It’s Midnight, and not a sound from the pavement. Suddenly an explosion of music and lights reveals a larger-than-life junkyard. Probing car lights tear across the darkened landscape of bottles and boxes, briefly catching the darting image of a running feline. Tonight is the one special night each year when the tribe of Jellicle Cats reunites to celebrate who they are. They emerge singing of their unique abilities and special traits.

The cats are at first suspicious and reluctant to allow the audience into their domain. They are proud, however, and in The Naming of Cats explain to their human visitors who they are. They reveal that cats have three different names: the one the family uses daily, a more dignified name and a secret name. It is the contemplation of these secret names that keeps felines deep in thought.

You can’t argue with success. When you are the longest running musical of all time, you must be doing something right. Long time fans and newcomers alike will get the chance to slip into the world of Cats when Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical rolls into the Jubilee Auditorium for eight shows from March 28th to April 2nd this year.

The play first opened in 1981 at New London Theatre in the West End and became the longest running musical in the history of British theatre. Cats took Broadway by storm when it opened in the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and in 1997, becoming the longest running musical in Broadway history in 1997 (surpassed by The Phantom of the Opera this year). It ended its run on September 10th, 2000 but remains one of the most popular touring musicals on earth.

The tour returns to Calgary to mark the shows silver anniversary. It isn’t the first time that the Jellicle cats have graced the stage at the Jubilee Auditorium. They purred and prowled their way to town in July of 2002 and August of 1997 to rave reviews. While many of those same theatre goers who made those tours a success will be in attendance again, it will also be a first time for others. Young and old alike will sit wide eyed in awe as our beloved pets come to life on stage.

Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS has won seven Tony Awards, 7 Dora Mavor Moore Awards in Canada, and even a Grammy. The song “Memory” has become one of the most well known songs on earth – from stage productions to high school talent shows.

While many are excited about the return of Webber’s other most famous production coming in July, CATS set the standard and revolutionized musical theatre. Promotional material for the show says “Before there was Phantom, there was Cats.” See for yourself what all the excitement is about – I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.d festival packages are available through ATP’s box office.

PHOTO CREDIT: Joan Marcus

CATS
March 28th – April 2nd, 2006
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
(403) 777-0000
www.ticketmaster.ca