'CATS: The Jellicle Ball' at PAC reviews- Page 22

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 10:20am

[Kad]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 10:23am

I guess the Broadhurst is as good a house for this as any, considering none are ideal. 

[ER765]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 10:52am

I enjoyed this production, but it’s a prime example of “not everything needs to transfer to Broadway.”

If it doesn’t fit into any of the traditional Broadway houses, why force a square peg into a round hole? 

It should’ve just gone to an open ended Off Broadway run, if anything. 

Updated On: 7/14/25 at 10:52 AM

[trentsketch]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 11:45am

Just commit to the bit like the original production and have the cats vogue in the aisles and interact with the audience at key moments. People loved the cats in the audience for decades.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 12:06pm

trentsketch said: "Just commit to the bit like the original production and have the cats vogue in the aisles and interact with the audience at key moments. People loved the cats in the audience for decades."

They do go into the audience and interact...

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 12:10pm

If that's the case, I wonder what has the August Wilson...?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 12:15pm

trentsketch said: "Just commit to the bit like the original production and have the cats vogue in the aisles and interact with the audience at key moments. People loved the cats in the audience for decades."

I’d love to see Deuteronomy stick around in front of the judges’ table during intermission and accept pictures to be taken of + with him. That would be a nice homage to the original, too. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 12:21pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "trentsketch said: "Just commit to the bit like the original production and have the cats vogue in the aisles and interact with the audience at key moments. People loved the cats in the audience for decades."

I’d love to see Deuteronomy stick around in front of the judges’ table during intermission and accept pictures to be taken of + with him. That would be a nice homage to the original, too."

 

Yes, I'm SURE that Andre De Shields would just LOVE to do that (assuming he stays with the show).

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 12:30pm

inlovewithjerryherman said: "If that's the case, I wonder what has the August Wilson...?"


My money’s on Evita. 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 12:37pm

trentsketch said: "Just commit to the bit like the original production and have the cats vogue in the aisles and interact with the audience at key moments. People loved the cats in the audience for decades."

The issue isn't audience interaction- the production has tons. It's that the production requires a runway into the audience, which then requires seating to accommodate it. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 12:42pm

inlovewithjerryherman said: "If that's the case, I wonder what has the August Wilson...?"

Cats was never going to use Cabaret’s configuration anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. Cabaret’s design worked for Cabaret; Cats is neither in the round, nor does it need any of the lobby redesign.

Updated On: 7/14/25 at 12:42 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 1:01pm

BorisTomashevsky said: My money’s on Evita."

Makes sense. She can just step out on the balcony of that theater, I guess. It doesn't solve the insane crowds for at least a few months mess tho. 

 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 1:07pm

I guess it wasn't happening 8 times a week, but how did they manage the crowds for Ham4Ham?  I've never gone in person but I imagine those had a pretty big turnout.

[DurantPlummer41]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 4:13pm

I thought ALW/really useful wanted Jellical & Evita in different seasons to avoid competition during the Tonys.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 4:18pm

DurantPlummer41 said: "I thought ALW/really useful wanted Jellical & Evita in different seasons to avoid competition during the Tonys."

I think he’d rather have the income ASAP over more Tonys. He has plenty of those, I suspect the novelty has worn off. 

[whatever2]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 8:03pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "DurantPlummer41 said: "I thought ALW/really useful wanted Jellical & Evita in different seasons to avoid competition during the Tonys."

I think he’d rather have the income ASAP over more Tonys. He has plenty of those, I suspect the novelty has worn off."

why? is he behind on his alimonys?

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 8:05pm

whatever2 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "DurantPlummer41 said: "I thought ALW/really useful wanted Jellical & Evita in different seasons to avoid competition during the Tonys."

I think he’d rather have the income ASAP over more Tonys. He has plenty of those, I suspect the novelty has worn off."

why? is he behind on his alimonys?"

The sooner one has money in hand, the sooner it earns interest and can be invested. And with children and grandchildren to leave a legacy for, plus whatever charities he wants to give to, he’d want to give them as much as possible when the time comes. And yes “he has plenty of money” etc but he’ll still want the money over the Tonys.

Updated On: 7/14/25 at 08:05 PM

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 8:16pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "DurantPlummer41 said: "I thought ALW/really useful wanted Jellical & Evita in different seasons to avoid competition during the Tonys."

I think he’d rather have the income ASAP over more Tonys. He has plenty of those, I suspect the novelty has worn off."

I imagine part of it may be someone said A) due to cast/venue available it was either this year or not at all and B) due to the productions being so different in execution they may only be competing against each other in a handful of categories, and if both are strong contenders it could be a literal win/win.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 8:34pm

ER765 said: "It should’ve just gone to an open ended Off Broadway run, if anything."

The show is huge. Economically, a commercial Off-Broadway run would never have worked. There is no existing off-Broadway house that would be remotely appropriate for it (assuming a return to the PAC is out of the question). It would have had to play in a converted warehouse or something, and at that point you might as well open it on Broadway.

I remember guesstimating the stage length & width of the PAC production last year, and with a small thrust and onstage seating they could achieve the runway in a Broadway proscenium house with no GREAT COMET-level modifications. Somewhat similar to what was done for Ivo's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and MTC's HEISENBERG. Might not be exactly what it was downtown, but hopefully still a very interesting staging...

Updated On: 7/14/25 at 08:34 PM

[Up In One]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 9:28pm

Anyone know what’s going into the Winter Garden after Mamma Mia! wraps its limited run? Given the width of that house, it would be perfect for Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Like Mamma Mia!, it could be marketed as a “return to the scene of the crime” a full circle moment for the “Now and Forever” tagline.

And if anyone remembers Rocky at the Winter Garden, Act II had that final bout where the boxing ring extended over the front orchestra, giving the mezz a great view. The full PAC configuration of Jellicle Ball could fit into the Winter Garden as is.

At the very least, the show needs a theater where the cheap seats have a clear view of the full runway and the judges’ panel at the end of it. Most theaters can probably handle the side seating in the wings and under the boxes and in front of the proscenium, but that central runway sightline is key.

Updated On: 7/14/25 at 09:28 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 9:30pm

^ I’d expect that Mamma Mia limited run will turn into multiple extensions if they sell well. 

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 10:25pm

ShowBro said: "According to an usher at the BOOP! closing yesterday, this is set to transfer to the BroadhurstSpring 2026."

Confirmed. They have the Broadhurst starting performances in April! 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 10:34pm

Ensemble1698878795 said: "ShowBro said: "According to an usher at the BOOP! closing yesterday, this is set to transfer to the BroadhurstSpring 2026."

Confirmed. They have the Broadhurst starting performancesin April!"

Almost 18 months later. Not exactly riding on the momentum they’d established. This is about as well-organized as their understudy situation the first time around. 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 10:45pm

I just really hope that they can capture the same magic they had on their first run. It was jubilant.

Updated On: 7/14/25 at 10:45 PM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 7/14/25 at 11:20pm

Very odd to wait 18 months, coming in after or alongside other reimagined ALW stuff, and then take a traditional Broadway house, killing some of the original novelty?