Cirque du Soleil’s Totem comes to National Harbor August 15 through September 16. Before the show—billed as a “journey into the evolution of mankind”—can go on, Cirque’s crew has to raise its blue-and-yellow tent and assemble an elaborate set. Here’s how.
Day 1: Sixty-five trucks arrive with 235,000 pounds of equipment. The
team installs eight generators (which produce enough electricity for about
2,000 homes), assembles work spaces and backstage tents, and raises the
big top’s four 80-foot masts.
Day 2: The big top goes up. Workers install one of the set’s key
pieces, the moving “scorpion bridge”—it uses eight hydraulic motors and
weighs 10,000 pounds. Technicians also install a trampoline-like floor
under the stage for the acrobats.
Day 3: The crew builds the rest of the stage and installs 86 speakers
and nearly 500 lights. The musicians’ platform is constructed, and
winches—cranks to raise and lower the ropes—are set up for the
artists.
Day 4: The set’s centerpiece—a turtle shell weighing 2,700 pounds—is
built. Ropes are reeved onto the winches, the audience bleachers are
built, and lighting and sound consoles are set up. The show uses more than
15 miles of electric cable.
Day 5: Chairs are installed on the bleachers. The winches and rigging
are tested, and the lighting is focused. The show’s internal-communication
system and video monitors are installed.
Day 6: The crew continues to adjust the set until the artists arrive
at 11 am. The band does a sound check, and the moving lights are preset.
The crew works with the artists to make sure everything works
properly.
Day 7: More technical adjustments are made.
Day 8: The show premieres.
This article appears in the August 2012 issue of The Washingtonian.
Anatomy: What Happens When the Circus Comes to Town?
An inside look at the eight days it'll take to raise Cirque du Soleil's tent at National Harbor.
Cirque du Soleil’s Totem comes to National Harbor August 15 through September 16. Before the show—billed as a “journey into the evolution of mankind”—can go on, Cirque’s crew has to raise its blue-and-yellow tent and assemble an elaborate set. Here’s how.
Day 1: Sixty-five trucks arrive with 235,000 pounds of equipment. The
team installs eight generators (which produce enough electricity for about
2,000 homes), assembles work spaces and backstage tents, and raises the
big top’s four 80-foot masts.
Day 2: The big top goes up. Workers install one of the set’s key
pieces, the moving “scorpion bridge”—it uses eight hydraulic motors and
weighs 10,000 pounds. Technicians also install a trampoline-like floor
under the stage for the acrobats.
Day 3: The crew builds the rest of the stage and installs 86 speakers
and nearly 500 lights. The musicians’ platform is constructed, and
winches—cranks to raise and lower the ropes—are set up for the
artists.
Day 4: The set’s centerpiece—a turtle shell weighing 2,700 pounds—is
built. Ropes are reeved onto the winches, the audience bleachers are
built, and lighting and sound consoles are set up. The show uses more than
15 miles of electric cable.
Day 5: Chairs are installed on the bleachers. The winches and rigging
are tested, and the lighting is focused. The show’s internal-communication
system and video monitors are installed.
Day 6: The crew continues to adjust the set until the artists arrive
at 11 am. The band does a sound check, and the moving lights are preset.
The crew works with the artists to make sure everything works
properly.
Day 7: More technical adjustments are made.
Day 8: The show premieres.
This article appears in the August 2012 issue of The Washingtonian.
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
Meet the 2023 Washingtonians of the Year
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Washingtonian Magazine
April 2024: Great Places to Live
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
The Potomac Yard Stadium Deal Is Dead—Here Are the Winners and Losers
The Great Restaurant Fee Fiasco
Capitals and Wizards Will Reportedly Stay in DC as Alexandria Declares Arena Deal Dead
3 Tax Credits to Know About in 2024
In Oppenheimer’s Fallout, Atom Bomb Test Survivors Lobby for Congressional Help
The Resolute Desk Is Ugly and the President Should Get a New One
5 Ways Federal Agencies Are Already Using AI
From Tupac to Sean Taylor: Wild Nights in DC’s Clubs