Cirque du Soleil’s Iconic “O” Still a Draw in Vegas – 25 Years In

Attaining longevity in the Las Vegas hospitality and entertainment realm is neither a given nor easy. After all, if a product doesn’t work here, it gets yanked out, replaced, or, in the most extreme cases, imploded. That’s what makes the long “legs” of Cirque du Soleil’s “O”; which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year as the resident production show at Bellagio, so impressive.

The aqua fantasy evidently clicks on multiple levels with international audiences, who are drawn to its beauty, fantasy, and technological marvels. Although the show’s initial launch was a big gamble by original Bellagio developer Steve Wynn, its continued success has buoyed the balance sheets of subsequent Bellagio owner MGM Resorts International and producer Cirque du Soleil.

Conception through completion: three years
In order to gauge the enduring appeal – and popularity – of the show, it helps to understand why it was so revolutionary at its outset 25 years ago, and how the creativity, artistry, and technology still hold up so well today.

The centerpiece and recurring element in “O” is the massive pool, which holds more than 1.5 million gallons of water and reaches a depth of 25 feet. It took three years of intensive study and research by Cirque du Soleil creators to learn how to work with water, testing its effects on materials, ensuring they could heat and light it precisely, and, above all, protect the artists and divers immersed in it.

Logistical design hurdles – not previously considered outside of Las Vegas due to costs, complexity, and scale – were overcome via precise engineering and creative minds that built a stage that converts from a 25-foot-deep pool into a dry platform in seconds. The pool also contains seven hydraulic lifts that create a conventional stage surface or reshape the surface of the water. Meanwhile, underwater and out of sight of the audience, a team of 14 divers ensures safety for the performers while simultaneously assisting with artist handling and props manipulation.

Aquatic world of wonder
But the true magic of “O” is accomplished by an international cast of world-class acrobats, synchronized swimmers, divers, trapeze artists, aerialists, musicians, clowns, and character actors who perform in, on and above the seemingly elastic pool in a series of acts that are at once beautiful, dreamlike and incredibly dangerous. As with most Cirque productions, a thin storyline runs through the show, but alas, that doesn’t matter, as audiences are taken in by “O”‘s surreal aquatic wonders.

While the entire, 90-minute show is memorable, some acts do stand out, including High Dive, which features three high divers leaping 60 feet into a small, exposed section of the pool, invoking gasps of wonder from the audience. The swinging Bateau showcases acrobats and divers accomplishing seemingly impossible feats of strength and daring on and off the aerial cradle, while three Mongolian artists twist and flex their bodies into unimaginable gyrations in Contortion. But it’s the clowns who ultimately steal our hearts, especially during their sweet-yet-sad interlude on the floating platform.

Modest changes have been made to the show over the years, the most recent being the introduction of the Island act, which was integrated into the production in late 2023. Featuring 10 acrobatic artists performing atop a floating island, along with Olympic-level synchronized swimmers and divers, Island epitomizes the liquid magic of “O.”

Ultimately, it’s “O”‘s tapestry of aquatic artistry that amazes, thrills, and seduces audiences, making it uniquely well-positioned to thrive into the future as an only-in-Vegas original. When asked about “O”‘s enduring popularity, Mary Grisolano, vice president and GM of Cirque du Soleil Resident Show Operations, noted that the show “embodies our artistic vision and creativity in seemingly impossible ways – constantly pushing the boundaries of imagination, artistry and human achievement.” And since that description could easily be applied to any of Cirque’s resident Las Vegas productions, Grisolano qualified her answer by stressing that “the uniqueness in which water is utilized in “O” contributes dramatically to its seemingly everlasting success.”