The Great DuBois launched a new tradition when it rolled Park City Cirque into town last year. The matrimonial team of Michael DuBois and Viktoria Grimmy presented an end-of-the-year run of its all-ages variety show that features acrobatics, juggling and comedy at the Egyptian Theatre, and they were taken aback by the response of the sold-out or nearly sold-out audiences. “They were fantastic, and we were blown away,” DuBois said. “When we go to (a) new venue, we don’t know what to expect, but performing over the holidays in Park City when people are with family and in a happy mood couldn’t have been better.” Park City Cirque returns to the Egyptian Theatre for another six-day run that will feature eight shows, starting Friday, and DuBois is more than ready. “For us, an act that travels so much, to be in one spot for six nights is wonderful,” he said. “We are able to focus on the show and not on traveling and setting up.” This year’s performances will feature some favorite segments as well as some new ones and some that have been changed a bit, according to DuBois. “The beauty of our show, because it’s a comedy and so much revolves around audience participation, always has a different feel to it even though the routines are similar,” he said. “We do change up a couple of things, but the show is still us.” Throughout the years DuBois and Grimmy have made names for themselves with appearances in Michael Gracey’s 2017 hit film, “The Greatest Showman,” starring Hugh Jackman, as well as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” Britney Spears’ “World Circus Tour” and Steve Antin’s 2010 film, “Burlesque,” which starred Cher and Christina Aguilera. In addition, Grimmy ​is a fifth-generation circus performer whose family performed with Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey, and she appeared on Broadway with the show “Pippin” that won five Tony Awards. “With (Cirque), we trained our whole lives to hone our skills,” DuBois said. “It’s a touring show that includes Vaudeville-style acts that feel like a comedy club all in one.” DuBois and Grimmy have worked as a couple full time for 17 years. Michael DuBois and Viktoria Grimmy have performed together as The Great DuBois for 17 years. They have appeared in Michael Gracey’s 2017 hit film, “The Greatest Showman,” and on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” Britney Spears’ “World Circus Tour” and Steve Antin’s 2010 film, “Burlesque.” Grimmy is also a Broadway performer. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Great DuBois “We worked together in different capacities longer before that, but I think the first show we did together was in 2008, I think,” DuBois said.  At that time DuBois created a circus and magic show in New York City with his best friend from college, who eventually moved to Los Angeles to work on “The Tonight Show.” “When I was performing my own show that I renamed ‘The Solo Circus,’ Viktoria was performing on Broadway in ‘Pippin,’ he said. “She worked six nights a week in the city, and I toured by myself. But occasionally on her day off, she would come and join me.” Once Grimmy put in her resignation from “Pippin,” the couple began performing together fulltime, according to DuBois. “I think what’s unique about us is that we really come from individual acts, so we have put together this show that has so much variety,” he said. “Viktoria has a bunch of solo moments, and I have a bunch of solo moments. And then we have routines where we assist each other, but it’s very different from an act that totally relies on two people.” While the two will also answer calls to perform solo shows, the goal is to always try and work together, DuBois said. “We want to do that, especially for theatre shows,” he said. Whether performing as a duo or solo, the two artists know the importance of maintaining their craft and timing, DuBois said. “In our house we have a living room that has 25-foot ceilings,” he said. “So we have an aerial rig and a slackline wire and can pretty much do our whole show there.” During the busy times of the year, the couple don’t practice much at home. “So, I’m usually alone in the dressing room juggling at least 30 minutes before every show,” DuBois said. “I also run through all my tricks, so that’s pretty much the maintenance. But it’s kind of like riding a bike. Once you figure things out, you just know how to do them.” DuBois has worked on some of the harder tricks so much that they have become almost muscle memories. “One of the tricks I do is bounce a ball on my head while I jump rope,” he said. “It’s a wildly hard trick, but it’s one of those tricks that’s a knack and all about timing. And once you figure that out and work out that timing, it’s still difficult, but you have it in your body.” Getting all the balls lined up, per se, can be challenging in different climates, according to Dubois. “In a place as cold as Park City, we have to be really warm, because the juggling involves your shoulders and a lot of movements that you don’t do in every-day life,” he said. “I have found that if I jump rope for a few minutes and have a bit of a sweat going, I would usually be fine because my body is warm and I’m loose.” Juggling is also the skill DuBois works the hardest to maintain. “It’s difficult manipulation, and there are so many things that can affect it,” he said. “In a place that is warm and humid, I don’t drop anything that I should be catching, because my hands are warm and grippy. But being in a cold, dry climate like Park City will affect my grip. So, I have to take care of my hands differently.”  Grimmy, on the other hand, has her own set of challenges, DuBois said. “Viktoria is an aerialist, which relies on venue spacing,” he said. “So doing that in a place like the Egyptian that is much more intimate is exciting because you’re close to the audience. But it’s also a tighter fit.” Still, the two, whether they perform small or large venues, always makes sure the performances are personable, DuBois said. “When people see our show, they feel like they get to know us, because who we are on stage is who we are as people,” he said. “And what’s so lovely about performing at the Egyptian is that we get to be there for eight shows, so we get used to it and get to know the audiences.” DuBois and Grimmy fell in love with the Egyptian Theatre and felt the support of its supporters during last year’s performances. “I think the Egyptian is an incredible place in Park City, which is also incredible, because it’s this athletic town but also an artistic town,” he said. “I know there are a lot of theaters in small towns across the country that have lost a lot of funding. And if theaters are losing funding because people in political power decide not to give anymore, it hurts us, and it hurts the youth who may never get a chance to see performers like us and performances we do.” Still, DuBois tries not to let the economic and political climate of the world discourage his and Grimmy’s mission to entertain. “We are here to make people smile, and our hope is that people will come to our show and forget all the struggles and stress in life and be happy for a minute,” he said. “I’m not a performer and entertainer because I want to be famous. I love the circus, and I love making people laugh.” Park City Cirque Featuring the Great DuBois When: 8 p.m., Friday through Dec. 31, with 3 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday Where: Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St. Tickets: $39-$59 Phone: 855-745-SHOW Web: parkcityshows.com The post Park City Cirque’s end-of-the-year tradition continues appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less