Totem (Cirque du Soleil)
Totem is a touring show by Cirque du Soleil that premiered in Montréal on April 22, 2010. It was written and directed by previous collaborator Robert Lepage ("Kà"). Cirque du Soleil describes "Totem"s theme as the evolution of humanity from its primordial, amphibian state toward the aspiration of flight, taking inspiration from many of humanity's founding myths. The show was awarded the 2013 New York Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience. All of Cirque du Soleil's previous touring productions were originally created to be performed inside large, custom-designed tents (called the "grand  chapiteau"), but many of those shows have since been re-staged in arenas and other venues after the conclusion of their "big top" tour. "Totem"'s creation team faced the challenge of designing a show that could be adapted for arenas and other venues from the outset. Set and technical information. Cirque du Soleil used interactive projection technologies to enhance and provide variety to the types of scenes created for "Totem", including swamps, starry nights, lakes, volcanos, and other natural environments. The kinetic images are created with the help of infrared cameras; the projection system can dynamically create projections, making  it seem as if they are reacting to the artists' movements in both real-time and pre-recorded sequences. One of the major elements for the set is the large turtle carapace, which functions as both a decorative piece as well as acrobatic equipment. When not in use, the shell is tilted or raised completely to the top of the tent or arena. It weighs , has two horizontal bars, and is covered in a non-slip finish. Another major component of the set is the "scorpion bridge", which functions as an entrance at times. It is made of of steel  and has eight mineral oil hydraulic motors which allow it to move in three dimensions—extending, retracting, curling, etc. Underneath said bridge is housing for a laser, speakers, lighting equipment, and cameras. Movement of the scorpion bridge is controlled by an operator who uses four infrared cameras. Of final note, the marsh reeds at the back of the stage are actually inflatable, which allows for easier transport between performance locations. Equipment and props that are not part of the set have been just as carefully planned out and created. The unicycles are tall, but are very light for better maneuverability . Similarly, the perch poles were made of duralumin, the largest of which was tall. In total summation, "Totem" utilizes 65 tractor-trailer sized containers to transport its of equipment from site to site. During the Scientist's juggling act, he uses balls made with 96 red, 96 blue, and 96 green LED lights inside. The colors are changed remotely by show technicians during the performance. Cast. Fifty-two performing artists from 19 countries make up the cast as of "Totem"'s première. Acts. "Totem"'s acts feature unique presentations of high-caliber circus skills and other performing arts. Costumes. As  Totem's storyline includes the evolution of humanity, inspiration for the 779 costume elements came directly from nature. Costume designer Kym Barrett primarily focused on how to treat various fabrics rather than the materials themselves in order to replicate the elements found in nature. Such treatments included advanced printing techniques, fluorescent pigments, and utilizing mirror fragments and crystals for adornment. Below is more detailed information about specific costume pieces and the wardrobe collection as a whole. Music. As "Totem"'s storyline is about the evolution of humanity, the musical components selected by composers Guy Dubuc and Marc Lessard aimed to  reflect this theme. Their score includes instruments and rhythms from around the world, including elements from Native American music, Spanish flamenco, and Indian music. One unique attribute of the music in "Totem" is that all the musicians sing at some point, which allows for moments of a cappella. Below are the track titles as they appear in order on the CD, which was originally released on October 6, 2010. The items in parentheses reflect the act correlated with each song. Unlisted songs: Vocalists. Female singers. Zama Magudulela : December 2019 - Present Esi Kwesiwa Acquaah-Harrison: Apr 2010 - Feb 2011, Jan 2012  - Jun 2013, Nov 2013 - Aug 2016, Jul 2017 - Dec 2019 Coco Mbassi : Mar 2011 - May 2011 Odessa Thornhill : May 2011 - Dec 2011, Jul 2013 - Nov 2013 Betina Quest : Aug 2016 - Jun 2017 Male singers. Christian Laveau: Apr 2010 - Dec 2018, Feb 2020 - Present Christian Kit Goguen: Dec 2018 - Feb 2020 Tour. The "Totem" tour plan diverged from the prior pattern of other Grand Chapiteau tours, heading to Europe directly after its North American premiers. It then returned to complete its North American tour before heading to Oceania, Asia and Europe.