Orchestra

Every live production of Cats is accompanied by an orchestra, which may vary in size and instrumental makeup. One unique aspect of Cats is that the orchestra is hidden from the audience in a sound booth backstage. For more information, see The Sets/Junkyard.

The original orchestrations were arranged by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The 16-piece licensed version is considered the official "definitive" version. Touring productions typically travel with a small core orchestra, using local musicians at each tour stop to provide additional instrumentations.

5 Piece
The instrumentation list for the 5-piece core orchestra, as used in the 2001 US Tour 5:


 * 1) Keyboard I
 * 2) Keyboard II
 * 3) Guitar
 * 4) Bass/Band Tech
 * 5) Drums

8 Piece
The instrumentation list for the 8-piece core orchestra, as used in the 2013 UK tour and the 2019 US tour:


 * 1) Keyboard I
 * 2) Keyboard II
 * 3) Keyboard III
 * 4) Guitar
 * 5) Bass Guitar
 * 6) Drums/Percussion
 * 7) Flute/Clarinet/Tenor Sax
 * 8) Clarinet/Soprano & Baritone Sax

13 Piece
The instrumentation list for the 13-piece orchestra, as used in the 2016 Broadway revival:


 * 1) Woodwind I
 * 2) Woodwind II
 * 3) Concertmaster (Lead Violin)
 * 4) Violin
 * 5) Violin/Viola
 * 6) Cello
 * 7) Keyboard I
 * 8) Keyboard II
 * 9) Keyboard III
 * 10) Percussion
 * 11) Guitar/Banjo
 * 12) Bass
 * 13) Drums

Licensed Version
The instrumentation list for the "definitive" 16-piece orchestra, as licensed by The Musical Company (Andrew Lloyd Webber's licensing company) since 2016:


 * 1) Woodwind I (Flute, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax)
 * 2) Woodwind II (Bb Clarinet, Baritone Sax, Flute)
 * 3) Woodwind III (Oboe, Cor Anglais)
 * 4) Horn I
 * 5) Horn II
 * 6) Trumpet I (Bb Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet)
 * 7) Trumpet II (Bb Trumpet, Flugel Horn)
 * 8) Trombone
 * 9) Keyboard I (any acoustic or electric piano)
 * 10) Keyboard II (programming is essential*)
 * 11) Keyboard III (programming is essential*)
 * 12) Percussion
 * 13) Cello
 * 14) Guitar (Electric, Acoustic)
 * 15) Bass
 * 16) Drums

* II & III require keyboard programming for either Korg Tritons or Kurzweil 2500/2600. Alternatively, RMS Keyboards can be used.

Original London
The instrumentation list for the 16-piece orchestra, as used in the original 1981 London production and the 1989 UK tour:


 * 1) Keyboards
 * 2) Keyboards
 * 3) Keyboards
 * 4) Electric/Acoustic Guitar
 * 5) Bass Guitar/String Bass
 * 6) Drums
 * 7) Percussion
 * 8) Flute/Baritone/Soprano Clarinet (or Flute/Tenor Sax/Soprano Sax)
 * 9) Tenor/Soprano Flute (or Flute/Clarinet/Baritone Sax)
 * 10) Oboe/Cor Anglais
 * 11) 1st Trumpet/Piccolo Trumpet
 * 12) 2nd Trumpet/Flugel
 * 13) Trombone/Euphonium
 * 14) 1st Horn
 * 15) 2nd Horn
 * 16) Cello

17 Piece
The instrumentation list for the 17-piece orchestra, as used in the 1985 Toronto production and the 1986 Hamburg production:


 * 1) Keyboards 1
 * 2) Keyboards 2
 * 3) Keyboards 3
 * 4) Guitar
 * 5) Bass Guitar
 * 6) Drums
 * 7) Percussion 1
 * 8) Percussion 2
 * 9) Cello
 * 10) Trumpet 1 (Trumpet/Piccolo Trumpet)
 * 11) Trumpet 2
 * 12) Trombone
 * 13) French Horn 1
 * 14) French Horn 2
 * 15) Woodwind 1 (Flute/Clarinet/Sax)
 * 16) Woodwind 2 (Clarinet/Flute/Sax)
 * 17) Woodwind 3 (Oboe/Cor Anglais)

23 Piece
The instrumentation list for the 23-piece orchestra, as used in the original 1982 Broadway production:
 * 1) Piano/Prophet 5 Synthesizer
 * 2) 2 Prophet 5 Synthesizers
 * 3) Electric Piano/Prophet 5 Synthesizer
 * 4) Electric Bass
 * 5) Electric/Acoustic Guitar
 * 6) Drums
 * 7) Percussion 1
 * 8) Percussion 2
 * 9) Trumpet/Piccolo Trumpet/Flugelhorn
 * 10) Trumpet/Flugelhorn
 * 11) Trumpet/Flugelhorn
 * 12) Trombone
 * 13) Bass Trombone
 * 14) French Horn 1
 * 15) French Horn 2
 * 16) Oboe/Oboe d'amore/English Horn
 * 17) Flute/Tenor Sax/Soprano Sax
 * 18) Clarinet/Alto Sax/Flute
 * 19) Piccolo/Flute/Tenor Sax
 * 20) Bassoon/Baritone Sax/Clarinet
 * 21) Cello 1
 * 22) Cello 2
 * 23) Cello 3