Cirque du Soleil's AMALUNA Opens Tonight in San Francisco

Cirque du Soleil officially opens tonight in the San Francisco Bay area with its touring show sensation, Amaluna! Audiences should be prepared to be wowed under the blue-and-yellow Big Top at AT&T Park (Parking Lot A). Directed by Tony award-winning Broadway Director Diane Paulus, Amaluna had its world-premiere in Montreal in April 2012 and is now touring North America.

Tickets are available at www.cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna and although excellent seats are still available, they are selling fast!

Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter's coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next.

In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera's daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony.

Amaluna is a fusion of the words ama, which refers to "mother" in many languages, and luna, which means "moon"; a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where this magical story unfolds.

Amaluna is Cirque du Soleil's 32nd production. From humble beginnings with a group of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment around the globe. The company has over 4,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists, from over 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought delight to more than 100 million spectators, in more than 300 cities in over 40 countries.

For the first time in Cirque du Soleil's history, Amaluna features a cast that is 70% female. "Amaluna is less about feminism and more about reconnecting to our world in a different way", says director Diane Paulus. "Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women," explains Director of Creation Fernand Rainville. "The show is a reflection on balance from a woman's perspective," he adds.