'CATS: The Jellicle Ball' at PAC reviews- Page 20

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 1:17pm

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."

The fact that you think this production is about saying"F you" to conservatives is very odd. 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 1:22pm

I would imagine this will, at least initially, be marketed as a limited run, as a way of hedging bets.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 1:48pm

I think the Winter Garden makes the most sense. It's a super wide space, so would work with the catwalk coming into the audience. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 2:12pm

Bwaygurl2 said: "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."

The fact that you think this production is about saying"F you" to conservatives is very odd."

 

Because conservatives - Trumpers at least - are all going crazy over anything that is even adjacent to transness, i.e. drag. Look what just happened at the Kennedy Center.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 2:18pm

The Distinctive Baritone, did you think the original production was an F you to Dog Live Matter folk or a celebration of a feline (or British society) POV? To me, this production is a ball through and through, not a brickbat.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 2:30pm

This production's power, imo, is that it features trans and queer artists being absolutely, incredibly talented, charismatic, deeply lovable, and living their lives, without ever underlining the politics of it. It is not heavy-handed in any way and there's no "take your medicine"-style messaging that a lot of progressive political art has, which I find often either turns people off or is just preaching to the choir. The production trusts in itself, its performers, and the audience. Not everybody who sees this will go in knowing about ballroom culture, but they do know community, ritual, and shared history and so can understand the feelings underpinning the action. And, hopefully, folks will walk out appreciating and understanding this community more.

Updated On: 3/31/25 at 02:30 PM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 2:33pm

Kad said: "This production's power, imo, is that it features trans and queer artists being absolutely, incredibly talented, charismatic, deeply lovable, and living their lives, without ever underlining the politics of it. It is not heavy-handed in any way and there's no sense of "take your medicine" messaging that a lot of progressive political art has, which I find often either turns people off or is just preaching to the choir. The production trusts in itself, its performers, and the audience."

I do recall a trans rights montage or something along those lines, but it also worked and didn’t feel forced. Wonder how they’ll approach it now.

Updated On: 3/31/25 at 02:33 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 3:26pm

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."

This production has exactly zero comments for conservatives, they are not a factor. They do not exist. Its a celebration of Queer Joy and nothing less. 

Also Question, what production of Cats isn't in ****ing Drag? This **** has BEEN Dragggggg.

Updated On: 3/31/25 at 03:26 PM

[BJR]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 4:11pm

TheatreFan4 said: "This production has exactly zero comments for conservatives, they are not a factor. They do not exist. Its a celebration of Queer Joy and nothing less.

Also Question, what production of Cats isn't in ****ing Drag? This **** has BEEN Dragggggg."

Exactly. Like seeing an all-black anything and saying, "Wow racists will hate this." Well, yes, they will. And the existence of it isn't a response to their hatred, but their hatred will exist either way. Let the joy be its calling card. This production is PURE JOY.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 4:14pm

Damn, sorry I said anything. I guess we can revisit this topic in a few months after this production inevitably flops.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 4:18pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Damn, sorry I said anything. I guess we can revisit this topic in a few months after this production inevitably flops."

Well, 80% of shows flop, so you will likely be able to claim vindication. Really don't get your attitude about this. It had an extremely buzzy Off-Broadway run (which ALW praised). Shows have transferred with less going for them. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 5:36pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Damn, sorry I said anything. I guess we can revisit this topic in a few months after this production inevitably flops."

Your crystal ball is broken. This isn’t going to flop. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 5:42pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Damn, sorry I said anything. I guess we can revisit this topic in a few months after this production inevitably flops."

I'm not here to worry about Rich people's money. The literal least they can do is throw money at something that is against the odds and if it turns out well? That's great. Shows like this deserve to be given an opportunity to be seen on a large stage. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 7:19pm

It’s a show celebrating ball culture which is inherently queer and black. Plus it’s one of the most successful musicals of the past 50 years in a buzzy new production. I think it’ll do fine. It’s not people in 80s spandex so I welcome the change.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 7:31pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Damn, sorry I said anything. I guess we can revisit this topic in a few months after this production inevitably flops."

Your cooment seems ill-informed. The off-Broadway production was hugely successful during its run. A successful off-Broadway run doesn't necessarily mean that a transfer Broadway will be a guaranteed success, but it certainly doesn't make it an inevitable flop.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 9:07pm

I hope it runs. From all that I have heard it is a wonderful production, and in many ways an improvement on the original.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 9:10pm

I would love to see the entire cast transfer with one exception - Chasity Moore. I found her performance to be the low point of the evening and Grizabella really needs to nail 'Memory' in order for any version of the show to truly work, in my opinion. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 9:14pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "I hope it runs. From all that I have heard it is a wonderful production, and in many ways an improvement on the original."

Wait wait wait. You call this show "Cats in drag", assume it will fail and you haven't even SEEN this brilliant production?

Jesus Christ, broheim.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 9:23pm

I saw her during previews and then on closing night and that was a clear progression for her with Memory. It's not "clean", but I don't think they want it to be. She was in control. I've seen countless Grizabellas belt out Memory over the years, I don't need to hear that again for this production that highlights more character than vocal power pyrotechnics. Chastity was chosen because of her extensive Ballroom background and I doubt they're going to find many people who could replace her.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 10:27pm

RippedMan said: "It’s a show celebrating ball culture which is inherently queer and black. Plus it’s one of the most successful musicals of the past 50 years in a buzzy new production. I think it’ll do fine. It’s not people in 80s spandex so I welcome the change."

Look, if Tom Hooper's movie didn't torpedo the commercial viability of the musical, a Broadway transfer of highly hyped off-Broadway revival DEFINITELY won't.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 12:38am

Sutton Ross said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "I hope it runs. From all that I have heard it is a wonderful production, and in many ways an improvement on the original."

Wait wait wait. You call this show"Catsin drag", assume it will fail and you haven't even SEEN this brilliantproduction?

Jesus Christ, broheim."

 

I don't live in New York anymore, so no. But I read various reviews and publicity pieces, an interview with Bill Rauch...I get it. It's Cats, but instead of cats, they are people, and instead of some sort of mystical contest taking place in an alley or whatever, it's a drag ball. I'm sure it's great. I am also sure that Broadway is currently an inhospitable place for this kind of thing. Maybe I will be wrong? I was trying to have a conversation with y'all, but I guess I'll just see myself out.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 12:47am

The Distinctive Baritone said: "
I don't live in New York anymore, so no. But I read various reviews and publicity pieces, an interview with Bill Rauch...I get it. It'sCats,but instead of cats, they are people, and instead of some sort of mystical contest taking place in an alley or whatever, it's a drag ball. I'm sure it's great. I am also sure that Broadway is currently an inhospitable place for this kind of thing. Maybe I will be wrong? I was trying to have aconversationwith y'all, but I guess I'll just see myself out."

It's because you came at this with a very dismissive and unknowing tone, but let's actually talk about this. There is between 0 and 1 Drag Queens (I'm not too clear if Jenny is supposed to be Trans or just a Drag Queen, but the actor isn't Trans) in the show. It is not a Drag Ball, it is a Ball which can feature Drag but does not need to. Cats The Jellicle Ball is not giving Drag Queen overall.