SouthtownStar - Highly Recommended
"...Just when you think you know what to expect from Cirque du Soleil, the circus troupe blows your mind with ingenious spectacles one never could have imagined.
That's the case with "Kooza," Cirque's inventive new show demonstrating daredevil spirit in the big top at Chicago's United Center."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Though the shopping opportunities you encounter on the way into Cirque du Soleil's big top grow more elaborate every year, the actual production this time around is conceptually simpler--less cluttered with outsize conceits, less anxious to overwhelm us with hipitude. And that's good. Writer/director David Shiner makes cunning use of pop iconography as shorthand, to communicate character efficiently: a trickster figure's costume recalls magical troublemakers from Dr. Seuss, the protagonist's outfit could have been designed by Maurice Sendak."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Kooza is jaw-dropping from start to finish. Writer/director David Shiner has created a story ( of sorts ) that very loosely threads together a truly astonishing roster of aerial dancers, wheel-of-death-defying daredevils, teeterboard athletes and heart-stopping trapeze artists."
Gay Chicago Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...When the show officially starts you are in for 2 ? hours of mind-boggling, visceral fireworks. Between the costumes, lighting design, production design, thrilling music delivered through an acoustically perfect sound system, and best-in-their-field world class performers; “KOOZA” quite simply delivers the most whimsically lavish and lovely production values. The occasional jazz hands tossed into the playful choreography made me imagine that Bob Fosse would have adored the flawless showmanship."
EpochTimes - Highly Recommended
"...The costumes created under the direction of Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt are striking and balanced so that they are in tune with the characters and the acts they perform- some are glitzy ( as they should be) and others plain- but they all work as does the set by Stephane Roy, capturing the transformation from a public square into a circus ( tent and all) and with the roundness of the stage, we as an audience feel very close to the action and at some points fearful that one mis-step could have a tightrope walker on our laps- but fear not, these performers are the best- no errors, just perfection!"
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...It may have started as a group of humble street buskers in Montreal (P.T. Barnum qui?), but Cirque du Soleil’s unstoppable global circus monopoly now bears the undeniable stamp of Microsoft: Their intentions may be earnest (both operate impressive charitable arms), but in the end American capitalism is the ringmaster, and he doesn’t want any other acts in the ring."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"... The choreography, sound design and technical execution are superb across the board. Kooza's costumes are brilliant and the grand chapiteau is the baddest high tech circus tent in the land. Kooza is pure circus – an old-style delight for the young and young at heart that combines tradition with 21st century precision and excellence. For all who love circus, Kooza is a must see."
