Cats (musical)

Form and characteristics

Rather than following a single linear plot, Cats is structured as a sequence of portraits of different feline characters — the Jellicle Cats — who gather for an annual ceremony. The production emphasizes choreography, physical theatre and an immersive visual identity: extensive makeup, tailored costumes that suggest feline anatomy, and a flexible set that allows performers to move at floor level and among the audience. Original choreography for the West End production was created by Gillian Lynne.

Production history

Cats premiered at the New London Theatre in London’s West End on 11 May 1981 and later opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on 7 October 1982. The West End production enjoyed a very long run, closing in 2002 after thousands of performances, while the Broadway production also ran for many years. Both productions helped establish Cats as one of the longest-running and most commercially successful musicals of its era.

Notable elements and legacy

• Signature song: “Memory,” interpreted by numerous recording artists and associated with the role of Grizabella.
• Performance style: dance-heavy, ensemble-driven, with a focus on character vignettes rather than conventional book-musical storytelling.
• Awards and recognition: the original West End and Broadway productions earned major industry awards and nominations, including the Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards, reflecting its impact on musical theatre.

Cats helped popularize a more theatrical, spectacle-oriented approach to commercial musicals and inspired many international productions and touring companies. Its visual design and marketing — from program art to merchandising — became influential in how large-scale musicals are presented and promoted.

Adaptations and cultural footprint

Over the decades, Cats has been staged worldwide in professional and amateur productions, and it has been adapted for other media. A feature film adaptation released in 2019 brought renewed attention and debate about translating the show’s distinctive stage conventions to cinema. For further reading on the source poems, the composer, original London venue and Broadway history, see links to the original book, the composer and major theatres and awards: Old Possum, Andrew Lloyd Webber, New London Theatre (West End), Winter Garden Theatre (Broadway), and major theatre awards and records.