Crew member Luke Esenwein shares memories of Cirque du Soleil’s BEATLES show from a very unique vantage point…
Last week, former company manager Kim Scott bid adieu to The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil in a VEGAS 411 exclusive. Today we meet guest columnist Luke Esenwein, a rigger for the now-shuttered acrobatic extravaganza. Mr. Esenwein kindly shares his experiences in this very special edition.
It has been an overwhelmingly amazing experience to work on LOVE for the past two and a half years. As a Beatles fan from a young age, I jumped at the opportunity to join the show. I started as a spotlight operator. Perched on a catwalk high above the audience, I focused my light on the talented performers who brought life to the story while absorbing as much knowledge as I could about the show.
I knew I was where I was meant to be. As my skill set grew and I earned the trust of my colleagues, I was able to operate the lighting console and then work with the rigging team to fly our incredible aerialists and beautiful set pieces. It was everything I ever wanted in a job but it never felt like work. It was a privilege.
“The Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil ends its 18-year run tonight. These cars get driven across the stage multiple times throughout the show. So happy I got to be a part of this amazing experience.” – Luke Esenwein 7/6/24
Now that shows are over, the task of loading out the theater has begun. Speakers, lighting, projectors, props, set pieces, rigging and automation equipment, wigs, and costumes are being taken down, deconstructed, and packed away. Some elements will live on in other shows.
Now more than ever, I am starkly aware that the LOVE theater was so much more than the sum of its parts. It was the people I learned from, the friendships forged through common experience, and the audience that paid their hard-earned money to see the show that made this a cherished memory.
LOVE shines brighter than ever in my heart… a high point in my life that will be hard to match. The future is uncertain but I draw strength from this experience in both the thrill of holding it for a brief time and the heartbreak of letting it go. I am sad that it is over but happy I got to be a part of it. I am forever grateful to everyone who brought this wonderful experience to life. All my love.
Photo by VEGAS 411
The Mirage Casino Hotel will close its doors forever on July 17th, 2024. All photos courtesy of Luke Esenwein except where indicated.
