The Finale is the last music heard in the show. Each performer takes a moment in the spotlight to bow, either solo or in pairs. The ensemble sing a final chorus of "Mr. Mistoffelees" as they dance, and make their way offstage. Finally, as the audience leaves, an instrumental reprise of "Memory" is played.
The exact traditions of the finale depend on the production and theatrical traditions of the location.
Music[]
The music is split into four distinct sections in the score, each reprising melodies previously used in the show.
Finale 1: Jellicle Ball[]
An instrumental reprise of the "Jellicle Ball", starting from around the Princess Louise section, is played while the cast run through the audience, assembling onstage in time to repeat the last moments of the Jellicle Ball.
Finale 2: Skimbleshanks[]
The performers come out alone or in pairs to take their bows to the tune of "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat". Each performer has a moment in the spotlight - performing a moment suiting their character, a leap, a pose, a bow. The music falls silent for applause, depending on the production the Musicians, or just the Musical Director, may make it onstage for a bow. The full cast may take a traditional bow at this point.
Finale 3: Mister Mistoffelees[]
The cast sing a final chorus of "Magical Mister Mistoffelees", as they dance around and gradually leave the stage. While in the "Skimbleshanks" section we see the characters, in this last moments onstage, the performers can be out of character and letting their own personalities shine.
Finale 4: Play Out[]
The Rum Tum Tugger is usually the last character onstage by this point, and the music segues into a brief excerpt of his melody. As the auditorium lights come up and the audience begins to leave, we hear another reprise of "Jellicle Songs", and finally a reprise of "Memory", and the last moment of the "Jellicle Ball" once more.
Bows[]
In most productions, Cats breaks the normal theatrical conventions of having the minor ensemble characters bow first, leading up to the principal characters taking the final bows. Instead the Cats appear in an apparent random order. Typically pairs of characters bow together, Jellylorum and Gus, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, Coricopat and Tantomile, Demeter and Bombalurina. Acrobats will perform a flip, specifically Bill Bailey/Tumblebrutus will often take the final bow with impressive acrobatics.
Specific Traditions[]
In some productions, Jellylorum will wear Griddlebone's bonnet or bushy tail for the bows, as she is likely to not be recognized as the soprano soloist otherwise. Similarly, Jennyanydots will sometimes wear her orange tap outfit for the bows.
A tradition in US productions is for departing cast members to exit the stage through the oven in their last performance. When a production closes, the entire cast then exits through the oven.
Other productions, mostly European-based, will have leaving cast members stand in the middle of the stage while the rest of the cast surround them.
| v • e Musical Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Productions | Broadway Score • Australian Score • 1998 Film Score • UK Tour 2003 Score • UK Tour 2016 Score • Broadway 2016 Score |
| Act One | Overture • Jellicle Songs • The Naming of Cats • Invitation • The Old Gumbie Cat • The Rum Tum Tugger • Grizabella: The Glamour Cat • Bustopher Jones • Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer • Old Deuteronomy • Pekes and Pollicles • The Song of the Jellicles • Jellicle Ball • Memory (Prelude) |
| Act Two | The Moments of Happiness • Gus: The Theatre Cat • Growltiger's Last Stand • Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat • Macavity • Macavity Fight • Magical Mister Mistoffelees • Daylight • Memory • The Journey to the Heaviside Layer • Ad-Dressing of Cats • Finale - Bows and Play-out |