Grand Chapiteau For Cirque Du Soleil's TOTEM Goes Up

PITTSBURGH,None — Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM production team is in Pittsburgh this week to set up for the show that will run May 12-29.

The raising of the blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) took place on Thursday at 20th Street and A.V.R.R. in the Strip District (Behind the Pittsburgh Public Market).

The entire site set-up takes eight days. This includes the installation of the entrance, hospitality and rehearsal tents, box office, administrative offices and kitchen.

The Grand Chapiteau seats more than 2,600 people and stands 66 feet high and is 167 feet in diameter. 550 pegs are required to hold the Grand Chapiteau firmly to the 4,500 square metres of asphalt.

The Grand Chapiteau, the Tapis Rouge and Artistic tents are all climate control with air conditioning in warm seasons or heating for colder seasons.

"It is fabulous. It's visually very different from any other show. It's so visual," senior artistic director Sylvie Galarneau told WPXI.com's Carly Noel during a recent visit.

Artistic Director Of Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM Talks To See & Be Seen

She explained that TOTEM is a journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to the ultimate desire to fly. Through a visual and acrobatic language, the show illustrates the evolutionary progress of species.

"Because we wanted to show the evolution, I would say we have 50/50 of new acts. The other acts are coming from tradition circuses, so it's a mesh of the two," said Galarneau.

About 50 people from all over the globe are in the cast. They hail from Canada, Australia, Japan, China, the United States of America and other countries.

"Somehow we succeed in understanding each other," Galarneau.

TOTEM

During rehearsals, universal hand signals are used.

Galarneau directs rehearsals prior to the show's opening and then checks up on the production throughout its tour run.

"I work from Montreal and travel to the shows that I'm responsible to, so that it gives me a different look on the show because I don't see it as often," said Galarneau. "When I come in, I can say, ‘What happened here?'"

The show may look like fun, but it's a lot of work.

"We work all of the time. We have to give them (the cast members) some down time, so they can relax a little bit. They'll go from training and then train on other things to keep their bodies in shape. The minors have to go to school, so they have training plus school plus the show. They get massages and treatment if they've been injured," said Galarneau.

If you've never seen a Cirque show, you should try to check this one out.

"Each of our shows have left them with something. This one is not different, you have to see them all. We finish with a very uplifting moment. I like it because people leave the show, and they're really happy, but I won't say why. You have to come and see the show," said Galarneau.

Click here to purchase tickets.

WPXI