Cirque du Soleil returns to State College after more than a decade. Go behind the scenes

By Abby Drey

Updated March 28, 2025 11:38 AM

University Park

After more than a decade, Cirque du Soleil is back in State College for several performances at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The show, called “Ovo,” is a day in life of a community insects, with “ovo” meaning “egg” in Portuguese.

As the 53 performers and crew prepared Thursday morning for the first of five shows at Penn State’s BJC, we got a behind-the-scenes look. Beau Sargent, whose character is a moth, was rehearsing his aerial net performance.

Beau Sargent rehearses his aerial net routine in Cirque du Soleil’s show “Ovo” at the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com

The show features live music and an elaborate wardrobe, with over 800 pieces of costume in each performance.

Janie Mallet shows some of the shoes worn by the clowns in Cirque du Soleil’s show “Ovo” during its stop at the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com

The last time a Cirque du Soleil show was performed at the Bryce Jordan Center was in October 2014.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $49-$139 and can be purchased online.

Below are more photos from rehearsal and from opening night.