Cirque du Soleil returns to the Bay Area

Cirque du Soleil is returning to the Bay Area this week with a show called "Echo."

State of play: The two-hour show will feature many of the famous circus troupe's mesmerizing theatrics, live music and acts from more than 50 performers, spanning from aerialists and contortionists to acrobats and jugglers.

Zoom in: The storyline follows the main protagonist named Future, who encounters various characters costumed as animals and a mysterious "cube."

• The massive rotating centerpiece is the size of a two-story apartment building and is used for projections and as a prop for artists to perform on.

What's next: Cirque du Soleil will run from April 8 to May 11 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds before coming to San Francisco's Oracle Park from Nov. 20 to Dec. 21. Tickets start at $79.