Cirque du Soleil presents its new touring show - TOTEM - Written and directed
by Robert Lepage

Under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau on the Quays of the Old Port

MONTREAL, April 8 /CNW Telbec/ - TOTEM, the new Cirque du Soleil touring show presented by Desjardins Group, will open under the Grand Chapiteau on the Quays of the Old Port of Montreal on April 22, 2010.

About TOTEM

TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.

Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

Show name

The word "totem" contains the idea of the order of species. We carry in our bodies the potential of all species, all the way to our desire to fly-like the thunderbird at the top of the totem pole.

Cast and acts

The cast of TOTEM comprises 52 performing artists from 19 countries. The theme of evolution extended into the acrobatic acts, which were selected to reflect the evolution of human motor functions.

The creators

The TOTEM creative team consists of 12 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix:

    
        Guy Laliberté             Artistic Guide
        Gilles Ste-Croix          Artistic Guide
        Robert Lepage             Writer and Director
        Neilson Vignola           Director of Creation
        Carl Fillion              Set and Props Designer
        Kym Barrett               Costume Designer
        Bob & Bill                Composers and Musical Directors
        Jeff Hall                 Choreographer
        Étienne Boucher           Lighting Designer
        Pedro Pires               Image Content Designer
        Jacques Boucher           Sound Designer
        Pierre Masse              Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer
        Florence Pot              Acrobatic Performance Designer
        Nathalie J. Simard        Makeup Designer
    

Additional performances in Montreal

TOTEM will be presented on the Quays of the Old Port of Montreal as of April 22 and in the Port of Quebec City as of July 22. Cirque du Soleil announced today it is extending the Montreal run of the show until June 27, 2010 with 18 additional performances. Tickets for these shows are available now to Cirque Club members (cirquedusoleil.com) and to the general public as of Saturday, April 17, 9:00am.

European premiere

After its Quebec City run, TOTEM will have its European premiere in Amsterdam starting October 7. Given its large presence in North America with touring shows, Cirque du Soleil is poised to present one of its new shows under the Grand Chapiteau in Europe immediately following the premiere in Quebec. The company is very pleased to present TOTEM to Amsterdam audiences for its European premiere. Cirque has visited Amsterdam 8 times since its first presence in 1995. The whole tour will then move on to London for Cirque du Soleil's annual rendez-vous with the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

    
    Ticket prices (tax included)

    Children aged 2 to 12 inclusive : $38.50-$94.50*
    Adults: $55-$135*

    *Prices vary depending on ticket category and day of the week. Special
    prices for students and seniors.
    

Please consult the show schedule at www.cirquedusoleil.com. Dates are subject to change without notice.

Reminder - LA SOIRÉE ONE DROP for Haiti

The TOTEM performance of April 30 in Montreal (and August 28 in Quebec City) will be at the heart of LA SOIRÉE ONE DROP benefit event. Proceeds from this event will be mostly used to finance ONE DROP's Project Haiti - a reconstruction and rehabilitation project aimed at sustainable water access and sanitation in this country. Many categories of tickets are available. For more information, visit www.onedrop.org.

Sponsors and partners

Desjardins Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2010 Canadian tour of TOTEM. CGI and Infiniti are the official sponsors.

Cirque du Soleil

From the 20 or so performers the company featured when it all began in 1984, Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil has become a leading provider of quality entertainment with more than 5,000 employees, including 1,200 artists who hail from some 40 different countries.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in over 300 cities on five continents. In 2010, Cirque du Soleil will be presenting 20 shows simultaneously throughout the world. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are based in Montreal, Canada.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

To find out more about ONE DROP, visit www.onedrop.org.

Please note:

    
    - For creative team biographies and press material about the show, visit
      the Cirque du Soleil press room at:
      http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/press/kits/shows/totem.aspx
    

For further information: for the media: Isabelle Longtin, Roy & Turner Communications, [phone], ext. 207, [email protected]