Dragone

The La Perle Theatre in a great example of the type of space we want to build to house our shows. It’s a beautiful, dynamic venue that is designed to transform under light and media. The first image of this sequence compares a final show photo to the same spot in the theatre while it was under construction. The second image is a model of the space rendered in 3D. The earthy colors and smooth topography make it an ideal projection surface. The rest of the images demonstrate the range of the space in a few different ways. For instance, while the walls can transform from gilded interiors to rocky cliffs to compliment the action onstage, they can also fall away into darkness to create a completely different energy.

Splendor
Wuxi, China

From dreams to reality:

First image: Portrait of “Whirling Dervish” character from La Perle, taken by lookaloopa

Second image: Illustration of characters onstage in La Perle

Third image: Action photograph of character moving in costume, taken by lookaloopa

Fourth image: Photograph of characters in scene from a performance of La Perle

Happy Birthday Franco Dragone! Born on December 12, 1952, today would be our founder’s seventy-first birthday.

Franco, you inspire us every day.

photo by Lisa Roze

Many of Dragone’s most iconic creations have been brought to life in bespoke theaters around the world. Adding the construction of a hi-tech venue to the project of creating a show increases the complexity, but also provides countless opportunities to build an experience that transcends the stage to deeply and emotionally affect our audiences. Almost all Dragone creations are site-specific and location-based, even if we don’t build a theatre from scratch.

Excellent article by Rick Tjia on the Dragone casting process with interviews from Filippo Ferraresi and Gilles Ste-croix

Creating with the late Franco Dragone - Dance Informa Magazine Dance Informa speaks with Gilles Ste-Croix, who worked for many years on Cirque du Soleil creations with the late Franco Dragone.

The House of Dancing Water
Macau, China

From design to reality: show photo next to illustration.

Décrocher La Lune
Second Edition
La Louvière, Belgium

Illustrations from Paris Merveilles at Le Lido de Paris
Paris, France

These four images trace an idea from inception through production. Concepts always evolve through the process, and each iteration incorporates the latest technical, creative, and production details.

This concept, the idea that a piece of luggage would function as a portal or vehicle for our character, began as the upper right thumbnail in a 4x4 sketch (first image).

The selected image was then scaled up and colored with markers (second image).

The concept was then rendered as a photo-bashed image, using a 3D rendering of the theatre as a background to present a more naturalistic idea of what the concept might look like (third image).

Finally, the last image in the sequence is a photo from the show (fourth image). In this case, the luggage shrank with each iteration, but sometimes things grow, disappear, or change into something different entirely. The important part is that with each rendering of the concept it evolves, improves, and incorporates another collaborator’s touch.

Illustrations by Martin Leroy

Photo taken by Pascaline Labarrère.

The House of Dancing Water
Macau, China

Photo by Emmanuel Crooÿ ( )

Gouache Paintings made early in the process of Le Rêve.
Paintings 1, 4, 15, 25, and 32 out of a 50 painting series by Frederic Blin. The final image is a photograph of Le Rêve by Tomek Rossa.

Last week we shared a series of marker-on-paper illustrations made for the Han Show. These gouache paintings similarly served as quick explorations early in the process, but the medium has a completely different weight and feel than the marker-on-paper illustrations.

Still from The Dai Show. Xishuangbanna, China
Photo taken by Mariano di Cecilia

Side-by-side images of early sketches and the final version of the “underwater” scene from Terhal. This scene used remote-controlled inflatable sea animals, projections, and slow, deliberate movement to create the visceral effect of taking the audience beneath the surface of the sea.

Dragone Communications Manager will be speaking at LDI this year!

Join the buzz session on Career Day from 3:00-3:30pm Saturday, the 2nd of December. Use code “SPEAKER23” for an extra 20% off a conference pass!

The buzz session will discuss first jobs, dream jobs, and building the work you want to see in the world.

🕸️

The Dai Show
Xishuangbanna, China

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Still from The House of Dancing Water
Macau, China

Sorolla was a stunning production inspired by various regional dances of the Iberian Peninsula as painted by Joaquin Sorolla between 1913 and 1919.

It was a stunning production that evoked Sorolla’s vision of Spain, of tears and laughter.

Dragone collaborated with Pascal Jacob for the staging and Vincent Lemaire for the scenography. The choreography was entrusted to a team of three Spanish experts under the direction of Antonio Najarro – Miguel Fuente, Arantxa Carmona, and Manuel Liñán.

The music by Juan Colomer and costumes by Nicolas Vaudelet developed counterpoints between Joaquín Sorolla’s luminous brushstrokes – hence his nickname of “painter of light” – and a darker reality.

Still photo from Le Rêve
Las Vegas, USA

Vernissage de l'exposition de Lucas Dragone!

Opening of Lucas Dragone's exhibition!

Vous êtes cordialement invité au vernissage de l'exposition photographique de Lucas Dragone. **Date :** Dimanche 05 novembre 2023 **Heure :** De 11:00 à 17:00 **Lieu :** Galerie Nardone 26, rue Keramis 7100 La Louvière

You are cordially invited to the opening of Lucas Dragone's photographic exhibition. **Date:** Sunday 05 November 2023 Time:** 11:00 to 17:00 Location:** Galerie Nardone 26, rue Keramis 7100 La Louvière

Joignez-vous à nous pour une journée d'exploration artistique et aventure culturelle à travers l'objectif de Lucas Dragone.
Join us for a day of artistic exploration and cultural adventure through the lens of Lucas Dragone.

Read the blog post on dragone.com with the link below for the full story!

lookaloopa

Vernissage de l'exposition de Lucas Dragone! / Opening of Lucas Dragone's exhibition! | Dragone Read the latest live entertainment and events news from Dragone, "Vernissage de l'exposition de Lucas Dragone! / Opening of Lucas Dragone's exhibition!".

Concept illustration and photographs from The Han Show
Wuhan, China

This scene from The Han Show, “Jardin” (Garden in English), evolved from initial concept to final production, but the essence of the moment can be traced through each iteration.

Terhal, 2023
Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

“The Wind” character was originally performed by and was the personification of the raw, powerful, and often unpredictable forces of nature. The costumes of Terhal were designed by .

As we remember Franco, it’s interesting to think about the arc of his career and how his work evolved. Franco Dragone is often remembered for spectaculars and mega shows that transformed cities like Las Vegas, but he began his career in theatre working with non-actors, performing folk music, and exploring the basic mechanics of performance. After graduating from Mons (Belgium) Drama Conservatory, he started to create theatre on a human scale, fostering intimate, authentic connections between performer and audience.

Even after a distinguished career directing iconic shows like O, Le Rêve, Celine Dion’s A New Day, and The House of Dancing Water, Franco always stayed true to his roots, with initiatives like Project Nada, through which he was creating a performance with nonprofessionals in La Louviere, reaffirming his vocation to transmit theatre to non-actors.

The House of Dancing Water, 2010

Macau, China

Taboo, 2012 - 2015
Macau, China SAR

New Article!

“After witnessing the Kagura dancers and artists perform their craft, Lucas was struck by the similarity in approach they share with Dragone. They offer a mixture of tradition and innovation wrapped in artisanal human performance. The work is rich in context, skill, dedication, and humanity in exactly the way we strive for Dragone creations to be.”

The Gods of Theatre: Japan | Dragone Read the latest live entertainment and events news from Dragone, "The Gods of Theatre: Japan".

Two thousand years ago, the pyramids were already thousands of years old. The history and contributions to human civilization from this place are immeasurable. Today, the people of Egypt represent vibrant, diverse, and dynamic communities that continue to play a vital role in both worldwide and regional culture. The opportunity to collaboratively build something in this place is an honor and a thrill.

One year ago, Franco Dragone died in Egypt, developing the potential for the projects our delegation now advances. There isn’t a day that we don’t wish Franco was still with us, but a year after his passing, there are few things to better honor his memory than the literal continuation of his legacy into the future. We are transforming Dragone into what Franco always wished it to be: a community of artists that makes people dream.

Few days before coming here, exactly where we stand today, he wrote these words:

“Only the desire to follow one’s own path, whatever happens, can block doubt, renunciation, and nostalgia for the passing of time. Collectively we extract ourselves from the maze where we constantly wander in search of light. If we don’t find it, we will get back on the road and continue the journey.” - Franco Dragone

AIDA, 2014
Naples, Italy

This production of AIDA, mounted in December 2014, took place in Naples’ San Carlo Theater, the oldest opera house in Europe. Dragone’s production aimed to provide a more intimate, introspective take on the work. The music was performed by seventy musicians and chorus members conducted by Eloi Baudimont.

While Dragone’s mega shows and resident spectaculars are what many first associate with the Dragone brand, we also have a passionate and deep interest in opera, ballet, and all other forms of cultural performance, traditional or emerging.

The Han Show, 2014
Wuhan, China

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Celine Dion’s “A New Day” remains one of the all time highest grossing Las Vegas resident shows. Opening in 2003, it was Dragone’s first production on the Las Vegas Strip. It was also the first creation with the video media artists that would become our longtime collaborators Drop The Spoon (www.dropthespoon.be). Twenty years ago, the technique of using media as scenery was in its infancy, and this show represented some of the most thrilling technology to date.

MAKE THE(M) DREAM Dragone Showreel

MAKE THE(M) DREAM Dragone Showreel

Dragone Principal Artistic and Creation Director Filippo Ferraresi speaks on Dragone's mission at the Franco Dragone Amphitheater in Cairano, Italy in 2023.

Dragone Mission 2023

Please join us at our office at 5:00pm this Friday for refreshments and fun before we venture out to enjoy First Friday in the Las Vegas Arts District. Wear your Dragone shirt if you have one, or pick one up from us when you arrive!

Every first Friday you and your friends in the Las Vegas area are invited to stop by our office in the Arts District. On the first Friday of every month, the Las Vegas Arts District transforms into a community street festival complete with food trucks, performances, and LOTS of local art.