Dragone is a Las Vegas and Luxembourg based creative company specializing in the creation of large scale theater shows. It was founded in 2000 by Franco Dragone. Formerly known as Franco Dragone Entertainment Group (FDEG), the company became Dragone in 2014. The company, previously based in La Louvière, Belgium, has created in excess of forty "permanent shows", in addition to events in more than 12 countries across Europe, the Middle East, in the United States, South America and Asia.
History
Origins
The company was founded in 2000 by Franco Dragone, who had acquired experience in the circus industry in the ’80s and ‘90s, creating many shows with the Cirque du Soleil. Since its foundation, Dragone has been responsible for the creation and production of dozens of shows and original events.
Local anchorage
The company was based in the Belgian city of La Louvière, the region where Franco Dragone moved to with his family when he was a young child in the 1950s. The presence of the company has showcased the city internationally, through local actions and events. Dragone has also captured attention due to the visits and participation of celebrities in their shows, such as Sting, Jeffrey Katzenberg or Celine Dion.
Décrocher la lune
"Décrocher la lune" is an event organised by Dragone, which seeks to combine entertainment and social concerns in a manner which includes participatory action by the community. In March 2000, the first such “Décrocher la lune” was held in March 2000, in La Louvière. Other iterations of the festival took place in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015. Since 2014, the scheme has been renamed to the “Agence Lunaire”, which is now responsible for the project.
5 sur 5
Created in 2004, the Festival 5 sur 5 offered young directors from around the world to express their point of view on La Louvière through short films. The project was managed by the non-profit organization Espace Dragone, which represented the company's citizen base. The project successfully ran for thirteen consecutive years.
Economic issues and judicial difficulties
In October 2012, the company premises were searched. Franco Dragone faced charges for tax evasion; the case is still under investigation and the judicial investigation is not complete. Between 2016 and 2017, an unfavorable economic environment resulted in Dragone experiencing significant cash flow difficulties. To maintain the activity in its Belgian base, and to save the jobs of its employees, the company engaged itself in a procedure in judicial reorganization (PRJ), which will be ultimately approved by the Commercial Court of Mons, which will pronounce the sustainability of the activity.
Shows
The so-called permanent shows are the hallmarks of the company. They are intended to be performed for a minimum period of 10 years, typically in theaters specifically built for Dragone shows. The shows heavily incorporate technology and special effects. These shows include several types of performances inspired by traditional and contemporary circus. Dragone has specialized in the development of aquatic theater, under the stage of which hides a swimming pool of several million liters, allowing the use of a third play area, in addition to the aerial and aquatic ones. The shows are intricately developed by various teams within the company, including the following units: Casting, Talents & Trends, Architecture & Design, Illustration and Video, Costumes.
Shows organised by the company include the following that can be broadly categorized into three divisions:
From Las Vegas to Dubai
A New Day... In March 2003, the new Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas held the premiere of Celine Dion’s A New Day..., a show created and directed by Franco Dragone. Celine Dion had previously seen and loved O and she even temporarily moved to Belgium so the two could closely collaborate on the show she dreamed of... In this show, says the artistic director, “I see Celine as a satellite that captures the images of another world and sends them back to the audience. The stage becomes a secret universe that she shares very intimately with the audience”; while Celine Dion thinks the world of its “magician”. The show was performed every night for five years in front of a full house.