TUCSON, Ariz. — You’ve heard of dinner and a show. Now try circus and a food truck. Arizona Arts Live, at the University of Arizona, presents Cirque Kikasse, a free, family-friendly, open-air circus performed entirely on top of a custom-built truck. The company will perform at five locations across Tucson, April 14 through 18. All performances are free and open to the public, no tickets necessary, with Pay What You Wish contributions welcomed.
The concept is simple and a little absurd: a troupe of acrobats from Quebec rolls up in a truck, climbs on top, and delivers a show full of physical comedy, acrobatic feats, and genuine spectacle. They stack furniture into a balancing tower 35 feet off the ground. They clean the truck by way of a trampoline. They let the popcorn machine overflow. Prior to the show and again when it ends, the truck opens up and serves snacks and Transit Tea to the audience.
SANTÉ! has been performed more than 250 times for over 100,000 spectators across Canada and the United States, including a run at Lincoln Center in New York. Founded in 2021 by circus artists and directors Hugo Ouellet-Côté and William Poliquin-Simms, Cirque Kikasse has built a reputation for precision, energy, and a playfulness that lands with audiences of all ages.
“Southern Arizona is our stage. A company from Quebec shows up with a truck, performs in your neighborhood, and then serves you a snack. No tickets, no barriers. Five performances across Tucson in five days, every one of them free. Clear your evening and come find the truck,” said Chad Herzog, Executive & Artistic Director of Arizona Arts Live.
In addition to the performances, Cirque Kikasse will lead workshops and classes at locations throughout the community during their week-long Tucson residency.
The show is outdoors and designed for all ages. Audiences are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair. Five days. Five neighborhoods. One very unusual truck.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
All performances are free and open to the public. No tickets required. Pay What You Wish. Food and drinks from the truck begin one hour before showtime.
Tuesday, April 14 — 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
University of Arizona Campus Mall (east of Old Main), Tucson
Wednesday, April 15 — 6 p.m.
Ochoa Community School • 101 W. 25th St., Tucson
Thursday, April 16 — 6 p.m.
Discovery Nights at the Children’s Museum Tucson • 200 S. 6th Ave., Tucson
Friday, April 17 — 6 p.m.
Skyline Country Club • 5200 E. St Andrews Dr., Tucson
Saturday, April 18 — 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Corbett’s • 340 N. 6th Ave., Tucson
For more information, visit ArizonaArtsLive.com/cirque-kikasse or cirquekikasse.com.
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About Arizona Arts Live
Nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Arizona Arts Live curates extraordinary live events and arts experiences. A member of the Arizona Arts division at the University of Arizona, Arizona Arts Live brings the world’s greatest artists to Southern Arizona with programming that invites you to think. To feel. To discover thoughtful art and explore the unexpected.
Contact:
Andrew Escoto
Director of Marketing
aescoto@arizona.edu