It’s a show with well over nine lives under its belt.
Cats, the Andrew Lloyd Webber megahit musical, has prowled its way to stages all over the world, but it’s finally making its White Rock debut Jan. 27-Feb. 7 at Coast Capital Playhouse, in a version directed by Ryan Mooney.
Based on the popular volume of poems by T.S. Eliot, Cats tells the story of the annual gathering of the ‘Jellicle Cats’, during which one special cat is selected to ascend to the Heaviside layer.
Mooney, artistic director of Fighting Chance Productions, says he sees the show as a natural for his independent Vancouver-based theatre company.
Previously noted for its versions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Into The Woods, Spring Awakening and The Rocky Horror Show, the multiple CTC and Ovation Award-winning company has always gravitated towards the avant garde – and that’s just the way Cats was perceived at the time of its initial Broadway run.
In true Fighting Chance fashion – according to a company press release – the current production will be given a particularly intimate feel, placing the audience within “petting” distance of the action.
“Cats was the second big Broadway show I ever saw,” Mooney said in the release.
“I was enamoured with the music and the simplicity of the story. Not only is it a musical that has stood the test of time, but it’s the perfect introduction to live theatre.”
The longevity is legendary. Cats ran in London’s West End for 21 years and Broadway for just over 18 years, and is enjoying a new lease of life currently – following a successful revival in London, a professional production is headed to Broadway once again.
Meanwhile the Fighting Chance version will star a cast of 20 triple-threat performers from all over the Lower Mainland.
They include Ian Backstrom, Daniel Bergeron, Lyndsey Britten, Kenneth Cheung, J.D. Dueckman, Cody Fonda, Lucia Forward, Hannah Gauthier, Fairlith Harvey, Kristen Hogan, Shayna Holmes, Damon Jang, Amanda Lau, Randy McCormick, Lisa Ricketts, Levia Schneider, Sarah Seekamp, Nazanin Shijoa, Doug Thoms and Lauren Trotzuk.
Music direction is by Adam Da Ros, and choreography is by Rachael Carlson.
Coast Capital Playhouse is located at 1532 Johnston Rd.; tickets ($20-$35) are available at http://www.whiterockplayers.ca and http://www.ticketstonight.ca with more information on dates and times at http://www.fightingchanceproductions.ca
The White Rock presentation will be followed by a three-and-a-half week run at the Jericho Arts Centre from Feb. 19-March 12.
