Backstage Pass - Surprise Party

The Part of a Lifetime

Turning 40 only happens once, so why not make a show of it? This surprise birthday celebration brought together cirque acts, live music, unexpected performances and personal moments for one seriously unforgettable night.

This was a birthday party like no other that took place in a historic Mount Royal Heritage Home in Calgary.

At the time of the party, the house was under construction, so we blended in with the construction team while planning and doing site visits to keep the secrecy!

Keeping the Surprise Under Wraps

Planning an event in a home still under construction created an unusual setting, but it also opened the door to some creative entertainment solutions.

When guests arrived, they were greeted with living statues placed around the built-in pond. Fun fact — the landscaping was not complete, so we added entertainment to fill in the space in a creative and interactive way.

Instead of letting an unfinished area take away from the experience, entertainment became part of the solution. It was a perfect example of working with the space we had and finding a creative way to make it part of the celebration.

Cirque Around Every Corner

Upon entering the home, party-goers experienced various cirque acts strategically placed throughout the space in ways that accommodated ceiling height and other requirements for their performances.

With different acts positioned throughout the home, entertainment became part of the environment rather than being limited to one traditional performance area.

Some performers even took to stages built on top of the pool and hot tub! A platform stage was constructed over the pool specifically for the cirque cube act, allowing us to turn another part of the home into a performance space.

Dinner With a Twist

The entertainment continued during dinner with The String Theory, a band that uses a land harp to create unique and beautiful music.

This wasn't your typical instrument setup. The strings of the harp started on the stage and stretched across the home into the mezzanine, reaching above guests' heads as they enjoyed dinner.

It was another way entertainment was integrated directly into the home, using the scale and layout of the space as part of the performance.

A Heartfelt Moment

Among all the cirque performances and live entertainment was a moment that made the celebration especially personal.

The guest of honour's young daughter performed a song alongside a professional band, creating a heartfelt memory for the birthday celebration.

Big entertainment moments can make an event spectacular, but personal touches like this are what make a celebration truly unique to the people at the centre of it.

One Last Musical Surprise

The final musical performance of the evening came from Holly Cole, the birthday boy's favourite artist. It was the finishing touch to a celebration already filled with entertainment in unexpected places. From living statues and cirque acts to The String Theory, a land harp stretching across the home, a special family performance and Holly Cole, this was truly a party to remember.

Multiple entertainment acts were incorporated throughout the evening, turning a surprise 40th birthday into the party of a lifetime.