Cirque du Soleil brings 'OVO' show to Louisville. What to know and how to get tickets

For nearly 40 years, Cirque du Soleil has delighted audiences throughout the United States with death-defying acrobatics, spectacular set design, and a progression of new and innovative storylines.

This September, the Canadian-based circus arts show returns to Louisville with an all-new experience, this one based on bugs. The high-energy and high-acrobatic production titled "OVO," (the Portuguese word for "egg") is headed to the KFC YUM Center , 1 Arena Plaza, with five show dates Sept. 5-8.

As with each Cirque du Soleil show, " OVO" is a colorful, fast-paced, gravity-defying one-of-a-kind experience. This particular family-friendly production takes the audience into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight, and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.

For more detail on the buzz around " OVO ," the Courier Journal spoke with veteran Ciruqe du Soleil performer Alessandra Gonzalez, the show's only vocalist, and prima cockroach.

"I am a glamourous singing cockroach in this show," Gonzalez said. "There is definitely nothing like a Cirque show. It's all human-powered. The costumes are fantastic, there is high-level acrobatics and live music and we have two former Olympians performing. (Plus) a massive set and incredible lighting. It's a brilliant show for the entire family."

The unique mix and marriage of choreography, aerial stunts, dance, music, and storytelling is a work in progress, said Janie Mallet, the Cirque du Soleil publicist.

"The performers and backstage crew train throughout the day up until show time. They work on transitions, new tricks, new sound cues, and lighting, you name it. They are always training and tweaking the show."

Here's what else to know about the upcoming Cirque du Soleil shows in Louisville:

What is Cirque du Soleil 'OVO' about?

As Gonzalez points out, while this show is all about insects, Cirque du Soleil has no animals — or real bugs — in the performance. In the case of " OVO ," human performers portray multiple types of insects represented in the show including crickets, scarabs, butterflies, red ants, fleas, fireflies, dragonflies, black spiders, red spiders, white spiders, flies, ladybugs, beetles, cockroaches, mosquitos and wood insects.

What is the Louisville connection to 'OVO?'

Gonzalez let the Courier Journal in on a little secret from behind the scenes of "OVO." Although we never see Louisville resident James Doubleday on stage, he's responsible for all the IT on the tour.

"I feel proud as I get to show my friends and family what I do for a living," Doubleday told the Courier Journal. In advance of the cast and crew's arrival in Kentucky, Doubleday has been filling them in on local sites and foods to experience including Ale-8 and Modjeskas , an iconic caramel and marshmallow candy invented in Louisville.

How do I get tickets to Cirque du Soleil's OVO in Louisville?

Tickets are on sale for " OVO" at the KFC YUM Center , which runs Sept. 5-8 at kfcyumcenter.com .

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Cirque du Soleil brings 'OVO' show to Louisville. What to know and how to get tickets