Facing military setbacks, it has stepped up bombings in the Middle East and spread fear by directing spectacular attacks in Europe.
It instructed Iran's ambassador in Damascus, Ali Akbar Mohtashemi, to contact Hussein al-Musawi, the leader of Islamic Amal (a precursor to Hezbollah) and to direct him to "take spectacular action" against the Americans.
Its director, Giles Havergal, divided the money between two struggling companies: Graham McLaren's touring company, The Theatre Babel, which had a big success with Liz Lochhead's translation of Medea and went on a major tour of Europe; and Nicola McCartney's company LookOUT, then partly managed by John Tiffany, who went on to direct a spectacular Black Watch at the National Theatre of Scotland.
Bill Murray celebrates the holidays with celebs like George Clooney, Chris Rock and Miley Cyrus in this old-school holiday variety spectacular directed by Sofia Coppola.
Yet even classics must adapt if they want to survive the ruthless competition for entertainment dollars, and so the "Spectacular," now directed and choreographed by Julie Branam, has evolved over the years.
Both Stephen Daldry, head of the Olympics ceremonies, and Danny Boyle, who directed the acclaimed opening spectacular to the London Games, had their breaks in state-subsidised theatre (Daldry at the Sheffield Crucible, Boyle at the Royal Court Theatre).
Last year, Cirque brought "Totem," staged at Citi Field by Robert Lepage, the Canadian director whose production of Wagner's "Ring" at the Metropolitan Opera has been the subject of debate among opera aficionados in recent years, and who also directed "Ka," the Cirque spectacular in which an acrobat fell to her death in June.
The young Caligula spent six years on the island of Capri, where he often directed and appeared in spectacular pornographic tableaux for his great uncle, the emperor Tiberius – a man it was said, who enjoyed having swimming boys nibble at his private parts.
Over on the east coast Dorsey directed and created the spectacular fireworks display IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
Still in the early stages of production, "Rodham" will be directed by James Ponsoldt ("The Spectacular Now").
Directed by Greg McLean, this spectacular survival thriller set deep in the Amazon stars Daniel Radcliffe in a compelling performance.
