CONFIRMED: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL to close on August 8th — Page 8

EDSOSLO858 said: "Statement from ALW this morning on his Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DaxlrZWDDHj/?img_index=1"

Put your money where your mouth is and fund a cast recording, Andrew. I know shows can't run forever on handouts from rich people, but you can absolutely finance a record of this production for the public. 

nmartin said: "I am not being snarky, but I was surprised that this transferred.

I don't understand how anyone thought this would have broad appeal."

Exactly. This was really great downtown, and everyone was talking about it two years ago. I find it funny that ALW is making this giant statement today, but he was the one who waited 19 months to bring this uptown due to his giant ego and not wanting two shows competing against each other. That was a choice and, in that time, this show lost a tremendous amount of momentum and buzz.

Not every show needs to come to Broadway, and I think we are starting to see some of the best shows produced in New York are off Broadway. Mexodus is the best show of the year, and they wisely kept it off Broadway. As they've stated, Nygel and Brian know there's a big world out there that doesn't include Broadway, so why not travel all over the world and bring it to the people? Their plan is excellent but obviously doesn't work for most shows. Broadway is too expensive, broken, and only limited plays with huge celebrities and the musicals that have been running forever make any money. And that's really f*cking boring. The Fall musicals will all fail, and we don't need to be able to see the future to know that. 1 in 20 now make a profit. And Wanted and Galileo ain't it, even with the phenomenal talent involved. 

This show had poor marketing, didn't do enough to make the average theater-goer understand this was a different experience from the Cats they saw 30 years ago, and unless you actually educate yourself (like I did with the excellent Paris is Burning), no one in the general public knows what balls or ball culture even is. So, people can blame "cauliflower people" or say the majority of America are "old, white conservatives" (laughable) but the show didn't promote itself, didn't have enough coverage, had below average performances on talk shows, or barely mentioned their Tony wins. And many people on here (the ultimate theater-nerd's paradise) didn't even like it or refused to see it because they "enjoy a show with a plot" or "It's still Cats". Both fair criticisms. The show failed and that's not the public's fault in any capacity, as much as some on here would love that to be true. 

It would have ran for years at PAC because it's the ultimate cool, creative, fun, downtown show. Congratulations to all involved for their big swings and true artistry. 

Updated On: 7/14/26 at 01:41 PM

To my understanding in conversing with a producer, they are looking for people to fund an album since a grassroots campaign on social media is taking off. If you want the cast recording, now is your time to speak up.

See below image with the hashtag #JellicleBallCastRecording

quizking101 said: "To my understanding in conversing with a producer, they are looking for people to fund an album since a grassroots campaign on social media is taking off. If you want the cast recording, now is your time to speak up.

See below image with the hashtag #JellicleBallCastRecording

"

The producers, INCLUDING, ALW have more $$$ than any of us. They can put up the $$$ for a cast album: there should absolutely NOT be a go fund me to secure financing for a cast album 

ColorTheHours048 said: "Sean Nyberg is also lurking in comment sections and taking to his Instagram stories to blame “the community” (whatever that actually means) for not “showing up” and buying full- price tickets. As if we didn’t turn out in droves to support it at PAC 2 years ago. He should be looking into how to reduce costs for audiences and actually make Broadway a place people can afford to visit less discerningly."

He’s too busy paying for sponsored IG posts about how many awards “his” productions have won. 

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "quizking101 said: "To my understanding in conversing with a producer, they are looking for people to fund an album since a grassroots campaign on social media is taking off. If you want the cast recording, now is your time to speak up.

See below image with the hashtag #JellicleBallCastRecording

The producers, INCLUDING, ALW have more $$$ than any of us. They can put up the $$$ for a cast album: there should absolutely NOT be a go fund me to secure financing for a cast album"

I should clarify - they are NOT looking via GFM.

They are essentially gauging interest as a means to attract investors (including the aforementioned) into putting money into making the album. 

Basically, the goal seems to be “show them that you are interested and really want the album”

I actually should know this, but do most musicals put a cast recording into their initial budget? I was always confused about how that works. I am sure someone here can explain.

Thank you, that's what I thought.

It seems that ALW would have made sure it was in the budget for this even if he had to put the money up himself. He was raving about it when it was downtown. I was not crazy about the show but one thing that I did like were the vocal performances and thought "I would listen to a cast recording of this production".

ColorTheHours048 said: "Sean Nyberg is also lurking in comment sections and taking to his Instagram stories to blame “the community” (whatever that actually means) for not “showing up” and buying full- price tickets. As if we didn’t turn out in droves to support it at PAC 2 years ago. He should be looking into how to reduce costs for audiences and actually make Broadway a place people can afford to visit less discerningly."

Actually he can't do that because he's not a producer who actually has any power or producing acumen. He's just a rich little bitch who throws money like a scattershot in a casino hoping it lands on something that gets him notoriety. Such loser behavior seeing a producer buy ad space on Instagram to promote... himself. 

Kad said: "ALW’s net worth is 1.2 billion. He can scrape together change from his sofas and fund a cast album instead of issuing statements about how somebody should do something."

Yeah, its WILD for ALW to be complaining about the high costs of everything from his billionaire mansion. Is trying to fund a London production? A tour? Isnt the fact that neither seem likely solid evidence that this just isnt mass marketable?  I think we need to do what we can to make fresh new works from young unknown writers the norm on Broadway--but CATS has untold wealth behind it, and well known IP driving it. Its hardly an example of the core Broadway idea that isnt being stifled by high costs (and that is certainly a problem). 

 

All this finger pointing at everyone is so trashy, since it WAS a critical success, it WAS enjoyed by tons of people, and it was not a surprise that your average tourist from Toronto or Tokyo had little interest and/or couldnt understand what it was all about. 

Just another dig at Sean Nyberg and his "👏PAY 👏 FULL 👏 PRICE" ****. Jellicle Ball had a higher average ticket price than Wicked this week.