“Cats”, the musical, which became an iconic hit and one of the longest-running shows on Broadway, will return to Broadway this summer, producers announced on Thursday. In a release, the organizations expressed delight at being able to bring the musical back to Broadway. Trevor Nunn will return to direct, while choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler – of Hamilton fame – will base the new show’s moves off the original.
Advertisement
The 2016 edition in NY brings together Broadway’s two most powerful theater-owners as producers: the Shubert Organization and the Nederlander Organization, who collaborated this season on “School of Rock”, also created by Mr. Webber. Of interest is that The Really Useful Group, Lloyd Webber’s company, is licensing the production but not producing.
When CATS opens, Andrew Lloyd Webber will have three musicals on Broadway at the same time – the others being Phantom of the Opera and School of Rock – The Musical. Since its 1981 premiere in London, “Cats” has been presented in over 30 countries, translated into 15 languages and been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide.
Costume/scenic designer John Napier, who won one of the seven Tonys earned by the 1982 production, will once again design this production’s costumes and scenic design.
Advertisement
Original director Trevor Nunn will handle the new production, which will begin previews on July 14 after a successful London run. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical held the title of longest-running musical in Broadway history until it was surpassed in 2006 by Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. This marks the first NY revival.
