Invitation

"The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball" is a short musical number that breaks the fourth wall to explain the entire plot of the musical. It is usually sung by Mistoffelees and Munkustrap, following Victoria's ballet solo.

Context
After "The Naming of Cats", Victoria the White Cat begins to dance a beautiful, measured, impossibly graceful solo. "A little cat, in puberty, discovering her own body." As she finishes, either Mistoffelees or Munkustrap, depending on the production, joins her to invite us to the Jellicle Ball. Munkustrap elaborates on the purpose of the ball, to educate both the youngest members of the tribe as well as the audience.

History
Mistoffelees typically sings the first part of the song while dancing with Victoria. In 1980s/early 1990s productions that had a "mute" Mistoffelees (mainly European productions derived from Vienna), Munkustrap sang both parts instead, although it was still Mistoffelees who danced with Victoria.

Early productions had the ensemble sing a chorus after Mistoffelees' part, either singing lines from "The Song of the Jellicles" (London-style) or repeating Mistoffelees' part (Broadway-style). This was phased out of most productions by the late 1990s. Some modern productions (e.g. US and Japan-based) will have the ensemble sing along with Mistoffelees for the final: "Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball".

Lyrics
 Mistoffelees: Jellicle Cats come out tonight Jellicle Cats come one come all The Jellicle Moon is shining bright Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball

Jellicle Cats come out tonight Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball

Munkustrap: Jellicle Cats meet once a year At the Jellicle Ball where we all rejoice And the Jellicle leader will soon appear And make what is known as the Jellicle choice

When Old Deuteronomy just before dawn Through a silence you feel you could cut with a knife Announces the cat who can now be reborn And come back to different Jellicle life

For waiting up there is the Heaviside Layer Full of wonders one Jellicle only will see And Jellicles ask because Jellicles dare Who will it be? Who will it be?

International Versions

 * Czech
 * French
 * German