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
- Music
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics
- Richard Stilgoe , T.S. Eliot , Trevor Nunn
- 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
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- 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
Context
T.S. Eliot wrote Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats during the late 1930’s and it was published in October 1939. Andrew Lloyd Webber enjoyed reading Eliot’s cat poems as a child and he was inspired by their lyrical, rhythmic nature. He began writing Cats in the late 1970’s, following on from his success with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita, on which he collaborated with Tim Rice. Most of the lyrics in Cats were taken directly from
to read the context for Cats and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Midnight. Not a sound from the pavement. But then there is an explosion of music and lights, revealing a larger-than-life junkyard. Quick-footed cats are briefly caught in the flash of car lights driving by. Tonight is a special night. The one night each year when the Jellicle Cats come together to celebrate. Slowly, they emerge singing of their unique abilities and special traits (“Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats”). The cats then notice that they are being watched by the audience
to read the plot for Cats and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
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
Scenes
Key Terms
A show-stopping song that occurs late in the second half and signifies a lead character's realization, change of heart, or another big moment.
A classical form of dance using precise and graceful steps and gestures.
The sequence of steps and movements in dance, also the orchestrated and rehearsed movements for actors, based on the script.
A musical where a theme, metaphor or concept is just as important as the overarching plot and the featured songs.
A group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together.
A large-scale musical produced for large commercial profit.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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