CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Reviews- Page 6

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 5/9/26 at 10:49am

André was out on Wedsneday matine, I was thinking on seeing the show tomorrow but without knowing for certain that would be him, not gonna risk

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/9/26 at 11:05am

quizking101 said: "I did not know Sherrod T. Brown had departed but it looks like it on Playbill Vault as of Sunday. Not sure what’s going on there, but I know they’ve been actively auditioning for new covers and haven’t found who they needed. I know Bryce Farris is working his ass off basically in a new track every few days - though he’s in the midst of a two week stretch as Tumblebrutus. (Primo is out with a bad injury).

André had called out for the matinee today and Phumzile Sojola made his Old Deuteronomy debut this afternoon with about 3 hours notice. He has a BEAUTIFUL voice, but you could definitely tell he was more restrained in what he did in terms of choreography and engaging with the cats and the costumes were mostly functional as opposed to opulent. With three hours notice, I can’t complain. Good for him!"

Their swing shortage is not a good sign. Lots of covers on last night and for both shows today. Hopefully they can hire & rehearse some new ones quickly. 

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/9/26 at 5:38pm

Correction: Phumzile Sojola was on this afternoon, but Ken is on tonight. (YAAAASSSSS!) Will report back.

The fact I’ll have cleared all three Old Deuteronomy performers in the span of a week and entirely by accident (I had tickets for Wednesday and tonight already) is actually nuts, even for me.

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

[BJR]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 1:08pm

I'm surprised no one has brought up Sydney James Harcourt's new press push, which includes a shoot with Playgirl. 

I can't remember the last time a performer on Bway so directly embraced (pursued?) a s*x symbol status.

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 2:01pm

Last night was an all-skate, with 7 covers in 6 roles (Bryce Farris did a fantastic split Tumblebrutus/Etcetera and really is the crazy glue holding everyone together) I’ll keep it brief and just highlight the two very polarizing moments for me.

The bad - Kendall Grayson Stroud as Mistofflees. Silk is truly a singular talent and their dance vocabulary creates a fully fleshed out character and beautiful imagery through their movements. Kendall barely ticks any of the boxes, despite having gone on quite a bit. They very much blended into the background and some of the Misto moments that are usually highlights because of Silk’s flexibility and stage presence fell incredibly flat. The slow split during the drop of the disco ball was reassigned to Dava, and she nailed it. For MMM’s song, they did a lot of strutting, almost Kardashian-like as it appeared to be without heart, and their pas de deux with Sydney fizzled without chemistry. 

The great - Ken Ard as Old Deuteronomy. If you ever get a chance to see him take on the role, it’s an absolutely magical experience. He’s very much cut of the same cloth as André, almost like a natural successor (and looks strikingly similar to him in costume). He also carries a sonorous voice that fills the theatre and commands attention. “Moments of Happiness” made me cry because you can see that the dynamic between him and Sillabub in the show’s context also carries the extra subtext of Ken (the original Macavity) passing down the mantle of CATS to the next generation. If/when André does step down from the role, I hope it goes to Ken. He is truly an understated legend of stage and dance.

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 2:05pm

BJR said: "I'm surprised no one has brought up Sydney James Harcourt's new press push, which includes a shoot withPlaygirl.

I can't remember the last time a performer on Bway so directly embraced (pursued?) a s*x symbol status."

Sydney is the perfect cover boy for this show, not only because he is indeed a symbol of sexy confidence (as he mentions this show allowing him to be free on stage in a way he has never been able to before - similar to Luke Evans), but because he is firmly invested in the success of this project and is willing to do anything and everything to get eyes on the show (not just him) so that it can thrive in an otherwise harsh environment.

There is nothing more sexy than an attractive man with a purpose and is passionate about what he does - and the marketing team ABSOLUTELY knows it. At this point, I would love to see a RTT episode of Hot Ones for the sheer comedy of it.

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 2:19pm

BJR said: "I'm surprised no one has brought up Sydney James Harcourt's new press push, which includes a shoot withPlaygirl.

I can't remember the last time a performer on Bway so directly embraced (pursued?) a s*x symbol status."

 

And I am here for it! The man is fine and seems to have a wonderful personality to boot.

 

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 2:22pm

BJR said: "I'm surprised no one has brought up Sydney James Harcourt's new press push, which includes a shoot with Playgirl."

Wow, he's really packed into those white briefs. 

 

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 2:54pm

ACL2006 said: "quizking101 said: "I did not know Sherrod T. Brown had departed but it looks like it on Playbill Vault as of Sunday. Not sure what’s going on there, but I know they’ve been actively auditioning for new covers and haven’t found who they needed. I know Bryce Farris is working his ass off basically in a new track every few days - though he’s in the midst of a two week stretch as Tumblebrutus. (Primo is out with a bad injury).

André had called out for the matinee today and Phumzile Sojola made his Old Deuteronomy debut this afternoon with about 3 hours notice. He has a BEAUTIFUL voice, but you could definitely tell he was more restrained in what he did in terms of choreography and engaging with the cats and the costumes were mostly functional as opposed to opulent. With three hours notice, I can’t complain. Good for him!"

Their swing shortage is not a good sign. Lots of covers on last night and for both shows today. Hopefully they can hire & rehearse some new ones quickly."

Bryce Farris has had to do split tracks this weekend. Poor guy.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 4:57pm

quizking101 said: "
The great - Ken Ard as Old Deuteronomy. If you ever get a chance to see him take on the role, it’s an absolutely magical experience. He’s very much cut of the same cloth as André, almost like a natural successor (and looks strikingly similar to him in costume). He also carries a sonorous voice that fills the theatre and commands attention. “Moments of Happiness” made me cry because you can see that the dynamic between him and Sillabub in the show’s context also carries the extra subtext of Ken (the original Macavity) passing down the mantle of CATS to the next generation. If/when André does step down from the role, I hope it goes to Ken. He is truly an understated legend of stage and dance."

If there's another plus, from what I see on Instagram he fits in all of Andre's costumes too. 

[getatme]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 6:27pm

Those are almost certainly Ken's own costumes as he is quite a bit taller than Andre.

I echo what quizking said. Ard is a really phenomenal Old Deuteronomy, had the audience in the palm of his hand from his first entrance and an incredibly powerful voice.

Will never understand how Tempress wasn't nominated, but such is life.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 10:21pm

BJR said: "I'm surprised no one has brought up Sydney James Harcourt's new press push, which includes a shoot withPlaygirl.

I can't remember the last time a performer on Bway so directly embraced (pursued?) a s*x symbol status."

He was a guest on the Dads and Daddies podcast the end of April. Guaranteed to leave you hot and bothered.

"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/10/26 at 11:18pm

He used to post himself and Jonathan going to The Eagle back during the Downtown run, go try your luck there!