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{{Infobox Musical
| name = Cats
| image = CatsMusicalLogo.jpg
| caption =
| music = [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]
| lyrics = [[T. S. Eliot]] <br> [[Trevor Nunn]] (additional) <br> [[Richard Stilgoe]] (additional)
| basis = ''[[Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats]]'' by [[T. S. Eliot]]
| productions = 1980 Concert <br> 1981 West End <br> 1982 Broadway <br> International productions called six meow <br> 1998 [[Cats (film)|video version]] <br> 2001–2002 US tour <br> 2001 UK tour <br> 2013 [[Stagecoach Theatre Arts|Stagecoach]] 25th Anniversary Concert <br> 2013 UK tour
| premiere_date = 11 May 1981
| premiere_location = [[New London Theatre]], [[London]]
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
| awards = 1981 [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical]]<br>1983 [[Tony Award for Best Musical]]
}}

'''''Cats''''' is a musical composed by [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]], based on ''[[Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats]]'' by [[T. S. Eliot]], and produced by [[Cameron Mackintosh]]. The musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make what is known as "the Jellicle choice" and decide which cat will ascend to the [[Heaviside Layer]] and come back to a new life. ''Cats'' also introduced the [[Standard (music)|song standard]] "[[Memory (Cats song)|Memory]]".

Directed by [[Trevor Nunn]] and choreographed by [[Gillian Lynne]], ''Cats'' first opened in the [[West End of London|West End]] in 1981 and then with the same creative team on Broadway in 1982. It won numerous awards, including Best Musical at both the [[Laurence Olivier Award]]s and the [[Tony Award]]s. The London production ran for twenty-one years and the Broadway production ran for eighteen years, both setting new records. Actresses [[Elaine Paige]] and [[Betty Buckley]] became particularly associated with the musical. One actress, Marlene Danielle, performed in the Broadway production for its entire run (from 1982 until 2000).

As of 2014, ''Cats'' is the [[List of the longest-running Broadway shows|second longest-running show in Broadway history]], and was the [[List of Broadway shows that have held title of longest-running show|longest running]] Broadway show in history from 1997-2006, surpassed by [[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]. Cats is the fourth longest-running [[West End theatre|West End]] musical. It has been performed around the world many times and has been translated into more than 20 languages. In 1998, ''Cats'' was turned into a [[Cats (film)|made-for-television film]].

==Production history==
Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, The production of ''Cats'' is based on [[T. S. Eliot]]'s ''[[Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats]]'' (1939), which the composer recalled as having been a childhood favourite. The songs of the musical comprise Eliot's verse set to music by the composer, the principal exception being the most famous song from the musical, "[[Memory (Cats song)|Memory]]", for which the lyrics were written by [[Trevor Nunn]] after an Eliot poem entitled "Rhapsody on a Windy Night". Also, a brief song entitled "The Moments of Happiness" was taken from a passage in Eliot's [[Four Quartets]]. [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] began composing the songs in late 1977 and premiered the compositions at the [[Sydmonton Festival]] in 1980. The concert was attended by [[T.S. Eliot]]'s wife, Valerie Eliot and she loved the songs that Webber had composed. She gave her blessing for the songs to be adapted into a musical stage play. Rehearsals for the musical began in early 1981 at the [[New London Theatre]]. Due to the Eliot estate asserting that they write no script and only use the original poems as the text, the musical had no identified plot during the rehearsal process, causing many actors to be confused about what they were actually doing. An unusual musical in terms of its construction, the overture incorporates a [[fugue]] and there are occasions when the music accompanies spoken verse. The show is completely told through music with virtually no spoken dialogue in between the songs. Dance is also a key element in the musical especially during the 10-minute Jellicle Ball dance sequence. The set, consisting of an oversized junk yard, remains the same throughout the show without any scene changes. Lloyd Webber's [[eclecticism]] is very strong here; musical genres range from classical to pop, music hall, jazz, rock and electro-acoustic music as well as hymn-like songs such as "The Addressing of Cats".

''Cats'' premiered in the West End at the [[New London Theatre]] on 11 May 1981. There was trouble initially as [[Judi Dench]], cast in the role of [[Grizabella]], snapped her Achilles tendon during rehearsals prior to the London opening. The musical was produced by [[Cameron Mackintosh]] and Lloyd Webber's [[Really Useful Group]], directed by Trevor Nun, with associate director and choreographer [[Gillian Lynne]], design by [[John Napier (designer)|John Napier]], and lighting by [[David Hersey]]. It played a total of 8,949 performances in London. Its final performance in London's West End was on its 21st birthday, 11 May 2002, and broadcast on a large screen in [[Covent Garden]] to the delight of fans who could not acquire a ticket for the final performance. It held the record as London's longest running musical until 8 October 2006, when it was surpassed by [[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]].

[[Image:CatsOriginalLondonCast.jpg|thumb|left|275x|The original 1981 London cast of ''Cats'']]
The show made its debut on Broadway on 7 October 1982, at the [[Winter Garden Theatre]] with the same production team. On 19 June 1997, ''Cats'' became the longest-running musical in Broadway history with 6,138 performances. It closed on 10 September 2000, after a total of 7,485 performances. Its Broadway record was surpassed on 9 January 2006 by ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]''. It remains Broadway's [[List of the longest-running Broadway shows|second longest-running show]] in history. Lloyd Webber stated that when the original show was produced, it cost £900,000, but on Broadway, it cost $5,000,000.<ref>{{YouTube|N-zPJ_-hLPU}}{{dead link|date=March 2013}}</ref>

In 1998, Lloyd Webber produced a [[Cats (film)|video version of ''Cats'']], based upon the stage version, starring Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Grizabella in London; [[Ken Page (actor)|Ken Page]], who originated Old Deuteronomy on Broadway; Sir [[John Mills]] as [[Gus the Theatre Cat|Gus]]; [[Michael Gruber (actor)|Michael Gruber]] as Munkustrap; [[John Partridge (performer)|John Partridge]] as The Rum Tum Tugger; [[Jo Gibb]] as Rumpelteazer with many of the dancers and singers drawn largely from various stage productions of the show.<ref name="briefhistory">{{cite web
|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173714/|title=Cats (video version) at Internet Movie Database
|accessdate=23 April 2008|work=Internet Movie Database }}</ref> It was directed by [[David Mallet (director)|David Mallet]], with choreography and musical staging by the show's respected original creator [[Gillian Lynne]] in London's [[Adelphi Theatre]], and was released on VHS and DVD, as well as broadcast on television worldwide. Andrew Lloyd Webber and others on the production team for the film wanted to keep the feeling that viewers watching the film could still get the sense of seeing the show live, by having all views be facing the stage, therefore, getting multiple views of the set, with several close-ups. Beyond the productions in England, the US, Canada, and Australia, the musical has been produced professionally in Hungary, Austria, and Japan, 1983; Sydney and Toronto, 1985; Germany, 1986; France, 1989; Mexico, 1991; Netherlands, 1992; Argentina, 1993; Hong Kong, 1994; Spain, 2003; Poland and Czech Republic, 2004; Russia and Estonia, 2005; Israel, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, China and Finland, 2007; Singapore, Hong Kong, Dominican Republic, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, China, Italy, Bulgaria and Japan, 2009; and Brazil and the Philippines, 2010. ''Cats'' has been translated into over 20 languages.<ref name="languages">{{cite web
|url=http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/cats/show.htm|title=Cats homepage|accessdate=23 April 2008|work=Really Useful Website }}</ref>

It was announced on 3 August 2012 that a UK tour of the show will open on 9 February 2013, at the [[Edinburgh Playhouse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catsthemusical.com/2012/08/03/the-memory-lives-on-a-new-cats-tour-for-2013/?utm_source=ALW%2Bsocial&utm_medium=Update&utm_campaign=Cats%2BTour%2BPR |title=The Memory Lives On – A New 'Cats' Tour in 2013 |publisher=Catsthemusical.com |date= |accessdate=3 March 2013}}</ref>

[[Stagecoach Theatre Arts]] schools celebrated their 25th anniversary by performing ''Cats'' in the Birmingham National Indoor Arena on 24 March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stagecoach.co.uk/spotlight/121-reflections-on-cats.html?utm_source=Wikipedia&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=Cats2013 |title=REFLECTIONS ON 'CATS' – Stagecoach Theatre Arts |publisher=Stagecoach.co.uk |date= |accessdate=3 March 2013}}</ref> In association with 'The Really Useful Group', 3500 children from across Europe joined together with a virtual choir of many international Stagecoach students, and produced the largest production of the musical yet. 35 Stagecoach franchises across the UK performed the show on 7 'stages' around the arena, with each school taking it in turns to portray a small section of the musical. In addition to this, 52 selected elite dancers, including 14 solo dancers who took the named parts, performed the whole musical on a raised stage in the centre of the arena. The Really Useful Group, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Veronica Bennetts, Stephanie Manuel and Paul Leddington Wright all contributed and collaborated to bring this production together.

From August 21 through September 11, 2013, the [http://fingerlakesmtf.com/ Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (Auburn, N.Y.)] staged a production of the show with three-time Grammy nominated pop diva [[Taylor Dayne]] playing the role of Grizabella, KC Fredericks as Mr. Mistoffelees, Patrick Mellen as Old Deuteronomy, and Adam Ryan Tackett as Rum Tum Tugger.<ref>http://fingerlakesmtf.com/2013-season/cats/</ref> The production was directed and choreographed by [[Jacob Brent]].

Australian [[Harvest Rain Theatre Company]] announced in late 2013 that the biggest production of ''Cats'' in the Southern Hemisphere, starring [[Marina Prior]] as Grizabella and choreographed by Callum Mansfield, will be played at the [[Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre]] in July 2014.<ref>http://www.harvestrain.com.au/#!cats/cbud</ref>

[[Royal Caribbean International]] announced in April 2014 that a fully licensed production of ''Cats'' will be performed regularly for guests aboard the [[cruise ship]] {{MS|Oasis of the Seas|3=2}} beginning in fall 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cats Coming to Oasis of the Seas|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/10904-cats-coming-to-oasis-of-the-seas.html|work=Cruise Industry News|accessdate=4 April 2014|date=4 April 2014}}</ref>

==Detailed synopsis==

===Act I&nbsp;— When Cats Are Maddened by the Midnight Dance===
[[File:Koty musical.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Jellicle cats]] gather every year to make the "Jellicle choice", and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.]]
After the overture, the Cats gather on stage and explain the [[Jellicle cats|Jellicle]] tribe and their purpose (''Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats''). The Cats (who constantly break the [[fourth wall]]) spot the human audience and explain how the different Cats of the tribe are named (''The Naming of Cats''). This is followed by a dance from Victoria the White Cat that signals the beginning of the Jellicle Ball (''The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball'') and Munkustrap tells us that tonight is the night when Old Deuteronomy will choose a cat to be reborn into a new life on the Heaviside Layer.

[[Munkustrap]] appears and introduces [[Jennyanydots]] (''The Old Gumbie Cat''), a large tabby cat. She "sits and sits and sits and sits" all day, while at night she rules over the mice and cockroaches, teaching various activities to them. Jennyanydots finishes, greets the other cats, but is interrupted. The music instantly changes, and The [[Rum Tum Tugger]] makes an extravagant entrance (''The Rum Tum Tugger''). The Tugger is a Tom with a wild mane and leopard spots on his chest. He is very fickle and unappeasable, "for he will do as he do do and there's no doing anything about it".

A shabby old grey cat stumbles out and looks around. It is [[Grizabella]]. All the cats back away. The cats sing of her saddened, unfortunate state (''Grizabella: The Glamour Cat''). Grizabella leaves and the music changes to a cheerful upbeat. [[Bustopher Jones]], a fat cat in "a coat of fastidious black", appears (''Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town''). Bustopher Jones is among the elite of the cats, and visits prestigious [[gentlemen's club]]s. A loud crash startles the tribe. Could this be [[Macavity]]? The cats run off the stage in fright. Hushed giggling signals the entrance of [[Mungojerrie]] and [[Rumpleteazer]], a pair of near-identical cats. They are petty burglars, very mischievous, and they enjoy causing trouble for human families (''Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer'').

Finally, the Jellicle patriarch, [[Old Deuteronomy]], shows up (''Old Deuteronomy''). He is a large old Cat that "has lived many lives" and "buried nine wives (And more, I am tempted to say – ninety-nine)". He is the one who will choose which Jellicle cat will go to the Heaviside Layer. In most productions, at this point, the cats perform a song (''[[The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles]]'') for Old Deuteronomy. It is a story about two dog tribes clashing in the street and subsequently being scared away by the Great [[Rumpus Cat]], a cat with flashing red eyes. After a few words from Old Deuteronomy on the destiny of Jellicle Cats and Pollicle Dogs, a second loud crash, presumably from Macavity, sends the alarmed cats scurrying. But Old Deuteronomy calls them back and the main celebration begins (''The Jellicle Ball''), in which the cats sing and display their "Terpsichorean powers".

After the Ball, Grizabella reappears and tries to dance, but her age and decrepit condition prevent her from doing so. Once again, she is shunned by the other cats, but that does not stop her from singing a short version of ''[[Memory (song)|Memory]]''.

===Act II&nbsp;— Why Will the Summer Day Delay&nbsp;— When Will Time Flow Away?===
[[File:Koty ZMacias IZając.jpg|thumb|After addressing the gathering by singing "[[Memory (Cats song)|Memory]]", [[Grizabella]] is chosen to be reborn into a new Jellicle life.]]
After the Jellicle Ball, Old Deuteronomy sings of "what happiness is", referring to Grizabella. This message naturally goes over everyone's heads, so he sends the message again and Jemima (or Sillabub, depending on the production) sings it for everyone to hear (''The Moments of Happiness''). [[Gus_the_Theatre_Cat|Gus]]&nbsp;— short for Asparagus&nbsp;— shuffles forward (''Gus: The Theatre Cat''). He is the cat that was once a famous actor but is now old and "suffers from palsy which makes his paws shake." He is accompanied by [[Jellylorum]], who tells of his exploits. Gus then remembers how he once played the infamous [[Growltiger]], Terror of the Thames (''Growltiger's Last Stand''). He tells the story about the pirate's romance with Griddlebone and how he was overtaken by the Siamese and forced to walk the plank.

Back in the present, after Gus exits, [[Skimbleshanks]] is sleeping in the corner (''Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat''), a cat who is unofficially in charge of the night train to Glasgow. He is very clever and very important because if he is gone "the train can't start". Within his song, a whole locomotive train engine is assembled out of objects in the junkyard, with various cats spinning wheels, holding up the structure and lighting the headlights.

With a third crash and an evil laugh, the "most wanted" cat, Macavity appears. He is a "master criminal" and is never found at the scene of the crime. He is a horrifying looking cat and a "villain" of the Jellicle Tribe. Macavity's minions throw a net over Old Deuteronomy and capture him. As the other cats try to follow him, [[Demeter (cat)|Demeter]] and Bombalurina sing what they know about Macavity, as they have had some sort of past with him (''Macavity: The Mystery Cat''). When they are finished, Macavity returns disguised as Old Deuteronomy. When revealed by Demeter, he fights with Munkustrap and Alonzo. Though he holds his own for a time, Macavity is overwhelmed by the two younger tomcats; as the rest of the tribe begin to gang up and surround him, he shorts out the stage lights and escapes in the confusion.

Rum Tum Tugger suggests that the cats find [[Mr. Mistoffelees]] (''Magical Mr. Mistoffelees''). Mr. Mistoffelees is black and small and can perform many feats of magic that no other cat can do. Mr. Mistoffelees performs his dance, which is often one of the most intricate and challenging dance solos in the show. The magical cat restores the lights and brings back Old Deuteronomy, earning praise from all the cats. The Jellicle choice can now be made.

After Old Deuteronomy sits down, Grizabella returns to the junkyard and he allows her to address the gathering. Her faded appearance and lonely disposition have little effect on her song (''Memory''). With acceptance and encouragement from Jemima and Victoria, her appeal succeeds and she is chosen to be the one to go to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn to a new Jellicle Life (''Journey to the Heaviside Layer''). A large tire rises from the junk piles, carrying Grizabella and Old Deuteronomy partway toward the sky; he then steps off so she can finish the journey on her own. Old Deuteronomy gives his closing speech to the human audience (''The Ad-dressing of Cats'') and the show comes to a close.

==Music==

===Musical numbers===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Act I
* "Overture" – Orchestra
* "Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" – The Company
* "The Naming of Cats" – The Company
* "The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball" – Victoria, Carbucketty, Munkustrap
* "The Old Gumbie Cat" – Jennyanydots, Munkustrap, Bombalurina, Jellylorum, Demeter
* "The Rum Tum Tugger" – Rum Tum Tugger and Company
* "Grizabella: The Glamour Cat" – Grizabella, Demeter, Bombalurina
* "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" (Reprise) – Grizabella
* "[[Memory (song)|Memory]]" – Grizabella

{{col-2}}
;Act II
* "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
* "Jellicle Choice"/"Daylight" – Munkustrap and Jemima
* "Memory" (Reprise) – Grizabella, Jemima
* "The Journey to the Heaviside Layer" – The Company
* "Finale: The Ad-Dressing of Cats" – Old Deuteronomy and Company
{{col-end}}

===Orchestra===
* Reed I: Flute, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax
* Reed II: B-flat Clarinet, Bari Sax, Flute
* Reed III: Oboe, English Horn
* String Bass
* Cello
* Horn I
* Horn II
* Trumpet I
* Trumpet II
* Trombone
* Percussion
* Keyboard I
* Keyboard II
* Keyboard III
* Drum Set
* Electric Guitar

===London Cast album===
A 1981 recording of the [[#Notable_casts|Original London Cast]] was released first as a [[cassette tape]] and later as a two [[compact disc|CD]] set.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cats (review of 1998 CD set)|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/cats-original-london-cast-recording-mw0001420795|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> It contains the following tracks:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
;Disc I
# ''The Overture''
# ''Prologue: Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats''
# ''The Naming Of Cats''
# ''The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball''
# ''The Old Gumbie Cat''
# ''The Rum Tum Tugger''
# ''Grizabella''
# ''Bustopher Jones''
# ''Mungojerrie And Rumpelteazer''
# ''Old Deuteronomy''
# ''The Jellicle Ball''
# ''Grizabella, The Glamour Cat''
# ''Memory''
{{col-3}}
;Disc II
# ''The Moments Of Happiness''
# ''Gus: The Theatre Cat''
# ''Growltiger's Last Stand / The Ballad Of Billy McCaw''
# ''Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat''
# ''Macavity The Mystery Cat''
# ''Mr. Mistoffelees''
# ''Memory (reprise)''
# ''The Journey To The Heaviside Layer''
# ''The Ad-Dressing Of Cats''
{{col-3}}
{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = CATS<br />
(Original London Cast Recording)
| Type = cast
| Artist = [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]
| Cover = CatsMusicalLogo.jpg
| Released = 1998
| Recorded =
| Genre = [[Show tune]]
| Length =
| Label = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
| Last album =
| This album = CATS (Original London Cast Recording)
| Next album =
}}

{{col-end}}

===Chart positions===

====Original Broadway====
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
! Year(s)
! Chart
! Peak<br/>position
|-
| 1982
{{albumchart|New Zealand|17|artist=Musical|album=CATS [BROADWAY, 1982]|accessdate=8 August 2013}}
|-
| 1983–1984
{{albumchart|Austria|5|artist=Musical|album=CATS [BROADWAY, 1982]|accessdate=8 August 2013}}
|-
| 1984
| US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="Allmusic awards">[http://www.allmusic.com/album/cats-original-broadway-cast-mw0000189439/awards Cats (Original Broadway Cast) – Original Broadway Cast]. ''[[Allmusic]]''. [[Rovi Corporation]]. Accessed on 8 August 2013.</ref>
| align=center|145
|}

====Dutch version====
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Chart (1987)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
{{albumchart|Netherlands|72|artist=Musical|album=CATS [NEDERLANDSTALIGE VERSIE 1987]|accessdate=8 August 2013}}
|}

====German version====
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
! Year
! Chart
! Peak<br/>position
|-
|1983
{{albumchart|Germany|24|artist=Musical|album=Cats [Deutsche Originalaufnahme]|accessdate=8 August 2013}}
|-
|1984
{{albumchart|Austria|1|artist=Musical|album=Cats [Deutsche Originalaufnahme]|accessdate=8 August 2013}}
|}

====German version at the Operettenhaus====
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
! Chart (1985)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
{{albumchart|Austria|12|artist=Musical|album=CATS [DEUTSCHE GESAMTAUFNAHME AUS DEM HAMBURGER OPERETTENHAUS] |accessdate=8 August 2013}}
|}

====London version====
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Chart (1983–1989)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
{{albumchart|Austria|1|artist=Musical|album=CATS [LONDON, 1981]|accessdate=8 August 2013}}
|-
|}

==Characters==

===Principal characters===
[[File:Koty IzaBujniewicz WojtekSocha.jpg|thumb|[[Jennyanydots]] (''Left'') and [[Skimbleshanks]] in the Polish production of ''Cats'', December 2007.]]
These descriptions, in alphabetical order, are based on more recent versions of the show, although there are minor variations from production to production.

*'''Asparagus / [[Gus the Theatre Cat|Gus]]''' – The theatre cat. One of the oldest tribe members. He was once an actor, and is one of two cats who is only seen during his song.
*'''[[Bombalurina (cat)|Bombalurina]]''' – A red female. She is not the subject of a song herself, but plays a leading part in introducing several of the cats, and also sings of Macavity.
*'''[[Bustopher Jones]]''' – A fat cat, a "twenty-five pounder." Dresses in a snappy tuxedo and spats. Respected by all, as the upper class "St. James's Street Cat". In most productions, the actor playing Gus also plays Bustopher, perhaps because both are only seen during their song, though in early productions the part was handled by the actor playing Old Deuteronomy.
*'''[[Demeter (cat)|Demeter]]''' – A very skittish female cat. She is not the subject of a song, but plays a lead role in several.
*'''[[Grizabella]]''' – The former Glamour Cat who has lost her sparkle and now only wants to be accepted. Grizabella left the tribe when she was younger to see the world for herself; she has experienced the harshness of the world and is a pariah in the cats' society.
*'''[[Griddlebone]]''' – A fluffy white Persian female cat. Growltiger's lover in ''Growltiger's Last Stand'', where she sings ''The Ballad of Billy M'Caw'' or the mock Italian aria ''In Una Tepida Notte'' (depending on production) with Growltiger. Almost always played by the actress playing Jellylorum. In some productions the role is played by the actress playing Jennyanydots. "Growltiger's Last Stand" was a play in which Gus, the Theatre Cat, acted, and a scene from it is used as a dream sequence, but it is omitted from some productions. Whether she is the same Griddlebone who is one of MacAvity's agents is not known.
*'''[[Growltiger]]''' – A theatrical character Gus recalls playing in his youth, and who appears in Gus' memory of the production of ''Growltiger's Last Stand''. In some productions he is portrayed as a vicious pirate; in others, he is more comical.
*'''[[Jellylorum]]''' – A female who watches out for the kittens, along with Jennyanydots. She is Gus' mate. Named after T. S. Eliot's own cat. The actress who plays Jellylorum usually also plays Griddlebone in ''Growltiger's Last Stand''.
*'''[[Jemima (cat)|Jemima]]''' – A kitten interchangeable with Sillabub, though Jemima is used in most international productions. She is the kitten who sings the ''Memory'' refrain in ''The Moments of Happiness'' for Old Deuteronomy. Jemima sings the happier parts of ''Memory'', while Grizabella sings the sadder parts. She is the first cat/kitten to accept Grizabella by singing with her and not judge her.
*'''[[Jennyanydots]]''' – The old Gumbie cat. She sits all day and rules the mice and cockroaches at night, forcing them to undertake helpful functions and creative projects, to curb their naturally destructive habits.
*'''[[Macavity]]''' – the show's only real villain, who only appears briefly and has no dialogue. The character is a literary [[allusion]] to the [[Sherlock Holmes]] character [[Professor Moriarty]]. Usually played by the same actor as Plato or Admetus.
*'''[[Mr. Mistoffelees]]''' – A young black tom (with some white) who has magical powers which he doesn't fully control. His signature dance move is "The Conjuring Turn", twenty-four [[Glossary of ballet#Fouetté rond de jambe en tournant|fouettés en tournant]]. In the UK production, Mistoffelees has an alter-ego named '''Quaxo''', who appears as a general chorus cat throughout the show, and is dressed slightly differently.
*'''[[Mungojerrie]]''' – Male half of a pair of notorious cat-burglars, with Rumpleteazer. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are most commonly remembered for their featured dance number where at the end, they do a "double windmill" across the stage.
*'''[[Munkustrap]]''' – The show's main narrator. A tabby tomcat who is storyteller and protector of the Jellicle tribe. He is Old Deuteronomy's second-in-command.
*'''[[Old Deuteronomy]]''' – The lovable patriarch of the Jellicle Tribe. He is very old and dignified.
*'''[[Rumpleteazer]]''' – Female half of a pair of notorious cat-burglars, with Mungojerrie.
*The '''[[Rum Tum Tugger]]''' – A flashy tomcat. His temperament ranges from clownish to serious. He is Munkustrap's brother, though they differ in temperament.
*'''[[Skimbleshanks]]''' – The railway cat. An active orange tabby cat, who lives on the trains and acts as an unofficial chaperone to such an extent he is considered rather indispensable to the train and station employees.
*'''[[Victoria the White Cat|Victoria]]''' – A pure white kitten gifted in dancing. The "official" Jellicle Ball begins with her solo dance. She also does a [[Pas de Deux]] with Plato during the Jellicle Ball. She is also the first to touch Grizzabella.
*'''[[Alonzo]]''' – A black and white tom cat in most productions; in the Broadway and early European productions, he was depicted as being a black and gold tabby. Sometimes considered the third in command after Munkustrap as he also fights Macavity. However, he is not the subject of any song, and has no dialogue.

===Other characters===
[[File:Koty AgnieszkaJaroszynska RobertAdamczewski.jpg|thumb|[[Jellicle cats#Etcetera|Etcetera]] (''front'') and [[Alonzo (cat)|Alonzo]] in the Polish production, December 2007.]]
The more notable minor characters are as follows:
* '''Admetus''' – a shy, ginger and white tom. The actor usually also plays the Rumpus Cat or Macavity.
*'''[[Jellicle cats#Bill Bailey|Bill Bailey]]''' – Bill Bailey is a london chorus kitten interchangeable with Tumblebrutus. He is a playful young kitten, often performing acrobatics as well as being a strong dancer. His costume is patchy browns on a white base, suggesting he is a Bi-colour tabby and white.
*'''[[Jellicle cats#Carbucketty|Carbucketty]]''' – The name was one of T. S. Eliot's ideas for cat names for a "knockabout cat." Sometimes interchangeable with the character of Pouncival.
*''' [[Jellicle cats#Cassandra|Cassandra]]''' – A mysterious brown and cream Egyptian sphinx who is a talented, flexible dancer. She is mysterious and a very elegant queen. She is portrayed as a kitten but has very mature looks.
*'''[[Jellicle cats#Coricopat and Tantomile|Coricopat]]''' – Male twin to Tantomile. Coricopat and Tantomile are often portrayed as psychic cats, as they sense the presence of danger before it becomes apparent to the other characters.
*'''[[Jellicle cats#Electra|Electra]]''' and '''[[Jellicle cats#Etcetera|Etcetera]]''' – Tabby kittens who are fans of Rum Tum Tugger. Electra is dark and quieter, Etcetera is paler and hyperactive.
*'''[[Jellicle cats#Exotica|Exotica]]''' – Chorus cat created for the 1998 filmed version. Appears in few scenes and dance numbers.
*'''Ghengis''' or '''Gilbert''' – The leader of the crew of Siamese cats who contribute to Growltiger's demise. Usually played by the actor who portrays Mungojerrie, Tumblebrutus or Coricopat.
*'''[[Jellicle cats#George|George]]''' – A male chorus cat. In London productions George played the Rumpus Cat in the junkyard performance of "Pekes and Pollicles". George was also featured as part of Growltiger's "Raffish Crew".
*'''[[Macavity#In the musical|Plato]]''' – Teenage male cat; the actor usually doubles as Macavity. He does a [[pas de deux]] with Victoria during the Jellicle Ball. Plato is somewhat interchangeable with Admetus.
*'''[[Jellicle cats#Pouncival|Pouncival]]''' – a playful, tom kitten sometimes interchangeable with Carbucketty and often first understudy to Mr. Mistoffelees
*'''[[Rumpus Cat]]''' – A spiky-haired cat with glowing red eyes, as mentioned in ''The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles'', seen as a sort of superhero figure among the Jellicles. Does not appear in productions which omit the song ''The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles''. Usually played by Alonzo or Admetus.
*'''[[Jemima (cat)#Sillabub|Sillabub]]''', the Broadway version of Jemima. Sillabub was a name created for the American productions. The Japanese, Australian (in particular the Brisbane cast, who have Jemima as just a dancer) and Swedish casts include both Sillabub and Jemima as different characters.
*'''[[Tumblebrutus]]''' – A playful young adult cat. Tumblebrutus is a brown and white tabby, characterised by a large, flame-like brown patch over his left eye. This energetic young tom is featured in many dance numbers and has many featured solos throughout the show. He is the Broadway version of Bill Bailey.
*'''[[Jellicle cats#Coricopat and Tantomile|Tantomile]]''' – Female twin of Coricopat. The name was created by T.S. Eliot for a "Witch's Cat".<ref name="playbill">{{cite web|url=http://www.theatre-musical.com/cats/poems.html|title=A Brief History of the Poems |accessdate=23 August 2008|work=source: Cats playbill}}</ref>
*'''[[Jellicle cats#Victor|Victor]]''' – Victor is a chorus cat with cream and brown human markings and few distinguishing features. He featured as one of Growltiger's crew. The actor playing Victor was usually an understudy for Rum Tum Tugger and Munkustrap.

==Notable casts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="width:220px; height:26px;"| &nbsp;
| style="text-decoration:none; width:180px;"| '''Original London cast'''<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/cats/cast/origlondon1981.htm
|title=Original London Cast List
|accessdate=23 August 2008
|work=www.ibdb.com}}</ref>
| style="color:#000; width:180px;"| '''Original Broadway cast'''<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4186
|title=Original Broadway Cast List
|accessdate=5 September 2010
|work=www.ibdb.com}}</ref>
| style="color:#000; width:180px;"| '''1998 film cast'''<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/cats/shows-archive/cats-cast-lists/1998-film
|title=1998 Video Cast List
|accessdate=1 May 2010
|work=Really Useful Group site}}</ref>

|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"
| style="height:13px;"| Role(s)
| Actor
| Actor
| Actor

|-
| style="height:13px; vertical-align:bottom;"| Admetus
| style="vertical-align:bottom;"| Steven Wayne
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"| &nbsp;
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Alonzo
| &nbsp;
| Hector Jamie Mercado
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Jason Gardiner]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Alonzo / Rumpus Cat / Tumblebrutus
| Roland Alexander
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Asparagus
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| Tony Timberlake

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Bombalurina
| Geraldine Gardner
| Donna King
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Rosemarie Ford]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Bustopher Jones
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| James Barron

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:26px;"| Bustopher Jones / Asparagus / Growltiger
| &nbsp;
| Stephen Hanan
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Carbucketty
| David Baxter
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Carbucketty / Admetus
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
| Steven Gelfer
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Cassandra
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Seeta Indrani]]
|style="text-decoration:none" | Rene Ceballos
| Rebecca Parker

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Coricopat
| Donald Waugh
| &nbsp;
| Tommy Sliiden

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Coricopat / Mungojerrie
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
| Rene Clemente
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Demeter
| Sharon Lee-Hill
| Wendy Edmead
| Aeva May

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Electra
| Anita Pashley
| Susan Powers
| Leah Sue Morland

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Etcetera
| Julie Edmett
| &nbsp;
| Jo Bingham

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Etcetera / Rumpleteazer
| [[Bonnie Langford]]
| Christine Langner
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Exotica
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Femi Taylor]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Genghis
| &nbsp;
| Walter Charles
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| George
| John Chester
| &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Grizabella
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Elaine Paige]]
| style="color:#000;"| Betty Buckley
| style="color:#000;"| [[Elaine Paige]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Grumbuskin
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | Joel Robertson
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Gus the Theatre Cat
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
| style="color:#000;"| &nbsp;
| style="color:#000;"| [[Sir John Mills]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Gus the Theatre Cat / Growltiger
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Stephen Tate]]
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Jellylorum
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Susan Jane Tanner]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Jellylorum / Griddlebone
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Susan Jane Tanner]]
| style="color:#000;"| [[Bonnie Simmons]]
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Jemima
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Sarah Brightman]]
|style="text-decoration:none" | Carol Richards
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Veerle Casteleyn]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Jemima (Jr.)
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | Helen Massey

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Jennyanydots
| Myra Sands
| Anna McNeeley
| Suzie McKenna

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Macavity / Plato
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| Bryn Walters

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| [[Mr. Mistoffelees]]
|style="text-decoration:none" | Graham Fletcher
| [[Timothy Scott (died 1988)|Timothy Scott]]
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Mungojerrie
| John Thornton
| &nbsp;
| Drew Varley

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Mungojerrie (Jr.) ("James")
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | Paul Baker

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Mungojerrie / Macavity
| John Thornton
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Munkustrap
| &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Harry Groener]]
| style="color:#000;"| [[Michael Gruber (actor)|Michael Gruber]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Munkustrap / Grumbuskin
| Jeff Shankley
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Old Deuteronomy
| &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | Ken Page
| style="color:#000;"| [[Ken Page]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Old Deuteronomy / Bustopher Jones
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Brian Blessed]]
| style="color:#000;"| &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Plato / Macavity / Rumpus Cat
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | Kenneth Ard
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Pouncival
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | Herman W Sebek
| Karl Morgan

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Quaxo/Mr. Mistoffelees
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Wayne Sleep]]
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Jacob Brent]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Rum Tum Tugger / Admtus
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Paul Nicholas]]
| style="color:#000;"| [[Terrence Mann]]
| style="color:#000;"| [[John Partridge (actor)|John Partridge]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Rumpleteazer
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Bonnie Langford]]
|style="text-decoration:none" | &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Jo Gibb]]

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Rumpleteazer (Jr.)
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | Vicky Coote

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Rumpus Cat / Admetus
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| Frank Thompson

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Sillabub
| &nbsp;
| Whitney Kershaw
| &nbsp;

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Skimbleshanks
| Ken Wells
|style="text-decoration:none" | Reed Jones
|style="text-decoration:none" | Geoffrey Garratt

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Skimbleshanks (Jr.) ("Bill Bailey")
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|style="text-decoration:none" | David Arneil

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="text-decoration:none; height:13px;"| Tantomile
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Femi Taylor]]
| style="color:#000;"| [[Janet Hubert-Whitten]]
|style="text-decoration:none" | Kaye Brown

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Tumblebrutus
| &nbsp;
| Robert Hoshour
| Fergus Logan

|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| style="height:13px;"| Victoria (White Cat)
|style="text-decoration:none" | [[Finola Hughes]]
| style="color:#000;"| Cynthia Onrubia
| style="color:#000;"| [[Phyllida Crowley Smith]]

|}

===Other notable performers===
<!--are any of these performers "notable"? not many blue links here, with some obvious exceptions; this section probably could be deleted, leaving the blue linked performers-->

'''Bill Bailey''': Drew Varley, Fergus Logan

'''Coricopat''': Jason Pennycooke, Richard Astbury

'''Demeter''': Jo Bingham, [[Ruthie Henshall]]

'''Electra''': [[Veerle Casteleyn]] Kate Keenan

'''Griddlebone''': [[Ruthie Henshall]]

'''Grizabella''': [[Laurie Beechman]] [[Dee Roscioli]], [[Ruthie Henshall]], [[Lea Salonga]], [[Paula Lima]], [[Stephanie J. Block]], [[Jacintha Abisheganaden]], [[Joanna Ampil]]

'''Jellyorum''': [[Ruthie Henshall]], Madeleine .M. Gagne'

'''Macavity/Admetus''': Bryn Walters, Cameron Ball

'''Mistoffelees''': Graham Fletcher (former principal of the Royal Ballet Company [[Louie Spence]], [[John Partridge (actor)|John Partridge]], Fergus Logan, Joseph Poulton

'''Munkustrap''': [[Gary Martin (actor)|Gary Martin]], [[Steven Houghton]], [[John Partridge (actor)|John Partridge]], Shaun Rennie, Ben Palmer

'''Old Deuteronomy''': [[Bill Nolte]], [[John Ellis (actor)|John Ellis]]

'''Rum Tum Tugger''': [[John Partridge (actor)|John Partridge]], John O'Hara, Oliver Savile

'''Rumpus Cat/Admetus''': [[Frank Thompson (actor)|Frank Thompson]], [[Jason Gardiner]]

'''Rumpelteazer''': [[Veerle Casteleyn]], [[Jo Gibb]], [[Leah-Sue Morland]], Jo Bingham

'''Jemima/Sillabub''': [[Anita Louise Combe]], [[Ruthie Henshall]], [[Helen Anker]]

'''Victoria''': [[Veerle Casteleyn]], [[Helen Anker]]

==Other notable professional casts==
{| class="wikitable" "width:90%"
|-
!
Place
! Theatre
! Premiere
! Munkustrap
! Grizabella
! Old Deuteronomy
! Bustopher Jones
!
|-
| {{Flagicon|AUT}} Vienna
| Theater an der Wien
| 24 September 1983
| Steve Barton
| Angelika Milster
| Gordon Bovinet
| Joachim Kemmer
| Ute Lemper, KrisTina Decker, Michael Reardon, Vlada Aviks, Monica Solem
|-
| {{Flagicon|US}} Los Angeles
| Shubert Theatre
| 7 January 1985
| Mark Morales
| Kim Criswell
| George Anthony Bell
|
| George De La Pena, Rebecca Raider
|-
| {{Flagicon|Australia}} Sydney
| Theatre Royal, Sydney
| 1985
| Anthony O'Keefe
| [[Debra Byrne]]
| John Bolton Woods
| Grant Smith
|[[Anita Louise Combe]], [[Jeff Phillips]], [[Marina Prior]]<ref name="Aus1985Cast">{{Citation | author1=Lloyd Webber, Andrew | author2=Wood, John | author3=Stilgoe, Richard | author4=Nunn, Trevor | author5=Casey, Peter | author6=Byrne, Debbie | author7=Atkins, David | author8=Prior, Marina | author9=Phillips, Jeff | author10=Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888–1965. ''Old Possum's book of practical cats ''| title=Cats | publication-date=1985 | publisher=[[EMI]]. [[National Library of Australia]] | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12720563 | accessdate=23 June 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagicon|Switzerland}} Zurich
| Musical Theatre Oerlikon
| 9 August 1991
| Paul Hadobas
| Ruth Jacott / Manuela Felice
| Jan Polak
| Rory Campbell
| Tibor Kovats, Brian Carmack, Michael Fritzke,
Kristi Sperling, Nikki Bolen, David Kent,
Leslie Wiesner, Lindsay Chambers, Jasna Ivir, Alexander Riff, Adam Jones, Rod Roberts, Daniella Bruenner, T.J Hee, Annetta Wimmer, Tina Decker, Angela Savage, Kati Farkass, Nikki Romaine, Ton Voogt, Leon Julian Taylor, Manfred Sieffert, Michael Larsen Disney, [[Gene Scheer]], Laura Quin, Kevin Alvey, Niki Ankenbrand, Andie Mellom
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|MEX}} Mexico City
| Teatro Silvia Pinal
| 19 April 1991
| [[Manuel Landeta]]
| [[María del Sol]]
| Enrique del Olmo
|
| [[Susana Zabaleta]], [[Ariel López Padilla]], Maru Dueñas, Olivia Bucio, Guillermo de Uslar, Humberto Manlio, Abel David, Marisol Arreola, Manuel Sánchez, David de la Rosa, Meyra Córdova, Gabriel de Cervantes, Alberto Díaz, Cecilia Huerta, Rosalva Navarro, Fabiola Zepeda, Juan Carlos Casasola, Rafael Santiago, Javier Díaz Dueñas, Alejandra Murga, Héctor Arroyo, Estela Barona, Luis René Aguirre, Lenny Zundel, Simone Brooke, Marcela Valiente, Alejandra Valiente, Claudia Meyer, Guillermo Tellez, Jaime Rojas, Ramiro Guzmán, Enrique Calatayud, Armando Moreno
|-
| {{Flagicon|MEX}} Mexico City
| Teatro San Rafael
| 10 May 2013
|
| [[Filippa Giordano]]
| [[Manuel Landeta]]
|
| [[Lila Deneken]], [[Myriam Montemayor Cruz]], Maru Dueñas, Olivia Bucio, Ana Cirre, Gloria Aura, Juan Carlos Casasola
|-
| {{Flagicon|Spain}} Madrid
| Teatro Coliseum
| 17 December 2003
| Jack Rebaldi
| Helen de Quiroga
| Pedro Ruy-Blas
| Enrique Sequero
| Edu del Prado, Teresa Cora, Raquel Grijalba, Guadalupe Lancho, Marta Malone, Gorane Markínez, Sandra Rausell, Alberto Sánchez, Paqui Sánchez Melchor, Víctor Ullate
|-
| {{Flagicon|Poland}} Warsaw
| Roma Music Theatre
| 10 January 2004
| Damian Aleksander
| Izabela Zając
| Zbigniew Macias
| Wojciech Paszkowski
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Australia}} Hobart
| Derwent Entertainment Centre
| 17 October 2007
| Craig Irons
| Debra Byrne
| Alan Bacon
| Andrew Casey
|
|-
|{{Flagicon|Australia}} South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brisbane, China
| Various Theatres
| June 2008
| Shaun Rennie
| Delia Hannah
| Han Lim / John Ellis
|Michael-John Hurney
| John O'Hara, Renee Burleigh, Adrian Ricks, Caleb Bartolo, Markham Gannon,
Brenton Wilson, Justine Puy, Emily Keane, Darren Tyler, Mischana Dellora- Cornish,
Brent Osborne, James Cooper, Monique Chanel Pitsikas, Belinda Allchin, Ranjeet Starr,
Alyse Jai Davies, Stephanie Silcock, Sam Marks, Brian Gillespie, Anthony Costanzo
|-
|{{Flagicon|Australia}} Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
| Various Theatres
| 1 January 2010
| Shaun Rennie
| Delia Hannah
| John Ellis
| Michael-John Hurney
| John O'Hara, Renee Burleigh, Adrian Ricks, Caleb Bartolo, Markham Gannon,
Brenton Wilson, Justine Puy, Emily Keane, Emma Waters, Darren Tyler, Mischana Dellora-Cornish,
Brent Osborne, James Cooper, Monique Chanel Pitsikas, Belinda Allchin, Ranjeet Starr,
Alyse Jai Davies, Stephanie Silcock, Brian Gillespie, Glen Oliver
|-
|{{Flagicon|Brazil}} São Paulo
| Teatro Abril
| 4 March 2010
| Julio Mancini
| Paula Lima
| Saulo Vasconcelos
| Fernando Patau
| Adenis Vieira, Andreia Vitfer, Andre Saporetti, Andressa Mazzei, Anelita Gallo, Arthur Marques, Carla Cottini, Carol Puntel, Cesar Moura, Cleto Baccic, Daniel Monteiro, Ditto Leite, Fabiane Bang, Fernando Marianno, Fernando Palazza, Fernando Patau, Francine Lobo, Gabriel Brasilio, Gianna Pagano, Guto Muniz, Jhean Allex, Leonardo Wagner, Mariana Barros, Mariana Hidemi, Marina Costa, Max Oliveira, Natacha Travassos, Nick Vila Maior, Olivia Branco, Patricia Athayde, Paulo Borges, Alan Rezende, Sara Sarres, Sefora Araujo, Vanessa Costa
|-
|{{Flagicon|Brazil}} Rio de Janeiro
| Vivo Rio
| 16 October 2010
| Julio Mancini
| Paula Lima
| Fernando Palazza
| Fernando Patau
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|PHI}} Manila
| Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
| July 2010
| Shaun Rennie
| [[Lea Salonga]]
| John Ellis
|Michael-John Hurney
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|HUN}} Budapest
| Madách Színház
| 25 March 1983
| Béla Tímár
| Éva Almási
| Balázs Póka<br />László Lukács
| Péter Haumann
| Ildikó Hűvösvölgyi, Ildikó Kishonti, Péter Cseke, Béla Szerednyei, Ilona Bencze, Béla Paudits, Mari Kiss
|}

==Awards and nominations==

===Original London production===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award
! style="width:35%;"| Category
! style="width:30%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1981
| rowspan="2"| [[Laurence Olivier Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical|Best New Musical]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Musical|Outstanding Achievement in a Musical]]
| [[Gillian Lynne]]
| {{won}}
|}

===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award
! style="width:35%;"| Category
! style="width:30%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="11" style="text-align:center;"| 1983
| rowspan="11"| [[Tony Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical|Best Book of a Musical]]
| [[T. S. Eliot]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] and [[T. S. Eliot]].
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Harry Groener]] as [[Munkustrap]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Stephen Hanan as [[Bustopher Jones]] / [[Asparagus]] / [[Growltiger]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Betty Buckley]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical|Best Direction of a Musical]]
| [[Trevor Nunn]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]]
| [[Gillian Lynne]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Scenic Design|Best Scenic Design]]
| rowspan="2"| [[John Napier (designer)|John Napier]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Lighting Design|Best Lighting Design]]
| [[David Hersey]]
| {{won}}
|}

==Revisions to the show==

''Cats'' has undergone several revisions since its London and subsequent Broadway openings. The most current version, licensed by The [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]] Organization, is based on the recent UK Tour. This score contains several small cuts, transpositions, additions, reassignment of vocal lines, and a reduced orchestration.

The original London version of the song "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer" was in 12/8 time and had a jazzy accompaniment. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer sang their song themselves. For the Broadway production Andrew Lloyd Webber later wrote a new melody; in this production Mr. Mistoffelees sang about Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer in the third person, with Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer as puppets being magically controlled by Mr. Mistoffelees. This version of the song was in an upbeat 4/4 time with its middle section in 7/8 time and its mood was similar to the original version. Lloyd Webber's new version was used for all subsequent productions of ''Cats'' but now Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer sing their number themselves in all productions. In the 1998 film, one stanza was cut. In the current licensed version, based on the recent UK tour, the 7/8 section is reworked into 4/4 with triplet quavers that simulate the original 12/8 version.

The "Growltiger's Last Stand" sequence was also revised for the Broadway production. In the original London show, the "last duet" for Growltiger and Griddlebone was a setting of an unpublished T.S. Eliot poem, ''"The Ballad of Billy M'Caw"''. For Broadway, the Ballad was replaced with a pastiche of Italian opera (reminiscent of [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]]'s ''[[Madama Butterfly]]''). This new version was subsequently incorporated into most productions of ''Cats'' worldwide (a notable exception was the Hungarian production at the Madách Színház). The Ballad remained in the London production until some time in the early 1990s when it was replaced with the Italian aria pastiche. "Billy M'Caw" was re-instated for the UK Tours following the show's closure in London. Lloyd Webber has said that he is pleased with the reinstatement of "The Ballad of Billy M'Caw" as he didn't care for the "Italian aria" version.<ref name=aria>{{cite web|url=http://www.catstour.co.uk/introduction.html|title=Cats UK Tour|accessdate=23 April 2008|work=Cats UK Tour }}</ref> In the video version, the entire scene featuring Growltiger was cut due to John Mills' (Gus) old age. The licensed version of ''Cats'' includes both songs, giving individual companies a choice as to which to include.

In recent productions, a lyric in "[[Growltiger's Last Stand]]" was changed to remove any racially insensitive language. "With a frightful burst of fireworks the [[Chink]]s they swarmed aboard!" became "with a frightful burst of fireworks, the [[Siamese (cat)|Siamese]] they swarmed aboard!", although the lyric "Heathen Chinese" remains in the tale of the Pekes and the Pollicles.

The original London cast recording utilised longer versions of "The Old Gumbie Cat", "Old Deuteronomy" and "The Ad-Dressing of Cats" with verses and lines that were cut from later productions.

The US tour continues to use the original Broadway version of the score, including the Italian aria and material cut from newer versions. Only "Pekes and Pollicles" and one verse of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" are cut from performance.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cats (musical)}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.catsthemusical.com/ Official Website]
*[http://www.catsontour.com/ Official US Tour Website]
*[http://www.catstour.co.uk/ The Official Site for the Cats UK Tour]
*[http://www.reallyuseful.com/ The Really Useful Group]
*[http://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/ The Official Andrew Lloyd Webber site]
* {{ibdb title|4186|Cats}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before = ''[[A Chorus Line]]''
| title = [[List of the longest-running Broadway shows|Longest-running Broadway show]]
| years = 1997–2006
| after = ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]''
}}
{{s-end}}

{{OlivierAward Musical 1976–2000}}
{{TonyAwardBestMusical 1976-2000}}
{{TonyAward MusicalScore 1976-2000}}
{{TonyAward MusicalBook 1976-2000}}
{{Longest-running Broadway shows}}
{{Cameron Mackintosh}}
{{Andrew Lloyd Webber}}
{{Cats navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cats (Musical)}}
[[Category:1981 musicals]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Compositions by Andrew Lloyd Webber]]
[[Category:Musicals based on poems]]
[[Category:Sung-through musicals]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award winning musicals]]
[[Category:West End musicals]]
[[Category:Fantasy theatre]]
[[Category:Cats (musical)]]
[[Category:Tony Award for Best Musical]]

Revision as of 16:23, 4 June 2014

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