CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Reviews — Page 15

TheatreFan4 said: "joevitus said: "

Geez, I was actually saying my response wasn't as negative as John Adams assumed."

Girl, what is there to even be negative aboutin relation to this news and the work that went into making it happen?"

It's a show. That's all it is. It certainly isn't something that's going to become part of LGBT history, as one fairly extreme post insisted. I find the intensity a bit much, especially when it leads to making snarky comments (eating crow) about those who aren't similarly obsessed. It's passion, which is why I don't agree with John Adams about "arrogance," but it's a bit much to deal with. It's kinda pushy, and thus can be irritating.

Updated On: 8/3/26 at 10:27 PM

RUkiddingme said: "I will get attacked for this one! LOL

The show is about energy - not vocals.

It's the staging and the choreography - not vocals.

I can't imagine people listening to most of this new recording.

"

Agree that’s what I said when it got announced. They should of done a pro shot for HBO (to go with legendary)

Updated On: 8/3/26 at 05:11 AM

bear882 said: "Think of the shows that never got cast recordings. My example is Shuffle Along, which bothers me to this day."

Not an accurate analogy. There are multiple cast recordings of CATS, including the original Broadway cast recording, the original London cast recording from 1981. Additionally, there have been reissues and remastered versions over the years.

"Think of the significance of Merrily We Roll Along getting a cast recording because Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim had clout."

Again, not an accurate analogy. The significance of "Merrily.."'s cast recording was that it generated a fandom for Sondheim's score, which (once isolated from the original production values of the B'way show) generated enthusiasm for improving the book, and production concepts.

ALW's score (IMO) is the least prominent, or significant aspect of this production (see: RUkiddingme's comment above). If anything, it is "the staging and the choreography - not vocals" (and even more prominently - Ball culture) that have many people expressing such admiration for this production.

In regards to "clout", I am much more inclined to think about the fact that for all his wealth, it would be an appropriate act of human kindness if ALW would consider giving back to the community that made this production a success; especially concerning causes that benefit the Trans community and Trans youth. (A notion mentioned twice previously, but completely ignored both times.)

"It seems odd that anyone is expressing even the slightest bit of annoyance with quizking101, who played some role (exactly how much I do not know) in this cast recording getting made."

The possibility exists that his role/the petition was moot, as there is no way of knowing whether/not a cast album was already a possibility before the petition was enacted.

"To me, it’s one of those rare times where people triumphed over profit. We all know it’s a business, but it’s rather cool this is happening."

I believe the opposite is true. The sale of this cast album will most certainly increase profit, but there is still a missed opportunity to give back to a community, as a "thank you" for being the predominant source of the show's success.

Updated On: 8/3/26 at 07:38 AM

Relentlessly self-promoting co-producer Sean Nyberg made an IG post taking credit for the cast album happening.

TheatreFan4 said: "John Adams said: "
I believe the opposite is true. The sale of this cast album will most certainly increase profit, but there is still a missed opportunity to give back to a community, as a "thank you" for being the predominant source of the show's success."

That may be what you believe, but it does not reflect reality. Music as a whole is not profitable anymore without the supplementary pieces (tours, merch, live performances). Cast Recordings are much worse than that. Unless you're a cast recording of a runaway hit, you'll be lucky to break even years down the road. Jellicle Ball in particular is 10s of millions of dollars in the red, so no the cast recording will not "increase profit" because there is no profit to be made when you are that far in the red."

I'm actually baffled at how the music industry continues to remain afloat. For all the angst over Napster in the 00's, what we have with iTunes is essentially Napster--except for a few very big albums (and then, I think, only the key songs) everything can be downloaded for free. When I think of how much I used to dole out for CDs, and before that, for records...I'm gratefully surprised there is still professionally recorded music at all.

The only genre where I see a direct impact on the production of recordings is opera, but this actually started in the CD era, when so much of the back catalogue was instantly availalbe again, leading record companies to balk at another Aida or Manon or what have you when there were already a gazillion. Of course, streaming platforms have only made it worse.

RUkiddingme said: "I will get attacked for this one! LOL

The show is about energy - not vocals.

It's the staging and the choreography - not vocals.

I can't imagine people listening to most of this new recording.

"

I can't be the only person who listens to a cast recording to remember the production. So, sure, all the dips and splits won't be on the recording, but I'll be able to listen to those artists sing the songs and remember the incredible staging and choreography that went with them.

Some folks in this thread who don't even like this show are awfully invested in continuing to comment on it.

John Adams said:

"It seems odd that anyone is expressing even the slightest bit of annoyance withgg quizking101, who played some role (exactly how much I do not know) in this cast recording getting made."

The possibility exists that his role/the petition was moot, as there is no way of knowing whether/not a cast album was already a possibility before the petition was enacted.

When I undertook this, it was widely understood by the people I spoke to that the production was, more or less, insolvent and so a cast recording was highly unlikely, but not impossible if acted on quickly. I wouldn’t have bothered if I knew for certain that it was going to be a fruitless effort (like if they announced closing with a much shorter runway).

The goal was to drum up visible support, capitalizing on the outrage from the early closing and use that to assist leverage the money people. (One person on a petition usually represents many more that can’t be reached). And I sure as heck did not expect the response I got. Regardless of the size of the contribution of myself and my team (I didn’t do this alone) made with this petition - I won’t ever probably know myself - it was certainly by no stretch “moot”.

RUkiddingme said: "I will get attacked for this one! LOL

The show is about energy - not vocals.

It's the staging and the choreography - not vocals.

I can't imagine people listening to most of this new recording.

"

Babes, you must not have ears. The Jellicle Ball cast is singing circles around any company that has ever done this production, except for Tempress. The vocals are sultry and exciting in places they never have been for Cats. Also the orchestrations are new and lively. That'll hit differently on an OBC. Ballroom music is very much what Beyonce pulled from for Renaissance. This won't just be another cast album. It'll be a vibe.

TheatreFan4 said: "Kad said: "Relentlessly self-promoting co-producer Sean Nyberg made an IG posttaking credit for the cast album happening."

Of course he did, he blocked me after I dragged his ass on my story. Bitch did not do a god damn thing. Insane that his post about the recording features 6 different photos of himself and celebrities as if anybody gives a ****... we all see his game and that this for attention."



Sure sounds like you gave a ***--- since you were already trolling his IG feed.

JSquared2 said: "
Sure sounds likeyou gave a ***--- since you were already trolling his IG feed."

Yeah, when he was out blaming the audience for Jellicle Ball's closing and not one word about the economics of putting up a show on Broadway that may result in him not getting to attend a party.