CATS, purr and meows it’s way into the hearts of guests both young and old in a mesmerising display of world class song and dance. Renown as having the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, CATS had its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981 where it played for a spectacular twenty-one record-breaking years and almost nine thousand staggering performances. The ground-breaking production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical, making it one of best loved musicals on the planet. CATS is quite simply a phenomenon, evident by the many returning guests who have caught the show more then once.
Dazzling lighting that goes from onstage to offstage sets the perfect mood for each segment. The actors and actresses are spellbinding in their performance, on many occasions on two legs and at times even on all fours, interacting with guests up-close by the walkways upon entering or exiting the venue. Top notch choreography, executed masterfully. In 1983 the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony awards including Best Musical, and ran for eighteen years. Add a fantastical set, an unparalleled score and vibrant costumes, CATS is a brilliant masterpiece not to be missed.
The superb musical score composed by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, with songs well sung by many cast members such as the attention seeking Rum Tum Tugger and wise Old Deuteronomy as well as the timeless hit song ‘Memory’, which has been recorded by over one hundred artists including superstars Barbra Streisand and Barry Manilow. Both the original London and Broadway cast recordings won Grammy Awards for Best Cast Album. Since its world premiere, CATS has been presented in over thirty countries, translated into a staggering fifteen languages, seen by more than eighty-one million people worldwide and this number is increasing exponentially.
One of the main stars of the show must be the once upon a time glamorous Grizabella who has been outcast by the tribe of cats for leaving them and seeking a life away some time back. Thankfully all ends well, as she was eventually accepted once again, moved by her sincerity for forgiveness. Following its triumphant season in London’s West End, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical CATS comes to the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands for a strictly limited season from December 17. Tickets are now on sale via Marina Bay Sands ticketing and SISTIC.
The motherly Jennyanydots, upper class Bustopher Jones, elegant Victoria, mischievous partners in crime Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer along with many others are based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. The show is set amongst a typical feline infested junkyard and is the playground of our well loved characters. The Jellicle Cats come out to play on one unique night of the year – the evening of the Jellicle Ball. Each telling their tales for the amusement of their benevolent leader, Old Deuteronomy who must choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.
Base Entertainment Asia is the largest presenter of live theatrical entertainment in Southeast Asia with offices in Kuala Lumpur and its regional headquarters in Singapore. It is the resident developer, producer, programmer and manager of live entertainment at Singapore’s Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands. Till date, Base Entertainment Asia has presented The Phantom of the Opera in Malaysia and over 200 of the world’s most recognised shows of varied genres in Singapore; musicals– Disney’s Aladdin, Disney’s The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Matilda The Musical, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, CATS, Chicago, MAMMA MIA!, West Side Story, Annie, Evita, Kinky Boots, Jersey Boys, The Lee Kuan Yew Musical, THE SECRET (based on Jay Chou’s movie, Secret; stage magic – The Illusionists I and II, Cosentino: Anything Is Possible; circuses – Le Noir, Cirque Adrenaline, Cirque Eloize, Circus 1903 and many others.
Photo credit: CATS Tour 2019 Photography by Alessandro Pinna
STARS TIFF (Mistoffelees blowing stars logo): MICHAEL LE POER TRENCH