Cirque du Soleil resumed performances of its show, "Ka," on Tuesday, according to NBC News. The performances are resuming 17 days after an acrobat fell 90 feet in the closing scene, an accident that resulted in her death.
However, the show will resume at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino without the final aerial battle scene that resulted in the death of acrobat Sarah Guillot-Guyard, according to spokeswoman Renee-Claude Menard.
The decision to resume performances was made after consulting with the production's artists and staff, and the Tuesday night performance was be dedicated to the memory of Guillot-Guyard, who was a French citizen and mother of two. She was a Las Vegas resident who had been with the original cast of Ka since 2006, and had been an acrobat for over 20 years.
In place of the original final scene, there will be a "dressing-ritual" scene that maintains the storyline of the production and meets the same original 90-minute length.
Coroner's ruled the death of Guillot-Guyard as an accident by blunt force trauma. When she fell, she was still attached to her harness. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation that could take six months.
Audience members initially thought the fall was part of the show. It wasn't until they heard the cries of the other performers that they realized something had gone horribly wrong. After stopping momentarily, the show then continued and audience members were offered refunds or vouchers to future shows.
Officials from Cirque du Soleil said it was the first time a performer has died from an onstage accident in the company's 29-year history.
Ka will resume with a modified schedule of shows starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The regular schedule of Cirque du Soleil shows, which features additional shows at 9:30 p.m., will resume on July 23.
A trailer for "Ka."
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