Base Entertainment chief creative officer joining Cirque du Soleil

Scott Zeiger, chief creative officer of Base Entertainment, is joining Cirque du Soleil to take the Canadian show producer to Broadway with a new theatrical division.

With Base Entertainment partner Brian Becker, Zeiger has steered Broadway titles such as “Phantom of the Opera,” “Jersey Boys,” “Rock of Ages” and “Million Dollar Quartet” to the Strip.

Zeiger will become president and managing director of Cirque du Soleil Theatrical starting March 3. Cirque’s executives “appreciate the fact that there’s a whole silo of the live entertainment business sort of missing from their portfolio,” Zeiger said Tuesday.

“We’re going to tell linear stories with traditional Broadway sensibility. There will be book, music and lyrics.”

However, Zeiger says the new division will have its eye more on Broadway, London’s West End and theatrical touring than Las Vegas, where Cirque is already the city’s dominant show producer.

“I don’t think any stage in the world is being ruled out,” he added. “But is this new division being formed to service Las Vegas? No.”

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.