Spotlight on CATS, Coming to Toronto May 28

Cats isn't exactly a typical musical. Even though it's been closed on the great white way for well over a decade, it still reigns as the second longest running Broadway show (with 7, 485 performances), surpassed only by The Phantom of the Opera. Not ironically, both these shows share the same composer, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Cats began its life when Webber was revisiting some of his favorite childhood literature and happened to come across Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. Webber began composing the piece in 1977 and premiered the composition at the Sydmonton Festival in 1980. The performance at the festival was attended by Eliot's wife who gave Webber her blessing for the songs to be adapted into a stage play.

The rehersal period was not without it's problems. The Eliot estate prevented new material from being written, and all the text came from works by Eliot (both published and unpublished), which is why Cats is completely sung through. Due to the inability to create new material, a major plot could not be identified during the rehearsal process. This would be fixed before the next staged production.

Cats premiered in the West End in May 1981 at the New London Theatre. Dame Judi Dench was originally cast as Grizabella, but she snapped her achilles tendon during rehearsals and was replaced by Elaine Page. The production was produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group, and was directed by Trevor Nunn, with associate direction and choreography by Gillan Lynne, design by John Napier and lighting by David Hersey. This production would go on to play 8, 949 performances and become the longest running west end musical until it was surpassed in 2006 by Les Miserables.

Cats debuted on Broadway in October 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre, with the entire original creative team reprising their roles.

The legacy of the show continued, and in 1998 the production was preserved for eternity on video with an all-star cast from multiple international productions. Elaine Page reprised her role as Grizabella and the production also featured Ken Page, Sir John Mills, Michael Gruber, John Partridge, and Jo Gibb. David Millet directed the movie with choreography and musical staging recreated by original creative team member Gillian Lynne.

Cats has enjoyed life beyond its original West End and Broadway runs with successful international productions in Hungary, Austria, Japan, Germany, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Argentina, Hong Kong, Spain, Poland, Russia, Estonia, Israel, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, China, Finland, Singapore, Dominican Republic, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Italy, the Philippines, and Toronto (in 1985). With all of the international success Cats has had, it has become available for licensing in over 20 languages.

A new production of Cats is set to open at the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto on May 28, and is being produced by the same producers as the now famous 1985 production, which played the Elgin Theatre. Dave Campbell will direct the production with musical direction by Lona Davis, and Gino Berti will remount Gillian Lynne's brilliant original choreography. The show will also feature production design by Tim Webb, sound design by Peter McBoyle, and lighting design by Brad Trenaman. An all Canadian cast is to be announced at a later date.

The Toronto production of Cats was recently extended with a new block of tickets now available through July. For more information and tickets please visit www.mirvish.com.

Photo Credit: Great Performances - Cats, DVD, 1998.