Cavalia: Odysseo

Like a living fairytale, Cavalia: Odysseo brings the stuff of dreams into reality with the most magnificent horses and their brilliant riders and trainers, as well as acrobats, aerialists, dancers, musicians and singers. It is a literal and virtual wonderland of a set under the big top.

The entire set is comprised of masses of sand that creates dramatically mountainous terrain. Then the show's brilliant lighting design changes it from the desert and savanna of Africa to the American Southwest to the Northern Lights to an ice cave to the greenest fields to Easter Island.

Upon a huge screen -- the size of three IMAX theaters -- behind the rolling hills, images are projected creating an illusion of time and place that envelops the mind completely, not to mention the spirit.

The set alone sets the imagination aflame and then the cast, equine and human alike, fill the empty canvas and magic ensues. There is such an intense connection between the horses and their riders and trainers. This is beyond horse whispering. This is horse knowing.

Cavalia is a horse-centered extravaganza. This new exploration, called Odysseo, takes the equestrian fantasy up yet another notch. Each scene is like slipping into a dream sequence, an artistic vision that could only have been cooked up by the ever-inspiring Normand Latourelle, Creator and Artistic Director.

Horses and riders appear from the top of the mountain in a scene so grand, you can hear audience members literally gasp. A massive carousel descends from the rigging at the top of the tent. Horses and acrobats alike jump over ever-rising bars. Young women ride two horses at once, one foot upon each. Trick riders balance on their horses' backs in every possible permutation. One rider slips beneath the belly of his horse and then back up again as the horse races around the ring. Incredible.

And as if the performances weren't enough to wow you, the sheer numbers of this show are astonishing. The big top alone is 125 foot tall and 47,000 square feet. It takes 100 trucks for the show to travel. The stage covers over 35,000 square feet. Six thousand tons dirt, sand, and stone are used to create the stage. The show employs 200 moving lights and the tent seats 2,000 spectators.

One of the most spectacular effects in the show is the creation of an actual lake on-stage, created with 80,000 gallons of water that are used and then recycled, pumped in right before the audience's eyes. The horses race through the water and the front two rows of the audience becomes a "splash zone" of smiling conspirators.

The costumes are flowing in tones both earthy and brilliant. The settings are insanely picturesque, the music swelling. And the entire effect is absolutely other-worldly.

For the most dramatic experience, audiences can opt for Rendez-vous experiences, with front of the house seats, food and drink before the show in the VIP tent; dessert at intermission; popcorn, ice cream, and drinks during the show; and a stables tour after. There is nothing quite like meeting the horses, quietly munching in their stables after having seen them perform so majestically just moments before.

There are so many things vying for attention these days: music, shows, people, experiences. Odysseo isn't vying for it. It demands it. It makes it impossible to look away. Each moment leaves viewers in wonder. Will he clear that jump? How did he do that? Did she really just land there? How are they not colliding? What is that? How did she make that happen?

It's thrilling, astonishing, joyful and elating. The thrilling talent of the performers. The astonishing sets. The joyful connection between horse and human. The elating effect of the music. More than a show. More than an experience. It's a spectacular spectacular that audiences won't soon forget.

Cavalia: Odysseo runs through February 22 at Dr Pepper Ballpark,7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco, TX 75034. For tickets or information, call 866-999-8111 or visit http://www.cavalia.net/en/odysseo/tickets-info/frisco-dallas-tx.