Posted: 8/18/24 at 5:51pm
They are, but they'd already announced their departure a few days ago and their replacements. Antwayn in particular has said multiple times that this is not the end for him on his own Insta, but it feels different when it comes from the official account with multiple people leaving saying the same thing.
Posted: 8/18/24 at 7:23pm
theatergoer3 said: "TheatreFan4 said: "It definitely feels like they're on the cusp of announcing something...
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-0ga7APrqD/?igsh=ZzJtZWgzbHZuNjIw"
It could be but also could just be the castswitch ? I’m not sure if all of the cast featured are the onesleaving."
It’s just a farewell in tandem with the new cast announcement coming in. The extension is now virtually sold out though so I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to go another few weeks now that they’ve gotten all this new cast.
Neither understudy for Old Deuteronomy has ever gone on so I don’t know if they will replace Andre after 9/8 or just promote someone.
Posted: 8/18/24 at 8:49pm
TheatreFan4 said: "It definitely feels like they're on the cusp of announcing something...
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-0ga7APrqD/?igsh=ZzJtZWgzbHZuNjIw"
definitely feels like a major announcement is coming this week.
Posted: 8/19/24 at 3:14am
Has there been any talk about a car recording being a possibility? For a site like this a live one would be ideal for obvious reasons.
i never would consider myself a ‘Cats’ fan but they 100% changed that. Terrific time and stellar cast would love to hear their version preserved if its life stops here.
Side comment completely unfair how the cast can be so uniformly attractive and that talented too
Posted: 8/19/24 at 4:16pm
Shereen Pimentel will be leaving the production to star in Stages St. Louis’ production of Ragtime, opposite Tamar Greene as Coalhouse.
Posted: 8/26/24 at 11:25am
Went back yesterday for the new cast.
The show is still absolutely fabulous and they made a few small tweaks and changes to the choreography and lighting elements, and also the cast ad-libs are more vocal.
After Munkustrap is dismissed by O.D after the “Bizarre” category, the Cats all storm off and I could hear Garnet Williams (Bombalurina) shout “I KNOW YOU AREN’T SUPPOSED TO PUSH OLD PEOPLE DOWN THE STAIRS BUT…” and Sydney Harcourt (RTT) loudly asked “Does anyone have any poppers?”
Jenny Mollet was a wonderful Jellylorum- definitely a cheekier take than Shereen Pimentel, especially during “Gus The Theatre Cat”. Rodrick Covington, on the other hand, seemed to be having a bit of a rough day. His hat holding the Sasha Velour reveal in “Macavity” fell off and killed the bit and then he dropped his fan during curtain call and gave up halfway down the runway. I felt a little bad for him.
He is MILES better than Primo (who I can’t really fault because it’s clear that Antwayn’s departure was so sudden that Primo got tossed into the fire and Rodrick’s casting was just purely by sheer good timing). However, I’m affording him a little grace to find himself over the next week or so since, although he looked the part, lacked Antwayn’s menace and camp - which threw me considering his past work as Little Richard. Also, I know that other bass-baritones who were considered to replace, so the choice of a tenor threw me off a bit.
I’m still going a few more times because it’s just so much damn fun!
Posted: 8/26/24 at 10:48pm
I'm late posting my thoughts, as I saw this a couple of weeks ago, but OH MY FREAKING GOD was this EXTRAORDINARY! Probably the best show (musical or play) that I have seen all year! Honestly, I never want to see CATS again unless it is this version. The cast and the crowd really make this a true spectacle! The energy is OFF THE CHARTS! I really hope a transfer can happen at some point. This would work well at Circle after R+J is done. Keeping my fingers crossed so that more people can see it, as I saw the remaining performances are SOLD OUT.
Posted: 8/27/24 at 6:37am
NYT: The Stuff They Strut on the Jellicle Catwalk
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/26/arts/dance/cats-jellicle-ball-dancers.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GE4.azR8.5itXp4HH10OK
Posted: 8/27/24 at 8:32am
quite a few more 'vague' IG posts and comments from PAC NYC, eluding to not only a 'return' to thier venue, but a Broadway transfer. Sounds good, but lets announce it already so that I can finalize my plans and you can take my money!
Posted: 8/27/24 at 8:51am
The only things certain I’ve got from the people I know in and around the show are:
1) 9/8 is the definite end of this current run.
2) The wheels have been turning to determine what the future will look like, but there WILL be one - although there seems to be a bigger push toward a transfer.
Posted: 8/27/24 at 12:24pm
Romeo + Juliet has extended into February. Unless another extension is possible, CATS could take the Circle for the Spring.
Updated On: 8/27/24 at 12:24 PM
Posted: 8/27/24 at 12:35pm
February 16 was listed as the closing date on Romeo and Juliet's original audition notice from April, so that should be it for extensions.
Posted: 8/27/24 at 1:47pm
Circle in the Square has another tenant lined up for the spring and is too small for this production of Cats. They're looking at another theatre, just waiting to see if the current show there will close.
Posted: 8/27/24 at 6:32pm
I don't know what is meant by too small when referencing CitS. In what way? Backstage space?
Posted: 8/27/24 at 6:45pm
To me this production as currently designed and directed would feel a bit claustrophobic in CITS. I'm aware of the ceiling everytime I'm in that theater and this production needs some room to breathe. The stage space in the thrust configuration also seems too narrow.
I'd rather they go for a theater like the Imperial or Winter Garden and have on stage seating and build the runway out into the front of the orchestra if needed (which I believe was mentioned earlier in this thread).
Relatedly- I find it a bit odd that PAC hasn't announced any fall programming (aside from the lobby stage). If they had a fall season wouldn't it have at least been partially announced by now?
Updated On: 8/27/24 at 06:45 PM
Posted: 8/27/24 at 7:02pm
Correct, another shoe has had the circle Booked before Cats even started previews. But as always, the board ran with it.
Posted: 8/28/24 at 2:48pm
TheatreFan4 said: "I don't know what is meant by too small when referencing CitS. In what way? Backstage space?"
It's too small in all ways. Backstage space isn't large enough for the cast they would need. And the actual theatre space doesn't have the height or playing area the production requires. From what I understand, they considered it but quickly changed gears when they realized how much bigger the production actually is.
Posted: 8/29/24 at 1:04pm
FYI - A new matinee for 9/4 just dropped
Posted: 8/29/24 at 1:52pm
quizking101 said: "FYI - A new matinee for 9/4 just dropped
"
Got it thanks
Posted: 8/30/24 at 3:27pm
quizking101 said: "FYI - A new matinee for 9/4 just dropped"
If you are a in the US military, a police officer, a firefighter or a nurse, I cannot urge you enough to take advantage of PAC’s “Respondertix” by calling 212-266-3000. Tickets with fees are $39 and you can choose where you want your seats to be, regardless of price point. Get them before they are gone!
Posted: 8/30/24 at 5:38pm
ShowBro said: "quizking101 said: "FYI - A new matinee for 9/4 just dropped"
If you are a in theUS military, a police officer, a firefighter or a nurse,I cannot urge you enough to take advantage of PAC’s “Respondertix” by calling212-266-3000. Tickets with fees are $39 and you can choose where you want your seats to be, regardless of price point. Get them before they are gone!"
Additionally, it allows up to 4 tickets per production - so you can get four at once, or split across multiple shows like I did.
Posted: 8/30/24 at 7:40pm
Pardon me if this has already been discussed, but is the overture played?
Posted: 8/30/24 at 8:08pm
yes....i won't provide any spoilers, as it's a nice throwback to the original production while moving it into the world of Ballroom, but it is played quite nicely
Posted: 8/30/24 at 8:33pm
Princeton78 said: "Pardon me if this has already been discussed, but is the overture played?"
If you do want spoilers, the article posted at #407 opens by describing it outright
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/26/arts/dance/cats-jellicle-ball-dancers.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GE4.azR8.5itXp4HH10OK
