Cats (musical)

Cats (musical)
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Name	Cats
Caption	Logo for the musical
Music	Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics	T.S. Eliot (poetry), Trevor Nunn (additional lyrics)
Book	Trevor Nunn
Basis	Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
Productions	1981 West End, 1982 Broadway, Numerous worldwide tours and revivals
Awards	Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Tony Award for Best Musical

Cats (musical). A musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics adapted from the poetry of T.S. Eliot, Cats first premiered in the West End in 1981. The show, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Gillian Lynne, is set in a junkyard and follows a tribe of Jellicle cats as they decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer. It became a global phenomenon, renowned for its iconic score, including the standard "Memory", and its innovative, dance-heavy staging.

Background and development

The musical's origins lie in Andrew Lloyd Webber's childhood fondness for T.S. Eliot's 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. In the late 1970s, Webber began setting Eliot's poems to music, initially envisioning a concert piece. Producer Cameron Mackintosh encouraged its expansion into a full-scale theatrical production. Trevor Nunn was brought in to direct and, with the assistance of John Napier on set and costume design, developed a narrative framework from Eliot's verses. The creative team, including choreographer Gillian Lynne, worked to transform the abstract poems into a cohesive, physically demanding spectacle, with the now-famous junkyard set premiering at the New London Theatre.

Synopsis

The musical has a minimal plot, structured as a series of introductory character vignettes. On a special night, the tribe of Jellicle cats gathers at a junkyard for the Jellicle Ball, presided over by their wise leader, Old Deuteronomy. Various cats vie for attention by performing, including the mischievous Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, the magical Mr. Mistoffelees, the railway-obsessed Skimbleshanks, and the aged Gus the Theatre Cat. The glamorous Grizabella, a former "glamour cat" now shunned by the tribe, appears and sings "Memory". Ultimately, Old Deuteronomy selects Grizabella to be reborn, and she ascends to the Heaviside Layer via a giant tire, symbolizing redemption.

Musical numbers

The score, entirely through-sung, consists of settings of Eliot's poems with additional lyrics by Trevor Nunn. The overture, "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats", introduces the tribe's mythology. Notable character songs include "The Rum Tum Tugger", "Bustopher Jones", "Macavity", and "Mr. Mistoffelees". The emotional climax is Grizabella's poignant ballad "Memory", with lyrics derived from Eliot's unpublished drafts and Nunn's contributions, which became an international hit recorded by artists like Barbra Streisand and Barry Manilow. The finale, "The Ad-dressing of Cats", reiterates the show's whimsical premise.

Productions

The original West End production, financed by Cameron Mackintosh, opened at the New London Theatre on May 11, 1981. Its success led to a Broadway transfer at the Winter Garden Theatre on October 7, 1982. The production, noted for John Napier's immersive junkyard set and feline costumes, spawned numerous national tours and international productions in cities like Tokyo, Vienna, and Sydney. It became the longest-running show in both West End and Broadway history for a time. Major revivals include the 2014 West End revival, a 2016 Broadway revival, and a critically panned 2019 film adaptation directed by Tom Hooper.

Critical reception and legacy

Initial critical reception was mixed; some praised its spectacle and Gillian Lynne's choreography, while others dismissed its thin plot. However, its public appeal was unprecedented, cementing Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Cameron Mackintosh's status as dominant forces in musical theatre. The show is credited with popularizing the "mega-musical" genre, emphasizing visual spectacle over traditional book-driven narrative. Its global merchandising and marketing were highly influential. Despite later criticism for its artistic merits, Cats remains a cultural touchstone, with its imagery and songs deeply embedded in popular culture, influencing subsequent productions like The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.

Awards and honors

The original West End production won the 1981 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The Broadway production was nominated for eleven Tony Awards in 1983, winning seven, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical for Trevor Nunn, and Best Original Score for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Betty Buckley, who originated the role of Grizabella on Broadway, won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance. The show also received Drama Desk Awards and Evening Standard Awards, solidifying its acclaim during its initial record-breaking runs.

Category:Musicals