VStar Entertainment Group
VStar Entertainment Group was a U.S. family-entertainment producer and touring-events company formed through the combination of VEE Corporation and Blue Star Media.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
VStar Entertainment Group was a Minneapolis-based family-entertainment production and live-events company. The business was created in 2015 when Blue Star Media acquired VEE Corporation, combining VEE's long-running touring productions with Blue Star's exhibitions and event-promotion activities. Its work centered on adapting well-known children's television properties and other entertainment brands into arena shows, theater tours, exhibitions, immersive attractions, costumes, puppets, sets, and related experiences. The company's principal predecessor was VEE Corporation, founded by Vincent Egan in 1980 after he identified an opportunity to create a touring character production based on Sesame Street. Egan secured licensing support from Children's Television Workshop and developed Sesame Street Live, which opened in September 1980 in Bloomington, Minnesota. Although several early dates outside Minnesota performed below expectations, a revised production and marketing approach helped the show succeed at New York's Felt Forum during the 1980 Christmas season. Sesame Street Live subsequently became one of the best-known arena productions for young children and the foundation of VEE's business. Over time, VEE expanded beyond Sesame Street. It produced touring shows based on The Muppet Show, Muppet Babies, Bear in the Big Blue House, Dragon Tales, Barney & Friends, My Little Pony, Care Bears, Curious George, Hello Kitty, Trolls, and other licensed properties. It also created production infrastructure through Vee Costumes & Creatures and Vee Production Services, allowing the company to manufacture or supply costumes, puppets, props, sets, and technical elements for entertainment and institutional clients. The other major predecessor, Blue Star Media, grew from Sanjay Syal's trade-show and event-promotion activities. Its most prominent property was Discover the Dinosaurs, a traveling exhibition that expanded into numerous annual events and later received tented, fair-based, and complementary Ice Age and stage-show formats. Blue Star's experience in consumer events broadened the combined company's scope beyond conventional touring theater. Following the 2015 combination, VStar developed additional touring and branded entertainment programs. Its portfolio included Cirque Dreams productions, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. live shows, exhibitions, sports-themed attractions, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame's mobile Honor the Heroes tour. In January 2017, VStar acquired Cirque Productions and retained founder Neil Goldberg as president of Cirque Dreams, strengthening its position in theatrical and circus-style entertainment. A major change came in November 2016, when Sesame Workshop announced a new agreement with Feld Entertainment for a Sesame Street Live arena production. VStar's arena version concluded in July 2017, although the company continued supporting other Sesame Street formats, the United Service Organizations tour, and costume-related activities. On July 5, 2018, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group announced that it was acquiring VStar. Cirque du Soleil later entered creditor protection and bankruptcy proceedings in 2020. Public reference material does not establish the complete subsequent operating status, ownership structure, or whether the VStar brand continued independently after those proceedings.
History
VStar's history combines two Minnesota-centered entertainment businesses: VEE Corporation and Blue Star Media. VEE Corporation began on March 14, 1980, based on founder Vincent Egan's idea for a touring live-character production built around Sesame Street. Egan had worked with Ice Follies and recognized that the Sesame Street characters could support a dedicated family touring show. He approached Jim Henson's company and Children's Television Workshop, obtained licensing support, and raised initial capital with help from Gordon Stofer's Norwest Growth Fund. The first Sesame Street Live performance opened at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, in September 1980. The initial expansion encountered weak attendance in several markets. Egan concluded that the marketing did not clearly communicate the nature of the production, revised the script and promotional materials, and negotiated additional time with creditors. The revised show achieved a major breakthrough during a four-week Christmas engagement at New York's Felt Forum, where it attracted approximately 100,000 people. Sesame Street Live then became VEE's central property and a durable example of licensed children's television translated into arena entertainment. Around 2000, Egan acquired Norwest Fund's interest in VEE. The company also diversified by establishing Vee Costumes & Creatures and Vee Production Services. These divisions extended its capabilities into costume and puppet fabrication, exhibit construction, props, sets, and production support for entertainment, corporate, sports, and museum clients. VEE continued producing Sesame Street-related programming while adding shows based on The Muppet Show, Muppet Babies, Bear in the Big Blue House, Dragon Tales, Barney, My Little Pony, Care Bears, Curious George, Hello Kitty, and other properties. Blue Star's predecessor activities were associated with Sanjay Syal, who had operated Blue Star Productions in the trade-show and event space before 1995. The business produced more than 100 events a year according to the available reference material. Syal formed Blue Star Media in 2011 to develop Discover the Dinosaurs, a traveling exhibition that became a substantial consumer family-event property. Blue Star gradually wound down its earlier trade-show activity as contracts expired and sought a strategic or financial partner. AUA Private Equity acquired a share through a leveraged buyout in June 2014. The exhibition also expanded into tented presentations at state fairs, including the New York and California state fairs. On April 1, 2015, Blue Star Media acquired VEE Corporation, with Egan continuing as a consultant. The combined businesses adopted the VStar Entertainment Group name in 2015. VStar's portfolio included touring productions, exhibitions, sports experiences, branded attractions, and production services. In August 2015, the company partnered with the Pro Football Hall of Fame on a mobile tour. The resulting Honor the Heroes concept used football memorabilia, multimedia material, holographic busts, presentation areas, skills activities, and a retail component to create a traveling sports attraction. VStar continued to develop licensed family productions during the mid-2010s. Its work included Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows such as Paw Patrol Live!, Bubble Guppies Live!, and Nick Jr. Live!, as well as Trolls Live!, Cirque Dreams productions, and touring exhibitions. In April 2016, Eric Grilly became chief executive officer. Later that year, Sesame Workshop announced a new relationship with Feld Entertainment for a Sesame Street Live arena show. VStar's arena version ended in July 2017, although the company continued producing or supporting other Sesame Street presentations, a United Service Organizations tour, and costume services. In January 2017, VStar acquired Cirque Productions, a South Florida company founded by Broadway director Neil Goldberg. Goldberg remained with the business as president of Cirque Dreams. Cirque Dreams properties included Holidaze, Jungle Fantasy, Rocks, Unwrapped, Revealed, and cruise-ship productions. The acquisition reinforced VStar's move into theatrical circus and large-scale visual entertainment. On July 5, 2018, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group announced that it was acquiring VStar. The available reference material does not provide the transaction's purchase price or a detailed post-acquisition corporate structure. Cirque du Soleil entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2020, filing in Canada on June 29 and under Chapter 15 in the United States on July 1. The public material supplied for this entry does not establish whether VStar continued as a separate operating brand after the parent company's restructuring, so its current status is recorded as unknown.
- 2020
Cirque du Soleil filed for bankruptcy protection
[1]VStar's parent group filed for bankruptcy proceedings in Canada and Chapter 15 proceedings in the United States.
- 2018
Cirque du Soleil announced the acquisition of VStar
[1]Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group announced its acquisition of VStar on July 5.
- 2017
VStar acquired Cirque Productions
[1]The company acquired Cirque Productions and retained Neil Goldberg to lead Cirque Dreams.
- 2016
Eric Grilly became chief executive officer
[1]VStar appointed Eric Grilly as chief executive officer.
- 2015
VStar Entertainment Group was formed
[1]Blue Star Media acquired VEE Corporation and the combined business adopted the VStar Entertainment Group name.
- 2014
AUA Private Equity acquired a share of Blue Star Media
[1]AUA Private Equity obtained an interest in Blue Star Media through a leveraged buyout.
- 2011
Blue Star Media developed Discover the Dinosaurs
[1]Blue Star Media launched the traveling Discover the Dinosaurs exhibition.
- 2000
Egan acquired Norwest Fund's stake
[1]Around 2000, Vincent Egan purchased Norwest Fund's interest in VEE Corporation and expanded the company's production-service divisions.
- 1980
VEE Corporation was founded
[1]Vincent Egan established VEE Corporation on March 14 to develop a live Sesame Street character production.
- 1980
Sesame Street Live premiered
[1]The first Sesame Street Live show opened in September at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Products and positioning
A producer and operator of branded family entertainment, combining licensed touring shows, exhibitions, circus-style productions, sports attractions, and behind-the-scenes creative production services.
Touring family stage show · 1980
Sesame Street Live
VEE Corporation's foundational production was a touring live show featuring Sesame Street characters. It premiered in 1980 and became a major arena attraction for young children and families. VStar's arena version ran until July 2017, after which a separate Feld Entertainment production followed. The company continued to support other Sesame Street-related formats and production services.
Circus and theatrical entertainment · 2007
Cirque Dreams
Cirque Dreams was the theatrical-circus portfolio associated with Cirque Productions, acquired by VStar in 2017. Its productions combined acrobatics, music, dance, visual design, and large-scale staging. Referenced titles included Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Jungle Fantasy, Rocks, Unwrapped, Revealed, and cruise-ship shows produced for Norwegian Cruise Line.
Licensed children's touring show · 2016
Paw Patrol Live!
VStar's Nickelodeon touring portfolio included Paw Patrol Live!, a family stage adaptation built around the Paw Patrol characters. Referenced productions included Race to the Rescue, The Great Pirate Adventure, and Heroes Unite. The shows translated the animated property's rescue-team format into live theater with music, dialogue, and audience-oriented staging.
Traveling exhibition · 2011
Discover the Dinosaurs
Developed by Blue Star Media, Discover the Dinosaurs was a traveling family exhibition presented at numerous consumer events. It later expanded into tented versions at state fairs and was supplemented by Ice Age and stage-show elements. The property represented Blue Star's expertise in exhibitions and large-scale family attractions rather than conventional touring theater.
Sports touring attraction · 2015
Honor the Heroes
Created through VStar's partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Honor the Heroes was a mobile football-themed attraction. Its reported components included Legacy Hall, Traditions Stage, Impact Zone, and a Hall of Fame Locker Room store. The experience used memorabilia, multimedia presentations, holographic busts, football skills activities, and educational or family programming.
Licensed children's touring show · 2019
Nick Jr. Live!
Nick Jr. Live! was a touring live-entertainment format based on Nickelodeon preschool properties. VStar's referenced production, Move To The Music, ran from 2019 through 2022 and used music, character appearances, choreography, and interactive family-show conventions.
Production services
VStar Production Services
VStar Production Services created and manufactured exhibits, props, sets, and related physical elements for corporate events, entertainment productions, and museums. The division extended the company's capabilities beyond presenting shows to supplying the creative and fabrication infrastructure behind them.
Costume and puppet fabrication
VStar Costumes & Creatures
VStar Costumes & Creatures produced costumes and puppets for special events, sports teams, stage productions, and branded entertainment. The unit grew from VEE Corporation's production capabilities and remained relevant after the end of VStar's Sesame Street arena partnership.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Honor the Heroes mobile tour
United States
VStar partnered with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to create a mobile sports-entertainment experience celebrating Hall of Fame inductees and football history.
Outcome. The tour was presented as a multi-zone attraction featuring exhibits, multimedia programming, football activities, and retail.
- 2014Discover the Dinosaurs tented fair format
United States
Blue Star Media adapted Discover the Dinosaurs into a tented format for state fairs, including the New York State Fair and California State Fair.
Outcome. The tented presentation accounted for a reported share of annual exhibition attendance at the cited fairs.
Brand decisions
2018
Cirque du Soleil acquired VStarM&ABackground
VStar had developed a portfolio spanning family touring shows, exhibitions, sports attractions, and circus productions.
Action taken
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group announced the acquisition on July 5, 2018.
Aftermath
VStar became part of the Cirque du Soleil group. The available sources do not establish the full subsequent structure or independent status of the VStar brand.
2017
VStar acquired Cirque ProductionsM&ABackground
VStar expanded its portfolio into circus-style theatrical entertainment and sought to build on the Cirque Dreams brand.
Action taken
VStar acquired Cirque Productions and retained founder Neil Goldberg as president of Cirque Dreams.
Aftermath
The transaction added Cirque Dreams productions and cruise-ship entertainment to VStar's branded live-event activities.
2016
VStar's Sesame Street arena production was replacedStrategyBackground
Sesame Workshop announced a new agreement with Feld Entertainment for a Sesame Street Live arena show.
Action taken
VStar ended its arena version of Sesame Street Live in July 2017 while continuing other Sesame Street-related activities and costume support.
Aftermath
The change removed VStar's longest-running arena property from its portfolio but did not end all of its Sesame Street production work.
2015
Blue Star Media acquired VEE CorporationM&ABackground
Blue Star Media sought to combine its consumer-event and exhibition activities with VEE Corporation's licensed family-tour production business.
Action taken
The acquisition closed on April 1, 2015, and the combined organization operated as VStar Entertainment Group. Vincent Egan remained as a consultant.
Aftermath
The transaction created a broader platform spanning touring shows, exhibitions, sports attractions, and production services.
Sources1 sources
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