Photo Flash: Cirque du Soleil Returns to NYC with TOTEM at Citi Field, March 2013

Cirque du Soleil will return to New York this coming spring with an all-new big top production TOTEM. Written and directed by internationally-acclaimed director Robert Lepage, TOTEM will begin performances Thursday, March 14, 2013 for a limited engagement under the blue-and-yellow Big Top at its new location Citi Field (Lot C), home of the New York Mets. Check out photos from the production below!

2013 will mark the 25th anniversary of the first visit of Cirque du Soleil in New York. The love affair with New Yorkers started under the big top with Cirque Réinventé. TOTEM marks the 11th visit of a big top show. Since its world premiere in 2010, TOTEM has visited over 16 different cities in 4 different countries and performed in front of close to 2 million spectators.

With its all-new home at Citi Field, TOTEM ticket-buyers throughout the entire city and tri-state
area will have a wide range of fast and easy transportation options for getting to the big top whether driving or public transportation, including just a 16 minute ride from midtown Penn Station by subway. (For transportation options click HERE.)

Tickets for TOTEM are now available exclusively to Cirque Club members until November 27th at cirqueclub.com. Cirque Club Membership is free and registration is quick and simple. Cirque Club members receive advance access to the best seats under the Big Top, ticket upgrades, partner promotions and insider information on the world of Cirque du Soleil. Tickets will be available to the general public as of Friday, November 30th online at cirquedusoleil.com/totem.

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.

Written and directed by Robert Lepage, 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. The cast of TOTEM comprises 52 performing artists from 19 countries.

Under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix, the show brings together a team of 12 creators, including 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; and Nathalie J. Simard - Makeup Designer.

The multidisciplinary artist Robert Lepage is equally talented as a theatre director, playwright, actor and film director. Lauded by critics the world over, his modern and unusual work transcends all boundaries between disciplines. TOTEM is Robert Lepage’s second Cirque du Soleil show following KÀ (2004). Lepage also created and produced Geometry of Miracles (1998), Zulu Time (1999), The Far Side of The Moon (2000), a new version of The Dragons’ Trilogy with a new cast (2003), The Busker’s Opera (2004), The Andersen Project (2005), Lipsynch (2007), The Blue Dragon (2008) and Eonnagata (2009). Robert Lepage also wrote and directed Le Confessional, Polygraph, Nô, Possible Worlds and a film adaptation of his play The Far Side of the Moon. In October 2011, Robert Lepage directed for The Metropolitan Opera (Met) “The Tempest”, Thomas Adès’s adaptation of the Shakespeare play. Lepage is also well known to Met audiences for his hotly debated production of Wagner’s “Ring” cycle. Winner of many prestigious awards, Lepage received, in 2009, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for his outstanding contribution to Canada’s cultural life throughout his career.

The tour continues in Philadelphia. TOTEM premieres on May 30, 2013 for a limited engagement under the blue and yellow Big Top at its new location in Philadelphia Greater Area on Camden’s Waterfront. Tickets are now available exclusively to Cirque Club members until November 29th at cirqueclub.com and to the general public as of November 30th at cirquedusoleil.com/totem.

From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents.

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

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