Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats transfers to Broadway

Dom O'Hanlon
Dom O'Hanlon

It has been announced that the recent West End revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical Cats will transfer to Broadway, opening at the Neil Simon Theatre for previews on 14 July 2016, with an official opening set for 2 August 2016.

The production, which is based on the original long-running and record breaking production, will once again be directed by Trevor Nunn. The Broadway production will feature choreography by Andy Blankenbehler, based on original choreography and associate direction by Dame Gillian Lynne.

British producer, composer and theatre owner Andrew Lloyd Webber will return to the distinguished position of having three of his musicals running simultaneously on Broadway:

His newest musical School of Rock, opened at the Winter Garden Theatre (the home of the original Broadway production of 'Cats') on 6 December 2016, where it was greeted with favourable reviews. It was recently announced that the show would transfer to London, opening at the London Palladium in autumn 2016. 

The original Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera continues to play to packed houses at the Majestic Theatre, where it currently holds the record of being Broadway's longest running musical. As of 17 January 2016, the musical has played 11,640 performances. The London production recently entered its 30th year at the Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End, and is London's second longest running musical.

With Cats, School of Rock and The Phantom of the Opera running on Broadway simultaneously, Lloyd Webber returns to his position of king of the Great White Way. The last time he could boast three of his productions running together was back in March 2012, when Phantom was joined by Broadway revivals of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

Cats is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". The original Broadway production opened in 1982 at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre where it ran for 7,485 performances and 18 years.

Co-producers of the first Broadway revival of the show The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization said of the announcement:

"In 1982, the arrival of CATS took Broadway by storm. The show went on to dazzle audiences at the Winter Garden for the next 18 years, becoming one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. We are delighted to join together to bring Andrew Lloyd Webber's phenomenal musical back to Broadway."

Read more about Cats on Broadway by clicking here.


Originally published on

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