Cirque rep says final ‘Ka’ battle scene likely to be cut

A representative of Cirque du Soleil says “Ka” plans to remove its final battle scene, the same scene during which a performer died on June 29 after falling roughly 90 feet in front of a live audience at the MGM Grand.

Cirque representative Renee-Claude Menard said in an email, “It is very likely that (the) Battle Scene will be removed during the OSHA investigation period,” which can last up to six months.

Menard also said Cirque is continuing its initial investigation into the death of 31-year-old Sarah Guillot-Guyard and should announce by next week when “Ka” performances will resume. It is unlikely that “Ka” will be back onstage before July 16, she said.

The final scene involves performers suspended by wires rappelling along a vertical wall as the audience watches the battle unfold from a bird’s-eye view.

Guillot-Guyard’s death was the first onstage fatality in Cirque’s 29-year history.

Contact reporter Melissah Yang at myang@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0491.