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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jul 29, 2022 21:12:09 GMT
Rather an… interesting idea for an adaptation of Cats? www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ballroom-Scene-Inspired-CATS-Workshop-To-Be-Held-At-Ronald-O-Perelman-Performing-Arts-Center-20220729TL;DR A completely human alternate universe version of Cats set in the queer NYC Ballroom Scene. All the Cats characters are human versions of themselves, performing to win a drag competition rather than the chance for a new life as a cat. From the audition call: “[GRIZABELLA] - 30s - 60s, trans woman, Black/ Indigenous/ Person of Color. Singer. Currently unhoused and in bad shape, an outcast. Her Ballroom glory days are behind her. By the end of tonight's event, she will win the Grand Prize.” “ [GUS (ASPARAGUS)] - 40s - 80s, male identifying, Black/ Indigenous/ Person of Color. A devoted theater Queen. Lived through the AIDS crisis. Spends most of the show watching from the audience, but 'Butch Queen Face' (a category) brings him back onstage.” As an original show it sounds like an interesting idea with a lot of opportunities for queer and BIPOC performers - but as an adaptation of Cats it’s… bizarre? |
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 22, 2022 12:36:41 GMT
Whoever came up with this is on some pretty heavy recreational drugs x
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Post by christya on Sept 24, 2022 16:50:47 GMT
I suppose they're trying something, I'll give them that. But my reaction to this was something along the lines of "Bwahahahahaha...no."
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Post by PineappleForYou on Jun 14, 2024 9:40:45 GMT
Is anyone seeing Cats: The Jellicle Ball or has seen it to feedback how it is and if it works as a concept? Very intrigued.
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Post by PineappleForYou on Jun 14, 2024 9:50:18 GMT
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Post by blamerobots on Jun 14, 2024 11:31:43 GMT
Hahahaha this seems like a laugh |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 15, 2024 7:50:45 GMT
Thank god the unitards, legwarmers and kiddies face paints have finally gone
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Post by blamerobots on Jun 16, 2024 11:48:35 GMT
I keep seeing clips of this across associated social media and I keep hearing great things about it, I really hope this gets filmed or something or runs for a while
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Post by max on Jun 18, 2024 14:21:25 GMT
This looks like a perfectly simple / simply perfect idea. From total leftfield who would have thought that quadrupling down on the thin premise of a competition would create such a natural relevant match with an aspect of culture today. One commenter on Youtube talks with joy about diversity of bodies in the 'Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats' clip, and it's true; it's not what's been the usual in a show associated so strongly with classical and jazz/contemporary dancers.
I don't know if the premise sustains the whole show, but ALW should be thrilled if it's radicalising a show that looked not only fixed but weakened by the recent revival, and laughed at due to the film. Lots on social media commenting that they've always disliked the show, til now.
I wonder how they cope with Grizabella. The 'sad faded glamourpuss' figure should surely be immediately loved for being a camp faded Diva within club/ballroom culture, rather than shunned by the beautiful. Perhaps in this version she looked at someone funny once, and nobody's ever forgotten it.
This is all the more fun for not being a show that was being talked about as ripe for reinvention (though Nick Winston did a 1940s based version a few years ago that seemed interesting).
Other than added club beats, it seems ALW didn't let them reorchestrate - perhaps, if the show grows, more latitude will be given to push it further; though sampling the original orchestrations might be the most relevant musically anyway.
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Post by max on Jun 21, 2024 7:21:45 GMT
Oh well I never, was there ever a Cats so clever?
Great reviews for this in all the major press. I don't know if I'd like the execution, but my mind's blown at the transformation and how well worked out it is for the Ball Culture setting with its "queens of the night".
Numbers that were previously just there to be got through - The Naming Of Cats, The Ad-dressing Of Cats (nice music but what..?) - take on real significance. Black Queer people potentially shunned by family, no longer want to use "the name that the family use daily" so create at their adoptive tribe/house "a name that's particular and more dignified...that belongs to only one cat"..."else how can he...cherish his pride".
Then at the end the elaborate instruction on how to address a cat...so perfect in this pronouns era. They make it a minefield of missteps that act as a test set down by the wary and slow to trust..."a cat's entitled to expect these evidences of respect", til finally "you reach your aim and call him by his name".
The same goes for some of the set piece songs - early and forgettable ones such as 'The Gumbie Cat' and 'Bustopher Jones'. Suddenly the persona of a prim organisational ma'am takes on a new shape, and Bustopher being fat/phat/thicc works today in a body positive 'taking up space' way.
As someone commented on another forum - somewhere, Hal Prince will be smiling knowingly, having once quizzed Lloyd Webber on the correlation or metaphor the show must surely be driving at.
ALW: "It's about Cats, Hal".
Until it isn't.
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Post by BVM on Jun 21, 2024 9:47:58 GMT
Oh well I never, was there ever a Cats so clever? Great reviews for this in all the major press. I don't know if I'd like the execution, but my mind's blown at the transformation and how well worked out it is for the Ball Culture setting with its "queens of the night". Numbers that were previously just there to be got through - The Naming Of Cats, The Ad-dressing Of Cats (nice music but what..?) - take on real significance. Black Queer people potentially shunned by family, no longer want to use "the name that the family use daily" so create at their adoptive tribe/house "a name that's particular and more dignified...that belongs to only one cat"..."else how can he...cherish his pride". Then at the end the elaborate instruction on how to address a cat...so perfect in this pronouns era. They make it a minefield of missteps that act as a test set down by the wary and slow to trust..."a cat's entitled to expect these evidences of respect", til finally "you reach your aim and call him by his name". The same goes for some of the set piece songs - early and forgettable ones such as 'The Gumbie Cat' and 'Bustopher Jones'. Suddenly the persona of a prim organisational ma'am takes on a new shape, and Bustopher being fat/phat/thicc works today in a body positive 'taking up space' way. As someone commented on another forum - somewhere, Hal Prince will be smiling knowingly, having once quizzed Lloyd Webber on the correlation or metaphor the show must surely be driving at. ALW: "It's about Cats, Hal". Until it isn't. God am absolutely desperate to see this now but can't get over to NYC. Hope it has a future life! |
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Post by BVM on Jun 26, 2024 17:11:50 GMT
This is transferring to Broadway. I thought it had just extended in its current home?! Any idea of what theatre and when for Broadway?! |
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Post by shownut on Jun 26, 2024 19:45:33 GMT
This is transferring to Broadway. I thought it had just extended in its current home?! Any idea of what theatre and when for Broadway?! Rumour is Circle in The Square in January 2025 once current booking ends. |
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Post by Mark on Aug 4, 2024 8:59:17 GMT
I’ve managed to get a ticket for this on Wednesday. Everything I’ve heard has been a rave, I was told I absolutely must see it by the three people I know who’ve seen it already. Will be sure to report back
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Post by viserys on Aug 4, 2024 10:10:47 GMT
It's incredible!
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Post by theatreliker on Aug 4, 2024 18:53:42 GMT
The NY Times liked it. Enjoyed reading the line 'not now and forever but now and once.'
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Post by BVM on Aug 7, 2024 15:42:57 GMT
Anyone know if they are gonna just keep extending this or if the current extension will be the final one?
Read the online speculation that RUG don't want Sunset and Cats competing - though to me they wouldn't be. (And on my n=1, I would buy a ticket to NYC if I could see both!)
And neither is produced by RUG but guess the Cats team have to have permission from them....
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Post by shownut on Aug 7, 2024 16:50:26 GMT
Anyone know if they are gonna just keep extending this or if the current extension will be the final one? Read the online speculation that RUG don't want Sunset and Cats competing - though to me they wouldn't be. (And on my n=1, I would buy a ticket to NYC if I could see both!) And neither is produced by RUG but guess the Cats team have to have permission from them.... I think the concern about pitching CATS: The Jellicle Ball against SUNSET BLVD isn't to do with RUG. It likely has more to do with ALW's relationship with Jamie Lloyd. Lloyd directed SUNSET and is about to launch a series of Shakespeare works at ALWs crown jewel, The Drury Lane. CATS would likely sweep the Tony's and given the high praise for the new concept, would be a shoo-in for Best Direction (and probably Best Revival). Perhaps ALW wants Jamie to have a shot as a Tony and the attention he will likely get around SUNSET and doesn't want to risk his getting overshadowed? In any event, I hope CATS does make an eventual transfer and given the raves, I can't see that not happening. |
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Post by BVM on Aug 7, 2024 17:10:28 GMT
Anyone know if they are gonna just keep extending this or if the current extension will be the final one? Read the online speculation that RUG don't want Sunset and Cats competing - though to me they wouldn't be. (And on my n=1, I would buy a ticket to NYC if I could see both!) And neither is produced by RUG but guess the Cats team have to have permission from them.... I think the concern about pitching CATS: The Jellicle Ball against SUNSET BLVD isn't to do with RUG. It likely has more to do with ALW's relationship with Jamie Lloyd. Lloyd directed SUNSET and is about to launch a series of Shakespeare works at ALWs crown jewel, The Drury Lane. CATS would likely sweep the Tony's and given the high praise for the new concept, would be a shoo-in for Best Direction (and probably Best Revival). Perhaps ALW wants Jamie to have a shot as a Tony and the attention he will likely get around SUNSET and doesn't want to risk his getting overshadowed? In any event, I hope CATS does make an eventual transfer and given the raves, I can't see that not happening. That's really interesting, thanks. I was (well, am) totally obsessed with Lloyd's Sunset so the thought that Cats could be even better blows my mind! You could well be right re ALW and JL - he is certainly one of ALW's fave people currently :-) |
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Post by Mark on Aug 8, 2024 16:54:52 GMT
Oh now this was special! They took a great concept a rolled with it. There’s no real changes to lyrics etc but I never once questioned why they were singing about being Cats.
The costumes, staging, choreo, performers, it’s all sublime and if anything heightens the material to a new level. The audience interaction was amazing and it meant for a truly special atmosphere.
Would see this again in a heartbeat if it transferred to Broadway.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Aug 22, 2024 10:34:58 GMT
Got tickets booked for this! Cannot wait!!
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Post by Joseph Buquet on Sept 8, 2024 7:00:19 GMT
Does anyone know whether there’s still talk of a Broadway transfer?
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Post by Mark on Sept 8, 2024 8:10:42 GMT
Does anyone know whether there’s still talk of a Broadway transfer? Yes, from what I hear would be 25/26 season though. |
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Post by Joseph Buquet on Sept 8, 2024 9:38:10 GMT
Does anyone know whether there’s still talk of a Broadway transfer? Yes, from what I hear would be 25/26 season though. Thanks! Do you know what month they’re aiming for? I’m going to New York in July 2025 and would love to see this! |
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