Illuminasia - The Monkey Princess

CUSTOM ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS

Full Creative Strategy

When the Calgary Zoo dreamed of lighting up the night with a cultural spectacle,we delivered a full-blown theatrical adventure told through lanterns, music, acrobatics, and martial arts.

For six weeks in the fall of 2016, the grounds of the Calgary Zoo transformed into a glowing celebration of Asian tradition with Illuminasia. But this year, they wanted more than lights. They wanted a story.

Enter The Monkey Princess—a custom creation by fuze in collaboration with The Underground Circus. Rather than scattered vignettes that risked being overlooked, we built a cohesive 30-minute stage show that pulled audiences in with movement, sound, and spectacle. We weren’t just illuminating lanterns. We were igniting imagination.

The Experience

Cultural Immersion Meets Contemporary Storytelling

From the first beat of the drum to the final bow, The Monkey Princess paid tribute to Asian heritage while delivering edge-of-your-seat excitement.

Set within a royal court, the story follows a rebellious young princess who borrows her father’s sacred staff, loses it to stealthy ninjas, and embarks on a journey of redemption. Along the way, she trains, transforms, and ultimately reclaims her power, both literally and metaphorically.

Each performance was packed with symbolism, traditional influences, and modern performance elements tailored for both family and adult audiences.

Designed to Draw a Crowd

In previous years, stage entertainment at Illuminasia had been fragmented, small, scattered acts that struggled to hold attention. We shifted that experience entirely by building a cohesive, character-driven narrative that played out on a centralized stage, creating a natural gathering point and a reason to stay.

With a clear beginning, middle, and end, audiences were invested. They didn’t just watch, they were invested in the journey.

Live, Layered, and Unforgettable

Every moment of the show was designed to engage:

Martial arts sequences kept the energy high and the audience wide-eyed.
Aerial and contortion performances brought beauty and surrealism.
Dynamic choreography and live drumming provided rhythm and pulse.
Fire props and comedy elements adapted seamlessly for adult and family audiences.

No two shows were exactly the same, but every performance was packed with spectacle, emotion, and cultural richness.

A Custom Creation, From the Ground Up

This wasn’t a touring show dropped into an existing venue. The Monkey Princess was built entirely from scratch for this event; conceptualized, cast, costumed, scored, and staged by fuze in collaboration with The Underground Circus.

From storyline to soundtrack to staging, every detail was custom-designed to suit the Illuminasia experience and shine in the unique nighttime zoo environment.

Results That Speak for Themselves

By adding an immersive, theatrical experience to the lantern festival, the Calgary Zoo drew more foot traffic, longer guest visits, and stronger word-of-mouth buzz.