Cirque du Soleil Production of “KA” Resumes in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Cirque du Soleil, which had suspended its production of KÀ at the MGM Grand here after an aerialist fell and died on June 29, resumed production of the show on July 16. Cirque dedicated that sold-out show to Sarah Guyard-Guillot, the artist who slipped free of her harness and fell a reported 90 feet into the production’s pit while the stage was in a near-vertical position. The 31-year-old performer was the first in Cirque’s 29-year history to die in a show accident.

Along with the voice-over tribute to the performer, which drew a standing ovation, the late-in-the-show battle scene where Guyard-Guillot lost her life has been cut from the 90-minute show, and replaced by a more solemn segment dubbed “The Dressing Ritual.”

OSHA is still investigating the accident. Cirque du Soleil, which had voluntarily canceled performances from June 30 to July 15, also voluntarily dropped the battle scene from the show, and ticket holders to the canceled performances received refunds and exchanges.