Cats the Musical was based on poems by T.S. Eliot and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Despite initial skepticism, it captivated audiences with its dancing felines and opulent effects when it premiered in London's West End in 1981. It went on to have hugely successful Broadway runs, becoming the longest-running musical in Broadway history with over 7,000 performances from 1982 to 2000. Cats introduced the global hit song "Memory" and changed the concept of the musical by fusing different music styles like pop, classical, jazz and rock.

1. Cats The Musical. A Superb Show To Enjoy !.
by Spainops - http://catsthemusical.org
Before "Cats" had its 1981 West End premiere, it
had been viewed with quite a lot of scepticism.
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber working on his
own, setting a series of children's poems about
kitty cats created decades earlier by T. S. Eliot
for a bookless show being staged by a
Shakespearean director, Trevor Nunn.
However producer Cameron Mackintosh believed
in Cats the musical, and its opulent effects and
dancing felines captivated everyone that was to
watch it. Quite naturally Broadway producers sat
up and took notice. It was not long before the
Cats Broadway Musical was to arrive there !.
http://catsthemusical.org Cats The Musical

2. The cats Broadway musical achieved over $6
million in advance sales. Irrespective of
begrudging reviews, few could dismiss the
spectacle provided by designer John Napier or
the cat exploits of Gillian Lynne's acrobatic
choreography, all capped off by the magical
levitation of Grizabella to the Heavyside Layer via
an enormous used tyre.
"Cats" mewed all the way to the bank and even
presented audiences with a hit show tune --
"Memory" -- which became a global hit, recorded
in more than a dozen languages. The British
import was the longest-running show in
Broadway history -- and it changed forever the
very concept of the musical form globally. The
musical features an eclectic fusion of pop,
classical, jazz and rock music.
http://catsthemusical.org Cats The Musical

3. Cats was first shown in London's West End
Theatre West End, at the New London Theatre.
11 May 1981. There was trouble during the
beginning as Judi Dench, cast in the role of
Grizabella, snapped a tendon during rehearsals
prior to the London opening. The role of
Grizabella was subsequently taken over by
Elaine Paige; the role was beefed up for Paige
and the song 'Memory' (originally to be sung by
Geraldine Gardner in the role of the red cat
Bombalurina) was given to Paige.
It was originally produced on stage by Cameron
Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber's Really Useful
Group. It was directed by Trevor Nunn, associate
director and choreographer Gillian Lynne,
designed by John Napier with lighting by David
Hersey.
http://catsthemusical.org Cats The Musical

4. 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 Misrables.
The Cats Broadway musical 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.
http://catsthemusical.org Cats The Musical

5. It played a total of 7,485 performances in New
York. Its New York record was surpassed on 9
January 2006 by The Phantom of the Opera,
which was also composed by Andrew Lloyd
Webber. Cats' final performance on Broadway
was on 10 September 2000.
It remains Broadway's second longest-running
show in history. When the original show was put
on, it cost 900,000, but on Broadway, it cost
$5,000,000, highlighting how expensive it is to
put a show on in New York.
The London production ran for twenty one years
and the Broadway production ran for eighteen
years, both setting long-run records.
http://catsthemusical.org Cats The Musical

6. Actresses Elaine Paige and Betty Buckley
became particularly associated with the musical.
One actress, Marlene Danielle, performed in the
Cats Broadway musical production for its whole
run (from 1982 until 2000).
The unique details in the show have helped make
"Cats" the force that it is today. After winning
seven Tony awards in 1983, including Best
Musical, "Cats" has become the longest
continuously touring Broadway musical in history.
Known as a Broadway phenomenon, "Cats" has
made its way into the hearts of audiences
worldwide throughout its 27-year run: It's been
acted throughout five continents, translated into
20 languages and performed in 26 countries.
http://catsthemusical.org Cats The Musical

7. If you are interested in finding more about Cats
The Musical then visit this site
http://catsthemusical.org
http://catsthemusical.org Cats The Musical