'CATS: The Jellicle Ball' at PAC reviews- Page 19

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 9/8/24 at 9:03pm

Agreed on all counts and yes, those elevators and stairs were a nightmare. Nothing made sense. A bit like being in “Labyrinth”.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/8/24 at 9:04pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "I thought I heard they were exploringa 2025-26 Broadway transfer, as they wouldn't be competingwithSunset Boulevard."

a shame they'll wait until (the earliest) next summer to transfer to Broadway.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/8/24 at 9:19pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "Agreed on all counts and yes, those elevators and stairs were a nightmare. Nothing made sense. A bit like being in “Labyrinth”."

The Shed, too. I don't know why our newest, shiniest performing arts centers have this level of disdain for entering and exiting the auditorium! It's like being at the AMC movie theater in Times Square!

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 9/8/24 at 10:59pm

It's possible the situation has been more complicated than you assume. How many off-Broadway productions have ever had the kind of coverage you're envisioning? As for the extension, the people in power may know better but had their hands tied due to a multiple of reasons (for example, previous plans and current resources).

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/8/24 at 11:20pm

chrisampm2 said: "It's possible the situation has beenmore complicated than you assume. How many off-Broadway productions have ever had the kind of coverage you're envisioning? As for the extension, the people in power may know better but had their hands tied due to a multiple of reasons (for example, previous plans and current resources)."

I don't doubt the situation was complicated! We're all just Monday Morning Quarterbacking over here. :)

But 25 actors and 9 musicians is big even by Broadway standards. To start with only 3 offstage covers is asking for trouble -- especially for a show with choreo as physically demanding as this, and some performers who aren't of the musical theatre world and not used to doing 8x a week, plus Miss Rona still won't go away.

Ponying up the money for proper coverage from the start probably would have saved PAC money and headaches. But I guess it all worked out in the end.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/9/24 at 12:52am

Something I noticed tonight versus when I saw it early in the run, Tempress has so much more control over her voice now and it's a wonder to see. She's just so good.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 9/9/24 at 1:15am

I hope we see new plays and musicals premiering at PAC.  It seems like a great place to cultivate new talent. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/9/24 at 6:58am

TheatreFan4 said: "Intermission and it's so fire. Andre is really having fun and loosened up since I saw him early in the run. NPH and Phylicia Rashad are here. James Monroe Iglehart sitting in front of me. Very packed night."

Not to mention also David Burtka, Lea Salonga, Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson, Carrie Preston, Christina Sajous, John-Andrew Morrison, Michael R. Jackson, Raja Feather Kelly, and Lea DeLaria. It was like the Met Gala for theatre geeks 😂 

But in all seriousness, I know this show will have a further life - it’s just the matter of when and where. It was just pure ecstasy to spend a good chunk of the summer basking in the utter silliness, fierceness, fabulousness, and unadulterated queer joy of this production. It’s one of those shows that I balked at the idea and yet it ended up being what I needed the most. 

Andre was fully loose and really just having a ball - including a few victory laps around the stage during his entrance. At his age, he deserves it. His first confrontation with Macavity also got funnier, since with Antwayn, it was always the one stern clack of the fan before Mac went running - with Rodrick, it was the clack, and then O.D gesturing him back for another and another. It was priceless.

By the end, most of the cast was visibly teary. During curtain call, they also brought out the understudies for a final runway walk and the reprise, which was nice. (Admittedly, I was confused as to why Bryce was on as Primo, while Primo judged, but I figured it’s not my business and didn’t ask).

“Now & Forever” used to sound like a threat with the original CATS, but I wish this could run “Now & Forever”

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 9/9/24 at 10:55am

We need this show more than ever. It’s just a good time with a lot of smiles. Andrew needs to transfer this now. 

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 10/28/24 at 4:31pm

Has there been any word of a cast recording for this?  I'd love to hear the new orchestrations.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/28/24 at 4:56pm

RevolutionaryCostume said: "Has there been any word of a cast recording for this? I'd love to hear the new orchestrations."

Likely not until a transfer is official if at all. Personally having seen the show, I would like a Cast Recording. I'm not sure how it'd play without having seen the visual of what's going on in the moment. It's a very visual show (as Cats has always been, but i feel this is more so). 

[KingOfTheMine]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 10:44am

catsthejellicleball.com now live as well as the various social media platforms.  Surely this means an announcement is imminent!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 10:49am

I loathe Cats, but the branding and stuff looks really fun for this. Would def check it out.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 10:56am

KingOfTheMine said: "catsthejellicleball.com now live as well as the various social media platforms. Surely this means an announcement is imminent!"

It should get a booking at the Kennedy Center & give a certain elderly felon an aneurysm.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 11:03am

KingOfTheMine said: "catsthejellicleball.com now live as well as the various social media platforms. Surely this means an announcement is imminent!"

So glad it’s coming back. A total surprise for me and one of the best things I saw last year.

Updated On: 3/31/25 at 11:03 AM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 11:13am

I’m thinking Imperial post-renovation or back at the Winter Garden after MAMMA MIA!. They’ll just have to gut the balcony. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 11:21am

Also, Chris Harper and Mike Bosner have joined WJP on the producing team for the Broadway run (among others). 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 11:34am

KingOfTheMine said: "catsthejellicleball.com now live as well as the various social media platforms. Surely this means an announcement is imminent!"

An announcement for a Fall opening? Curious what possible theater it'll take.

 

Saw someone mention this elsewhere that it might take the August Wilson after Cabaret closes. Wouldn't have to transform much.

Updated On: 3/31/25 at 11:34 AM

[BJR]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 12:04pm

I know the original plan was the Winter Garden. I'm curious what it is now.

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 12:21pm

Rumor on Reddit says Winter Garden. 

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 12:23pm

God. DAMN IT. I'm going to go broke. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 12:56pm

Sorry to be the Debbie Downer here, but I honestly cannot see a Broadway run of this production lasting more than few months or turning a profit.. A commercial Off-Broadway run would make way more sense. But I guess there are lots of rich investors who are totally fine losing millions of dollars just to say "F you, conservatives!" via a production of Cats in drag that nobody is asking for except for a very niche audience.

[RW3]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 1:03pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Sorry to be the Debbie Downer here, but I honestly cannot see a Broadway run of this production lasting more than few months or turning a profit.. A commercial Off-Broadway run would make way more sense. But I guess there are lots of rich investors who are totally fine losing millions of dollars just to say "F you, conservatives!" via aproduction ofCatsin drag that nobody is asking for except for a very niche audience."

Well, nobody was in drag so...

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 1:10pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "I’m thinking Imperial post-renovation or back at the Winter Garden after MAMMA MIA!. They’ll just have to gut the balcony."

They'll who the what?

As exciting as this proposition, I can't imagine any commercial theatre taking the balcony out to accommodate this thing.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 1:14pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Sorry to be the Debbie Downer here, but I honestly cannot see a Broadway run of this production lasting more than few months or turning a profit.. A commercial Off-Broadway run would make way more sense. But I guess there are lots of rich investors who are totally fine losing millions of dollars just to say "F you, conservatives!" via aproduction ofCatsin drag that nobody is asking for except for a very niche audience."

I was very skeptical going into this that it was over-hyped and going to try too hard to make Cats modern when, to me, Cats was very “of its time” and should stay there. What it actually was was a reinvention that made me way more of a fan of the musical than I was before. Maybe you’re right and audiences in 2025’s weird world will turn against it, but maybe you’re wrong and it’ll do for others at it did for me. Won’t know until they try!