Zarkana performer survives fall in Friday night show
Another Cirque du Soleil performer has fallen during a performance.
The performer in “Zarkana,” a Cirque du Soleil show at the Aria, was taken to the hospital Friday night after he fell during the 7 p.m. performance.
The man, who wasn’t immediately identified, suffered non-fatal injuries, according to a statement from the show.
He was the second performer to fall during a Cirque du Soleil show in the past five months. The previous fall at the show “Ka” at the MGM Grand led to a female performer’s death.
“During the 7 p.m. showing of ‘Zarkana’ last night, an artist performing in the ‘Wheel of Death’ act slipped and fell off the wheel,” Cirque du Soleil said in a statement after the accident. “The show was halted and the artist was transported to UMC where he is in stable condition and is expected to be released from hospital in the next few days.”
The Wheel of Death act involves two artists leaping into the air on their apparatus to perform jumps. The wheel at the front of the stage is powered by their physical strength.
“Safety is always a top priority for us and for Cirque,” said MGM spokeswoman Mary Hynes. “Cirque has one of the best safety records in the entire entertainment industry and we’re confident they are already looking into this incident.”
Sarah Guillot-Guyard, 31, died after she fell 94 feet during the final battle scene in Cirque du Soleil’s “Ka” June 29. The company was cited several times by the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration after the accident, and faces more than $25,000 in fines. MGM is facing a $7,000 fine.
According to OSHA, Cirque du Soleil was cited for not protecting “Ka” performers from striking an overhead grid during the show and for not providing proper training for the “employee involved in the accident.”
Guillot-Guyard died when the wire rope from which she was suspended broke.
OSHA also said Cirque du Soleil removed equipment from the fatality site before OSHA authorized removal.
MGM Grand was cited for three charges similar to those brought against Cirque du Soleil, including deficiencies in hazard assessments in the Ka Theater.
Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@reviewjournal.com. Follow @StevenSlivka on Twitter.
