Cirque du Soleil Presents New Touring Show TOTEM, Opens April 22

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 to12 inclusive : de $38.50 à $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.

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