Celebrate the season with 12 fun facts about Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Twas the Night Before…
Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Twas the Night Before… is becoming a holiday tradition for Milwaukee and will return for its third year in a row to the Miller High Life Theatre for 8 performances between November 26-30. Before the show arrives, let’s unwrap a little holiday magic from behind the curtain!
Day 1 – The First Cirque Christmas Show
‘Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever Christmas production and each act is inspired by lines from the very famous poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore.
Day 2 – The Sparkle Behind the Makeup
It takes 13 makeup looks, 683 brushes, and 10 pairs of lashes to light up the faces of our artists night after night. One artist alone has 150 Swarovski crystals just for their eyebrows.
Day 3 – Costume Wonderland
Over 50 different costumes and 125 fabrics make this show a reality night after night including Santa’s suit, which is completely handmade. Approximately 1500 to 2000 pieces of wool per square inch are crocheted one by one on a net to mimic the look of fur.
Day 4 – The Crew Behind the Curtain
A total of 18 crew members and 26 artists from 21 countries work together to make the magic happen every night. Nearly 80% of the cast has returned year after year because they believe in the magic that happens on stage!
Day 5 – Heavy Lifting (Literally)
It takes 100 tons of equipment and 1,000 people hours to load in this show. And if you connected all the cables in one line, it would extend for approximately 5 miles – that’s about the distance between Miller High Life Theatre and American Family Field!
Day 6 – Acrobatics That Dazzle
From roller skaters spinning at 37 mph to aerialists flying 20 feet above the stage, every move in ‘Twas the Night Before… is powered by holiday magic.
Day 7 – Magic in the Details
The artist performing hair suspension spins 7 times per second and their hair supports 250 lbs of pressure!
Day 8 – Props of Pure Joy
There are 500 meters of garland, 25 “presents,” and even eight furry reindeer representing Santa’s famous team.
Day 9 – A Snowy Spectacle
The snow in the show, which is recycled night after night, could fill a 16-foot truck and the biggest snowball measures 60 cm across!
Day 10 – Music for the Season
The show features 29 original songs plus 12 beloved classics like “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls” all with a Cirque twist.
Day 11 – Glitter & Glow
If you thought 25 pots of glitter was enough, wait until you see the artists light up the stage with LED lights on their fingers creating a scene that literally sparkles. This moment is an absolute favorite for audiences of all ages.
Day 12 – A Night to Remember
From the costumes to the choreography, every detail celebrates the joy, playfulness, and wonder of the holidays.
Don’t miss your chance to see the magic live in Milwaukee! Grab your tickets to see Cirque du Soleil’s ’Twas the Night Before… today! Tickets are on sale now at https://www.pabsttheatergroup.com/events/detail/twas-2025.