In my frequent searches for Shiner and Irwin videos on YouTube I came across a really exciting find tonight. I've put four videos up on the blog. It looks like Shiner is creating an all new twist on Vaudeville for Cirque De Soliel and the results look amazing. Check it out!

New Twist on Vaudeville The Theatrical Clowning Blog (http://theatricalclowning.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/new-twist-on-vaudeville/)

I'm looking forward to seeing this show immensely. The likely price of admission? I'm not as exited about that.

I am guessing three digits starting with a three. At least it will be in your neck of the woods Tim. Lucky!

I just paid $109 to see the horse spectacle Cavalia. Probably the most I've ever put out for a circus style related event. Or a big show even. Broadway on tour tickets go for up to $130 or more. Opera can be expensive. Sports have gotten outrageous. But there is often a lower cost option (my Lyric opera subscription prorates to just $42 a night, for instance - given it's the second balcony, but still that's a great deal.) I haven't been to see the Cirque shows in Vegas, but would find it worth the significant cost. Touring Cirque shows have been pushing increasingly towards the edge of the $100 mark in recent years. I have no problem putting out $75 for a show like that. But when it creeps toward the three digit mark and beyond, I'm hesitant. That really is an investment, not just the cost of entertainment. So I expect a major bang for the buck return. The Chicago Theater is huge. If I'm lucky maybe I can snag a ticket for that $75 mark which I'm willing to approach. Shoot, if the show is outstanding, I might even consider going twice at that price. But any show asking me for around $100 or more of my money will surely face some serious criticism and the demands of expectations to be met even before I walk through the turnstile.

Now, the possibility of Shiner hanging out in Chicago for a time.... that intrigues me even more. One wonders where he likes to eat or drink.

I've heard tickets to Teatro Zinzanni here in Seattle go for over $100. It'd be hard for me to drop that much on a single show. I think it might have to have Shiner in it before I'd pay that much. Still for this show I might if it comes my way.

I imagine Shiner will be at the four star restaurants and drinking establishments with good German beer. After living in Germany for so many years I bet he wont want a Bud Light.

It's interesting to see the audiences at superexpensive shows. It's like the suits and high heels crowd, by and large. Very different than what one might expect in a lot of other environments - especially circus shows. It was actually refreshing to encounter a nice woman who didn't fit this description in the ticket line for Kooza last year. She sacrifices to take her young niece to assorted cultural events as a special family outing which can expose her to the wider world around her outside the sometimes rougher neighborhoods of Chicago.