CATS The Musical

1)
Cats is a sung musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is based on the 1939 collection of poems, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T. S. Eliot. The musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make the "Jellicle Election", deciding which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and return to a new life.

As of 2022, Cats remains the fifth longest-running show on Broadway and the seventh longest-running show in the West End.

2)
Lloyd Webber began setting Eliot's poems to music in 1977, and the compositions were first performed as a song cycle in 1980. Producer Cameron Mackintosh recruited director Trevor Nunn and choreographer Gillian Lynne to turn the songs into a full musical. Cats opened to positive reviews at the New London Theatre in the West End in 1981 and then spread to mixed reviews at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway in 1982.

It won numerous awards, including Best Musical at the Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards. Despite its unusual premise, which initially put off investors, the musical became an unprecedented commercial success, grossing $3.5 billion worldwide by 2012.

3)
The London production ran for 21 years and 8,949 performances, while the Broadway production ran for 18 years and 7,485 performances, making Cats the longest-running musical in both theatres. Cats has since been revived twice in the West End and once on Broadway.

It has also been translated into several languages and performed around the world. Long-running overseas productions include a 15-year run at the Operettenhaus in Hamburg, which ran for over 6,100 performances, and an ongoing run in a purpose-built theatre in Japan, which has run for over 10,000 performances since it opened in 1983.

4)
Cats launched the megamusical phenomenon, establishing a global market for musical theatre and refocusing the industry on big-budget blockbusters and family and tourist-friendly shows. The musical's profound but polarising influence also reshaped the medium's aesthetics, technology and marketing. Cats was adapted into a direct-to-video film in 1998 and a feature film in 2019.

5)
Synopsis
Act I - When the midnight dance enraptures the Cats
After the overture, a tribe of cats known as the Jellicles gather on stage and describe themselves and their purpose ("Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats"). The cats (who break the fourth wall throughout the show) then realise a human audience is watching them and explain how the different cats in the tribe are named ("The Naming of Cats").

6)
This is followed by a ballet solo performed by Victoria to signal the start of the Jellicle Ball ("The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball"). At this point, Munkustrap, the show's main narrator, explains that tonight, the Jellicle patriarch, Old Deuteronomy, will appear and choose one of the cats to be reborn into a new life on the Heaviside Plane.

7)
Munkustrap introduces the first candidate, Jennyanydots ("The Old Gumbie Cat"), a large tabby who lazes around all day but becomes active at night, teaching mice and cockroaches various activities to curb their naturally destructive habits.

Just as Jennyanydots finishes her song, the music suddenly changes, and Rum Tum Tugger makes his extravagant entrance in front of the tribe ("The Rum Tum Tugger"). He is capricious and unappeasable, "for he will do what he will do, and there's nothing you can do about it".

8)
Then, as Rum Tum Tugger's song fades away, a shabby old grey cat stumbles out to be reconciled; it is Grizabella. All the cats back away from her in fear and disgust, explaining her unfortunate condition ("Grizabella: The Glamour Cat").

Grizabella leaves, and the music changes to a happy, upbeat number as Bustopher Jones, a fat cat in "a coat of fastidious black", is brought on stage ("Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town").

9)
Bustopher Jones is part of the cat elite and frequents prestigious gentlemen's clubs. Suddenly, a loud crash startles the tribe, and the cats run from the stage in terror.

Muffled giggles signal the entrance of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, a pair of almost identical cats. They are mischievous petty burglars who enjoy causing trouble in their human neighbourhood ("Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer"). When they have finished, they are surprised and confronted by the other cats.

10)
Finally, the Jellicle patriarch, Old Deuteronomy, appears before the tribe ("Old Deuteronomy"). He is a wise old cat who has "lived many lives" and is charged with choosing which Jellicle will go to the Heaviside Layer yearly.

The cats put on a play for Old Deuteronomy ("The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles"), telling a story about two tribes of dogs who clash in the street and are then scared away by the Great Rumpus Cat.

11)
A moral from Old Deuteronomy is interrupted by a second loud crash, presumably from Macavity, which hurries the alarmed cats. After a quick patrol for Macavity, Old Deuteronomy deems it a false alarm and calls the cats back as the main celebration ("The Jellicle Ball") begins, with the cats singing and displaying their "Terpsichorean powers".

12)
During the ball, Grizabella reappears and tries to dance, but her age and frail condition prevent her from doing so ("Grizabella: The Glamour Cat (Reprise)").

As a result, she is once again shunned by the other cats, but this does not stop her from vowing to return for another chance at the spotlight as a guilty old Deuteronomy looks on ("Memory (Prelude)").

13)
Act II - Why will the summer day be delayed - when will time pass?

After the Jellicle Ball, Old Deuteronomy gathers his tribe to consider "what happiness is". Jemima (aka Sillabub), the youngest of the Jellicles, understands that the Patriarch is referring to Grizabella and passes on the message to the rest of the tribe ("The Moments of Happiness").

14)
Gus - short for Asparagus - shuffles forward as the next cat to be introduced ("Gus: The Theatre Cat"). He was once a famous actor but is now old and "suffers from a paralysis that makes his paws tremble". He is accompanied by Jellylorum, his caretaker, who tells of his exploits.

Gus recalls how he once played the infamous pirate captain Growltiger ("Growltiger's Last Stand"). Gus tells the story of the pirate captain's romance with Lady Griddlebone and how Growltiger was overtaken by the Siamese and forced to walk the plank to his death.

15)
Back in the present, after Gus has left, Skimbleshanks is seen sleeping in the corner ("Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat"). He is the cat unofficially in charge of the night train to Glasgow.

Skimbleshanks is vital to the railway's operation, as without him, "the train can't start". In his song, an entire steam locomotive is assembled from objects in the junkyard.

16)
The "most wanted" cat, Macavity, appears with a third crash and an evil laugh. He is the so-called "Napoleon of Crime" who always manages to elude the authorities.

Macavity's henchmen capture Old Deuteronomy and make off with the Patriarch in tow. As Munkustrap and his band give chase, Demeter and Bombalurina explain what they know about Macavity ("Macavity: The Mystery Cat").

17)
When they are finished, Macavity returns disguised as Old Deuteronomy, but Demeter and Munkustrap blow his cover, and Alonzo eventually beats him. Macavity holds out for a while, but as the rest of the tribe rallies around him, he cuts the stage lights and escapes in the ensuing confusion.

18)
After the fight, Rum Tum Tugger calls on the magician Mr Mistoffelees ("Magical Mr Mistoffelees") for help. Known as the "original wizard cat", Mr Mistoffelees can perform magic that no other cat can.

He demonstrates his magical powers in a dance solo and uses them to restore the lights and bring back Old Deuteronomy. It is now time for the Jellicle Election.

19)
Before Old Deuteronomy can decide, Grizabella returns to the junkyard and allows her to address the assembly. Her faded appearance and lonely disposition have little effect on her song ("Memory").

With the acceptance and encouragement of Jemima and Victoria, her appeal is booming, and she is chosen to go to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new Jellicle life ("The Journey to the Heaviside Layer").

20)
A tyre rises from the heaps of rubbish and carries Grizabella and Old Deuteronomy halfway to the sky; Grizabella then completes the journey on her own. Finally, Old Deuteronomy closes the show with his final speech to the audience ("The Addressing of Cats").

Cats (musical)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(musical)

CATS The Musical - FULL SHOW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAAaq7M0aXs

Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS, the most famous musical ever, first exploded onto the West End stage in 1981. Memory, one of its many classic songs, became an instant worldwide hit. Since then, CATS has continued to break records and conquer the world. This theatrical legend's excitement, thrills, romance, and intimacy have been captured on screen using the latest technology. Breathtaking visuals and all-digital sound (completely re-recorded with a seventy-piece orchestra) will take you deep into the mysterious world of CATS as you've never seen it before - more exhilarating and magical than you could ever imagine.

Cats the Musical 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1m-KyDuzws

SHIKI THEATRE COMPANY：CATS(Tokyo)：2021.4～5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwvFXmtrY6Y

Add info No1)

Introducing the synopsis of Shiki Cats Theater Company! For those who don't understand the meaning!

https://musicalact-stage.com/cats-2/

Synopsis of the musical "Cats"

On a night when the full moon shines blue and white, many Jellicle cats gather at a dump in a city corner to participate in the once-a-year "Jellicle Ball". These cats refuse to be domesticated by humans and have a strong spirit, boundless individuality and the energy to survive adversity. On this particular night, the elders choose the purest Jellicle Cats to determine who will be allowed to regenerate and gain new life.

Act 1
The show begins in the dark, with the stage and audience lights out. With the sudden sound of footsteps, the audience is surrounded by glowing cat eyes, and 24 cats appear on stage, inviting the audience into the feline world.

The "Jellicle Cats" gather in an old alley to hold a "Jellicle Ball" and decide which cat will climb to the ceiling. The chosen cat can be reborn with a new life.
Cats with different lifestyles are introduced, including the shabby prostitute cat Grizabella, whom the Jellicle Cats despise.

The appearance of the older cat, All Dutronomy, brightens the mood, and the Jellicle Ball begins. Grizabella sings "Memory", and the act ends.

Act 2
After the interval, the cats appear in the audience and walk around observing the audience.
The song begins with All Deuteronomy talking about ``What is true happiness?'' and the introduction of cats in different ways of life starts again.

An incident occurs in which All Dutronomy is kidnapped by the crime lord Macavity, and the cats rescue All Dutronomy with the help of the magic cat Mistfelise.
Peace is restored, and it is time to decide who will be the only cat to climb to the ceiling. Grizabella sings "Memory" again and is finally reborn with a new life.

Ultimately, the cats address the audience with a song called "Greetings from Cats," and the stage closes.
This story is a musical that conveys a message of rebirth and hope as the cats deepen their bonds as community members while making the most of their personalities.

Add info No2)

We will explain the synopsis of Shiki Cats Theater Company in a short and easy-to-understand manner! [Contains spoilers] Introducing characters and highlights.

https://suyasuya-miyabi.com/cats-story/

Greetings from the cats
Old Deuteronomy gathers the cats,
They send their final greetings to the human audience.

Cats are not dogs.
Greet the cats from your side first.
Please give them a gift or speak to their hearts.
Please wait for the moment when you can believe it.

These greetings will touch cat lovers.