Raising the 'Kooza' big top in St. Paul

Finished
The tent is raised. Now the crews have to install the bleachers to seat 2,500 people, and the equipment for the show
MPR photo/Euan Kerr

A new structure bloomed on the edge of downtown St Paul this afternoon. It's the tent for Cirque de Soleil to present it's new show "Kooza," starting next week.

Putting up a tent which will hold 2,500 people and all the equipment for the troupe's wildly acrobatic shows is no simple feat.

Today, under a blazing sun, a huge crew raised the big top. Minnesota Public Radio got a guided tour - inside the tent as it went up. But before we went in the guide had some safety rules from Cirque de Soleil's Jessica LeBoeuf.

It will take several days to install the rest of the equipment. "Kooza" opens a week tonight under the big top near the corner of Kellogg and Broadway on the downtown St Paul Riverfront.

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