I’ve written before about how much we enjoy living near Foxwoods, and that feeling hasn’t changed. Over the past few years we’ve attended many memorable events—everything from beer festivals to bowling nights and family-friendly kids’ shows—but our recent Friday night trip to see Cirque Eloize Saloon at Foxwoods stands out as the most impressive performance we’ve seen.
According to the show’s press materials, this production “transports audiences to the height of the Wild Wild West, following a piano tuner’s surprising journey through a world of gold diggers, rail workers, chorus girls and cowboys. Mysterious and intriguing characters ignite the stage with explosive live music, original choreography and rhythmic acrobatic feats.” The run included multiple family-friendly performances that brought this energetic blend of music, dance and circus artistry to the Fox Theater.
The show was absolutely amazing. My kids—Caroline and Evan—were practically out of their seats with excitement, cheering at the impressive tricks and acrobatic numbers. We were lucky to be seated with other bloggers and Foxwoods staff, because our audible gasps and repeated exclamations of “MOMMY DID YOU SEE THAT?!” might have disturbed other audience members. Even our youngest, Linc, became fully engaged: he loved the hoop-spinning act (the Cyr wheel) and enthusiastically joined in with the singing. It felt like watching a musical married to a talent competition—both of which are things our family adores.
One of the most thrilling sequences used a teeter board in a series of high-risk, high-skill stunts that had the audience cheering with relief and delight every time the performers landed a difficult move. Spoiler: none of the performers were injured; they were all incredible professionals who executed the choreography and stunts with precision and flair.
Our fourth-row seats put us close to the action and made the experience even more immersive.
Enjoying chocolate-covered strawberries at the reception—when in doubt, snack like a blogger.
Step-and-repeat expert moment at the reception.
We borrowed a pen and the kids got their tickets signed—everyone we met was warm and gracious.
Caroline’s reaction: “Are those real horses?!” (They weren’t, but the illusion was thrilling nonetheless.)
Our Friday leading up to the show had been chaotic—no fewer than a dozen small disasters left us wondering if we could salvage the evening. By about 6 pm we were questioning whether we could even pull ourselves together to enjoy the night. Once we arrived, however, the cool air conditioning, brilliant live performance and the opportunity to meet cast members afterward completely turned the evening around. The combination of high-energy acrobatics, lively music and theatrical storytelling was exactly what our family needed to lift spirits and reconnect.
If you’re trying to escape the relentless heat of summer, a night out at Cirque Eloize Saloon in the Fox Theater at Foxwoods is an ideal outing. It’s family friendly, full of daring acts and humor, and offers moments that will leave both kids and adults talking for days. The show blends theatrical narrative with impressive circus skills, making it engaging for a wide range of ages.
Video taken by one of our children captured some of the excitement, but the live experience is far more impressive than any clip could convey. We were fortunate to attend opening previews as press invitees, and the warm hospitality from the theater staff and cast made the evening even better. All opinions and photos in this account are my own.
Cirque Eloize Saloon was presented in the Fox Theater at Foxwoods with multiple performances during its run. Tickets were available starting at $35.