Leaked Memo Reveals Dramatic Cirque du Soleil Shake-Up

By Scott Roeben, on February 07 2025
3 min read 5 comments
Las Vegas Las Vegas Shows

A leaked internal document shows a major shake-up at Cirque du Soleil, the company behind a number of Las Vegas shows.

The “confidential” memo, from Cirque’s President and CEO Stephane Lefebvre, says the organizational changes have the aim of “breaking down silos between divisions…in order to gain agility and rationalize operating costs.”

You know the drill. Efficiencies. Consolidation. “Increased revenue and optimized profitability.” Folks being shown the door. On the bright side, it could’ve been another bankruptcy, so there’s that.

Vital Vegas, putting quotation marks around “confidential” since 2013.

The internal memo was sent to Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group (CDSEG) staffers on Feb. 6, 2025 and was shared with us 12 minutes later.

That’s just how things work now. Ironically, earlier in the evening of Feb. 6, 2025, we were informed by a high-ranking official with a major casino company, “We often write internal documents with you in mind as we know our team members will share them with you and they’ll be Tweeted.” High praise.

Look, we had to make this more about us. We were the first to share the document. Make sure to watch the Las Vegas Review-Journal for attribution in their inevitable follow-up story about the changes at Cirque. We are just kidding. It’s an editorial policy to remove attribution from RJ stories. Why? The Las Vegas Review-Journal is staffed by boobs.

So, about the Cirque shake-up.

Here’s the full memo.

Please stop writing “ONE” in all caps. It even annoys Tourette syndrome sufferers.

Here’s the rest.

You’re good, giant baby in “Mystere,” who we’re pretty sure is named Bebe Francois.

“Job abolitions” are the new “laying people off,” by the way.

Again, if we’re cherry-picking the good news, the memo states, “Please note that artist and technician positions on the shows are not impacted.”

The memo also bends over backwards to explain the changes at Cirque do not compromise the health and safety of employees and fans. Or as it’s known in public relations circles, “Yada, yada.”

The memo shares some of the new titles and duties of key Cirque personnel. Chief Show Operations Officer: Duncan Fisher. Chief Revenue Officer: Mike Newquist. Chief Customer Experience Officer: Anne Belliveau. Senior V.P Business Development and Events & Experiences: Marie-Josee Adam. Marie-Josee Adam wins for “Most  Likely to Go Over the Character Limit in LinkedIn.”

Just say all the names with a French-Canadian accent. Like Celine, but without all the overly-dramatic arm movements.

The bottom line is Cirque is doing what many companies do. They are peeling away layers and internal silos. As with so many shake-ups, P.R. and marketing staff are the first to go. A good number of folks in these departments have already been let go.

Cirque was brutalized as so many live entertainment companies were during the pandemic. Its 44 shows all closed and the company’s revenue went from $1 billion a year to zero virtually overnight. Even before the pandemic, the company had nearly $1 billion in debt.

Cirque filed for bankruptcy protection in June 2020.

While the pandemic contributed to Cirque’s financial woes, it was already struggling prior to COVID-19.

The struggle is real for Cirque in Las Vegas, as some of the productions in casinos have been around for decades. Entertainment tastes have changed and big name headliners now draw the biggest crowds. The Sphere is also pulling visitors away from traditional Las Vegas shows.

While painful for some, it makes sense for Cirque du Soleil to seek out ways of being more efficient and as agile as its performers.

Cirque is a vital part of Las Vegas, so here’s hoping its business is being sorted in a way that provides the greatest chance for the company’s financial success moving forward until the next pandemic, probably involving zoonotic influenza, which would be sort of cool name for a Cirque show, honestly.

If you didn’t know we would ask A.I. to create this graphic, you must be new here.

How will the Cirque reorganization affect you? It won’t.

That said, if there are Cirque shows you haven’t seen yet, see them. Especially “Ka.” We told you about “R.U.N.” and “Love” and “Zumanity” and “Zarkana” and “Viva Elvis,” but you don’t listen.

We aren’t saying, we’re just saying.

More to come.