Cirque du Soleil has acquired fellow international entertainment company Blue Man Group Productions. The acquisition will broaden Cirque’s brand beyond circus arts while strengthening the New York-based Blue Man Group’s global presence.

With 18 shows already being presented globally in 2017, Cirque adds six resident productions and an international tour to its repertoire as Blue Man Group joins its portfolio. (Blue Man Group currently has sit-down engagements in New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, and Berlin.)

Blue Man Group will in turn have access to Cirque’s international reach as the two expand to various global markets. In an interview with the New York Times, representatives for both companies discussed intentions to launch productions in China.

“We are extremely excited to welcome the iconic Blue Man Group to our portfolio of shows,” Cirque President and CEO Daniel Lamarre said in a statement. “Their unbridled creativity makes them a perfect cultural fit for Cirque du Soleil.”

Blue Man Group co-founder Chris Wink added, “We find ourselves on the brink of our next chapter, and we have big ideas for the future. Only a global creative powerhouse like Cirque du Soleil could help us achieve our vision. Their commitment to artistic quality and originality is unparalleled and their creative resources are vast.”

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