Eager performers gather in a southwest Valley rehearsal space on a Thursday in early April. They remove their shoes to walk on floors padded for acrobats. They stretch and lounge, waiting their turn to dance or sing or make jokes.

The scene feels strange in its familiarity. These seasoned professionals—who have graced some of the most prestigious Strip stages—must have spent countless afternoons like this. And yet, for the past year, the shows have been dark, the rehearsals disbanded.

Finally, the first sparks of creativity are returning. These performers—many of whom have Cirque du Soleil on their résumés—are participating in the first in-person rehearsal for a new variety entertainment concept, the Ignite outdoor festival. It’s set to bring together live entertainment, food, music, drinks, camping, outdoor games and more May 7 and 8 at Sandy Valley Ranch, about an hour southwest of Las Vegas.

Even through their branded Ignite masks, the participants’ excitement is obvious. “It’s freaking exciting, the best thing in the world,” says clown RJ Owens. “It’s so nice to be around creatives again, because we’ve been shut off from the world. It’s wonderful to just be artistic for art’s sake. I love it. I missed it.”

The idea for Ignite came to Sandi Croft, its founder and co-director, over the summer as she was whiling away the pandemic isolation at Sandy Valley Ranch. The former artistic director for Mystère, O and Zumanity looked at the horse arena and saw the makings of a stage. She pitched the idea to longtime Zumanity colleague Brandon Pereyda, an aerial chain artist with a distinctive red mohawk and an alter ego known as Axle.

“Can you see it?” Croft recalls asking Pereyda as they surveyed the Mojave desert ranch. “Right now, it’s just dirt and an arena.”

Pereyda saw that, and more. “We just started collaborating off of each other’s ideas,” he says.

Ignite’s tagline reads “Disconnect to reconnect.” It could refer to the show’s rustic location. It could also refer to the narrative of pandemic-fueled distancing, which serves as the variety show’s loose theme. The free format will allow the two dozen-plus circus artists to follow their bliss and also co-create. “We wanted to get people inspired again, get them creating again,” says Pereyda, who will emcee as Axle.

“The talent is just itching to be onstage again, to collaborate; not just the artists but also backstage—stage managers, marketing and social media, and technical,” Croft says.

Drummer and body percussionist Steve C. Weiss says he’s thrilled to get back to making music for a live audience, already sensing the energy in the rehearsal space. It marks an emotional return for Weiss, a Zumanity cast member who lost his job when the pandemic hit and the show closed permanently. “There’s gonna be tears of joy and sadness,” Weiss says. “There’s no two ways about it, the past year has been awful.”

Pereyda says one of Ignite’s goals is to bring out those emotions. From the initial pain of the pandemic to a reborn sense of community, Pereyda says, “this show really takes us on that journey.”

“[And] it’s not like Joe Schmoe is putting together a show out at the ranch,” Weiss says. “These are top-tier, world-class talents. That’s gonna be exciting—pandemic or not—to get to work with [people] like that.”