[ Felina's Jellicle World : Turn your face to the moonlight ]

THE HISTORY OF CATS

In 1980 Andrew Lloyd Webber decided to write a new musical based on a book of poems he had loved as a child. After composing a few hit musicals already, the most famous being Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. During Evita rehersals he and the lyricist Tim Rice had fought a lot and Lloyd Webber decided to try his hand at composing to words already written. This is an unusual way of writing songs because mostly the music and lyrics are written at the same time. Lloyd Webber was attracted by the rhythmic, song-like poems in T.S Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and began composing music to them.

He roped in choreographer Gillian Lynne as he saw this musical as more like a ballet of Cats. Lynne basically invented a whole new style of dance for the musical, studying the way her own cats moved to create a feline effect. They decided to have the cast composed only of dancers, singing being a secondary attribute, as the dance was so elaborate and they had a very short time to rehearse.

It took a lot of work to find a theatre that would take the new show, because it needed an expensive, elaborate set and the style of the musical was so unique and had never been done before. It could make millions, or it could be a complete flop. The New London Theatre in the West End finally agreed to take on the gamble.

Rehersals began straight away. At this time the musical was still being written. Most of the actors didn't even know the name of their cat, and they worked with Lynne to create their own character's style. Cats was still lacking a main song - Memory had not been composed. Stage director Trevor Nunn knew the musical needed a hit, and so he wrote some lyrics to a theme Andrew Lloyd Webber had composed. However, Tim Rice had heard about the project and also wrote some lyrics for Memory. With the two copies submitted, Lloyd Webber chose Nunn's version, because Rice's lyrics were dark and had suicidal suggestion, and Cats was intended to be a family show just like the poems they were based on. See Tim Rice's lyrics Here!

Cats opened at the New London Theatre, in the West End on 11 May 1981 . Eight years later after 3,358 performances, Cats became the longest running musical in the history of the British theatre.

CATS opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on October 7, 1982. On 19 June 1997 the show became the longest running musical on Broadway, until January 9th 2006 when it was overtaken by The Phantom of the Opera.

PHOTOS

REHERSALS FOR THE ORIGINAL LONDON PRODUCTION 1981

Choreographer Gillian Lynne

Dancers

Dancer

Dancers

Sarah Brightman - Jemima

Dancers

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