The blue-and-white Big Top has officially risen over Marymoor Park, marking the arrival of ECHO, a production that successfully finds the classic Cirque du Soleil formula embracing a new era. At the February 5 premiere, more than 2,500 guests witnessed the Pacific Northwest debut of a show that trades old-school circus tropes for a sleek, high-tech aesthetic.

The story centers on a young woman named Future and her dog, Ewai. Together, they discover a massive, two-story structure known as the Cube. As we sat among the crowd watching several cast members playfully warming up the audience before the main event, it was clear that the Cube was going to play a prominent role in the night that was about to unfolded. How could it not?

The Cube is a 10-metric-ton living character that rotates, floats, and reacts to the performers. It also served, according to show’s creators, as a visual metaphor for our planet, showing how every choice we make ripples through the lives of others.

If you think you’ve seen everything Cirque has to offer, ECHO will surprise you. It comes in hot with several “firsts” for the company. For the first time in Cirque history, the show features seven live vocalists who also play instruments on stage, providing the night’s soundscape. It tends to give the whole production the feel of a contemporary concert rather than a traditional circus.

The technical stats are just as impressive. The production uses ten video projectors to map 3D imagery across the stage, which is the most ever for a traveling Big Top show. This technology allows the massive Cube, which measures at the height of a two-story apartment building, to appear as if it is deconstructing and rebuilding itself as it hovers ever so slightly above the stage.

Of course, the physical feats remain the stars. You will see 53 world-class artists performing vertical ballet, triple teeterboards, and a dual slackwire act that takes place entirely inside the rotating Cube. Again, there is no escaping the Cube in this Cirque du Soleil journey.

ECHO offers a great night out for the entire family. The show is packed with high-energy moments and plenty of laughs, combining world-class acrobatics with a massive, high-tech stage design that is impressive to see in person. In proven Cirque du Soleil fashion (this is their 20th big top creation), ECHO is another true spectacle that keeps both kids and adults entertained from start to finish.

The antics and acrobatic feats of Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO take place under the big top at Marymoor Park through March 22.