Cats Young Actors Edition
Musical
Writers: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. This Young Actors Edition of the beloved show retains the magic and emotions of the original, providing a glimpse into the lives of the assorted Cats.
Show Information
- Music
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics
- Richard Stilgoe , Trevor Nunn , T.S. Eliot
- 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
- 1
- First Produced
- 2019
- Genres
- Drama, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Fantasy/Imaginary, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- An Evening, A Junkyard
- Cast Size
- large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, Elementary School, High School, Middle School, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Early Teen Characters, Large Cast
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 Young Actors Edition and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
The Cats enter the junkyard and begin telling the audience about the history, actions, and attitudes of their kind (“Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats”). This leads to an explanation of how the Cats acquire three different names: the names their owners give them, the names they call one another, and another secret name that only the Cat themselves knows. Munkustrap explains that once a year at the Jellicle Ball, Old Deuteronomy chooses one cat to be reborn into another Jellicle life. The Cats
to read the plot for Cats Young Actors Edition and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
- “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” – All
- “The Naming of Cats” – Quaxo, Munkustrap & All
- “The Old Gumbie Cat” – Munkustrap, Jennyanydots & Gumbie Trio (Jellylorum, Demeter & Bombalurina)
- ”The Rum Tum Tugger” – Rum Tum Tugger & Ensemble
- “Entry of Grizabella” – Grizabella, Demeter, Bombalurina & All
- “Introduction to Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer” – Orchestra
- “Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer” – Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer
- “Old Deuteronomy” – Tantamile, Coricopat, Munkustrap, Rum Tum Tugger, Old Deuteronomy & All
- “Introduction to the Jellicle Ball” – Munkustrap
- “Song of the Jellicles and the Jellicle Ball” – All
- “Grizabella: The Glamour Cat” – Grizabella
- “Gus: The Theatre Cat” – Jellylorum & Asparagus
- “Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” – Skimbleshanks & Ensemble
- “Macavity: The Mystery Cat” – Demeter, Bombalurina & Girls
- “Old Deuteronomy (Reprise)” – All
- “Magical Mister Mistoffelees” – Rum Tum Tugger & All
- “Memory” – Grizabella & Jemima
- “Journey to the Heaviside Layer” – All
- “The Ad-dressing of Cats” – Old Deuteronomy & All
Editor's Note: The vocal ranges of the characters have been kept intact to match the original score, but alternative notes are provided in the piano vocal score where possible to help with trickier notes.
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 play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
A classical form of dance using precise and graceful steps and gestures.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher