Cats (musical)

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Cats
CatsMusicalLogo.jpg
Music Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Basis Poem collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot
Premiere 11 May 1981: New London Theatre, London
Productions 1981 West End

1982 Broadway
1983 Vienna
1986 Hamburg
1989 Paris
1998 Video
2002 Berlin
2003 Madrid
2010 Australian tour
2014 West End Revival
2014 South Korea
2015 Paris Revival
2015 Blackpool
2015 Australian tour
2015 West End Revival (Limited Run)

2015 Bahrain
Awards 1981 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical
1983 Tony Award for Best Musical

Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, and produced by Cameron Mackintosh. The musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make what is known as "the Jellicle choice" and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. Cats introduced the song standard "Memory". The first performance of "Cats" was in 1981.

Directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Gillian Lynne, Cats first opened in the West End in 1981 and then with the same creative team on Broadway in 1982. It won numerous awards, including Best Musical at both the Laurence Olivier Awards and the Tony Awards. The London production ran for twenty-one years and the Broadway production ran for eighteen years, both setting new records. Actresses Elaine Paige and Betty Buckley became particularly associated with the musical. One actress, Marlene Danielle, performed in the Broadway production for its entire run (from 1982 until 2000).

As of 2015, Cats is the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history, and was the longest running Broadway show in history from 1987 to 2006, when surpassed by The Phantom of the Opera. Cats is the fourth longest-running West End musical. It has been performed around the world many times and has been translated into more than 20 languages. In 1998, Cats was turned into a made-for-television film.

Production history

Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the production of Cats is based on T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939), which the composer recalled as having been a childhood favourite. The songs of the musical comprise Eliot's verse set to music by the composer, the principal exception being the most famous song from the musical, "Memory", for which the lyrics were written by Trevor Nunn after an Eliot poem entitled "Rhapsody on a Windy Night". Also, a brief song entitled "The Moments of Happiness" was taken from a passage in Eliot's Four Quartets. Andrew Lloyd Webber began composing the songs in late 1977 and premiered the compositions at the Sydmonton Festival in 1980. The concert was attended by T.S. Eliot's wife, Valerie Eliot and she loved the songs that Webber had composed. She gave her blessing for the songs to be adapted into a musical stage play. Rehearsals for the musical began in early 1981 at the New London Theatre. Due to the Eliot estate asserting that they write no script and only use the original poems as the text, the musical had no identified plot during the rehearsal process, causing many actors to be confused about what they were actually doing. An unusual musical in terms of its construction, the overture incorporates a fugue and there are occasions when the music accompanies spoken verse. The show is completely told through music with virtually no spoken dialogue in between the songs. Dance is also a key element in the musical especially during the 10-minute Jellicle Ball dance sequence. The set, consisting of an oversized junk yard, remains the same throughout the show without any scene changes. Lloyd Webber's eclecticism is very strong here; musical genres range from classical to pop, music hall, jazz, rock and electro-acoustic music as well as hymn-like songs such as "The Addressing of Cats".

Cats premiered in the West End at the New London Theatre on 11 May 1981. There was trouble initially as Judi Dench, cast in the role of Grizabella, snapped her Achilles tendon during rehearsals prior to the London opening. She was replaced by Elaine Paige. The musical was produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group, directed by Trevor Nunn, with associate director and choreographer Gillian Lynne, design by John Napier, and lighting by David Hersey. The conductor was Harry Rabinowicz. It played a total of 8,949 performances in London. Its final performance in London's West End was on its 21st birthday, 11 May 2002, and broadcast on a large screen in Covent Garden to the delight of fans who could not acquire a ticket for the final performance. It held the record as London's longest running musical until 8 October 2006, when it was surpassed by Les Misérables.

The original 1981 London cast of Cats

The show made its debut on Broadway on 7 October 1982, at the Winter Garden Theatre with the same production team. On 19 June 1997, Cats became the longest-running musical in Broadway history with 6,138 performances. It closed on 10 September 2000, after a total of 7,485 performances. Its Broadway record was surpassed on 9 January 2006 by The Phantom of the Opera. It remains Broadway's fourth longest-running show in history. Lloyd Webber stated that when the original show was produced, it cost £900,000, but on Broadway, it cost $5,000,000.[1]

In 1998, Lloyd Webber produced a video version of Cats, based upon the stage version, starring Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Grizabella in London; Ken Page, who originated Old Deuteronomy on Broadway; Sir John Mills as Gus; Michael Gruber as Munkustrap; John Partridge as The Rum Tum Tugger; Jo Gibb as Rumpelteazer with many of the dancers and singers drawn largely from various stage productions of the show.[2] It was directed by David Mallet, with choreography and musical staging by the show's respected original creator Gillian Lynne in London's Adelphi Theatre, and was released on VHS and DVD, as well as broadcast on television worldwide. Andrew Lloyd Webber and others on the production team for the film wanted to keep the feeling that viewers watching the film could still get the sense of seeing the show live, by having all views be facing the stage, therefore, getting multiple views of the set, with several close-ups. Beyond the productions in England, the US, Canada, and Australia, the musical has been produced professionally in Hungary, Austria, and Japan, 1983; Sydney and Toronto, 1985; Germany, 1986; France, 1989; Mexico, 1991; Netherlands, 1992; Argentina, 1993; Hong Kong, 1994; Spain, 2003; Poland and Czech Republic, 2004; Russia and Estonia, 2005; Israel, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, China and Finland, 2007; Singapore, Hong Kong, Dominican Republic, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, China, Italy, Bulgaria and Japan, 2009; and Brazil and the Philippines, 2010. Cats has been translated into over 20 languages.[3]

It was announced on 3 August 2012 that a UK tour of the show will open on 9 February 2013, at the Edinburgh Playhouse.[4]

Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools celebrated their 25th anniversary by performing Cats in the Birmingham National Indoor Arena on 24 March 2013.[5] In association with 'The Really Useful Group', 3500 children from across Europe joined together with a virtual choir of many international Stagecoach students, and produced the largest production of the musical yet. 35 Stagecoach franchises across the UK performed the show on 7 'stages' around the arena, with each school taking it in turns to portray a small section of the musical. In addition to this, 52 selected elite dancers, including 14 solo dancers who took the named parts, performed the whole musical on a raised stage in the centre of the arena. The Really Useful Group, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Veronica Bennetts, Stephanie Manuel and Paul Leddington Wright all contributed and collaborated to bring this production together.

From 21 August through 11 September 2013, the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (Auburn, NY) staged a production of the show with Taylor Dayne as Grizabella, KC Fredericks as Mr. Mistoffelees, Patrick Mellen as Old Deuteronomy, and Adam Ryan Tackett as Rum Tum Tugger.[6] Jacob Brent directed and choreographed the production.

In July 2014, Australia's Harvest Rain Theatre Company staged the biggest production of Cats in the Southern Hemisphere with over 700 performers. Produced by Tim O'Connor, the production was performed at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Callum Mansfield directed and choreographed it, and its record-breaking cast included Marina Prior as Grizabella.[7]

Royal Caribbean International announced in April 2014 that a fully licensed production of Cats will be performed regularly for guests aboard the cruise ship Oasis of the Seas beginning in fall 2014.[8]

It was announced on 27 June 2014 that "Cats" will be returning to London from December 2014 for a 12-week run at the London Palladium following the UK national tour with the original creative team featuring direction from Trevor Nunn, choreography by Gillian Lynne and design by John Napier.[9] The run was later extended through April 2015.[10] Along with this Andrew Lloyd Webber would be rewriting a number of songs from the musical. Speaking on the revival, Lloyd Webber himself said, "we wanted to do Cats again ourselves, then the Palladium came up and Trevor fell in love with it. We’re taking the Cats show that’s touring and working on it afresh." The musical returned to the London Palladium for a run lasting from 23 October 2015 to 2 January 2016 starring Beverley Knight as Grizabella [11]

Synopsis

Act I — When Cats Are Maddened by the Midnight Dance

The Jellicle cats gather every year to make the "Jellicle Choice", and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.

After the overture, the Cats gather on stage and explain the Jellicle tribe and its purpose ("Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats"). The Cats (who break the fourth wall throughout the production) then notice that they are being watched by a man, and proceed to explain how the different Cats of the tribe are named ("The Naming of Cats"). This is followed by a dance from Victoria the White Cat that signals the beginning of the Jellicle Ball ("The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball"). Munkustrap explains that tonight is the night when Old Deuteronomy will choose a cat to be reborn into a new life on the Heaviside Layer.

Munkustrap appears and introduces Jennyanydots ("The Old Gumbie Cat"), a large tabby cat. She "sits and sits and sits and sits" all day, while at night she teaches the mice and cockroaches various activities. Jennyanydots finishes her song and greets the other cats, but is interrupted. The music changes suddenly and The Rum Tum Tugger makes an extravagant entrance ("The Rum Tum Tugger"). He is very fickle and unappeasable, "for he will do as he do and there's no doing anything about it".

As Rum Tum Tugger's song fades, a shabby old grey cat stumbles out and looks around - it is Grizabella. All the Cats back away from her in fear and disgust and sing of her unfortunate state ("Grizabella: The Glamour Cat"). Grizabella leaves and the music changes to a cheerful upbeat number as Bustopher Jones, a fat cat in "a coat of fastidious black", appears ("Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town"). Bustopher Jones is among the elite of the cats, and visits prestigious gentlemen's clubs. A loud crash then startles the tribe and the Cats run off the stage in fright. Hushed giggling signals the entrance of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, a pair of near-identical Cats. They are petty burglars, very mischievous, and they enjoy causing trouble for human families ("Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer").

Finally, the Jellicle patriarch, Old Deuteronomy, appears ("Old Deuteronomy"). He is a large old Cat that "has lived many lives" and "buried nine wives (And more, I am tempted to say – ninety-nine)". He is the Cat who will choose which Jellicle Cat will go to the Heaviside Layer. In most productions, at this point, the cats perform a song ("The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles") for Old Deuteronomy. It is a story about two dog tribes clashing in the street and subsequently being scared away by the Great Rumpus Cat, a cat with flashing red eyes. After a few words from Old Deuteronomy on the destiny of Jellicle Cats and Pollicle Dogs, a second loud crash, presumably from Macavity, sends the alarmed Cats scurrying. Old Deuteronomy calls the Cats back and the main celebration begins ("The Jellicle Ball"), in which the cats sing and display their "Terpsichorean powers".

After the Ball, Grizabella reappears and tries to dance, but her age and decrepit condition prevent her from doing so. Once again, she is shunned by the other Cats, but that does not stop her from singing a short version of "Memory'".

Act II — Why Will the Summer Day Delay — When Will Time Flow Away?

After addressing the gathering by singing "Memory", Grizabella is chosen to be reborn into a new Jellicle life.

After the Jellicle Ball, Old Deuteronomy sings of "what happiness is", referring to Grizabella. The Cats do not understand, so he repeats the message again and Jemima (or Sillabub, depending on the production) sings it for everyone to hear ("The Moments of Happiness"). Gus — short for Asparagus — shuffles forward ("Gus: The Theatre Cat"). He was once a famous actor but is now old and "suffers from palsy which makes his paws shake." He is accompanied by Jellylorum, who tells of his exploits. Gus then remembers how he once played the infamous Growltiger, Terror of the Thames ("Growltiger's Last Stand"). He tells the story about the pirate's romance with Griddlebone and how he was overtaken by the Siamese and forced to walk the plank.

Back in the present, after Gus exits, Skimbleshanks is seen sleeping in the corner ("Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat"). He is the Cat who is unofficially in charge of the night train to Glasgow. Skimbleshanks is considered vital to the train, as without him "the train can't start". Within his song, a whole steam train engine is assembled out of objects in the junkyard: Various Cats spin wheels, hold up the structure, and light the headlights.

With a third crash and an evil laugh, the "most wanted" cat Macavity appears. He is a "master criminal" and is never found at the scene of the crime. Macavity's minions throw a net over Old Deuteronomy and capture him. As the other Cats try to follow him, Demeter and Bombalurina sing what they know about Macavity ("Macavity: The Mystery Cat"). When they are finished, Macavity returns disguised as Old Deuteronomy. When his disguise is revealed by Demeter, Macavity fights with Munkustrap and Alonzo. Though he holds his own for a time, Macavity is overwhelmed by the two younger tomcats; as the rest of the tribe begin to gang up and surround him, he shorts out the stage lights and escapes in the confusion.

Rum Tum Tugger suggests that the Cats find Mr. Mistoffelees "the original conjuring cat" ("Magical Mr. Mistoffelees"). Mr. Mistoffelees is small and black and can perform feats of magic that no other Cat can do. Mr. Mistoffelees performs his dance, which is often one of the most intricate and challenging dance solos in the show. The magical Cat restores the lights and brings back Old Deuteronomy, earning praise from all the Cats. The Jellicle Choice can now be made.

After Old Deuteronomy sits down, Grizabella returns to the junkyard and he allows her to address the gathering. Her faded appearance and lonely disposition have little effect on her song ("Memory"). With acceptance and encouragement from Jemima and Victoria, her appeal succeeds and she is chosen to be the one to go to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn to a new Jellicle life ("Journey to the Heaviside Layer"). A large tire rises from the piles of junk, carrying Grizabella and Old Deuteronomy partway toward the sky; he then steps off so she can finish the journey on her own. Old Deuteronomy gives his closing speech to the human audience ("The Ad-dressing of Cats") and the show comes to a close.

Music

Musical numbers

Orchestra

  • Reed I: Flute, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax
  • Reed II: B-flat Clarinet, Bari Sax, Flute
  • Reed III: Oboe, English Horn
  • Electric Bass
  • Cello
  • Horn I
  • Horn II
  • Trumpet I Clive Baker
  • Trumpet II
  • Trombone Noel Frazer
  • Percussion
  • Keyboard I
  • Keyboard II
  • Keyboard III
  • Drum Set
  • Electric Guitar

London Cast album

A 1981 recording of the Original London Cast was released first as a cassette tape and later as a two CD set.[12] It contains the following tracks:

Chart positions

Original Broadway

Year(s) Chart Peak
position
1982 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[13] 17
1983–1984 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 5
1984 US Billboard 200[15] 145

Dutch version

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[16] 72

German version

Year Chart Peak
position
1983 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 24
1984 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 1

German version at the Operettenhaus

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 12

London version

Chart (1983–1989) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[18] 21

Characters

Principal characters

Jennyanydots (Left) and Skimbleshanks in the Polish production of Cats, December 2007.

These descriptions, in alphabetical order, are based on more recent versions of the show, although there are minor variations from production to production.

  • Alonzo – A black and white tom cat in most productions; in the Broadway and early European productions, he was depicted as being a black and gold tabby. Sometimes considered the third in command after Munkustrap as he also fights Macavity. However, he is not the subject of any song, and has no dialogue.
  • Asparagus / Gus – The theatre cat. One of the oldest tribe members. He was once an actor, and is one of two cats who is only seen during his song. This only applies to some productions, however, as the DVD release, Cats: The Musical (2000), showed him singing parts of the song as well.
  • Bombalurina – A red female. She is not the subject of a song herself, but plays a leading part in introducing several of the cats, and also sings of Macavity.
  • Bustopher Jones – A fat cat, a "twenty-five pounder." Dresses in a snappy tuxedo and spats. Respected by all, as the upper class "St. James's Street Cat". In most productions, the actor playing Gus also plays Bustopher, perhaps because both are only seen during their song, though in early productions the part was handled by the actor playing Old Deuteronomy. TDVD release (2000), however, shows him singing parts of his song.
  • Demeter – A very skittish female cat. She is not the subject of a song, but plays a lead role in several.
  • Griddlebone – A fluffy white Persian female cat. Growltiger's lover in Growltiger's Last Stand, where she sings The Ballad of Billy M'Caw or the mock Italian aria In Una Tepida Notte (depending on production) with Growltiger. In many productions the role is played by the actress playing Jellylorum. "Growltiger's Last Stand" was a play in which Gus, the Theatre Cat, acted, and a scene from it is used as a dream sequence, but it is omitted from some productions. Whether she is the same Griddlebone who is one of MacAvity's agents is not known.
  • Grizabella – The former Glamour Cat who has lost her sparkle and now only wants to be accepted. Grizabella left the tribe when she was younger to see the world for herself; she has experienced the harshness of the world and is a pariah in the cats' society.
  • Growltiger – A theatrical character Gus recalls playing in his youth, and who appears in Gus' memory of the production of Growltiger's Last Stand. In some productions he is portrayed as a vicious pirate; in others, he is more comical.
  • Jellylorum – A female who watches out for the kittens, along with Jennyanydots. She is Gus' mate. Named after T. S. Eliot's own cat. The actress who plays Jellylorum usually also plays Griddlebone in Growltiger's Last Stand.
  • Jemima – A kitten interchangeable with Sillabub, though Jemima is used in most international productions. She is the kitten who sings the Memory refrain in The Moments of Happiness for Old Deuteronomy. Jemima sings the happier parts of Memory, while Grizabella sings the sadder parts. She is the first cat/kitten to accept Grizabella by singing with her and not judge her.
  • Jennyanydots – The old Gumbie cat. She sits all day and rules the mice and cockroaches at night, forcing them to undertake helpful functions and creative projects, to curb their naturally destructive habits.
  • Macavity – the show's only real villain, who only appears briefly and has no dialogue. The character is a literary allusion to the Sherlock Holmes character Professor Moriarty. Usually played by the same actor as Plato or Admetus.
  • Mr. Mistoffelees – A young black tom (with some white) who has magical powers (which he doesn't fully control). His signature dance move is "The Conjuring Turn", a minimum of twenty-four fouettés en tournant. In the UK production, Mistoffelees has an alter-ego named Quaxo, who appears as a general chorus cat throughout the show, and is dressed slightly differently.
  • Mungojerrie – Male half of a pair of notorious cat-burglars, with Rumpleteazer. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are most commonly remembered for their featured dance number where at the end, they do a "double windmill" across the stage.
  • Munkustrap – The show's main narrator. A tabby tomcat who is storyteller and protector of the Jellicle tribe. He is Old Deuteronomy's second-in-command.
  • Old Deuteronomy – The lovable patriarch of the Jellicle Tribe. He is very old and dignified.
  • Rumpleteazer – Female half of a pair of notorious cat-burglars, with Mungojerrie.
  • The Rum Tum Tugger – A flashy tomcat. His temperament ranges from clownish to serious.
  • Skimbleshanks – The railway cat. An active orange tabby cat, who lives on the trains and acts as an unofficial chaperone to such an extent he is considered rather indispensable to the train and station employees.
  • Victoria – A pure white kitten gifted in dancing. The "official" Jellicle Ball begins with her solo dance. She also does a Pas de Deux with Plato during the Jellicle Ball. She is also the first to touch Grizabella.

Other characters

Etcetera (front) and Alonzo in the Polish production, December 2007.

The more notable minor characters are as follows:

  • Admetus – a shy, ginger and white tom. The actor usually also plays the Rumpus Cat or Macavity.
  • Bill Bailey – Bill Bailey is a london chorus kitten interchangeable with Tumblebrutus. He is a playful young kitten, often performing acrobatics as well as being a strong dancer. His costume is patchy browns on a white base, suggesting he is a Bi-colour tabby and white.
  • Carbucketty – The name was one of T. S. Eliot's ideas for cat names for a "knockabout cat." Sometimes interchangeable with the character of Pouncival.
  • Cassandra – A mysterious brown and cream Egyptian sphinx who is a talented, flexible dancer. She is mysterious and a very elegant queen. She is portrayed as a kitten but has very mature looks.
  • Coricopat – Male twin to Tantomile. Coricopat and Tantomile are often portrayed as psychic cats, as they sense the presence of danger before it becomes apparent to the other characters.
  • Electra and Etcetera – Tabby kittens who are fans of Rum Tum Tugger. Electra is dark and quieter, Etcetera is paler and hyperactive.
  • Exotica – Chorus cat created for the 1998 filmed version. Appears in few scenes and dance numbers.
  • George – A male chorus cat. In London productions George played the Rumpus Cat in the junkyard performance of "Pekes and Pollicles". George was also featured as part of Growltiger's "Raffish Crew".
  • Ghengis or Gilbert – The leader of the crew of Siamese cats who contribute to Growltiger's demise. Usually played by the actor who portrays Mungojerrie, Tumblebrutus or Coricopat.
  • Plato – Teenage male cat; the actor usually doubles as Macavity. He does a pas de deux with Victoria during the Jellicle Ball. Plato is somewhat interchangeable with Admetus.
  • Pouncival – a playful, tom kitten sometimes interchangeable with Carbucketty and often first understudy to Mr. Mistoffelees
  • Rumpus Cat – A spiky-haired cat with glowing red eyes, as mentioned in The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles, seen as a sort of superhero figure among the Jellicles. Does not appear in productions which omit the song The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles. Usually played by Alonzo or Admetus.
  • Sillabub, the Broadway version of Jemima. Sillabub was a name created for the American productions. The Japanese, Australian (in particular the Brisbane cast, who have Jemima as just a dancer) and Swedish casts include both Sillabub and Jemima as different characters.
  • Tumblebrutus – A playful young adult cat. Tumblebrutus is a brown and white tabby, characterised by a large, flame-like brown patch over his left eye. This energetic young tom is featured in many dance numbers and has many featured solos throughout the show. He is the Broadway version of Bill Bailey.
  • Tantomile – Female twin of Coricopat. The name was created by T.S. Eliot for a "Witch's Cat".[19]
  • Victor – Victor is a chorus cat with cream and brown human markings and few distinguishing features. He featured as one of Growltiger's crew. The actor playing Victor was usually an understudy for Rum Tum Tugger and Munkustrap.

Notable casts

  Original London cast[20] Original Broadway cast[21] 1998 film cast[22] 2015 Australian Tour[23]
Role(s) Actor Actor Actor Actor
Admetus Steven Wayne Terrence Mann Frank Thompson James Cooper
Alonzo Roland Alexander Hector Jamie Mercado Jason Gardiner Keanu Gonzalez
Asparagus (chorus cat)   Stephen Hanan Tony Timberlake
Bombalurina Geraldine Gardner Donna King Rosemarie Ford Sarah Kate Landy
Bustopher Jones Brian Blessed Stephen Hanan James Barron Josh Piterman
Carbucketty Luke Baxter Steven Gelfer   Tobias Madden
Cassandra Seeta Indrani Rene Ceballos Rebecca Parker Emily Keane
Coricopat Donald Waugh Rene Clemente Tommy Sliiden Patrick Whitbread
Demeter Sharon Lee-Hill Wendy Edmead Aeva May Amy Berrisford
Electra Anita Pashley Susan Powers Leah Sue Morland Bree Langridge
Etcetera Bonnie Langford Christine Langner Jo Bingham  
Exotica     Femi Taylor  
Genghis   Walter Charles    
George John Chester     Sam Hooper
Griddlebone Susan Jane Tanner Bonnie Simmons   Samantha Morley
Grizabella Elaine Paige Betty Buckley Elaine Paige Delta Goodrem (understudy: Erin Cornell)
Grumbuskin Jeff Shankley Joel Robertson    
Gus the Theatre Cat Stephen Tate Jeffrey Clonts Sir John Mills Josh Piterman
Growltiger Stephen Tate Stephen Hanan   Josh Piterman
Jellylorum Susan Jane Tanner Bonnie Simmons Susan Jane Tanner Samantha Morley
Jemima Sarah Brightman Carol Richards Veerle Casteleyn Stephanie Silcock
Jemima (Jr.)     Helen Massey  
Jennyanydots Myra Sands Anna McNeeley Suzie McKenna Holly Meegan
Macavity John Thornton Kenneth Ard Bryn Walters James Cooper
Mr. Mistoffelees Graham Fletcher Timothy Scott Jacob Brent Christopher Favaloro
Mungojerrie John Thornton Rene Clemente Drew Varley Brent Osborne
Mungojerrie (Jr.) ("James")     Paul Baker  
Munkustrap Jeff Shankley Harry Groener Michael Gruber Matt McFarlane
Old Deuteronomy Brian Blessed Ken Page Ken Page Jason Wasley
Plato   Kenneth Ard Bryn Walters James Cooper
Pouncival   Herman W Sebek Karl Morgan Thomas Johannson
Quaxo Wayne Sleep   Jacob Brent Christopher Favaloro
Rum Tum Tugger Paul Nicholas Terrence Mann John Partridge Daniel Assetta
Rumpleteazer Bonnie Langford Christine Langner Jo Gibb Dominique Hamilton
Rumpus Cat Roland Alexander Philip Baskerville Frank Thompson Keanu Gonzalez
Sillabub   Whitney Kershaw    
Skimbleshanks Ken Wells Reed Jones Geoffrey Garratt Ross Hannaford
Skimbleshanks (Jr.) ("Bill Bailey") Peter Barry   David Arneil Taylor Scanlan
Tantomile Femi Taylor Janet Hubert-Whitten Kaye Brown Ashleigh Hauschild
Tumblebrutus Roland Alexander Robert Hoshour Fergus Logan  
Victoria (White Cat) Finola Hughes Cynthia Onrubia Phyllida Crowley Smith Jade Hui-Wen Coutts

Other notable performers

Bill Bailey: Drew Varley, Fergus Logan

Coricopat: Jason Pennycooke, Richard Astbury

Demeter: Jo Bingham, Ruthie Henshall, Lena Hall

Electra: Veerle Casteleyn Kate Keenan

Griddlebone: Ruthie Henshall

Grizabella: Laurie Beechman, Liz Callaway, Dee Roscioli, Ruthie Henshall, Lea Salonga, Paula Lima, Stephanie J. Block, Loni Ackerman, Linda Balgourd, Lilias White, Joanna Ampil, Sophia Ragavelas, Nicole Scherzinger,[24] Kerry Ellis, Jane McDonald, Beverley Knight, Debra Byrne, Prisca Demarez (2015 Paris Revival), Delta Goodrem, Anita Louise Combe

Jellyorum: Ruthie Henshall, Madeleine M. Gagné

Macavity/Admetus: Bryn Walters, Cameron Ball

Mistoffelees: Graham Fletcher (former principal of the Royal Ballet Company Louie Spence, John Partridge, Fergus Logan, Joseph Poulton

Munkustrap: Gary Martin, Steven Houghton, John Partridge, Shaun Rennie, Ben Palmer

Old Deuteronomy: Bill Nolte, John Ellis

Rum Tum Tugger: John Partridge, John O'Hara, Oliver Savile, Stephen Bienskie, Marcquelle Jermaine Ward

Rumpus Cat/Admetus: Frank Thompson, Jason Gardiner

Rumpelteazer: Veerle Casteleyn, Jo Gibb, Leah-Sue Morland, Jo Bingham

Jemima/Sillabub: Anita Louise Combe, Ruthie Henshall, Helen Anker, Natasha Mould, Tarryn Gee

Tumblebrutus: Jason Wise

Victoria: Veerle Casteleyn, Helen Anker , Hannah Kenna Thomas

Other notable professional casts

Place

 Theatre Premiere Munkustrap Grizabella Old Deuteronomy Bustopher Jones
Austria Vienna Theater an der Wien 24 September 1983 Steve Barton Angelika Milster Gordon Bovinet Joachim Kemmer Ute Lemper, KrisTina Decker, Michael Reardon, Vlada Aviks, Monica Solem
United States Los Angeles Shubert Theatre 7 January 1985 Mark Morales Kim Criswell George Anthony Bell George De La Pena, Rebecca Raider
Australia Sydney Theatre Royal, Sydney 1985 Anthony O'Keefe Debra Byrne John Bolton Woods Grant Smith Anita Louise Combe, Jeff Phillips, Marina Prior[25]
Switzerland Zurich Musical Theatre Oerlikon 9 August 1991 Paul Hadobas Ruth Jacott / Manuela Felice Jan Polak Rory Campbell Tibor Kovats, Brian Carmack, Michael Fritzke,

Kristi Sperling, Nikki Bolen, David Kent, Leslie Wiesner, Lindsay Chambers, Jasna Ivir, Alexander Riff, Adam Jones, Rod Roberts, Daniella Bruenner, T.J Hee, Annetta Wimmer, Tina Decker, Angela Savage, Kati Farkass, Nikki Romaine, Ton Voogt, Leon Julian Taylor, Manfred Sieffert, Michael Larsen Disney, Gene Scheer, Laura Quin, Kevin Alvey, Niki Ankenbrand, Andie Mellom
Mexico Mexico City Teatro Silvia Pinal 19 April 1991 Manuel Landeta María del Sol Enrique del Olmo Susana Zabaleta, Ariel López Padilla, Maru Dueñas, Olivia Bucio, Guillermo de Uslar, Humberto Manlio, Abel David, Marisol Arreola, Manuel Sánchez, David de la Rosa, Meyra Córdova, Gabriel de Cervantes, Alberto Díaz, Cecilia Huerta, Rosalva Navarro, Fabiola Zepeda, Juan Carlos Casasola, Rafael Santiago, Javier Díaz Dueñas, Alejandra Murga, Héctor Arroyo, Estela Barona, Luis René Aguirre, Lenny Zundel, Simone Brooke, Marcela Valiente, Alejandra Valiente, Claudia Meyer, Guillermo Tellez, Jaime Rojas, Ramiro Guzmán, Enrique Calatayud, Armando Moreno
Mexico Mexico City Teatro San Rafael 10 May 2013 Filippa Giordano Manuel Landeta Lila Deneken, Myriam Montemayor Cruz, Maru Dueñas, Olivia Bucio, Ana Cirre, Gloria Aura, Juan Carlos Casasola, Sofia Rozanes
Spain Madrid Teatro Coliseum 17 December 2003 Jack Rebaldi Helen de Quiroga Pedro Ruy-Blas Enrique Sequero Edu del Prado, Teresa Cora, Raquel Grijalba, Guadalupe Lancho, Marta Malone, Gorane Markínez, Sandra Rausell, Alberto Sánchez, Paqui Sánchez Melchor, Víctor Ullate
Poland Warsaw Roma Music Theatre 10 January 2004 Damian Aleksander Izabela Zając Zbigniew Macias Wojciech Paszkowski
Australia Hobart Derwent Entertainment Centre 17 October 2007 Craig Irons Debra Byrne Alan Bacon Andrew Casey
Australia South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brisbane, China Various Theatres June 2008 Shaun Rennie Delia Hannah Han Lim / John Ellis Michael-John Hurney John O'Hara, Renee Burleigh, Adrian Ricks, Caleb Bartolo, Markham Gannon,

Brenton Wilson, Justine Puy, Emily Keane, Darren Tyler, Mischana Dellora- Cornish, Brent Osborne, James Cooper, Monique Chanel Pitsikas, Belinda Allchin, Ranjeet Starr, Alyse Jai Davies, Stephanie Silcock, Sam Marks, Brian Gillespie, Anthony Costanzo
Australia Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney Various Theatres 1 January 2010 Shaun Rennie Delia Hannah John Ellis Michael-John Hurney John O'Hara, Renee Burleigh, Adrian Ricks, Caleb Bartolo, Markham Gannon,

Brenton Wilson, Justine Puy, Emily Keane, Emma Waters, Darren Tyler, Mischana Dellora-Cornish, Brent Osborne, James Cooper, Monique Chanel Pitsikas, Belinda Allchin, Ranjeet Starr, Alyse Jai Davies, Stephanie Silcock, Brian Gillespie, Glen Oliver
Australia Brisbane Brisbane Convention Centre 4 July 2014 Dean Vince Marina Prior Patrick Oxley Steven Tandy Casey McCollow, Astin Blaik, Kimberley Hodgson, Vanessa Krummenacher, Callan Warner, Hannah Crowther, Ethan Jones,

Joseph Simons, Stevie Bishop, Richard Meyers, Clare Hobler, Shaun McCallum, Dan Venz, Stacey de Waard, Brooke McMullen
Brazil São Paulo Teatro Abril 4 March 2010 Julio Mancini Paula Lima Saulo Vasconcelos Fernando Patau Adenis Vieira, Andreia Vitfer, Andre Saporetti, Andressa Mazzei, Anelita Gallo, Arthur Marques, Carla Cottini, Carol Puntel, Cesar Moura, Cleto Baccic, Daniel Monteiro, Ditto Leite, Fabiane Bang, Fernando Marianno, Fernando Palazza, Fernando Patau, Francine Lobo, Gabriel Brasilio, Gianna Pagano, Guto Muniz, Jhean Allex, Leonardo Wagner, Mariana Barros, Mariana Hidemi, Marina Costa, Max Oliveira, Natacha Travassos, Nick Vila Maior, Olivia Branco, Patricia Athayde, Paulo Borges, Alan Rezende, Sara Sarres, Sefora Araujo, Vanessa Costa
Brazil Rio de Janeiro Vivo Rio 16 October 2010 Julio Mancini Paula Lima Fernando Palazza Fernando Patau
Philippines Manila Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo July 2010 Shaun Rennie Lea Salonga John Ellis Michael-John Hurney
Hungary Budapest Madách Színház 25 March 1983 Béla Tímár Éva Almási Balázs Póka
László Lukács		 Péter Haumann Ildikó Hűvösvölgyi, Ildikó Kishonti, Péter Cseke, Béla Szerednyei, Ilona Bencze, Béla Paudits, Mari Kiss

Awards and nominations

Original London production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1981 Laurence Olivier Award Best New Musical Won
Outstanding Achievement in a Musical Gillian Lynne Won

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1983 Tony Award Best Musical Won
Best Book of a Musical T. S. Eliot Won
Best Original Score Andrew Lloyd Webber and T. S. Eliot. Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Harry Groener as Munkustrap Nominated
Stephen Hanan as Bustopher Jones / Asparagus / Growltiger Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Betty Buckley Won
Best Direction of a Musical Trevor Nunn Won
Best Choreography Gillian Lynne Nominated
Best Scenic Design John Napier Nominated
Best Costume Design Won
Best Lighting Design David Hersey Won

2014 London revival

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref
2015
 Laurence Olivier Award Best Musical Revival Nominated
[26]
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical Nicole Scherzinger Nominated

Revisions to the show

Cats has undergone several revisions since its London and subsequent Broadway openings. The most current version, licensed by The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, is based on the recent UK Tour. This score contains several small cuts, transpositions, additions, reassignment of vocal lines, and a reduced orchestration.

The original London version of the song "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer" was in 12/8 time and had a jazzy accompaniment. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer sang their song themselves. For the Broadway production Andrew Lloyd Webber later wrote a new melody; in this production Mr. Mistoffelees sang about Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer in the third person, with Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer as puppets being magically controlled by Mr. Mistoffelees. This version of the song was in an upbeat 4/4 time with its middle section in 7/8 time and its mood was similar to the original version. Lloyd Webber's new version was used for all subsequent productions of Cats but now Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer sing their number themselves in all productions. In the 1998 film, one stanza was cut. In the current licensed version, based on the recent UK tour, the 7/8 section is reworked into 4/4 with triplet quavers that simulate the original 12/8 version.

The "Growltiger's Last Stand" sequence was also revised for the Broadway production. In the original London show, the "last duet" for Growltiger and Griddlebone was a setting of an unpublished T.S. Eliot poem, "The Ballad of Billy M'Caw". For Broadway, the Ballad was replaced with a pastiche of Italian opera (reminiscent of Puccini's Madama Butterfly). This new version was subsequently incorporated into most productions of Cats worldwide (a notable exception was the Hungarian production at the Madách Színház). The Ballad remained in the London production until some time in the early 1990s when it was replaced with the Italian aria pastiche. "Billy M'Caw" was re-instated for the UK Tours following the show's closure in London. Lloyd Webber has said that he is pleased with the reinstatement of "The Ballad of Billy M'Caw" as he didn't care for the "Italian aria" version.[27] In the video version, the entire scene featuring Growltiger was cut due to John Mills' (Gus) old age. The licensed version of Cats includes both songs, giving individual companies a choice as to which to include.

In recent productions, a lyric in "Growltiger's Last Stand" was changed to remove any racially insensitive language. "With a frightful burst of fireworks the Chinks they swarmed aboard!" became "with a frightful burst of fireworks, the Siamese they swarmed aboard!", although the lyric "Heathen Chinese" remains in the tale of the Pekes and the Pollicles.

The original London cast recording utilised longer versions of "The Old Gumbie Cat", "Old Deuteronomy" and "The Ad-Dressing of Cats" with verses and lines that were cut from later productions.

The US tour continues to use the original Broadway version of the score, including the Italian aria and material cut from newer versions. Only "Pekes and Pollicles" and one verse of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" are cut from performance.

The 2015 London revival features numerous changes, including the reworking of the Rum Tum Tugger into a rap song.[28][29] The 2015 Australian Tour and 2015 Paris productions also used this modified version of the song.

References

  1. ↑ Video on YouTube[dead link]
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Musical – CATS [BROADWAY, 1982"]. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Austriancharts.at – Musical – CATS [BROADWAY, 1982"] (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2013. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ac_Austria_Musical" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ac_Austria_Musical" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ac_Austria_Musical" defined multiple times with different content
  15. ↑ Cats (Original Broadway Cast) – Original Broadway Cast. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Accessed on 8 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Musical – CATS [NEDERLANDSTALIGE VERSIE 1987"] (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ http://www.catsthemusical.com/australia/cast/
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/10951867/Cats-classic-musical-to-feature-a-rapping-cat.html
  29. ↑ http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/rum-tum-tugger-return-rapping-feline-cats-revival/

External links

Preceded by Longest-running Broadway show
1997–2006		 Succeeded by
The Phantom of the Opera
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