Chorus Tugger

This is the gallery for the character of Rum Tum Tugger's basic, pre-solo look. Both the classic Rockstar Tugger and the short-lived Street Cat version wore this outfit in the first scenes; the Rockstar changes wig and adds items over the basic costume (typically collar, belt, gloves, a garter or sash tied around one leg, different shoes, and of course the mane); while the Street Cat and Broadway revival style costumes require a complete costume change for the performer. (Note that some backstage photos of Rockstar Tugger show the actor not wearing the mane, but otherwise wearing the wig, makeup, and other accessories of the full character: these photos should be counted as Rockstar Tugger, not Chorus Tugger.)

Chorus Tugger only appears in "Jellicle Songs" and "The Naming of Cats" before the performer changes into his full costume.

Whether this ensemble identity is meant to be Rum Tum Tugger or an entirely separate character depends on the production. In the Broadway revival for example, the character was given the name "Bill Bailey" and seemed to be unrelated to Tugger.

Designs[]

UK Productions[]

Original London Production[]

Paul Nicholas in the Original Cast, 1981

Subsequent London Casts[]

Paul Jones (03/1982 - 05/1982)
Paul Nicholas (05/1982 - 05/1983)
Richard Lloyd-King (05/1983 - 05/1985, 03/1986 - 11/1990, 10/1995 - 10/1996)
Allan Love (05/1985 - 03/1986)
Christopher Howard (11/1990 - 11/1993)
Keith Burns (11/1993 - 04/1995)
John Partridge (04/1995 - 10/1995, 05/2001 - 05/2002)
Richard Lloyd-King (05/1983 - 05/1985, 03/1986 - 11/1990, 10/1995 - 10/1996)
Tee Jaye (10/1996 - 02/1999)
Koffi Missah (02/1999 - 11/1999)
David Shannon (11/1999 - 04/2000)
Tom Lucas (04/2000 - 05/2001)
John Partridge (04/1995 - 10/1995, 05/2001 - 05/2002)

UK Tour 1989 - 1990[]

Christian Hughes

UK Tour 1993 - 1995[]

1998 Film[]

John Partridge

UK/European Tour 2003 - 2009[]

Stuart Ramsay (03/2003 - 12/2004)
Gary Watson (03/2006 - 11/2008)
Pepe Munoz (11/2008 - 01/2009)
David Hulston (cover, 2003)

Marcquelle Ward

Europe January - November 2017

Asia January - October 2018

Europe December 2018 - April 2019

Asia June 2019 - January 2020

Europe May 2022 - February 2023

China October 2024 - January 2025

Europe April 2025 - Present

US Productions[]

Original Broadway Production[]

Subsequent Broadway Casts[]

Jamie Rocco (10/1984 - 03/1985)
Terrence Mann (03/1985 - 09/1985)
Rick Sparks (09/1985 - 02/1987)
Steve Yudson (02/1987 - 03/1988)
Frank Mastrocola (03/1988 - 04/1992)
Bradford Minkoff (04/1992 - 03/1993)
Brian K Kennelly (03/1993 - 09/1993)
David Hibbard (09/1993 - 09/1996, 06/1997 - 03/1999)
Stephen M Reed (09/1996 - 10/1996)
Ron DeVito (10/1996 - 05/1997)
Abe Sylvia (05/1997 - 06/1997)
Stephen Bienskie (03/1999 - 09/2000)

US Tour 1 1983 - 1987[]

US Tour 2 1985 - 1986[]

US Tour 3 1986 - 1988[]

US Tour 4 1987 - 1999[]

Steven Bland (03/1987 - 03/1988)
Bradford Minkoff (03/1988 - 04/1990, 03/1991 - 01/1992)
Brian K Kennelly (04/1990 - 03/1991)
Timothy Smith (01/1992 - 08/1992)
David Hibbard (08/1992 - 07/1993)
Hunter Foster (07/1993 - 11/1993)
Rohn Seykell (11/1993 - 07/1994)
Ron DeVito (07/1994 - 05/1995)
J Robert Spencer (05/1995 - 06/1996)
Robert Bartley (06/1996 - 12/1996)
David Villella (12/1996 - 03/1998)
Andy Karl (03/1998 - 04/1999)
Kevin Loreque (04/1999 - 12/1999)

US Tour 5 2001 - 2012[]

Stan Stanley (07/2001 - 08/2003)
Brian Gallagher (08/2003 - 07/2004)
John Boy (07/2004 - 07/2005)
Jeremy Hays (07/2005 - 07/2006)
David Schoonover (07/2006 - 10/2007)
Zander Meisner (10/2007 - 2008)
Danny Beiruti (2008 - 02/2009)
Adam Steiner (02/2009 - 08/2010)
Matthew J. Taylor (11/2010 - 06/2011)
Chris Stevens (12/2011 - 06/2012)

Broadway Revival 2016[]

The Broadway revival specifically names the chorus Tugger identity as "Bill Bailey", bearing no relation to the kitten Bill Bailey in other productions.