Hushed giggling sounds signal the entrance of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, a pair of near-identical cats. [80], Regarded as "one of the most challenging shows to dance in musical theatre history",[81] dance plays a major role in Cats as the original creative team had specifically set out to create "England's first dance musical". [103] The run was later extended through April 2015 and an additional 100,000 tickets were released, with Kerry Ellis replacing Scherzinger as Grizabella. Said Nunn: "[O]n day one of rehearsals what we had was 15 poems set to music and five weeks later we had a show with characters, relationships and stories running from beginning to end. Written and interpreted by Mike Fulmer. [271] The first Chinese-language production began touring various cities in China in 2012. [298] Michael Billington of The Guardian lauded Cats as "an exhilarating piece of total theatre". Jun 10, 2018 - Explore Denise Reed's board "Cat Music Boxes", followed by 989 people on Pinterest. When the show transferred to Broadway, several cuts and rewrites were made with the intention of appealing more to an American audience. Former Royal Ballet principal dancer Wayne Sleep was offered the part of Mr. Mistoffelees after Lloyd Webber and Mackintosh attended a performance by his dance troupe, one of the many dance showcases they saw in preparation for the musical. These two roguish calicos describe themselves as “knockabout clowns, quick-change comedians, tightrope walkers, and acrobats.” They’re also partners in petty crime, notorious for smashing vases, stealing pearls, and generally wreaking havoc upon their posh family in Victoria Grove. Also, a brief song entitled "The Moments of Happiness" wa… [323], Cats introduced a marketing strategy that set the template for subsequent megamusicals. The show’s main antagonist is a tall, thin criminal cat with sunken eyes and dusty ginger fur. [335] Cats revolutionised the touring business by introducing the now commonplace practice of extended touring engagements that can last several weeks or months in a single city, as opposed to the typical one-week or ten-day tour stop. [170], There have been numerous notable performers in the Japanese production, including Shintarō Sonooka as Munkustrap (original 1983 cast),[171] Kanji Ishimaru as Skimbleshanks (1992),[172] Masachika Ichimura, and Mayo Kawasaki. Finally, the Jellicle patriarch, Old Deuteronomy, arrives before the tribe ("Old Deuteronomy"). [283] The production began playing in autumn 2014 and the cast is rotated every nine months. After a quick patrol for Macavity, Old Deuteronomy deems it a false alarm and summons the cats back as the main celebration begins ("The Jellicle Ball"), in which the cats sing and display their "Terpsichorean powers". [94] The costumes generally consist of a unitard, a wig that is fashioned to suggest the presence of feline ears, patches resembling body fur, and arm and leg warmers to give the performers' hands and feet a more paw-like appearance. Allo stabile regionale prima Italiana del tour del musical piu amato della storia", "Efter 20 år – nu får Pernilla sjunga "Memory" i "Cats, "Muzikálová diva Katarína Hasprová: Pravda o rivalstve so Sklovskou! [283][284], Cats has been produced by various professional regional theatre companies. [107] The show closed on 10 September 2000 after a total of 15 previews and 7,485 performances. Beginning on 6 December, the revival starred Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella, and featured the original creative team, with direction from Nunn, choreography by Lynne and design by Napier. [175], The original Viennese cast included Ute Lemper who played Bombalurina, Steve Barton who played Munkustrap, and Robert Montano who played Pouncival. Producer Cameron Mackintosh then recruited director Trevor Nunn and choreographer Gillian Lynne to turn the songs into a complete musical. [209] The first Italian-language production began touring Italy in 2009. [120] Notable performers in the fourth tour included Amelia Marshall as Sillabub (1988), Jan Horvath as Grizabella (1990), Bryan Batt as Munkustrap (1991–1992), Jennifer Cody as Rumpleteazer (1992), David Hibbard as Rum Tum Tugger (1992–1993), Natalie Toro as Grizabella (1992, 1997), Christopher Gattelli as Mistoffelees (1993), John Treacy Egan as Old Deuteronomy (1993–1994), J. Robert Spencer as Rum Tum Tugger (1995), Bart Shatto as Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger (1996), Linda Balgord as Grizabella (1998), Andy Karl as Rum Tum Tugger (1998), and Lena Hall as Demeter (1998). [237] A professional circus adaptation of Cats, titled Cats Run Away to the Circus, had a national tent tour from 1999 to 2001, with Hannah once again starring as Grizabella. [298] Robert Cushman's review for The Observer concluded that Cats was flawed but unmissable. [91] Adding to the experience, the show usually includes a lot of audience interaction, such as during the overture when the cast don flashing "green eyes" as they make their way through the audience in the darkened theatre. 5 out of 5 stars (32) 32 reviews $ 15.00. Come in to read, write, review, and interact with other fans. Played by: Danny Collins and Naoimh Morgan. [174][181] It also led to a "construction boom" in Germany as new theatrical venues such as the Schmidt Theater were enacted all around the country. With Cats, he became a big celebrity in his own right. Peachy [230], The first Australian production ran from July 1985 to August 1987 at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. With his flaming red hair and graceful precision, Royal Ballet principal dancer Steven McRae definitely has a couple things in common with his character. When they are finished, Macavity returns disguised as Old Deuteronomy, but his cover is blown by Demeter and he ends up in a fight with Munkustrap and Alonzo. It paved the way for later megamusicals — including Les Misérables (1985), The Phantom of the Opera (1986) and Miss Saigon (1989) — that have dominated the industry since. [198] Cats made its French debut at the Théâtre de Paris from February 1989 to April 1990,[122] with an original cast that included Gilles Ramade as Old Deuteronomy. [citation needed], Cats is a commercial blockbuster. ", "Behind the scenes of CAT's @ Regent Theatre", "What's a Jellicle Cat? The Bengal breed was accepted as a new breed in TICA in 1986 with referenced to the scientific name of the Asian Leopard Cat, Prionailurus bengalensis. From shop thelastvcr. Lloyd Webber personally underwrote the musical and took out a second mortgage on his house for the down payment of the theatre. The cats introduce themselves. Rum Tum Tugger was reworked from a ladies-man rockstar to a breakdancing street cat. Eliot's widow Valerie Eliot dies at 86", "Faber & Faber: The Untold Story of a Great Publishing House by Toby Faber – review", "BoJack Horseman Is the Funniest Show About Depression Ever", "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt serves up a lackluster penultimate episode", "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Does Cats as Only Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Can", "One-Man Show Cat Brings "High Kicks and Swearing" to Northern Ireland Tonight", "Review of CAT – (THE PLAY!!!) [392] Additionally, a song entitled "Cat Morgan Introduces Himself" was cut during initial development. [183][184] Stage Entertainment took over the production mid-2002 and moved the show to Berlin (2002–2004)[185][186] and later Düsseldorf (2004–2005),[187] before touring other cities until 2006. According to Dance Spirit, Corey John Snide and Kolton Krause, who played Coricopat and Tumblebrutus on Broadway, respectively, have both been cast as ensemble members in Hooper’s film. Cosmos Gifts 80099 Fine Porcelain Perfect Friend Two Playful Cats on Pink Hat Musical Music Box Figurine (Music Tune: Playmates), 5-1/4" L 5.0 out of 5 stars 1 $29.99 $ 29 . [24] Every character's design motif is custom-painted by hand onto a plain unitard to line up with their performer's individual body. [32] It featured new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, with Nunn and Napier from the original creative team returning to direct and design respectively. [162] The resulting success of this production led to what the local media termed a "musical boom" in the 1980s, with other Broadway musicals quickly following suit and opening in Japan. [120][194] Jorma Uotinen directed and choreographed a Finnish production at the Helsinki City Theatre that ran for over two years from September 1986 to December 1988, and featured Monica Aspelund as Grizabella, Heikki Kinnunen as Gus, and Kristiina Elstelä as Jennyanydots/Griddlebone. More precisely, it's about a tribe of cats, the Jellicle Cats, and the once-a-year event where the Jellicle Leader, Old Deuteronomy, announces the cat who can now be reborn and come back in a different Jellicle Life, after the cats spend time introducing themselves, and their fellow cats, through song. Produced by Tim O'Connor, the production was performed at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. [272], Spanish and Portuguese-language productions of Cats have been staged in South America, with productions in Argentina in 1993 (with Mexican actress Olivia Bucio as Grizabella),[178] in Chile in 2006 (at the Arena Santiago)[273] and 2014,[274] in Colombia in 2009,[275] and in Brazil in 2010 (with Paula Lima as Grizabella). [249], Besides Japan, Cats is also produced regularly in other parts of Asia. Bustopher Jones is among the elite of the cats, and visits prestigious gentlemen's clubs. [269], The musical has also been translated and staged nationally in Asia. ", "The Memory Lives On – A New 'Cats' Tour in 2013", "Susan lands glamourpuss role for Cats Dublin run", "Jane McDonald on playing Grizabella in Cats: "I didn't think for one minute I'd get the part, "Cats: Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Opera House, Manchester, 30 January to 13 February 2016", "劇団四季『キャッツ』新たな専用劇場をお披露目！「キャッツ・シアターは思い出を辿る場所」", "Berliner Chronik: Das Musical "Cats" gastiert in der Komischen Oper (5 August 1987)", "Vor 25 Jahren begann mit "Cats" in Deutschland die Ära der Musicals", "A macskák című musical előadásán elszabadult egy kutya", "English Version of West End Musical Cats Still Popular", Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre, "Carré verbouwt en brengt ondertussen weer musical Cats", "Cats moet Vlaamse musical wakker schudden", "CATS To Speak Italian, Set For Compagnia della Rancia 2009/2010 Season", "New UK Tour of CATS to Cross the Channel and Play Belgium in 2013", "E finalmente arriva "Cats"! [94] The set of Cats consists of a junkyard filled with oversized props to give the illusion that the cast are the size of actual cats;[95] it remains the same throughout the show without any scene changes. your own Pins on Pinterest One of these was "Grizabella the Glamour Cat" which, although rejected from Eliot's book for being "too sad for children", gave Lloyd Webber the idea for a full-blown musical. The 2014 London revival introduced several modernizations to the show. You might recognize Mette Towley, a member of Pharrell’s dance group, The Baes, from her appearances in 2019’s Hustlers and Rihanna’s “Lemon” music video—and you can be sure that she’ll uphold Cassandra’s legacy as one of the most eye-catching chorus cats. [181] Besides Germany, this company also made stops in cities in Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria.[190]. [32], Following its Broadway debut, Cats has been staged extensively across North America. 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