'Big Bang' troupe Plasticiens Volants returns to Artpark with US premiere of 'Pearl: Secrets of the Sea,' plus The Machine performs Pink Floyd

French street theatre performance group to perform Aug. 22

Artpark & Company announced the return of Plasticiens Volants, the world-renown French street theater group that visited Lewiston in 2017. PV will stage the U.S. premiere of its show “Pearl: Secrets of the Sea” on Aug. 22.

In addition, America’s pre-eminent Pink Floyd tribute, The Machine, will also perform that night, playing two sets on the outdoor Artpark Amphitheater stage.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. performance. General admission tickets, priced at $20, are on sale now.

Known for massive illuminated inflatables, Plasticiens Volants was featured in Artpark’s 2017 season finale spectacle, “Big Bang.” It was the group’s U.S. premiere.

A truly immersive performance, this new show takes place above, next to, and in front of the audience, as the actors manipulate their puppets and inflatables through the crowd. Everyone is encouraged to interact and touch the inflatables.

The show follows a pearl that has escaped its shell. The audience is along for the ride as Artpark is transformed into an extraordinary underwater world. Encounters with jellyfish, seahorses and more surprise sea creatures unfold a lively and exhilarating adventure that is appropriate for all ages.

PV has thrilled audiences in five continents, with high-profile appearances at the Olympic Games in Sochi and Rio, Paralympic Games in Australia, and festivals from Canada to Australia.

“With the enthusiastic feedback we received from our audiences in 2017, we are thrilled at the opportunity to bring Plasticiens Volants to Artpark and the United States,” Executive Director Sonia Kozlova Clark said. “Artpark is a unique place where art, nature and culture fuse into unforgettable experiences. No other setting feeds the unbound imagination of these daring artists better than at Artpark. No better place for the audiences to discover it. I cannot wait to see all the happy faces at this extraordinary show this summer.”

The Machine (Image courtesy of Artpark & Company)

The Machine performs Pink Floyd – America’s top Pink Floyd show – has forged a 30-year reputation for extending the legacy of Pink Floyd, selling out theaters worldwide and appearing at many high-profile festivals. The New York-based group performs a diverse mix of Pink Floyd’s extensive repertoire, including hits and deep cuts. With stellar musicianship and passionate delivery, The Machine explores collective improvisation rivaling that of early 1970s Pink Floyd. Their use of expanded theatrical elements and elaborate stage displays and lighting continues in the spirit of the later Floyd of the 1980s.

The Machine will perform two sets – one prior to and a second immediately following the Plasticiens Volants performance.

Purchase tickets online at artpark.net or tickets.com; by phone at 1-888-223-6000; or in person at the Artpark box office, 450 S. Fourth St., Lewiston (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays). Listed ticket price includes facility fee; additional fees apply for online and phone orders.