Andrew Lloyd Webber Praises Reimagined Ballroom-Inspired Cats Revival at Perelman Performing Arts Center
The reimagined revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Cats at the Perelman Performing Arts Center has received official praise from the composer himself. This new production, titled Cats: The Jellicle Ball, draws inspiration from drag and ballroom culture and has now extended its run for a third time, continuing through September 8 with a brief hiatus from August 12–21.
Lloyd Webber recently attended a performance and shared his enthusiasm, describing the audience’s reaction as “electric” and expressing delight at the intersection of Cats and ballroom culture, both of which emerged in similar eras.
Co-directed by Bill Rauch and Zhailon Levingston, the production features a unique blend of ballroom and musical theatre talents. The cast includes performers such as Baby, Jonathan Burke, André De Shields, Sydney James Harcourt, Antwayn Hopper, and Dava Huesca, among others. Additional casting for the newly extended performances will be announced soon.
The creative team boasts notable names, including co-choreographers Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles, dramaturg and gender consultant Josephine Kearns, scenic designer Rachel Hauck, costume designer Qween Jean, lighting designer Adam Honoré, sound designer Kai Harada, projection designer Brittany Bland, and hair and wig designer Nikiya Mathis. Capital Kaos also serves as a ballroom consultant, bringing authenticity to the production.
The ballroom scene, an underground LGBTQIA+ subculture that gained prominence in 1920s New York City and reached its peak in the ’80s, is a central influence on this revival. Known for its runway walk categories and vogue dancing, the ballroom scene has deeply influenced queer and popular culture, most famously depicted in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning.
Originally debuting in London in 1979, Cats is adapted from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. The musical follows the Jellicle Cats as they gather for an annual ball to decide which cat will be reborn into a new life. The original choreography by Gillian Lynne featured ballet-inspired dance, a stark contrast to the new ballroom-infused choreography.
This production is presented by arrangement with The Really Useful Group. Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced that his royalties from the production will be donated to the American Theatre Wing’s Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative and PAC NYC.
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