First National Tour of Cats

First National Tour of Cats. The First National Tour of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats was a major theatrical road production that brought the West End and Broadway sensation to audiences across North America from 1983 to 1985. Staged by the original creative team, including director Trevor Nunn and choreographer Gillian Lynne, the tour was a commercial and critical success, solidifying the show's status as a global phenomenon. It played in major venues like the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles, introducing the iconic Jellicle cats to countless new cities.

## Background The unprecedented success of Cats in both London's West End at the New London Theatre and on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre created immense demand for productions outside New York City and the United Kingdom. Producer Cameron Mackintosh, in partnership with The Really Useful Group, recognized the potential for a large-scale touring version to capitalize on this interest and expand the musical's reach. The decision to launch a national tour followed the show's triumph at the 1983 Tony Awards, where it won several awards including Best Musical. This tour was part of a broader strategy that also included the launch of the First Japanese production in Tokyo.

## Production The touring production meticulously recreated the original London staging, overseen by director Trevor Nunn and choreographer Gillian Lynne. John Napier's famed junkyard set and costume designs were adapted for the rigors of travel, while the Andrew Lloyd Webber score and T.S. Eliot-inspired lyrics were performed by a full touring orchestra. Key creative personnel from the Broadway company, including associate director Ruthie Henshall, were involved in mounting the tour. Casting focused on securing performers who could embody the demanding dance and vocal requirements, featuring actors like Timothy Scott reprising his Broadway role as Mistoffelees.

## Tour Details The tour launched in September 1983 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., before embarking on a nearly two-year itinerary across the United States and Canada. It played extended engagements in major theatrical markets, including stands at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. The tour schedule also included performances in cities like Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and San Francisco. By its conclusion in June 1985, the production had given approximately 800 performances, traveling with a company of over 50 performers, musicians, and crew.

## Reception The tour was met with widespread critical acclaim and popular enthusiasm, often replicating the sold-out success seen in New York City and London. Reviewers in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago praised the fidelity to the original production and the athleticism of the touring cast. The production's success demonstrated the viability of large-scale, technically complex musicals on the road, significantly influencing the Broadway touring model. It received numerous local awards and accolades, including Drama Desk Award nominations for several cast members during its Washington, D.C. engagement.

## Legacy The First National Tour of Cats played a pivotal role in establishing the Broadway touring circuit as a major economic and cultural force, paving the way for subsequent megamusical tours like Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera. It cemented Cats as a household name across North America and contributed directly to the show's record-breaking longevity on Broadway. The tour's blueprint for replicating a West End/Broadway spectacle influenced the global production strategy of The Really Useful Group and Cameron Mackintosh for decades. Its success also spurred the creation of multiple subsequent North American touring companies that continued for over 18 years.

Category:Concert tours Category:1980s concert tours