The History of Cats
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. First published in 1939, Eliot’s whimsical verses introduced readers to a variety of feline characters, each with distinct personalities. Andrew Lloyd Webber, inspired by Eliot’s playful and evocative poetry, began setting the poems to music in the late 1970s. Initially conceived as a song cycle, Cats evolved into a full-scale musical with the help of producer Cameron Mackintosh and director Trevor Nunn.
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The show premiered in London’s West End at the New London Theatre on May 11, 1981, and became an instant hit. It then opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on October 7, 1982, where it achieved similar acclaim. Cats won numerous awards, including the Laurence Olivier Award and Tony Award for Best Musical, and became one of the longest-running musicals in both West End and Broadway history. The musical’s innovative staging, iconic choreography by Gillian Lynne, and beloved song “Memory” solidified its status as a cultural phenomenon.
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In addition to its original productions, Cats has been translated into multiple languages, toured extensively worldwide, and been adapted into a feature film in 2019. Its enduring popularity speaks to its universal themes of identity, belonging, and transformation.
Story Overview
Cats takes place during the annual gathering of the Jellicle Cats, a group of feline characters who assemble under the light of the Jellicle Moon. Led by their wise leader Old Deuteronomy, the cats await his decision on which one of them will be chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life. Throughout the night, various cats introduce themselves and share their unique stories through song and dance.
Amidst the festivities, the outcast Grizabella, a once-glamorous cat who has fallen on hard times, seeks acceptance from the Jellicle tribe. Her poignant plea and powerful rendition of “Memory” ultimately earn her redemption, and she is chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer.