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BWW Review: Broadway Across Canada's Touring Production of CATS Proves Its Enduring Appeal

The touring production of CATS has changed in the more than fifteen years since I first saw it, but all of the elements that make the Andrew Lloyd Webber show a classic remain intact. The set is fairly simple: a junkyard where the cats congregate to celebrate the annual Jellicle Ball, when Old Deuteronomy (Adam Richardson) will choose which cat goes to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn. There are many contenders for the coveted position. We have Jennyanydots (Dani Goldstein), the seemingly lazy Gumbie cat who sleeps all day but works hard all night, demonstrated in a wonderful tap dancing sequence replete with a roaring twenties style flapper outfit. Then, there is the Rum Tum Tugger (McGee Maddox), the narcissistic, spoiled cat with the sexy swagger, who is a favourite of the lady-cats. Grizabella (Donna Vivino), the once glamourous cat, now past her prime and ostracized by the others. Gus, the Theatre Cat (Timothy Gulan), when aided by a toothful of gin, regales the audience with stories of his career on the stage, when he acted alongside theatre greats and once even 'understudied Dick Whittington's cat'. The Magical Mister Mistoffelees (PJ DiGaetano), shows off his impressive tricks and manages to conjure Old Deuteronomy, who was been kidnapped by Macavity (Brayden Newby), the nefarious 'Napoleon of crime'. Okay, so the plot is, perhaps, a little odd and the story may be disjointed. This is only natural, considering that the musical is based on a collection of whimsical poems written by T.S. Elliot for children. I think the reason CATS remains so popular after nearly forty years is because of the level of detail given to each character, from the costumes and make-up to each cat's story as they are introduced one by one, song by song, to the audience. Even the chorus cats have their own personalities. There is truly something for everyone in this show.

CAPA And PNC Broadway In Columbus Announce 2020-21 Season - HADESTOWN, FROZEN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and More!

The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) and Broadway in Columbus today announced the next exciting lineup for the PNC Broadway in Columbus series. The six-show 2020-21 season, supported in part by PNC, includes four productions never before seen in Columbusa?"the Tony Award-winning Come From Away, the dazzling musical production of the beloved movie Pretty Woman: The Musical, Disney's newest spectacular Broadway musical, Frozen, and winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, Hadestown. The season also includes the acclaimed new production of Fiddler on the Roof and the record-breaking, classic musical, CATS.

CATS Comes to The Fabulous Fox Theatre This April

Producers announced casting for the North American tour of the first ever Broadway revival of CATS. The multi-year tour launched at Providence Performing Arts Center on January 22, 2019 and will play 40+ cities during its multi-year tour, including the Fabulous Fox Theatre from April 7-19.

Purchase College to Honor William M. (Bill) Mensching with the Backstage Legends and Masters Award

Purchase College, State University of New York's Broadway Technical Theatre History Project, will present the Ninth Annual Broadway technical 'Backstage Legends and Masters Award' to theater legend, William M. (Bill) Mensching on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7 p.m. at The Performing Arts Center on campus, located at 735 Anderson Hill Road in Purchase, NY. This free event will be recorded and archived for future viewing.

Fairwinds Broadway In Orlando 2020-21 Season Announced - HADESTOWN, HAMILTON, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and More!

Dr. Phillips Center today joined Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America to announce the full lineup of the FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando season. The 20/21 season launches with Academy Awarda?"winner Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prizea?"winning masterwork TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and includes Tony- and Grammy Awarda?"winner HADESTOWN. The expanded season sees the Orlando premieres of TOOTSIE, THE BAND'S VISIT, THE PROM and THE CHER SHOW, along with audience favorite CATS. The previously announced season add-on HAMILTON will run for four weeks and season option WICKED will play the Dr. Phillips Center for three weeks.

BWW Review: CATS Lets the Memory Live Again in Jackson

“Are you blind when you're born? Can you see in the dark?” According to iconic lyrics by Richard Stilgoe for one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit shows, Jellicles are and Jellicle do! The national tour of the megamusical phenomenon, Cats, stopped at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson, Mississippi as a part of the Broadway in Jackson series presented by Trustmark on February 13th and 14th to show audience members exactly what the lives of Jellicle cats look like, specifically on the night of the all-important Jellicle Ball.

THE LION KING, DEAR EVAN HANSEN and More to be Presented in Broadway at the Bass 2020-2021 Season

Performing Arts Fort Worth has announced its 2020-2021 Broadway at the Bass Season at Bass Performance Hall! The seven-show series features exciting new titles direct from Broadway, freshly revamped revivals and multiple Tony Award-winners. Current 2019-2020 Broadway at the Bass season ticket holders have until March 6 to renew and keep their seats. New season tickets go on sale April 15. Patrons can sign up for the new season ticket waitlist now by visiting www.basshall.com/waitlist.

Which Broadway Shows Are On Tour in 2020? The Full List!

Theatre fans need not travel all the way to New York City to get a taste of Broadway. Though the Big Apple boasts perhaps the freshest productions and greatest talents in the world, many of the most successful shows on Broadway will eventually hit the road- bringing and equally magical (though sometimes slightly updated) version of their production to cities across the country.

Adam Vanek, McGee Maddox and More to Star in CATS National Tour Alongside Donna Vivino; New Casting Announced

The Jellicle Cats include Adam Vanek as 'Alonzo,' McGee Maddox as 'Bill Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger,' Elyse Collier as 'Bombalurina,' Jordan Betscher as 'Cassandra,' Maurice Dawkins as 'Coricopat,' Alexa Racioppi as 'Demeter,' Donna Vivino as 'Grizabella,' Annemarie Rosano as 'Jellylorum,' Dani Goldstein as 'Jennyanydots,' PJ DiGaetano as 'Mistoffelees,' Ben Sears as 'Mungojerrie,' Zachary S. Berger as 'Munkustrap,' Timothy Gulan as 'Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asparagus,' Brayden Newby as 'Plato/Macavity,' Brett Michael Lockley as 'Pouncival,' Adriana Negron as 'Rumpleteazer,' Nevada Riley as 'Sillabub,' Giovanni DiGabriele as 'Skimbleshanks,' Melody Rose as 'Tantomile,' Cameron Edris as 'Tumblebrutus,' Adam Richardson as 'Victor/Old Deuteronomy,' Caitlin Bond as 'Victoria,' along with Erin Chupinsky, Alex Dorf, Devin Hatch, Madison Mitchell, Nathan Patrick Morgan, Charlotte O'Dowd, Austin Joseph Reynolds, Zachary Tallman, Tricia Tanguy and Loretta Williams.

BWW Review: LES MISERABLES, Sondheim Theatre

Much of the conversation around the incoming of the revamped Les Misérables production to the West End has revolved around the revolve a?' or lack thereof. But this slicker touring version (first seen in 2009, for the 25th anniversary) is a beautiful fit for Cameron Mackintosh's marvellously refurbished Sondheim Theatre, and the show's indelible score and stirring human drama are, if anything, showcased more strongly than ever.

Winners Announced For 2019 BroadwayWorld Austria Awards

Following a record number of nominations and votes, winners have been announced for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Austria Awards, brought to you by TodayTix!! The nominees were set, audiences voted, and now we get to recognize local theatres and performers for their outstanding achievement!

Photo/Video: Celine Dion Visits CATS Tour

Celine Dion visited the CATS tour in Toronto and met up with the cast following a performance at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre last night! Dion famously covered the show's anthem, Memory, in a televised 1987 performance featuring full cat costume and makeup! Check out video of that performance and photos of her visit below!

BroadwayWorld Austria Awards Update: CATS - Ronacher Leads Best Musical!

There's just a few weeks left to make your voice heard and submit your votes for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Austria Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

BWW Review: New Choreography and a Powerhouse Cast Make For a Fur-midable Production of CATS

CATS is a show that, on paper, isn't necessarily an easy sell. The narrative is simple: once a year a group of cats come together for the jellicle ball, and their leader Old Deuteronomy selects one cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life. There isn't too much structure to the plot besides that a?" cats come and go, introducing themselves and sometimes each other, and generally justa??do cat things. Because of all that, I wasn't the most optimistic viewer at the start of the night. By curtain call I was debating adopting a cat and naming it Mr. Mistoffelees, even with a lifelong track record of severe allergic reactions to the animals.

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