CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Previews- Page 2

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 6:15pm

bryan32 said: "I think people what the cats they saw in the 1982 not with out cat makeup"

Huh????????????

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 6:15pm

bryan32 said: "I think people what the cats they saw in the 1982 not with out cat makeup"

They could see that for 19 years, the revival from 2016, the tour that's been ongoing a new constant basis since the 80s, any regional theatre in the country. 

This is something new and it's selling so clearly people want to see this as well. It's not either/or. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 6:25pm

malcs98 said: "Ensemble1665759202 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Official website and Telecharge both list an approximate 2:45 running time, including an intermission."

Oof that’s long. Hope they trim the fat during previews."

Well the show does have a very long encore/curtain callat the end...idk if they did it during the dress rehearsal last night but its about a good 8 minutes"

It ran just as long downtown. The show is padded with extra material related to the ballroom categories plus the extended curtain call. They might tighten the pace, but Bill and Zhailon have had quite a bit of time to sit on this and so I cannot see the fundamental structure being changed. (It may require permission from ALW anyway if they do)

[malcs98]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 6:47pm

quizking101 said: "malcs98 said: "Ensemble1665759202 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Official website and Telecharge both list an approximate 2:45 running time, including an intermission."

Oof that’s long. Hope they trim the fat during previews."

Well the show does have a very long encore/curtain callat the end...idk if they did it during the dress rehearsal last night but its about a good 8 minutes"

It ran just as long downtown. The show is padded with extra material related to the ballroom categories plus the extended curtain call. They might tighten the pace, but Bill and Zhailon have had quite a bit of time to sit on this and so I cannot see the fundamental structure being changed. (It may require permission from ALW anyway if they do)"

I absolutely am intrigued to see how many changes Bill and Zhailon make to this, but personally I hope they don't make too many. Yes they can tighten the pace, but part of what made the PAC run so special to begin with was the high energy everyone in that ensemble was creating and what the audience giving back in return. As Junior LaBeija, says in the pre-show message (which I hope they keep) "I know a lot of you traditional theatre kitties like to sit quietly and hold your reactions in...but this is a BALL darling, and you have full permission to clap, yell, emote and GET. YOUR. LIFE!!!!" 

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 7:33pm

I absolutely am intrigued to see how many changes Bill and Zhailon make to this, but personally I hope they don't make too many. Yes they can tighten the pace, but partof what made the PAC run so special to begin with was the high energy everyone in that ensemble was creating and what the audience giving back in return. As Junior LaBeija, saysin the pre-show message (which I hope they keep) "I know a lot of you traditional theatre kitties like to sit quietly and hold your reactions in...but this is a BALL darling, and you have full permission to clap, yell, emote and GET. YOUR. LIFE!!!!""

The energy is there, but the lay out of the theater changes the collective energy. At PAC you felt like you were in a dome of joy. Broadhurst with its traditional seating just presents the show differently. They have to work a bit harder to spread the joy to the back rows. It's possible and I'm sure it'll get there. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 7:37pm

A 360 View of the Theatre from my seat

https://x.com/songanddancern/status/2034412924383453646?s=46&t=0XG46rJiPEOy8dyIeDsimg

[The8re phan]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 7:44pm

quizking101 said: "A 360 View of the Theatre from my seat

https://x.com/songanddancern/status/2034412924383453646?s=46&t=0XG46rJiPEOy8dyIeDsimg"

on your way out or at intermission, if you can snap a pic from first row orch on the center left or center right aisle, i would SOOOOO appreciate it!  

 

Updated On: 3/18/26 at 07:44 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 7:53pm

Their Instagram went live for the pre-show message. High energy house today… sending all the good vibes.

Enjoy the show, everybody.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 8:27pm

TheatreFan4 said: "This is something new and it's selling so clearly people want to see this as well. It's not either/or."

It's selling to people on this board and other theater needs. They're seeing it now. I looked at two weeks worth of sales after the official opening and there are plenty of tickets to be had . . . at least half tge house.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 8:27pm

TheatreFan4 said: "This is something new and it's selling so clearly people want to see this as well. It's not either/or."

It's selling to people on this board and other theater needs. They're seeing it now. I looked at two weeks worth of sales after the official opening and there are plenty of tickets to be had . . . at least half the house.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 8:35pm

Fosse76 said: "It's selling to people on this board and other theater needs. They're seeing it now. I looked at two weeks worth of sales after the official opening and there are plenty of tickets to be had . . . at least half tge house."

And that is the ticket buying culture now. Unless you're a sell out smash, you don't hold a massive advance. Certainly not before you even start performances.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 10:49pm

First curtain call encore:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWDJecdDFgz/?igsh=MTY2cmczN213YTNkeQ==

 

[pair-o-dice]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 11:02pm

Thrilling night.  The glow-ups were awesome...especially the costumes.  Could easily see it winning the Tony for them.  Andre has elevated his performance even more.  I think they did a great job transferring to a traditional proscenium.  Sure, it misses some of the runway intimacy and that feeling that you are "in it" - but, I can't think of doing anything better than how they did it.  It was pure joy from start to finish!  A total blast.

[EvanHansen]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 11:33pm

Thrilling night, indeed. The runway is smaller than it was downtown, but I was in the front row of the mezzanine and still felt the same joy I felt when I first saw it off-Broadway (from the runway seating). There were some tiny first preview hiccups that they will fix but the crowd was electric and it was an amazing evening at the theater. I could easily see it winning Best Revival, Best Costumes, and Best Choreography but it will also be a huge contender in Best Director, Best Scenic Design, and Best Featured Actor for Andre De Shields. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 11:37pm

Review 

God, I love being gay.

This was indeed one hell of a thrilling night at the theater. It definitely seems to feel just as fresh as it did when it was downtown two years ago, even with the odd dynamics of the new space, they are really making it work and have come up with some quite interesting and innovative ways to adapt and allow people to make their grand entrances and exits. Grizabella’s big finale, especially gets an upgrade from downtown that was honestly gag worthy.

The cast was firing on all cylinders, as was to be expected with this level of choreography and singing in the show. Leiomy is a solid addition, but the singing voice is getting there. They also Ken Ard (the DJ) MUCH more to do than Capital Kaos, including having him walk in different categories and some of the dance numbers. I agree that the costumes got one hell of a glow up by Qween Jean (who is sitting right across the aisle from me on stage) and I’m hard-pressed to think of any other musical that will even come close to this level of craftsmanship in costuming. Same thing with the choreography by Omari and Arturo - no musical is even going to come close with the level of athleticism. 

That said, I did have two moderate quibbles. The first is that, if you are sitting in the stage right on stage seating, you will miss everything that happens in the DJ box. But this also tracks with my earlier presumption that the design is going to ultimately result in everybody missing something happening based on their vantage point. My other quibble is the sound design which, as I understood it, isn’t fully complete yet. There are some issues comprehending things that are being said  . From what I was told, they had lost an entire week of tech due to issues with loading into the Broadhurst because of the Rob Lake show before it.

The audience was rapturous and that feeds the energy of the show. I’m still riding that high and can’t wait to go back many more times. 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 11:48pm

From what I was told, they had lost an entire week of tech due to issues with loading into the Broadhurst because of the Rob Lake show before it.
"

Rob Lake closed five months ago- how is this possible? 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 12:00am

Kad said: "From what I was told, they had lost an entire week of tech due to issues with loading into the Broadhurst because of the Rob Lake show before it.
"

Rob Lake closed five months ago- how is this possible?"

I didn’t get that much detail, but I presume it slowed the timeline of reconfiguring the theatre and load-in

[Joyce 9]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 12:00am

I really disliked this at PAC and know several people who didn’t like it either.  Without spectacle, the choreography (ballet, jazz, tap), the amazing set, and hair and makeup, this musical doesn’t have anything going for it. They scrubbed the show of everything good and replaced it with arm movements and bad vocals, the woman singing memory was totally off pitch.  It’s all so pedestrian, do they still have the slide show to open act two?  Hahaha so cringe. 

Updated On: 3/19/26 at 12:00 AM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 12:14am

Joyce 9 said: "Hahaha so cringe."

Almost as cringe as you creating a new account every 6 weeks. I still have the DM of you asking for my audio of this show so we all know you just say this **** to be contrarian because you have no actual thoughts about anything. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 12:26am

Well, for me, that was one of the best Conductor curtain call "bows" I've seen. That was too cute.

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 12:46am

Joyce 9 said: "I really disliked this at PAC and know several people who didn’t like it either. Without spectacle, thechoreography (ballet, jazz, tap), the amazing set, and hair and makeup, this musicaldoesn’t have anything going for it.They scrubbed the showof everything good and replaced it with arm movements and bad vocals, the woman singing memory was totally off pitch. It’s all so pedestrian, do they still have the slide show to open act two? Hahaha so cringe."

I tell myself I won’t engage, and yet you pop up like a herpetic outbreak.

Clearly you have ZERO understanding of the concept of ballroom and vogue-style dancing. It is not “arm movements”, it is full body movement with elements of contortion and gymnast level stamina. The fact that you have decided to reduce a very novel concept for reinventing a show that many find “cringe” in its original form as “pedestrian” shows you have no clue what the word even means. Pedestrian would be if they just decided to do basic CATS.

And yes, they still have the slideshow during “Moments of Happiness”. For those of us in the queer community, it is a reminder of the fact and also a lesson that we have always existed, regardless of the powers who try to force us back in our closets. It is queer joy. It is queer liberation. It is paying homage to the forefathers of a cultural movement, many of whom later were lost to the AIDS crisis. It’s comes right before Legend Junior LaBeija takes the stage, for which tonight he got a 2 minute standing ovation. It is very intentional and respectful and I can’t believe I’m arguing this point with this genital wart of a poster, but I’m so hot under the collar by the level of disrespect.

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 12:48am

uncageg said: "Well, for me, that was one of the best Conductor curtain call "bows" I've seen. That was too cute."

Waldrop did it downtown too. I absolutely love that they integrated him into the bows like that.

[bruceway]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 1:10am

quizking101 said: "Kad said: "From what I was told, they had lost an entire week of tech due to issues with loading into the Broadhurst because of the Rob Lake show before it.
"

Rob Lake closed five months ago- how is this possible?"

I didn’t get that much detail, but I presume it slowed the timeline of reconfiguring the theatre and load-in"

You'd think Rob could magically make some of his set disappear. Then again, if he were that good of a magician he could've sold tickets.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 1:14am

quizking101 said: "
And yes, they still have the slideshow during “Moments of Happiness”. For those of us in the queer community, it is a reminder of the fact and also a lessonthat we have always existed, regardless of the powers who try to force us back in our closets. It is queer joy. It is queer liberation. It is paying homage to the forefathers of a cultural movement, many of whom later were lost to the AIDS crisis. It’scomes right before Legend Junior LaBeija takes the stage, for which tonight he got a 2 minute standing ovation. It is very intentional and respectful and I can’t believe I’m arguing this point with this genital wart of a poster, but I’m so hot under the collar by the level of disrespect."

And not only Ballroom Culture, but we can see those parallels with the original Cast of Cats 5 of which (more with replacement casts) died from AIDS by 1990 all under the age of 40 and to have Kenneth Ard in this production to tie so much of the Past and Present - Ballroom and Broadway TOGETHER.

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 1:17am

TheatreFan4 said: "quizking101 said: "
And yes, they still have the slideshow during “Moments of Happiness”. For those of us in the queer community, it is a reminder of the fact and also a lessonthat we have always existed, regardless of the powers who try to force us back in our closets. It is queer joy. It is queer liberation. It is paying homage to the forefathers of a cultural movement, many of whom later were lost to the AIDS crisis. It’scomes right before Legend Junior LaBeija takes the stage, for which tonight he got a 2 minute standing ovation. It is very intentional and respectful and I can’t believe I’m arguing this point with this genital wart of a poster, but I’m so hot under the collar by the level of disrespect."

And not only Ballroom Culture, but we can see those parallels with the original Cast of Cats 5 of which (more with replacement casts)died from AIDS by 1990 all under the age of 40 and to have Kenneth Ard in this production to tie so much of the Past and Present - Ballroom and Broadway TOGETHER."

CAN I GET AN AMEN?!?!?!