What is CATS?

CATS is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, adapted from a collection of T. S. Elliot poems. The orginial creative team was comprised of Webber, Trevor Nunn (director), Gillian Lynne (choreographer), and John Napier (set & costume designer). The musical centers around a group of cats, called the Jellicles, during their annual gathering, where Old Deuteronomy will choose which cat gets to go to the Heavyside Layer and be reborn.

Webber began composing the music in 1977 before premiering some of the score at the Sydmonton Festival in 1980. Rehearsals began in March 1981, before the show opened on May 11 in the same year. Despite financial troubles during development, it was met with glowing praise, and it's success was considered a breakthrough for British theatre. Its closing night was May 11 2002, after 21 years and 8,949 performances.

A year later, the show opened on Broadway, with significant changes made to its aesthetic, along with minor changes in the score. It won seven Tony Awards in 1983 and closed September 10 2000.

In October 1998, a movie adaptation was released straight to VHS, directed by David Mallet and shot at the Adelphi Theatre. The version featured in this movie became the basis of most productions internationally, except in the United States. Andrew Lloyd Webber originally wanted an animated adaptation, to be directed by Steven Spielberg, but the project got cancelled and brought back before Amblimation closed.

Throughout the years, CATS has been shown in over 20 countries and has been translated into over 19 languages. It also saw revivals on Broadway (from 2016-2017) and the West End (2014-206). Both saw changes to choreography and the score. This new London version became the standard for all future replica CATS productions.