Explore this Show

Overview

Synopsis

Based on T.S. Eliot’s whimsical collection of poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular musical brings together a tribe of Jellicle Cats on a moonlit evening, who must make the “Jellicle choice” to decide which of them will ascend to the mysterious Heaviside Layer to be reborn. Featuring such celebrated standards as the haunting “Memory,” Cats was an international phenomenon and its original production is still the fifth-longest-running show on Broadway. A magical, moving, and often hilarious glimpse into the lives of others, Cats takes Eliot’s lyrical poetry and puts it into the mouths of a diverse company of singing, dancing felines.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1981
Genres
Drama, Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
a junkyard, evening
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters

Lead Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Grizabella

Lead

Female

Alto

Asparagus (Gus)

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Bustopher Jones

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Demeter

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Jellylorum

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Jemima/Sillabub

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Jennyanydots

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Mungojerrie

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Skimbleshanks

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Rum Tum Tugger

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Munkustrap

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Old Deuteronomy

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Victoria

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mr. Mistoffelees

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Bombalurina

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Rumpleteazer

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Macavity

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Rumpus Cat

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Tumblebrutus/Bill Bailey

Featured

Male

Baritone

Etcetera

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Electra

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Tantomile

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Coricopat

Featured

Male

Baritone

Cassandra

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Carbucketty/Pouncival

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Admetus/Plato

Featured

Male

Baritone

Alonzo

Featured

Male

Baritone

Songs

Act One

  • Overture – Orchestra
  • *Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats – The Company
  • *The Naming of Cats – Munkustrap, The Company
  • *The Old Gumbie Cat – Jennyanydots, Munkustrap, Bombalurina, Jellylorum, Demeter
  • *The Rum Tum Tugger – Rum Tum Tugger and Company
  • *Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town – Bustopher, Jennyanydots, Jellylorum, Bombalurina
  • *Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer – Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer
  • Old Deuteronomy – Munkustrap, Rum Tum Tugger, Old Deuteronomy
  • *The Awful Battle of The Pekes and the Pollicles – Munkustrap, Rumpus Cat and Company
  • *The Song of the Jellicles – The Company
  • The Jellicle Ball – Orchestra
  • Grizabella, The Glamour Cat – Grizabella

Act Two

  • The Moments Of Happiness – Old Deuteronomy, Jemima
  • Gus: The Theatre Cat – Asparagus, Jellylorum
  • *Growltiger's Last Stand – Asparagus as Growltiger, Jellylorum as Griddlebone, and Company
  • Gus: The Theatre Cat (Reprise) – Asparagus
  • *Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat – Skimbleshanks and Company
  • *Macavity: The Mystery Cat – Demeter, Bombalurina
  • *Macavity Fight – Macavity, Munkustrap, Alonzo
  • *Mr. Mistoffelees – Quaxo, otherwise known as Mr. Mistoffelees, Rum Tum Tugger
  • Memory – Grizabella, Jemima, Victoria
  • *The Journey to the Heaviside Layer – The Company
  • *Finale: The Ad-Dressing of Cats – Old Deuteronomy and Company

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher