday in a video to employees. Senior executives and managers were included in the cuts.
News outlet Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said 4,679 employees were let go — or 95% of employees.
“I never, ever imagined in my life that one day all of our shows would be on hold,” Lamarre said.
The company said in a statement late Thursday that it will extend medical coverage for affected employees during the layoff period and will "prepare for rehiring as soon as productions are allowed to resume."
The Las Vegas resident productions — “KÁ” at MGM Grand, “The Beatles LOVE” at the Mirage, “Michael Jackson ONE” at Mandalay Bay, “Mystére” at Treasure Island, “O” at Bellagio, “Zumanity” at New York-New York and the Blue Man Group at Luxor, which is owned but not created by Cirque — were suspended Sunday, two days before Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered casinos to shut down to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
The company’s touring shows were suspended on Friday, including “Axel,” which was scheduled for performances at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in April. The Cirque-affiliated charitable organization One Drop also postponed its annual One Night for One Drop fundraising gala scheduled this month at Luxor.
Lamarre called the layoffs temporary and due to an "unprecedented crisis," noting that he was confident the shows would resume and "we will be back together."
Sun entertainment writer Brock Radke contributed to this report.
