Cirque du Soleil worked with the famous Vegas hotel developer Steve Wynn when it came to creating "O." Wynn, who currently owns the Bellagio, Wynn and Encore hotels, had worked with the company once before when he owned Treasure Island and desired to bring a resident show to the property, which was Mystère. Once a deal was struck, Wynn constructed a $100-million theater inside the Bellagio where "O" would become the second resident Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas in October 1998.
Like Cirque du Soleil, the term "O" can be traced back to French. The French word for water is actually "eau," which would be pronounced "O" in English. Like its name, the entire performance focuses on water, something that had never been done before in Cirque du Soleil.
Cirque du Soleil's "O" performers perform both in, out and on top of the water, in true Cirque fashion. There is a 1.5 million gallon pool in the middle of the stage, where performers can dive, swim and perform a number of aquatic acrobatic routines. Fire is also utilized as a strong visual contrast to water, which ushers in martial arts acts that include rituals from Australia, Hawaii, Samoa and New Zealand, according to the official Cirque du Soleil website.
Cirque du Soleil tickets, in general, do not come cheap. This is especially true for "O," which is one of Vegas' most popular shows. Limited view tickets start at $93.50, while the most expensive tickets are $150 each. Tickets also tend to sell out, so Cirque du Soleil recommends booking at least four months in advance if you are traveling to Vegas during prime vacationing times. You can book your tickets online, by calling the toll-free number (800) 963-9634 or in person at any of the MGM-Mirage properties, including Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand, the Luxor and the Mirage. Note that small children may be frightened by the elaborate costumes, bright lights and loud noises. Children younger than 5 are not allowed in the theater. There are two performances Wednesday through Sunday, at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Because the chlorine in the pool can eat away at the performer's makeup, a special waterproof makeup had to be created. The water also ate away at the performers' costumes, forcing the performers to retire their costumes, which cost $10,000 each, after 20 shows, according to TicketstoGo.com, a third-party Las Vegas ticket agency. Every performer in the show, regardless of whether they perform in the water or not, must also become SCUBA certified as a safety measure.