Delaware River Theatre Collective to Present CATS, 8/24-8/26

The Delaware River Theatre Collective, the region's newest, professional theatre company, will perform Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS as its second production of the year. CATS is set for three performances to take place on Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25 at 8 pm and Sunday, August 26 at 2 pm at the Stephen J. Buck Memorial Theater at the New Hope-Solebury High School, 182 West Bridge Street in New Hope, PA.

Based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," CATS takes place at the annual reunion of the Jellicle cats at the Jellicle Ball. The eldest of this special breed, Old Deuteronomy, seeks to select which of the many cats in the neighborhood will be reborn to begin another life. Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Cats features 20 of Andrew Lloyd Webber's timeless melodies, including the hit song "Memory."

The Delaware River Theatre Collective's production of CATS comes after the group's critically acclaimed production of The Pirates of Penzance earlier this summer. The cast of CATS includes many actors well known to the area's theatregoing audiences. Louis Palena, David Whiteman, Jenny Johnson, Jill Palena, JorDan Brennan and Suzanne Slade are all among the show's cast. Louis Palena was seen for over a decade in productions at New Hope's Bucks County Playhouse, currently serves as Co-Artistic Director of the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre in Titusville, NJ and was recently seen as The Pirate King in the DRTC's production of The Pirates of Penzance. David Whiteman, also a Bucks County Playhouse staple, recently played Mayor Shinn in the 2012 Open Air Theatre production of The Music Man, Ebenezer Scrooge in the annual Downtown Players holiday production of A Christmas Carol and was seen as the Major-General in The Pirates of Penzance. Jill Palena just finished a run as Roxie Hart in the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre production of Chicago.

CATS is directed and choreographed by Delaware River Theatre Collective Artistic Director, Richard Amelius. Amelius has directed numerous productions in the Philadelphia region receiving three Barrymore Award nominations, including two for "Best Choreography" for Sweet Charity and Cabaret and one for "Best Leading Actor in a Musical" for his portrayal of the Emcee in Cabaret. Amelius has formed the Delaware River Theatre Collective in an effort to bring professional, live theatre back to the Bucks County and Hunterdon County region.

The Delaware River Theatre Collective is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to inspiring and educating through the joy of Living Theatre and to engage a diverse audience by making innovative, high quality and relevant entertainment accessible to all ages. The Collective is in the process of securing a permanent venue with plans to produce a full season of musicals and children's shows in its new home beginning in 2013.

The Delaware River Theatre Collective production of Cats will be performed at the Stephen J. Buck Memorial Theater, located at the New Hope-Solebury High School, 182 West Bridge Street in New Hope, PA. Performances of Cats will take place on Friday, August 24 at 8 pm, Saturday, August 25 at 8 pm and Sunday, August 26 at 2 pm. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and children. Reserved seating can be purchased online by visiting www.delawarerivertheatrecollective.org.