Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Cats is one of the most successful musicals ever produced. Both the West End and Broadway productions held the record for the longest ever running musical, amounting to over 14,000 performances in both cities combined. The show uses TS Eliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ for its inspiration and libretto and is extremely dance heavy. The show doesn’t follow the usual linear format, instead it combines a number of stories to give an overall concept.
Andrew Lloyd Webber
T. S. Eliot,Trevor Nunn, Richard Stilgoe
T. S. Eliot,Trevor Nunn, Richard Stilgoe
T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
Cameron Mackintosh, David Geffen & Really Useful Co.
Trevor Nunn & Gillian Lynne
Gillian Lynne
Original Broadway Production
Winter Garden Theatre - Opened 11 May 1981, closed 10 Sep 2000, 7485 performances
Cast: Elaine Paige, Stephen Tate, Sarah Brightman, Myra Sands, Wayne Sleep, Brian Blessed, Paul Nicholas, Bonnie Langford.
Original London Production
New London Theatre - Opened 11 May 1981, closed 11 May 2002
Cast: Elaine Paige, Stephen Tate, Sarah Brightman, Myra Sands, Wayne Sleep, Brian Blessed, Paul Nicholas, Bonnie Langford.
Cats 2014 London Revival
The London Palladium - Opened 23 Oct 2014, closed 25 Apr 2015
Cast: Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella
What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box
Twitter Synopsis:
Cats meet in a junkyard to dance at a Jellicle Ball. The leader of the pack selects the dirty cat to be reborn in Eliot’s iambic ballet.
Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box
As the Jellicle Moon rises over an abandoned junk yard a number of cats entertain themselves and tell the audience exactly what it means to be a Jellicle cat. We are introduced to their different personalities and find out about ‘The Naming of Cats’. They begin to present their case for one cat to be reborn in The Heaviside Layer, chosen by their leader Old Deuteronomy. First to make their claim is the Old Gumbie Cat whose charitable work includes schooling the mice and making beetles dance. The Rum Tum Tugger is a mysterious cat who is contrary in his opinions and a remarkable hit with the female felines. Bustopher Jones, the St James’s Street Cat shares his upper class values and is entertained by the younger kittens. A flash of lightning scares the group and whispers of Macavity scare some away. It is actually the famous cat burglars ‘Mugojerry and Rumpleteazer’ who work together in a life of petty crimes. The tone shifts when Grizabella the Glamour Cat makes an appearance with a torn coat and shoddy appearance. Whilst many cats shun her, some are more sympathetic. The entrance of Old Deuteronomy causes some excitement as he arrives to select which cat is to be reborn. The cats entertain him by narrating a story about the battle between the Pekes and the Pollicles, before the time arises for the Jellicle Ball to commence. As the cats dance for joy, Grizabella enters and sings of her ‘Memory’.
Old Deuteronomy tells the tribe about the ‘moments of happiness’, introducing them to Gus the Theatre Cat, who recounts his tales of the stage. He tells a dramatic story of Growltiger the pirate who was in love with Griddlebone. As his story comes to an end, Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat is caught sleeping and tells of his life on the sleeper train from London to Scotland. His song is brought to an abrupt end by Macavity the Mystery Cat, and the whole gang, flee, and Old Deuteronomy goes missing. The other cats fight with Macavity, and it is up to Mr Mistoffelees to magically bring their leader back. Old Deuteronomy then makes his Jellicle choice and chooses Grizabella to journey up to the Heaviside layer and be reborn. As she disappears on a floating tire, he has one final word for the audience on how to address a cat.
Act I
- Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats….The Company
- The Naming of Cats …………….The Company
- The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball ………. Munkustrap, Victoria, Mistofelees
- The Old Gumbie Cat.…………….Munkustrap, Jennyanydots, Demeter, Bombalurina, Jellylorum
- The Rum Tum Tugger
- Grizabella, The Glamour Cat.……Grizabella, Demeter, Bombalurina
- Bustopher Jones……………….Bustopher, Jennyanydots, Jellylorum, Bombalurina
- Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer …..Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer
- Old Deuteronomy ………………Munkustrap, The Rum Tum Tugger, Old Deuteronomy
- The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and Pollicles ……Munkustrap, The Rumpus Cat
- The Marching Songs of the Pollicle Dogs……Munkustrap, The Rumpus Cat
- The Jellicle Ball…………….The Company
- Memory……………………….Grizabella
Act II
- The Moments of Happiness…..Old Deuteronomy, Sillabub
- Gus: The Theatre Cat….Jellylorum, Asparagus
- Growltiger’s Last Stand……….Growltiger, Griddlebone, The Crew, Genghis
- The Ballad Of Billy M’Caw
- Skimbleshanks ………………Skimbleshanks
- Macavity ……………Demeter, Bombalurina, Alonzo, Macavity, Munkustrap
- Mr. Mistoffelees …….Mistoffelees, The Rum Tum Tugger
- Memory ………………Sillabub, Grizabella
- The Journey to the Heaviside Layer………The Company
- The Addressing Of Cats
Winner of the following Tony Awards
- Best Musical
- Outstanding Performance in a Musical by an Featured Actress- Betty Buckely
- Outstanding Direction of a Musical-Trevor Nunn
- Best Score of a Musical-Andrew Lloyd Webber (score) and T.S. Elliot (lyrics)
- Best Book of a Musical-T.S. Elliot
- Outstanding Costume Design-John Napier
- Outstanding Lighting Design-David Hersey
Nominated for
- Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical-Harry Groener
- Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical-Stephan Hanah
- Outstanding Scenic Design-John Napier
- Outstanding Choreography-Gillian Lynne
Olivier Awards
- Best Musical
- Outstanding Achievement in Musicals Gillian Lynne
UK: R & H Theatricals
USA: R & H Theatricals