CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Reviews- Page 4
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Reviews
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#75
Posted: 4/21/26 at 10:38am
This morning’s performance on GMA:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXZWSrLAbLB/?igsh=MW01a25oN2Q0cHpjcg==
They really did a good job of showcasing a thrilling song moment, featuring the choreo heavily, and giving the legends (Junior, Andre, and Tempress) a moment of shining glory.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#76
Posted: 4/21/26 at 4:28pm
(bump to move page)
Tonight is the first swing all-skate!
Garnet Williams - Grizabella
Bryce Farris - Etcetera
Tara Lashan Clinkscales - Bombalurina
B. Noel Thomas - Bustopher Jones
Kalyn West - Cassandra/Skimblshanks
Kendall Grayson Stroud - Server/Booth Singer
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#77
Posted: 4/21/26 at 8:28pm
They added two more swings, Darius White was also on tonight.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#78
Posted: 4/21/26 at 8:59pm
How is Garnett Williams? Would love to know how she navigates the second act "Memory." It's the only staging in the show that for me doesn't quite come up to the reinvention. Maybe because - no spoilers - the first act "Memory" genuinely wrecked me. I go way back to Cats - I saw the original-original in the West End in November 1981 (took my parents) - but this was the first time the first act "Memory" pulled unexpected but fully earned tears. It's wrenching. Maybe it colored my response to the full-throttle iteration.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#79
Posted: 4/21/26 at 9:09pm
Speaking of the second-act "Memory"...
Is there really enough space above the stage at the Broadhurst to store the spiral staircase that comes down for the climactic scene? Is it generally the case that the theater we see on Broadway is actually at least twice as tall as we can see on stage?
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#80
Posted: 4/21/26 at 9:25pm
kdogg36 said: "Speaking of the second-act "Memory"...
"
Broadway Curtains don't roll up when they rise, nor do Scenery Drops. The fly space has to be at least the size of the height of the stage above.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#81
Posted: 4/22/26 at 5:24am
Auggie27 said: "How is Garnett Williams? Would love to know how she navigates the second act "Memory." It's the only staging in the show that for me doesn't quite come up to the reinvention. Maybe because - no spoilers - the first act "Memory" genuinely wrecked me. I go way back to Cats - I saw the original-original in the West End in November 1981 (took my parents) - but this wasthe first time the first act "Memory" pulledunexpected but fully earned tears. It's wrenching. Maybe it colored my response to the full-throttle iteration."
Thought she was way better than the person I saw originated the role downtown. Voice was stronger and better emotion.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#82
Posted: 4/23/26 at 9:56pm
In the first step of my master plan to have Sasha Colby play Macavity, she was the guest judge last night.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#83
Posted: 4/23/26 at 11:48pm
Finally got to see this one tonight on a comp. I'm admittedly not as ecstatic with it as a lot of us were, but I still had a very good time. (For context, I also saw the 2016 revival and I just watched through "Paris Is Burning" yesterday.)
Levingston and Rauch took some pretty big swings here. Not all of them land, but most do. I liked how tongue-in-cheek this was, and the subtle nods to the original CATS.
The "battles" and newly added dance breaks were a great addition. I hope the incidental music is preserved if/when we get a cast album.
Full cast was on tonight with no swings, and a slightly late start + overlong performance. (7:15 spotlight on the DJ and his vinyls, 9:48 end of encore)
I dug the audience energy but we knew when to quiet down for the tamer parts. It felt good to see a nearly full mezz.
This cast is really good. It was my first time seeing André De Shields in a show and I'm pretty sure he's Moses personified. Sydney James Harcourt was a fantastic Tugger. I'd also be thrilled with Tony noms for Dudney Joseph Jr. and Emma Sofia.
The guest judges tonight were a pair of ex-Real Housewives, Eileen Davidson and Eva Marcille.
Stage door: Ken Ard, Bryson Battle, Baby Byrne, Dudney Joseph Jr., Robert "Silk" Mason, "Tempress" Chasity Moore (absolute sweetie), Nora Schell, and Teddy Wilson Jr. all came out and signed. Started right around 10, and the guards sent us home by 10:15.
Go. Don't pay more than a rush ticket, but go.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#84
Posted: 4/23/26 at 11:54pm
Couple other things:
What they did with a certain golden spiral staircase was the reveal of the night.
Also, De Shields holds a long note that feels right for this season in particular, what with Henry and Christopher providing show-stealing sostenutos of their own:
"And be careful of OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD Deuteronomyyyyy."
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/13
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#85
Posted: 4/24/26 at 12:32pm
EDSOSLO858 said:
This cast is really good. It was my first time seeing André De Shields in a show
How did you miss seeing him in Hadestown? That's a real shame.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#86
Posted: 4/24/26 at 2:26pm
inception said: "EDSOSLO858 said:
This cast is really good. It was my first time seeing André De Shields in a show
How did you miss seeing him in Hadestown? That's a real shame."
One of my loved ones saw him and the entire original cast. I couldn’t come as I was auditing a different show that night.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#87
Posted: 4/24/26 at 2:46pm
EDSOSLO858 said: "Couple other things:
What they did with a certain golden spiral staircase was the reveal of the night.
Also, De Shields holds a long note that feels right for this season in particular, what with Henry and Christopher providing show-stealing sostenutos of their own:
"And be careful of OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD Deuteronomyyyyy.""
I’ve been counting the crazy notes of shows I see multiple times and André’s record on that is currently 30 seconds. Nicholas Christopher’s “Endgame” record is 23 seconds.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#88
Posted: 5/2/26 at 11:03am
Does anyone happen to know if Junior LaBeija signs at the stage door for this show?
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#89
Posted: 5/2/26 at 1:06pm
Jordan Catalano said: "Does anyone happen to know if Junior LaBeija signs at the stage door for this show?"
More often than not he does. It’s usually feast or famine where mostly EVERYONE pops out or they shut down after like 2.
The ones I usually see are Sydney, Junior, Bryce (if he’s on), Leiomy, Garnet, Ken, Baby, Emma, Tempress, Xavier, and Bryson.
You *might* get a couple extra if you are there a few minutes after they break down since sometimes the guards close early. Most of the time, they are usually gathering with the guest judges after the show or peacing out entirely.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#90
Posted: 5/2/26 at 1:21pm
Junior did not come out and sign the night I saw this.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#91
Posted: 5/3/26 at 9:26am
He did come out last night. (I don’t get anything signed anymore. I just linger and say hi 😂)
Andra Day was one of the guest judges last night and she was getting her WHOLE life during “Tugger”. Sydney turned on maximum flirt and her facial and body movements were so hilarious that I thought she was going to fall ass backwards through the curtain. I talked to her at intermission and, my god, she is gorgeous and lovely.
ALSO, anyone going today (5/3) will get to see a Macavity debut. (Leiomy posted she’s taking off for a shoulder injury)
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#92
Posted: 5/3/26 at 11:23am
Oh awesome, thank you!
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#93
Posted: 5/3/26 at 11:32am
Who's playing Macavity today?
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#94
Posted: 5/3/26 at 2:02pm
ACL2006 said: "Who's playing Macavity today?"
I have t gotten any word, but the primary covers are B. Noel Thomas and Tara Lashan Clinkscales. Since Macavity became a female/trans femme character, I’m not sure how they decide.
I did crack a joke with one of the cast that it’s probably Bruce because Lord knows he’s played every other role in this show by now.
Understudy Joined: 10/3/22
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#95
Posted: 5/3/26 at 2:31pm
Bummed Jellicle Ball isn’t performing this Tuesday. The energy would’ve been absolutely insane (even more than usual if that’s possible) after all the noms come out on Tuesday morning!
Updated On: 5/3/26 at 02:31 PMCATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#96
Posted: 5/3/26 at 4:43pm
They do have a performance on Tuesday. TDF offered free membership to any graduating senior in the NYC school system, and anyone who signed up was entered into a raffle for tickets to Tuesday's performance. I think it's really cool they did this, but I understand your sentiment. I would have absolutely bought a ticket if it were a regular public performance. Happy they'll have a young, enthusiastic audience on such a celebratory day, though!
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#97
Posted: 5/3/26 at 4:53pm
Kya Azeen will be debuting as Macavity, which makes her the second featured role to also cover a principal.
I’m so confused as to why only certain characters have their U/S listed in the Playbill. At least at Hamilton, they just have the list of everyone who covers everyone else.
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#98
Posted: 5/3/26 at 4:54pm
goodtimes123 said: "Bummed Jellicle Ball isn’t performing this Tuesday. The energy would’ve been absolutely insane (even more than usual if that’s possible) after all the noms come out on Tuesday morning!"
And that’s why I got an $80 stage seat for the Wednesday matinee!
Understudy Joined: 10/3/22
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Review - 1 Minute Critic#99
Posted: 5/3/26 at 5:16pm
quizking101 said: "goodtimes123 said: "Bummed Jellicle Ball isn’t performing this Tuesday. The energy would’ve been absolutely insane (even more than usual if that’s possible) after all the noms come out on Tuesday morning!"
And that’s why I got an $80 stage seat for the Wednesday matinee!"
Ah! Please report back on how it is.
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