Full Circle with "O"

Here is an article I was asked to write last year after working as a temporary artist in Cirque du Soleil's show "O," for their Casting Department's publication.

Introducing Kerren McKeeman - Artist, O

Casting Team on September 1, 2010, 1:03pm |

KERREN McKEEMAN
Artist, O


Full Circle with O… When I was 18, my friends and I piled into a car and road-tripped all the way across the country. One of our destinations? Las Vegas, to see O. Even now, I vividly remember watching O - I was almost hanging over the balcony as the characters came to life in that ever-evolving water wonderland.

Seven years later, I returned to the O theatre to audition. I nervously waited among the poised statues in the lobby, expecting to step into an exceedingly intimidating environment.









However, at the start of the audition I was cordially invited into the theatre and greeted by a crew of tremendously helpful technicians who asked my needs for rigging my trapeze. Instead of asking the other auditionees to leave the theatre, the Casting department encouraged us all to stay and cheer each other on! I still remember the hoots and hollers during the strength test, as I inched towards the top of the rope.

Less than five months later as I punched in the code to enter the O theatre backstage, it was with the same sincere enthusiasm that I was greeted with “Hi Kerren!” and “Great to see you!”, and “Tonight’s your night - good luck!” After emerging from the dressing room in full make-up and costume a few hours later, my coach gave me a reassuring pat on the back and guided me out to perform my first two shows with O. Performing at O wasn’t work. From the minute I got the first phone call, everyone has treated me with professionalism and genuine warmth. It is an honour to work with incredibly talented people who love what they do and take pride in their work; it means even more to feel like part of the family.