NEW YORK CITY - There are more than 70 breeds of cat, but only one Broadway musical dedicated entirely to them.
Set to open on Aug. 2 at the Neil Simon Theatre, the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous feline musical will be directed by Trevor Nunn and feature choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton), and will be based on the original’s choreography and associate direction by Gillian Lynne. Previews begin July 14.
Costume/scenic designer will be John Napier, who won one of the seven Tonys earned by the 1982 production, will once again design this production’s costumes and scenic design. He’ll contend with Rum Tum Tugger, Old Deuteronomy, Bustopher Jones, and Grizabella along with a veteran creative team: five-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz and frequent Webber collaborator, sound designer Mick Potter.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Webber’s score for Cats features such musical theater classics such as “Memory” and the show’s opening number, “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats,” which is arguably the best Broadway song ever written about jellicle cats.
A West End revival ran through 2015, netting an Olivier nomination for Nicole Scherzinger, who played Grizabella. Some breeds of cat include Norwegian Forest, Siamese, and Chantilly-Tiffany.