‘Kooza’ premiere to benefit Heal the Bay, ONE Drop foundations

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Cirque du Soleil presents “Kooza” at the Santa Monica Pier. Photo by Olivier Samson-Arcand 2007 Cirque du Soleil Inc

The legendary Cirque du Soleil presents its latest creation at the Santa Monica Pier, where it debuted its first performance in the United States 25 years ago.

By Brittany Yearout / Special to the Malibu Times

A current of acrobatic production and the artistry of clowning will roll through the Santa Monica Pier, beginning Oct. 16 with a Cirque du Soleil “Kooza” premiere to benefit Heal the Bay and the ONE DROP Foundation. Both organizations are dedicated to raising awareness about water issues.

The opening-night gala, called La Soirée, includes an exclusive after party presented by Audemars Piguet.

“It will be an unforgettable night,” said Heal the Bay’s Director of Development John Seiber. “Not only do you get to see a Cirque du Soleil performance but you get to be at the premiere and know that all of the money is going to charity. You can’t beat that.”

Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberté is the president of the ONE DROP Foundation, which is an organization working to fight poverty by providing clean water to all human beings. The Santa Monica-based environmental group Heal the Bay is Cirque du Soleil’s first American partnership.

“We could not be happier about this partnership,” Seiber said. “The two agencies are very synergistic and we are excited about working together to make this night successful for both of us.”

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Quebec-based international performance company is returning to the first place in the United States where it met success.

“Santa Monica has a real special place for Cirque du Soleil because it is the first location outside of Canada that Guy Laliberte took his troupe,” Seiber said. “So, this is where many people credit the international success that Cirque du Soleil has had.”

In addition to Audemars Piguet, Alex von Furstenberg, a Malibu financier (and the son of fashion maven Diane Von Furstenberg), is also a sponsor of the event. Furstenberg, who has lived in Malibu for four years, recently committed $150,000 during a three-year period to fund the Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card, which enables beachgoers to assess the water quality of any given beach in California before visiting.

“I believe in transparency, which creates accountability and having a beach report card is critical to making the public aware of the beach quality so that it creates accountability,” Furstenberg said.

Six of the 10 most polluted beach areas in the state during dry weather were in Los Angeles County, including Surfrider Beach at Malibu Creek and the Santa Monica Municipal Pier, according to the 19th annual Beach Report Card released during summer.

All the proceeds from the premiere of “Kooza” will be split between ONE DROP Foundation and Heal the Bay. Heal the Bay will use the money for its ongoing programs, said Lisa Kaas Boyle, an environmental attorney serving on Heal the Bay’s executive board.

“I encourage all Malibu residents to attend this great event because it will be a blast and every ticket sold supports Heal the Bay’s mission to make our coastal waters clean and safe for people and marine life,” wrote Boyle in an e-mail this week. “Heal the Bay has a very strong history of protecting the marine resources of Malibu.”

Besides contributing to ONE DROP and Heal the Bay, the night is set to appeal to the imagination, with a story about an innocent character, who is guided by a trickster with a wand into the dark world.

“What I love about our show is that we really go and touch people,” said Clarence Ford, the choreographer of “Kooza.” “You laugh and you cry, and our clowns are amazing and interactive where they get people up from the audience. There are so many different elements to our show that really engage people and keep the show moving. It is a really warm, fun-filled experience.”

Tickets range from $155 for general admittance to $1,500 for VIP, which offers the full Tapis Rouge experience of prestige seating, five-star hospitality pavilion and access to the after-party tent. More information on the benefit and tickets can be obtained by calling 310.451.1500 ext. 121. Cirque du Soleil will be at the Santa Monica Pier until December 20.