Cirque Shanghai Extreme at Navy Pier Skyline Stage

Chicago Sun Times - Recommended

"...Cirque Shanghai Extreme, the Chinese circus world’s equivalent of this country’s professional baseball farm teams, has returned to Navy Pier for its sixth consecutive season at the Skyline Stage. It remains a charming family entertainment, if hardly the pinnacle of circus mastery."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"... You can see versions of every act here in any of the other circuses that tour the country these days. The difference is in the eye-pleasing spectacle—and the quick pace. With about two hours worth of material crammed into 75 minutes, even younger, easily distracted audience members are entranced."

Chicago Stage Review - Highly Recommended

"...It’s just not a summer vacation without a trip to see a Cirque Shanghai sensation and Cirque Shanghai Extreme presents another wonderful treat for the whole family that should not be missed!"

Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended

"...The big draws here require internal combustion engines. Two overheard motorcycles ride a high wire right over the audience as the circus stars hang from a harness. Even more awesome is “Imperial Thunder” in which a total of four motorcycles circle inside a steel globe that hardly seems big enough to contain them. Here the slightest change in velocity could erupt in carnage which makes their coordination all the more uncanny. Well, unlike political radicalism, acrobatic excellence is one “extreme” worth cultivating. On Navy Pier it’s become a way of art."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Directed by Miao Miao Chen and choreographed by one of Chicago’s favorites, Brenda Didier, this is a far more glitzt production than those of previous years and with the excpetion of the “Lyra” number ( five ladies on hoops serving as trapezes) each one is a crowd pleasing experience for the audience."