Massive Equestrian Circus Coming to Somerville

The world's "largest touring big top" tent, a 10-story structure with room for 67 horses, 45 performers, 2,000 spectators and a stage that's flooded with 80,000 gallons of water, is set make Somerville home later this summer.

The show, Cavalia's Odysseo, created by a Cirque du Soleil founder, is like Cirque du Soleil on steroids, with tons of horses, death-defying acrobatics and—nerd alert—performers who look like Dothraki warriors from Game of Thrones.

According to the show's website, it's "a theatrical experience, an ode to horse and man that marries the equestrian arts, awe inspiring acrobatics and high-tech theatrical effects."

The equestrian spectacle announced on May 29 it was coming to Somerville's Assembly Square, and on Friday the city confirmed the news.

An announcement from the city says the show's opening night is scheduled for Aug. 7, and it's planning an initial run of eight weeks, with the possibility of extending the run to 12 weeks, depending on ticket sales.

The city's announcement says the show "has the potential to bring up to $10 million in revenues for local businesses." It would also lead to some temporary jobs for construction crews and service workers.

The show in Somerville will be Calavia Odysseo's debut in the Northeast, the city's announcement says.

It says the city is working to help the production secure all the necessary permits. The performance tent will be constructed on the former IKEA parcel near Assembly Row.

Tickets range from $34.50 to $249.50. The most expensive tickets are for the special Rendez-Vous VIP package that "offers the best seats in the house, exquisite buffet-dinning before the show, open bar, deserts during intermission and an exclusive visit of the stable after the show."

The city will work with Cavalia to obtain tickets to performances that aren't sold out, later in the run, to help senior citizens and children who might not otherwise be able to go to the show see the spectacle.