'Amaluna' Takes Months To Put Together, Constantly Changing

DENVER (CBS4)- Cirque du Soleil is preparing to opening its latest show under the big top on the grounds of the Pepsi Center.

"Amaluna" is a show that took nearly a year to put together but is never really finished.

CBS4 Critic at Large Greg Moody said the crew makes it look so effortless with the acrobatics, the dance, the comedy and the music.

"During creation it's a nine month process from the first artist arriving until the opening night," said Amaluna Artistic Director Mark Pawsey.

Once they've found the acts and build the framework for the show they have to arrange everything into a dramatic performance.

"And there's a storyboard, there's a plan. When you realize that plan, it's always different," said Pawsey. "The emotion and the intention of the acts needs to be adjusted and fit into the emotions and the intention of the story."

Those changes never seem to end.

Pawsey and his co-directors are listening to the audience every night to see what works and what doesn't and how to make the show sharp.

"What's different about Cirque, is we get a group of people in, with this show we have 51 artists, and then we ask them to grow," said Pawsey.

And they do, pushing the boundaries with each production of the physical and the dramatic as only Cirque can.

Amaluna opens under the big top on the grounds of the Pepsi Center on July 18. Tickets are on sale through cirquedusoleil.com.

- Greg Moody is CBS4's Critic At Large. His reports on CBS4 News are featured on the CBSDenver.com Entertainment section.

- Also, don't miss Moody's entertaining bio, his Top Spots in Denver lists, and his frequently updated Moody's Picks page.