CATS 2009 tour

#1

CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:32pm

I believe it is a non-equity. This show will be opening the 4 year grand re-welcoming of Broadway shows here in New Orleans after 4 years due to Hurricane Katrina. The show is next tuesday and I'm still on the fence as to if I should go see it. Has anyone seen this tour? How are the sets? etc.. THANKS!

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Shows: Wicked 9.20.08; Wicked 3.14.09; Wicked 4.11.09; Cats 10.27.09; Legally Blonde 11.25.09; Chicago 11.27.09; Wicked 11.27.09; The Color Purple 12.1.09; Wicked 3.25.10; Wicked 3.26.10; Wicked 3.27.10; Wicked 3.28.10; Wicked 4.2.10; Wicked 4.3.10 (Evening and Matinee); Wicked 4.9.10; Wicked 4.10.10; Wicked 4.11.10; The Color Purple 4.24.10;

#2

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:52pm

It is non Eq. The cast is great... great dancers. The set is inflatable but it doesn't seem like it from the audience (at least from where I was sitting). It's a good tour. I enjoyed it.

#3

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:53pm

Cats has been Non-Eq for (at least) 10 years now.

#4

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:02pm

I saw the 2009 and I enjoyed it. My only complaint is that the orchestra sounds VERY synthetic and weak. Other than that, it is very enjoyable

#5

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:15pm

the tour just opened in Chicago. it may indeed be a small, weak orchestra as they can fit it all into rooms throughout the theatre and left the pit empty...

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2009/10/cats-at-the-cadillac-palace-if-its-all-right-with-baron-lloydwebber-then.html

#6

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:49pm

Updated On: 6/17/17 at 07:49 PM

#7

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 8:03pm

It's still missing my favorite song, and I still don't understand the reason for cutting it, but it's a pretty fantastic tour. I think, like Rent, it's a show that lends itself well to a non-equity cast with young energetic talented newcomers as long as the production values aren't scaled back too much.

A major part of the shows success is definitely due to the creative design... sets, costumes, lights and special effects and I know some people have had issues with the inflatable set. Honestly, if I hadn't known about it before hand I don't think I would have been able to tell, and depending on where you're sitting it's almost impossible to spot so it's not really an issue for me. I thought it looked great.

Updated On: 10/15/09 at 08:03 PM

#8

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 8:06pm

It is a cheap replica of the real thing.

The set is awful, the pit sounds pathetic...and while the performers are generally fine, the original choreography has been pathetically dumbed down and often looks like a totally different show.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#9

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 8:07pm

Please tell me it's not literally being called "the 4 year grand re-welcoming of Broadway shows"?

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#10

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 8:12pm

What song Cats? Pekes & Pollicles?

#11

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 8:19pm

Yes, I remember that transition being very awkward. As though it were completely obvious that there was a missing song that just got skipped over.

#12

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 8:21pm

I don't even know WHY they cut it. It's a simple number.

#13

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 9:09pm

I'm sure it's not a Lloyd Webber thing that the musicians be backstage. On the Equity tours the Orchestra was ALWAYS in the pit when I saw it in Boston a few times. I think it's more a Troika thing with the producers wanting those extra pit seats to sell.

#14

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 9:15pm

I wish they'd extend the stage out instead of putting in more seats. I do remember thinking the stage was pretty tiny for a dance show.

#15

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/15/09 at 9:22pm

I think back in 2004 when I saw the tour (Anne Brummel as Grizabella) the orchestra was in the pit. I'm not sure though, but I' positive that there no more seats added.

A funny story:

This man came up to me & my family (me in my CATS shirt that I just bought) when we saw the show again in 2004. He started jabbering on about how he played Old Deuteronomy is a tour of CATS. I didn't really pay much attention because I didn't believe him. Now that I look back he did have the build & the face of someone who could have played Old D. I'd be willing to bet that he was telling the truth.

#16

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/16/09 at 4:44am

This is so random, but I'm curious... Do they give out actual Playbills for this? Or is it just a generic sort of a program?

#17

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/16/09 at 6:49am

We got Playbills in San Diego. I think it depends on the presenting house though. Not every theatre in the country uses Playbill for their program needs.

#18

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/16/09 at 8:26am

I never got a chance to see the Broadway version, dod they use a pit there or did they do like London and have the orcnestra off to the side behind some of the set?

Also while we're on cats, can some one who saw the Broadway version explain to me how they did the boat in the Growltiger scene?

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre

#19

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/16/09 at 3:46pm

Well if it was anything like the tour then a 'Growltiger' show curtain dropped on the stage. During this time they took parts of the sets (& off stage) set to make a boat & raise the curtain.

#20

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/16/09 at 5:41pm

Just talked to the manager at the theater. CATS, as well as all the other shows in New Orleans will use playbills. Apparently they are in contract with BWAY across america. All venues for BAA apparently use them.

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Shows: Wicked 9.20.08; Wicked 3.14.09; Wicked 4.11.09; Cats 10.27.09; Legally Blonde 11.25.09; Chicago 11.27.09; Wicked 11.27.09; The Color Purple 12.1.09; Wicked 3.25.10; Wicked 3.26.10; Wicked 3.27.10; Wicked 3.28.10; Wicked 4.2.10; Wicked 4.3.10 (Evening and Matinee); Wicked 4.9.10; Wicked 4.10.10; Wicked 4.11.10; The Color Purple 4.24.10;

#21

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 10/16/09 at 7:02pm

When I saw the show the pit was not seated, but there were steps going down into the audience and there was an empty space between the stage and row 1. The cats came down at the finale and danced in this area and some of the moms brought their kids up to interact with the acts. The orchestra is basically just an empty space at level with the audience.

#22

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 11/8/09 at 9:17pm

just saw the show last week. It was amazing. I noticed it was much shorter than I remember, with only 70 minute acts. some parts of the stage were indeed blown up. The sets looked a little different, however it was an amazing night. The orchestra was sealed and as the overture started the cats ran around with little green lights. There was no curtain.

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Shows: Wicked 9.20.08; Wicked 3.14.09; Wicked 4.11.09; Cats 10.27.09; Legally Blonde 11.25.09; Chicago 11.27.09; Wicked 11.27.09; The Color Purple 12.1.09; Wicked 3.25.10; Wicked 3.26.10; Wicked 3.27.10; Wicked 3.28.10; Wicked 4.2.10; Wicked 4.3.10 (Evening and Matinee); Wicked 4.9.10; Wicked 4.10.10; Wicked 4.11.10; The Color Purple 4.24.10;

#23

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 11/8/09 at 9:36pm

and as the overture started the cats ran around with little green lights. There was no curtain.

It's always been like that.

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Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

#24

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 11/8/09 at 9:56pm

Great to know that the show is in excellent shape! Btw, at the end instead of having a staircase hand type thing come down, it was like this space ship weird looking thing. not sure how to describe it.

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Shows: Wicked 9.20.08; Wicked 3.14.09; Wicked 4.11.09; Cats 10.27.09; Legally Blonde 11.25.09; Chicago 11.27.09; Wicked 11.27.09; The Color Purple 12.1.09; Wicked 3.25.10; Wicked 3.26.10; Wicked 3.27.10; Wicked 3.28.10; Wicked 4.2.10; Wicked 4.3.10 (Evening and Matinee); Wicked 4.9.10; Wicked 4.10.10; Wicked 4.11.10; The Color Purple 4.24.10;

#25

re: CATS 2009 tour

Posted: 11/8/09 at 9:58pm

The saucer? There are a few different contraptions that used for the finale. The saucer, staircase, & also a hot air balloon.