We were honored to be invited to the reunion brunch for the Jellicle Tribe, a group of members from the US National Tour 4 of Cats. They got together before opening night of CATS: The Jellicle Ball to catch up and discuss all things CATS.
Photos: Andrew Lloyd Webber Poses With Stars of CATS, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and SCHOOL OF ROCK
By: Michael Dale
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(Photo: Jennifer Broski)
You might say that Andrew Lloyd Webber has been making a bit of a Broadway comeback, but really, with THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA securely residing at the Majestic Theatre since 1988, you can't say he ever left.
Still, the master of elegant melody, who can still rock out with the best of them, looks rather Majestic himself surrounded by three of the stars of his current Broadway offerings. There's Tony nominee Alex Brightman as Dewey, the rebellious music teacher in SCHOOL OF ROCK, James Barbour currently lending his hauntingly deep vocals to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and pop sensation Leona Lewis, making her Broadway debut as glamour cat Grizabella.
The first-ever Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical, Cats, returns to Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52nd Street).
The new generation of Cats includes Leona Lewis as "Grizabella," Giuseppe Bausilio as "Carbucketty," Quentin Earl Darrington as "Old Deuteronomy,"Jeremy Davis as "Skimbleshanks," Kim Faure as "Demeter," Sara Jean Ford as "Jellylorum," Lili Froehlich as "Electra," Daniel Gaymon as "Macavity," Shonica Gooden as "Rumpleteazer," Christopher Gurras "Gus/Bustopher Jones," Tyler Hanes as "Rum Tum Tugger," Andy Jones as "Munkustrap,"Kolton Krouse as "Tumblebrutus," Eloise Kropp as "Jennyanydots / Gumbie," Jess Leprotto as "Mungojerrie,"Georgina Pazcoguin as "Victoria," Emily Pynenburg as "Cassandra," Ariana Rosario as "Sillabub," Ahmad Simmons as "Alonzo," Christine Cornish Smith"Bombalurina,"Corey Snide as "Coricopat," Emily Tate as "Tantomile," Ricky Ubeda as "Mistoffelees," andSharrod Williams as "Pouncival,"as well as Richard Todd Adams, Aaron Albano, Callan Bergmann, Claire Camp, Francesca Granell,Jessica Hendy, Harris Milgrim, Madison Mitchell,Nathan Patrick Morgan and Megan Ort.
Currently in performances at the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway), School of Rock - The Musical is based on the smash hit 2003 film of the same, featuring music from the movie, as well as an original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, a book by Julian Fellowes and direction by Laurence Connor. School of Rock - The Musical opened to rave reviews on Sunday, December 6, 2015. School of Rock - The Musical was nominated for four 2016 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Lloyd Webber and Slater), Best Book (Fellowes), and Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Alex Brightman).
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, is the longest-running show in Broadway history, and one of the most successful stage productions of all-time.
Earlier this year, the Broadway production celebrated 28 years - an unprecedented feat achieved by no other Broadway show. The New York production has played over 11,700 performances to more than 17 million people at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street) and grossed a staggering $1 billion.
Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L'Opéra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.
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Podcasts
Ep265 - Bebe Nicole Simpson, Demeter in CATS: The Jellicle Ball
“In ballroom, femininity in particular is embraced. It really shifted my perspective on things.” This episode features Bebe Nicole Simpson who is performing as Demeter in Cats: The Jellicle Ball.
Ep264 - Jordan Stefanski, The Jellicle Patron
“All of them took concepts here and turned it into just this massive expression of queer joy in the time we are living in right now. It doesn’t deserve to be seen. It demands to be seen.” This episode features Jordan Stefanski, a devoted Cats: The Jellicle Ball fan who has seen the show over 50 times.
Ep263 - Ryan Jackson, Mistoffelees on US National Tour 5
“You know when you walk into a conversation and two friends are laughing so hard you start to laugh? You have no idea what they are laughing about but the energy is infectious.
Ep262 - Leigh Archer, Jennyanydots on 2025 Australian Tour
“If you’d asked me if I’d be in CATS again, I would have absolutely laughed and said don’t be ridiculous.” This episode features Leigh Archer who played Demeter in Australia in 1994 and recently returned as Jennyanydots on the Australian tour.
Ep261 - Petra Ilse Dam, Bombalurina on Asia Tour
“That’s the fun part about the show because the connections are not set and you can change them all the time.” This episode features Petra Ilse Dam who performed as Tantomile in the 2019 Vienna Revival of CATS and then as Bombalurina on the International Tour in 2022.
Ep260 - Nathan Taylor, Bustopher Jones & Gus on the International Tour
“It’s a show unlike any other that has ever existed. I truly believe that. I think it broke all the rules of what made a successful hit Broadway or West End musical at the time.” This episode features international tour performer Nathan Taylor, who played Bustopher Jones and Gus on the International Tour.
Ep259 - Tommie Luyben, Mungojerrie in German Tent Tour
“I always think of CATS as a picture book. Like a children's picture book come to life.” This episode features CATS veteran Tommie Luyben who has performed in the show since 2006 and recently assisted Chrissie Cartwright on the 2025 Australian tour (and the 2022 Asia tour).
Ep258 - Tannah Levick, Rumpleteazer in 2025 South Africa Tour
“ I believe that Jellylorum is our mother and she spends so much bloody time with Gus, trying to help Gus and fix Gus. We just wanna get her attention.” This episode features Tannah Levick who performed as Rumpleteazer in the South Africa production of CATS and will be on the continuation of the international tour.
Ep257 - Isabelle McCalla, Swing in McCalla's 1998 CATS & Emma Tate in Schmigadoon!
“My most treasured possession was that VHS. I played it every single day. And then I started teaching myself every single track.” This episode features Isabelle McCalla who is currently starring as Emma Tate in Schmigadoon! on Broadway.
Ep256 - Kendall Grayson Stroud, Swing in CATS: The Jellicle Ball
“Ballroom has been one of the most important pieces of my life so far.” This episode features Kendall Grayson Stroud who is a swing in Broadway’s Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Kendall joined the earliest 2022 workshop, performed as Electra at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, and is now a swing covering 10 characters.
Ep255 - Emma Sofia, Cassandra & Skimbleshanks in CATS: The Jellicle Ball
"I have a dream that Skimbleshanks, as a representative of the MTA, is able to have a sit down with Zohran Mamdani to talk about the MTA fares.” This episode welcomes back the wonderful Emma Sofia for her third appearance on the show to discuss transferring Cats: The Jellicle Ball from the Perelman Arts Center to the Broadhurst Theatre, including how they adapted the PAC’s long runway into a proscenium space with tiers, onstage seating, boxes, and continued audience immersion.
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