Each has its own personality, from mischievous to lazy. They get together one night every year in the junkyard to celebrate their uniqueness. While waiting for their leader to select one of them for a journey, they begin their festivities.

This is a synopsis of the opening of the hit musical, “Cats.” It returns once again to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines from Tuesday through Dec. 1.

The production of “Cats” is based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” a story book by T. S. Eliot, and musical selections created by Andrew Lloyd Webber. According to the Web site of international entertainment company The Really Useful Group, www.reallyusefulgroup.com/cats, the musical first appeared on stage May 11, 1981, in London. On Oct. 7, 1982, it opened on Broadway and became the longest running musical in British theatre, West End and Broadway history. “Cats” received seven Tony Awards in 1983 including Best Musical, Best Lighting and Costumes and Best Book of a Musical.

According to Troika Entertainment, the story unfolds portraying each cat’s personality. After the introduction of the characters, they wait for Old Deuteronomy, their wise leader. He will choose one of them to travel with him to the Heaviside Layer. There are battles and magic accompanied by dancing and music.

The show has been to Des Moines seven times already, but this time a former Iowan will be returning to his home state as the dance captain of this production.

Brian Collier, from Council Bluffs, heads the dancing that takes place in this show.

“I’m in charge of the show and make sure everyone is in their place choreographically,” he says. “I am the boss.”

Besides making sure each dancer is doing what he or she should, he also trains all of the new performers that join the tour. If anyone gets sick or injured and can’t perform, Collier knows eight different characters and can fill in at any time. He used to be just one character, but was promoted to dance captain four months ago.

“I got bumped up after a turnover,” he says. “It is a whole different ball game.”

Collier believes he lucked out in getting this job. After graduating from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., he went to regional theater.

He was then offered a job on a cruise ship and did other theater work. He eventually made the move to New York and was offered the “Cats” job after about a month.

“I was very lucky,” he says. “I don’t expect it to always be like this.”

Collier misses performing all of the time, but he likes the advantage of teaching the other dancers.

“About 95 percent of the time I can track each character and can tell at any moment where every cat is on stage,” he says.

Even though the music and physical moving of the body is an important part of the show, another large aspect is the spectacle of the costumes and make-up.

“It is a huge process to get everything ready,” Collier says.

It’s takes about a year for first-time performers to get their make-up down. About an hour is spent on make-up, but once the cats get the hang of it, make-up time is cut in half, he says.

“Every character has its own make-up and design,” he says. “Each person’s is different and you get taught to do it yourself.”

Even though the process may be long and tedious, Collier thinks that is half the fun of being a performer.

“I enjoy make-up as much as the show,” he says. “It is so much fun to paint your own face. It is fun to see a human face go to half cat, then three fourths cat, then to a full cat.”

Some people don’t even recognize Collier after a performance, he says.

“A main comment I get after a show is ‘I can’t tell which cat you are,’ or ‘I have no idea which one you were,’ ” he says.

Everything considered, Collier says the show has an appeal to all ages.

“It is nice to do a show that is intellectually stimulating for adults and appeals to children,” he says.