By Howard Pousner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When “Cavalia” opened in Washington in September, founder and artistic director Normand Latourelle found himself reading some eye-popping numbers describing the big-top show’s first stop in the nation’s capital nearly five years ago.

A press release claimed that the equestrian extravaganza was one of the biggest tours in North America, traveling with 35 horses and more than 50 semi trailers. Today, the updated release calls “Cavalia” the biggest touring show in the world, with 65 horses and 85 semis.

That’s even bigger than U2’s tour, baby.

“Oh, OK, who made those decisions?” Latourelle asks in mock disdain. “Who’s the crazy guy who decided we were going to be more and do more?” He laughs heartily at himself. Guilty as charged.

A co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, where he helped reinvent the big top from 1985 to 1990, Latourelle is prone to think big and bigger. Since he’s also the producer of “Cavalia,” he has the liberty of indulging the artistic director of this New Age-style show that essays three centuries of mystical connection between man and beast.

It’s a thoroughly modern mix of entertainment, including acrobatics and aerial ballet, some old school Roman riding, and projections of nature and art on a giant screen behind a stage long enough for stallions to race across at full gallop. Oh, and those four-legged stars nightly take the show in their own direction, which is fine with Latourelle too.

Here’s a by-the-numbers look at “Cavalia,” a really big show under a really big big top, opening Oct. 27 at Atlantic Station:

60 four-legged performers — 20 are stallions, the others are geldings

40 two-legged performers — including acrobats, aerialists, riders, dancers and musicians

12 breeds of horses — including Arabian, Lusitano, Spanish Pure Breed, Quarter Horse, Paint Horse, Appaloosa, Canadian, Crillo, Belgian, Comtois, Oldenburg and Warmblood

120 minutes — length of show, give or take 10 minutes (depending on how often the horses go off script)

26,264 feet — span of White Big Top

71,400 square feet — canvas that went into White Big Top

160 feet — width of stage

60 feet — distance from stage of farthest seat

210 feet — width of screen for projections and special effects

2,500 tons — sand and dirt (100 truck loads) required to build the stage

2,004 seats — White Big Top capacity

1,300 performances — attended by 2.5 million-plus over nearly six years

17,500 bales — hay eaten by horses yearly, along with 36,500 pounds of grain and 1,750 pounds of carrots

16,500 square feet — size of swank stables

8 tents — “Cavalia” compound includes White Big Top, Rendez-Vous (for VIP ticket holders ), General Entrance, two artistic, warm-up, stables and staff cafeteria

150 people — required to erect the tents and prepare site, over 12 days ( tear down takes three days)

20 caretakers — team responsible for well-being of horses, including stables manager, two veterinary technicians, blacksmith and several grooms

6 months to 10 years — time it takes to train a horse

7 shows — maximum number of performances per week for each horse (who are trained for each other’s parts)

5 trailers — horse transportation for journeys of a few hours (they travel by air for longer distances)

Preview

“Cavalia”

Oct. 27 through Nov. 15, under the White Big Top at Atlantic Station.

8 p.m. most week nights, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays (no show on Mondays).

Regular tickets, $34.50-$99.50. Horse Lovers Package, $129.50-$139.50, includes preferred seating plus post-show tour of stables. Rendez-Vous Package, $179.50-$189.50, includes preferred seating, pre-show hors-d’oeuvres, coffee and dessert at intermission, post-show stables tour and more. Special pricing for children, students and seniors. 1-866-999-8111, cavalia.net