Broadway Revivals That Deserve The Jellicle Ball Treatment

I’ve always wanted A Chorus Line done in a new way. The reality TV show idea sounds cute. My friend and I were talking and he was like “what if it was an open trans woman talking about how she got her tits and ass done after her casting card said she was clockable”. I’d LOVE that. 

Guys and Dolls — but make it sports betting and nightlife

People just like to say things... I feel like a show that can take a whole concept overhaul is one that is very light on plot because you're not really changing the text. All of these examples are just "Take old thing and make modern" and that is just not interesting. You don't have to reinvent the wheel to make a good production. 

It should be no surprise that the "journalist" who wrote that article also has really horrendous ideas for musicals. 

What exactly is "The Jellicle Ball Treatment"? 

"Cats" has been stripped of anything resembling a cat (including make-up, costumes [animal prints don't count], and choreography) and completely replaced with elements of another culture. Even cat-like behaviors (when applied in this specific setting) are more readily associated with Ball culture than the original concept's setting of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.

Can anyone realistically say that Jellicle Ball is about cats?

Has so much time passed that "a circus themed production of Seussical" is no longer a meme of reference?

"OnstageBlog posted a great article..."

And that's where you lost me. 

Everyone always wants a modern retelling of an older show.
I want an Irish potato famine era retelling of “Spider Man Turn off the Dark” 

He swings from pasture to pasture

Updated On: 7/8/26 at 10:53 AM

THE WIZ would be kind of perfect for this type of treatment.

The magic of JELLICLE BALL is that the new concept worked without changing nearly any of the written material - it was all about the subtext. If you're going to try to make BIRDIE about modern stan culture, you might as well write a new show.

I guess you could do a production of FIDDLER set in contemporary Israel or Palestine or Ukraine, without script changes. Whether that would be great or if anyone would want to see it is a different matter...

I'm not thinking hard about this, but I wouldn't really count Daniel Fish's OKLAHOMA! or Ivo's WEST SIDE or Marianne's COMPANY as one of these "treatments." Those didn't really change the subtext of what the show is about, they just changed the way it was presented/set/costumed. To that end, much has been said about Encores' LA CAGE feeling like a "lite" (and ineffective) version of this, but I DO think there's a world where it worked with the right director/choreographer and new musical arrangements. My kingdom for Colman Domingo as George alongside Monet Xchange or J. Harrison Ghee as Albin!

tomorrowBIGLITES said: "Legally Blonde but you cut everything about it that turns into a cartoon."

The 2022 Regent’s Park Open Air production of Legally Blonde is my holy grail of musical revivals and it sucks that we didn’t get a transfer of it…

in fact you could pretty much say that for most of the Regent’s Park productions 

merle57 said: "Aren't these shows with style but no substance becoming tiresome?"

Speaking for myself? YES.

But, there is a section of the population that is eating this up with a spoon. I have no desire to take their joy away from them, nor the aspect of representation. 

My opinion is however, that ALW is making bank on appropriated cultural aspects of the LGBTQ+ community that have no connection to the musical he wrote beyond the idea of a "Ball".  I think if RUG really wanted to make a statement of "substance", they would have selected "Jesus Christ Superstar" to remodel using Ball culture instead of "Cats". 

PS: As a way of giving back, it would be nice if he (RUG) pledged a percentage of the show's profits to a charity that supports Trans rights/housing/protections, or an organization that specifically provides support for LGBTQ+ PoC.

It doesn't need to be a lot - just as a token of "thanks" to a community and their culture for revitalizing a show that had become a long-running joke. 

Updated On: 7/8/26 at 04:57 PM

Theatrefan2 said: "TotallyEffed said: "I’d actually love to see some Shakespeare with period appropriate sets and costumes. No “concept,” just beautiful words and great actors."

I agree, its got to the point with Shakespeare tthat this type of production would be quite revolutionary."

I believe there are many productions (professional and non-) that fit the brief;  many, many more than you or I might be aware of. They just don't get the kind of publicity that Shakespearean "concept" productions do. 

Unfortunately, it's my opinion that a majority consider Shakespeare to be a yawn-inducing property that you're forced to read (not see, mind you) in High School.

Updated On: 7/8/26 at 05:33 PM

John Adams said: "Theatrefan2 said: "TotallyEffed said: "I’d actually love to see some Shakespeare with period appropriate sets and costumes. No “concept,” just beautiful words and great actors."

I agree, its got to the point with Shakespeare tthat this type of production would be quite revolutionary."

I believe there are many productions (professional and non-) that fit the brief; many, many more than you or I might be aware of. They just don't get the kind of publicity that Shakespearean "concept" productions do.

Unfortunately, it's my opinion that a majority consider Shakespeare to be a yawn-inducing property that you're forced to read (not see, mind you) in High School."

I just loved A Tender Thing by Ben Power which uses Shakespeare’s language but resets the Romeo & Juliet story from teen love and suicide to seniors with terminal illness. I saw this two years ago at Barrington and often think of it. Candy Buckley and Derek Smith were outstanding. To just sit in an intimate theater with minimal staging and listen to that poetry was very special. I would see that play again in a heartbeat. https://youtu.be/opeMbavPpyg?si=-_9Lw6NHNIWG0Nmy