Tag: CATS the musical

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My 30 Year Journey With “CATS – Now And Forever”

That famous logo

I’m currently back in the Big Apple to see a few Broadway shows,  but more importantly to catch up with my former cast mates of 30 years ago (!!!) when I and a lot of way young actors were cast in a new national touring company of CATS.

At the time, in 1986, CATS was still the hottest ticket on Broadway. And while the powers that be had opened a Los Angeles company and a first national company which sat down in cities like Chicago, Boston and Washington D.C. for over a year at a time, our company – technically called CATS III – was really the first opportunity most of the U.S. had to see the feline phenom. Dallas, Houston, Miami, St. Louis, Memphis, Baltimore, Detroit and more would host us for two, three, four weeks or more.

It was a very heady time for most of us as the show was so hot at the time.

Yesterday, several of my fellow kitties took in the matinee of the newly opened revival of CATS currently playing at the Neil Simon Theater on Broadway.

I’ll write more about the new production in another post, but suffice it to say it’s still the amazing theater experience you expect. At one point in the nine minute “Jellicle Ball,” the music kicked into high gear and I could feel my heart pumping as if I was on the stage myself dancing my butt off. Clearly, hundreds of performances embeds that awesome rush into your DNA.

Afterwards, I joined my longtime partners in feline fun onstage to meet some of the new kittens on the block. Here’s a few pics from the day.

Michael snuck this pic as I approached the Neil Simon

Cats past and present

The “senior” cats take the stage – from top left: Tony Bova (“Tumblebrutus”), Joanna Beck (“Jellylorum”), Amiee Turner (“Cassandra”), Arminae Reames (“Grizabella” standby), and me (“Mistoffelees”)

“Mistoffelees” past and present – me with So You Think You Can Dance winner Ricky Ubeda, who absolutely KILLED it as the magical cat

“Tumblebrutus” past and present – Tony Bova and daughter Annarose with Kolton Krouse (R)

My hubby Michael became a “Tumblebrutus” cover in CATS in the early 90s while doing PR work in Europe; here with the new “Tumblebrutus” Kolton Krouse

The group at cocktails after the show with our awesome company manager Jeff Capitola in the front

After the show party: from top left – Lisa Dawn Cave (swing), Aja Kane (“Bombalurina”), Arminae Reames (“Grizabella” standby), me, Joanna Beck (“Jellylorum”), and Amiee Turner (“Cassandra”)

Me with my best bud Tony Bova (“Tumblebrutus”)

My connection with Aja Kane (“Bombalurina”), stretching over 30 years, is still magical

With our fantastic “Gus/Growltiger” Richard Poole
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First Look At New Broadway Revival Of CATS

Entertainment Weekly has a first look at the new Broadway revival of CATS currently in previews at the Neil Simon Theater in NYC.

The feline reboot features Leona Lewis as “Grizabella, the Glamour Cat” and So You Think You Can Dance champ Ricky Ubeda as “The Magical Mr. Mistoffelees.”

Check out the video below with mucho dancing plus that famous “Touch Me” moment by Leona Lewis in the eleven o’clock number, “Memory.”

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Broadway Revival Of CATS Begins Previews Tonight

The Broadway revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber mega-hit CATS begins previews tonight at the Neil Simon Theater.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the show as it was my first big – and I mean BIG – break in theater after moving to NYC in the 80s.

I often joke “I did CATS when it was a good credit!” – meaning that when I did the show it was as part of a brand new company and only a handful of people on the planet had performed in the show at that point. Now that it’s back on Broadway I’m going to have to give that line up I think.

I was the “Magical Mr. Mistoffelees” from 1986-1988 in the national touring company. Quite heady doings for someone from Fort Worth, Texas, who was not yet 22 when I was cast.

I danced my ASS off. I danced so much that I lost 14 pounds in the first month or so, and never gained it back over the entire run.

I learned so much about how to handle a role over a long run (over 800 performances) over two years – stamina, staying in shape, finding new acting moments each night, working with the same actors, and then new actors in the same roles.

I also came to terms with myself as a young, gay man. I fell in love for the first time. I had my heart broken for the first time. Not a single day of which I would ever change. All inside a pretty safe environment of a traveling theatrical family. 

It was a wonderful gift. One I’ve never lost appreciation for.

In any case, I’m wishing all those new kitties a fab run. Especially Ricky Ubeda – winner of So You Think You Can Dance – who gets to wear the black and white costume now as “Mistoffelees.” He’s a brilliant dancer and I can’t wait to see him spin!

“So this is this, and that is that,
And there’s how you address – a cat.”

Me back in 1986 as “the magical Mr. Mistoffelles”
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Broadway Revival Of CATS Announces Casting Of “Grizabella”

Pop star Leona Lewis will play “Grizabella, the Glamour Cat” in Broadway revival of CATS

From BroadwayWorld:

Producers The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization announced today that chart-topping British pop star Leona Lewis will play the role of “Grizabella,” the Glamour Cat, in the first-ever Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical, Cats.

One of the biggest hits in theatrical history, Cats will return to Broadway this summer at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52nd Street) with preview performances beginning Thursday, July 14, 2016, and an official opening set for Sunday, July 31, 2016.

“Leona has one of the greatest voices of her generation,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber. “We are all hugely excited about working with her.”

“It is an incredible honor to be asked by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber to join the Cats family,” said Lewis. “I will never forget seeing the show as a little girl and how blown away I was by the magical experience of it. I am beyond thrilled for my Broadway debut to be in such an iconic show. To work with a team as legendary as those on Cats is an experience I will cherish every moment of. I cannot wait to see the audiences out in NYC!”

British Singing Sensation, Leona Lewis has sold over 20 million records worldwide, reached #1 in over 35 countries, and is a 3-time GRAMMY nominee, a 7-time BRIT Award nominee also has also been nominated for MTV VMAs, EMAs, Billboard and most recently in 2016 a CMT award for her performance of ‘Girl Crush’ with Adam Lambert. Leona became the first British female solo artist to top the US Billboard 200 album chart in more than 20 years. Leona is a vocal powerhouse who is renowned for her massive four octave mezzo-soprano vocal range and power.

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CATS – Now And Forever – Will Return To Broadway This Summer

Playbill shares the news that CATS – the mega-hit Broadway musical of the 1980s and 90s will return to the Great White Way this summer:

Grizabella is headed for the Heaviside layer once more! Broadway’s The Shubert Organization and Nederlander Organization are teaming up to produce the long-rumored revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/T.S. Eliot musical Cats this summer.

The onetime longest-running show in Broadway history has booked the Neil Simon Theatre, with previews beginning July 14 and an official opening set for Aug. 2.

Trevor Nunn, who staged the original London and Broadway productions, will direct the revival. His creative team includes Mick Potter (sound design), Natasha Katz (lighting design) and John Napier (scenic and costume design). It will have choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, based on the original choreography and associate direction by Gillian Lynne.

My first major theater job was being cast in the original company of the national touring company of the show during the height of it’s popularity, as the “Magical Mr. Mistoffelees.” It was a rush to be in the “hottest show in town” back in the day.

With just under 18 years, the original run of CATS ranks as the fourth longest-running Broadway show behind The Lion King (18 years), the revival of Chicago (19 years – I was actually in that one, too, early in the run), and Phantom Of The Opera (28 years later this month.) The top three are still running.