..::// The JELLICLE Magic \\::..

On May 11th, 1981; over 18 years ago now, the starting shot was given for the most successful play in the history of theatre. With a plot that flamed sceptical thoughts, this simple and factually named play began the first step of many thousand of steps.

Based on a book written for children, the play was to find it´s place in the hearts of many millions, without the distinction of age, beliefs or placements.

On October 5th, 1939, a book was printed for the first time, written by T. S. Eliot. In this work the poet handled an, at least, unusual subject. In it´s pages, there were no human names... only feline ones. "Old Possum´s Book for Practical Cats" was the result of an idea born to please a child, this one related to the author.

At the end of 1977, an idea started to take shape. This idea was in Andrew Lloyd Webber´s head. Remembering the book from his childhood, the verses had a musical touch... they inspired a melody.

After writing the music to a few verses, as if in training, ALW contacted Valerie Eliot, the poet´s widow, who gave him some poems that her husband never published. These poems, "Grizabella, The Glamour Cat" especially, provided the base and the plot for the play. A poem that wasn't´t published before, because it sounded too tense, cold and sad for children, gave the grounding for the whole play.

In the middle of 1980, Andrew Lloyd Webber contacted Trevor Nunn for the first time. Together they faced the task of bringing T. S. Eliot´s book to stage. Nunn accepted the work, despite of the difficulty of it. Using some poems in their original form, letting others inspire them, and altering others a bit, their work would be rewarded.

If you look for good theatre in London, the West End is your place to find it. Between the different stages you can find the New London Theatre... and on May 11th, 1981, in that same place, history was written. With the title "CATS", this new play was a success since the first performance given.

Eight years later, in a significant day for itself, the production got a new award: after 3358 performances, "CATS" took the leading position as the longest running show in British theater´s history.

Eight plane-hours away, preceded by the fame created in London´s West End, "CATS" arrived at the place that is synonymous with theater. Making the Winter Garden Theater it´s home near Times Square, the play opened it´s doors. This happened in the end of 1982. Since then, the Winter Garden has never closed it´s doors again.

A new record was broken when; on June 19th, 1997, after 6138 performances, "CATS" became Broadway´s longest running show. What many years before could be seen in London happened again, this time on the other side of the Atlantic.

The play doesn´t only have it´s popularity. The critics and reviews had to accept Andrew Lloyd Webber´s and Trevor Nunn´s work.

The Tony Awards won by the play and it´s actors so far are:

Best Musical
Outstanding Performance in a Musical by an Featured Actress- Betty Buckely
Outstanding Direction of a Musical-Trevor Nunn
Best Score of a Musical-Andrew Lloyd Webber (score) and T.S. Elliot (lyrics)
Best Book of a Musical-T.S. Elliot
Outstanding Costume Design-John Napier
Outstanding Lighting Design-David Hersey

Together with the given awards, the play was nominated for some other categories, like Choreography and Scenic Design.

Besides this, "CATS" received the Olivier Award for Best Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Musicals went to Gillian Lynne

Today the play is performed in many cities all over the world. New York, London, Hamburg, Budapest and Japan are some places where it´s possible to find the play on stage. Besides this, The IV US National Tour visits many cities all over the USA over the year, taking the magic all over the country. In preparation is a new Australian Tour... as you can plainly see, "CATS" has still, after so many years, a very active life.

During the month of October in 1998, the filmed version on video was seen by the viewing public on television. In those 2 hours of dancing and music it´s possible to find a part of the magic we find in the presence of the stage version of CATS. Despite the hard criticism the video has gotten, this version is useful in keeping a fan´s flame alive. But, like many Jellicle fellows told me, it will never... NEVER, be a substitute for the on-stage performance.

"CATS" is much more than a simple theater play. It´s the door we can use to enter a completely new and absolutely fantastic world. If you have the opportunity to see in live, don´t hesitate for a moment; get some tickets! It can change many things...

CATS NOW AND FOREVER