The first US Tour of Cats ran from December 17, 1983, to November 7, 1987.[1] This production was groundbreaking as it introduced the concept of "Slow Tours" that are designed to only play large cities for relatively long runs. Now a staple of big Broadway shows, this concept allows producers to put on expensive large-scale touring productions and still recoup their investment.
The tour was produced by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Company Limited, David Geffen and The Shubert Organization.
Unlike the fore-running Broadway production, Rumpus Cat was played by Alonzo instead of Plato, and Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were their own characters, thus bringing the tour in line with most worldwide productions. The rest of the production however, was based on the Broadway version of the show. Published photos of this production are rare: the Souvenir Program sold for the opening months of this production featured the original Broadway Cast photography.
Production Specifics[]
Creative Team[]
Grizabella Diane Fratantoni news clip US1 1986
- Composer - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Executive producers - R. Tyler Gatchell Jr. and Peter Neufeld
- Director - Trevor Nunn
- Associate Director and Choreographer - Gillian Lynne
- Costume and Set Designer - John Napier
- Musical Directors - Stanley Lebowsky and Thomas Helm
- Orchestrations - David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lighting Designer - David Hersey
- Sound Designer - Martin Levan
- Make-up Design - Candace Carrell[2]
- Production Manager - David Taylor
Tour Dates[]
| City | Theatre | Dates |
| Boston, Massachusetts | Shubert Theatre at the Boch Center | December 17, 1983 - May 5, 1984 [3] |
| Washington, DC | National Theatre | May 11, 1984 - November 25, 1984 |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Forrest Theatre | November 30, 1984 - March 16, 1985 |
| Chicago, Illinois | Shubert Theatre | March 23, 1985 - June 1, 1986 |
| Denver, Colorado | Ellie Caulkins Opera House | June 5, 1986 - July 5, 1986 |
| San Francisco, California | Golden Gate Theatre | July 9, 1986 - January 31, 1987 |
| Detroit, Michigan | Fisher Theatre | February 5, 1987 - May 9, 1987 |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Forrest Theatre | May 14, 1987 - July 4, 1987 |
| Washington, DC | National Theatre | July 9, 1987 - September 13, 1987 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | Shubert Theatre at the Boch Center | September 17, 1987 - November 7, 1987 |
Cast[]
1983[]
| Character | Performer |
|---|---|
| Alonzo / Rumpus Cat | Jamie Patterson |
| Asparagus / Bustopher Jones / Growltiger | Sal Mistretta |
| Bombalurina | Cindi Klinger |
| Cassandra | Charlotte d'Amboise |
| Coricopat | Allen Hidalgo |
| Demeter | Pamela Blasetti |
| Grizabella | Laurie Beechman |
| Jellylorum / Griddlebone | Jennifer Butt |
| Jennyanydots | Cindy Benson |
| Mistoffelees | Jamie Torcellini |
| Mungojerrie | Ray Roderick |
| Munkustrap | Mark Dovey |
| Old Deuteronomy | Kevin Marcum |
| Plato / Macavity | Russell Warfield |
| Pouncival | Barry K Bernal |
| Rum Tum Tugger | Rich Hebert |
| Rumpleteazer | Kelli Ann McNally |
| Sillabub | Kathy Andrini |
| Skimbleshanks | Willie Rosario |
| Tantomile | Tori Brenno |
| Tumblebrutus | Thomas McManus |
| Victoria | Susan Zaguirre |
| Cats Chorus | John Dewar |
| Cats Chorus | Janene Lovullo |
| Cats Chorus | Calvin E Remsberg |
| Cats Chorus | Mimi Wyche |
| Swing | Joel Ferrell |
| Swing | Greg Minahan (Dance Captain) |
| Swing | John Crutchman |
| Swing | Michael Scott Gregory |
| Swing | Nancy Hess |
| Swing | Frankie Cassady |
| Swing | Scott Dainton |
| Swing | Cathy Carson |
| Swing | Lily Lee Wong |
1984[]
1985[]
1986[]
1987[]
- Additional February 1987 Cast (Detroit, MI): Marybeth Abel, Tom Guerra, Dan Hild
Gallery[]
Media Coverage[]
- June 1984 - Washington Post
- March 1986 - "The Year of the Cats" - Chicago Tribune
- May 1986 - "Entering on Copy 'Cat' Feet" - Chicago Tribune
- May 1987 - The Morning Call, Philadelphia[2]
Awards and Nominations[]
- Main article: Awards
References[]
- ↑ IBDB
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Philadelphia Review / Report, 15 May 1987
- ↑ Review, Boston Dec 1983
- ↑ Original Cast
- ↑ April 1984 Cast
- ↑ May 1984 Cast
- ↑ Early November 1984 Cast
- ↑ Late November 1984 Cast
- ↑ January 1985 Cast
- ↑ Early July 1985 Cast
- ↑ Late July 1985 Cast
- ↑ January 1986 Cast
- ↑ June 1986 Cast
- ↑ October 1986 Cast
- ↑ February 1987 Cast
- ↑ March 1987 Cast
- ↑ May 1987 Cast
- ↑ July 1987 Cast
- ↑ August 1987 Cast
| v • e Broadway's Cats | |
|---|---|
| Productions | Original (1982 - 2000): Cast • Gallery • Cast Recording • Score • Winter Garden Theatre
Revival (2016 - 2017): Cast • Gallery • Score • Neil Simon Theatre |
| National Tours | US Tour #1 (1983 - 1987): Cast US Tour #2/L.A. (1985 - 1986): Cast |
| Characters | Alonzo • Bombalurina • Bustopher Jones • Carbucketty • Cassandra • Coricopat • Demeter • Electra • Etcetera • Griddlebone • Grizabella • Growltiger • Gus • Jellylorum • Jennyanydots • Macavity • Mr. Mistoffelees • Mungojerrie • Munkustrap • Old Deuteronomy • Plato • Pouncival • Rum Tum Tugger • Rumpleteazer • Rumpus Cat • Skimbleshanks • Sillabub • Tantomile • Tumblebrutus • Victoria |