Smooth as ice: Cirque du Soleil artistic director finds challenges, joy in 'Crystal'

Crystal Manich had to hit the ground running when she joined the Cirque du Soleil team.

While she doesn’t perform, each night she’s doing her own acrobatics behind the scenes as artistic director.

“We were on a tour break and we’re back now,” she says. “After only two weeks, you get your feelers back and things start to come together. I have to watch everything when it comes to the show. I’m not afraid of changing things around to make it run smoother.”

Smooth as ice: Cirque du Soleil artistic director finds challenges, joy in 'Crystal'

Cirque du Soleil’s “Crystal” will begin its five-performance run at the Rio Rancho Events Center on Thursday, March 7. It will run through Sunday, March 10.

“Crystal” is Cirque du Soleil’s 42nd creation and the first to have ice.

Since its inception in 2017, the show has toured over 135 cities across the world including Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, France, Germany and more.

Manich says the performance features seven traditional circus acts, including trapeze, hand-to-hand, banquine, aerial straps, hand-to-trapeze, juggling and hand balancing.

It is also the first Cirque du Soleil production to use real snow.

“The team makes approximately 300 snowballs each week,” she says.

Manich says there’s a universality to “Crystal.”

“It’s about finding your voice and discovering what it is to be a teenager and how you grow up out of that,” she says. “Everything that Crystal is experiencing in the show is something that we’ve dealt with. I love that the main character is female. Adults will get the major themes through the show. It’s really nice to have a show that is family friendly. There are many thought-provoking moments in the show.”

Manich has been with the company for five months as artistic director.

It took her a few weeks to get her bearings with the show because it’s been going since 2017.

This meant looking at the show with a critical eye.

“I maintain show quality and it involves looking at what is on stage,” she says. “I make sure the storytelling is there. I adjust the show to each new artist. I take notes and want to play to the strength of each artist so that we’re using their best skills. It really does help to have that spontaneity, even on a show that is well established.”

Manich oversees 43 performers including three musicians.

“Every week, we go through the motions and I change something to streamline the show,” she says. “Luckily, the cast is professional and can adapt quickly.”

Manich also enjoys the camaraderie within the cast.

With Cirque du Soleil, the performers are from every inch of the world, which means is plenty of opportunity to learn from others.

“It’s really unifying,” she says of the cast. “When I’m walking through the site and hearing all types of languages spoken. It’s incredible to have the mixture of cultures and we learn from each other.”

Manich’s background is in theater and opera.

“I worked at Santa Fe Opera for three summers and I love it,” she says. “I’ve also worked with Opera Southwest on ‘Il Postino.’ It will be really nice to get back to the Southwest. I love it out there and feel so creative.”