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Friday, May 15, 2026
CATS:THE JELLICLE BALL
When I went to NYC recently, the main reason was to visit the clan, and we all had plans to go see the Broadway show Cats: The Jellicle Ball. New York City on a Saturday night and the excitement was building as show goers queued up all the way down the block, for Broadway's latest sensation.
This revival I found to be a vibrant, queer-centric reimagining of the iconic 1981 musical. Instead of felines at a literal junkyard, the show sets the production in the underground LBTQ ballroom and house scene rooted in New York City. The characters still compete to be chosen for a new life, but they do it through fierce vogueing, runway and dance battles judged by "Old Deuteronomy. The stage is transformed into an underground ballroom. The songs become competition categories where "cats" perform on a runway to win favor with the judges, who rotate each week with different celebrities. The show pays homage to the legendary real life ballroom community. And the cast! It gave a new reason to cheer! For costumes, voguing and even for the laughs. Not to mention, I've never seen any live production with so many trans people, more important than ever. Here's an idea: have more roles for gay/trans/drag! Give them a chance to shine and they will. This production proves it!
I am Tempress plays Grizbella and to the hilt!! She is styled as an older trans woman whose silicone has dropped...and the makeup team actually painted her face crooked so that her mouth drooped. Tony winner Andre DeShirlds ruled as Deuteronomy. He holds one note that lets you know right ways why he's a Broadway legend. It was also nice to see Junior LaBeija, from Paris is Burning who played Gus and Tempress who is from the House of Margiela. It's a huge bonus to see the ballroom community showcased and thrilling the mainstream I say. And DON'T get me started of Sydney James Harcourt who plays Rum Tum Tugger!! That man and his moves gave me the vapors honey!!! Excuse my French, but that man is fucking scorching, sexy as hell. Nina West is friends with him, I must get the tea on him darlings. Another reason I liked the show was to see costumes by Qween Jean, who has gotten raved over her costume designs.
My own critique, the story is told through song. But the music is louder that the cast's vocals. If you can't hear the lyrics, you can't quite follow the plot. The good news? It doesn't matter. Don't over think it. The show is fun, electric and spine tingling to watch. This version of Cats is arguably superior to the standard one, wrote one review. I agree. Go see it if you get to NYC. Now it remains to be seen if it will be hot and crazy or a huge hit...but the nominations say different, and are a good sign, as the show has only been open for a little over a month.
I saw the Cats: The Jellicle Ball signs around the blog-o-sphere and skipped right past because of my loathing of Cats the musical. I had no idea what it was about ... a BALL!!!! With the LGBTQ+ inclusivity. It sounds fabulous. I need to get the the NYC with Carlos soon. And Alyssa Edwards! Of course she's sold out!
I saw the first one and thought it was all right, but I suspect you and Carlos would really like this one, and if you're like me you would be enthralled by Sydney!
I went to see Cats back in 1983 without knowing it was a dance musical. I like musicals. My first musical with Ben Vereen. Pippin's a dance musical choreographed by Bob Fosse. It also has a lot of dialog. I loved that show. Cats has no dialog, just dancing. I hated Cats. Since this revival is still only dancing, I'd probably hate it, too.
Unlike some of your commentators above I LOVED 'Cats' right from the start when I saw it way back with the original London West-End cast before it opened anywhere else - and I've seen it another four times since, including in Amsterdam. This latest venture sounds FAB! I wonder what Lord Andrew L-W would think - though presumably they must have gotten his permission do this version, and he does tend to be quite broad-minded in such matters regarding his creations. And anyway, anything to scrub away the memory of that dismal film has got to be worth it. I only wish I too could see this.
I actually love this. Being a product of the house club scene and house music this was utterly fabulous. I couldn't stand the original. Not to mention this has far more dishy men in it. Not to mention I love supporting a cast of all LGBT people!
That looks cool, but I had to reread that a couple of time. The silicone has dropped? That sounds like a cosmetically enhanced version of Stop The Car!
They made the one older trans queen, who was supposed to have had silicone injections in later years, so old, the make up team made her look like the silicone had broken down and was sagging downwards. So funny!
Oooooohhh I wanna see it so bad!! I am sending my love and adoration to the DOLLS of Broadway all the way from Amsterdam! This cast is a true inspiration.
A good friend and I are going to see this in three weeks, so I was so happy to see you did a great review. There is no outpouring of pure Queer joy on Broadway like this. There never has been. This show will change lives and change Broadway forever. It's great most of the cast is LGBT with lots of the "T".
One Day, I just might leave the Piney Woods of Central La., venture out to see the Big City Lights... One day, maybe. For the time being, I'll check on the Big City Lights from your blog.
Sounds cool! I'd heard about it but didn't know what it was. I've never been interested in Cats because I can't stand T. S. Eliot. It's an English major thing. Some people love him. Some of us think he was a pompous ass who never wrote anything relatable. This show sounds relatable.
I saw the original Cats when it opened on Broadway in late ’82 and I loved it. After some years, I tired of it. So I didn’t give any attention when I saw this latest advertised. I’m glad you went and wrote about it. It sounds like so much more than I realized. (I just wish productions would stop overwhelming the voices with the music.)
Love this! I'm going to see if my daughter will come take me and we can make the trek. I've read more good things about this then the original. Reviews for this are overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with critics and audiences praising the Broadway production as a joyous, fierce, and a transformative update. I love the idea of it....as an ode to Harlem's historic queer ballroom culture, replacing the classic junkyard set with a pulsing nightclub and runway.
YAY! We caught this two weeks ago too and loved it. Hated the original. This was merely wonderful. It's undoubtedly fun and it's good to see a variety of performers giving their all in ways not commonly seen on Broadway.
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I saw the Cats: The Jellicle Ball signs around the blog-o-sphere and skipped right past because of my loathing of Cats the musical.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what it was about ... a BALL!!!! With the LGBTQ+ inclusivity. It sounds fabulous. I need to get the the NYC with Carlos soon.
And Alyssa Edwards! Of course she's sold out!
I saw the first one and thought it was all right, but I suspect you and Carlos would really like this one, and if you're like me you would be enthralled by Sydney!
DeleteOMG
ReplyDeleteSuch a treat! This looks fantastic!
Free that Cats movie, this is a huge improvement.
XOXO
And I can't tell you how it was a pleasure going to see it knowing you're supporting a whole cast of LGBT people. That cast could ball honey!!!!
DeleteI went to see Cats back in 1983 without knowing it was a dance musical. I like musicals. My first musical with Ben Vereen. Pippin's a dance musical choreographed by Bob Fosse. It also has a lot of dialog. I loved that show. Cats has no dialog, just dancing. I hated Cats. Since this revival is still only dancing, I'd probably hate it, too.
ReplyDeleteIn between the dancing there's actually lots of dialogue and a plot.
DeleteIn other words, they've rewritten the show.
DeleteYes, and gayified it!
DeleteYour description made me think of a novella I read recently by Ben Aaronovitch.; the masquerades of Spring, set in New York in the jazz age.
ReplyDeleteWhat an INSPIRED idea for a "Cats" revival! Looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteOh it was. I enjoyed it much more than the original. Of course the concept for this is much different. And filled with far more queer glitter.
DeleteUnlike some of your commentators above I LOVED 'Cats' right from the start when I saw it way back with the original London West-End cast before it opened anywhere else - and I've seen it another four times since, including in Amsterdam. This latest venture sounds FAB! I wonder what Lord Andrew L-W would think - though presumably they must have gotten his permission do this version, and he does tend to be quite broad-minded in such matters regarding his creations. And anyway, anything to scrub away the memory of that dismal film has got to be worth it. I only wish I too could see this.
ReplyDeleteOh Raybeard you're right I forgot about that dismal film, which might have been the worst incarnation of the thing yet.
DeleteSounds even worse than the original, to be honest. At least that had Elaine Paige in it. Jx
ReplyDeleteI actually love this. Being a product of the house club scene and house music this was utterly fabulous. I couldn't stand the original. Not to mention this has far more dishy men in it. Not to mention I love supporting a cast of all LGBT people!
DeleteThat looks cool, but I had to reread that a couple of time. The silicone has dropped? That sounds like a cosmetically enhanced version of Stop The Car!
ReplyDeleteThey made the one older trans queen, who was supposed to have had silicone injections in later years, so old, the make up team made her look like the silicone had broken down and was sagging downwards. So funny!
DeleteOooooohhh I wanna see it so bad!! I am sending my love and adoration to the DOLLS of Broadway all the way from Amsterdam! This cast is a true inspiration.
ReplyDeleteA good friend and I are going to see this in three weeks, so I was so happy to see you did a great review. There is no outpouring of pure Queer joy on Broadway like this. There never has been. This show will change lives and change Broadway forever. It's great most of the cast is LGBT with lots of the "T".
ReplyDeleteYour right...I think this will open doors for some now.
DeleteOne Day, I just might leave the Piney Woods of Central La., venture out to see the Big City Lights... One day, maybe. For the time being, I'll check on the Big City Lights from your blog.
ReplyDeleteSounds cool! I'd heard about it but didn't know what it was. I've never been interested in Cats because I can't stand T. S. Eliot. It's an English major thing. Some people love him. Some of us think he was a pompous ass who never wrote anything relatable. This show sounds relatable.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I didn't like the original either much...but this one had some much energy, I want to get up on the stage.
DeleteI can see your smiles, in the words you write about this. A great evening out.
ReplyDeleteI saw the original Cats when it opened on Broadway in late ’82 and I loved it. After some years, I tired of it. So I didn’t give any attention when I saw this latest advertised. I’m glad you went and wrote about it. It sounds like so much more than I realized. (I just wish productions would stop overwhelming the voices with the music.)
ReplyDeleteIt is the closet thing to be at a ball! A very creative re-inception of an older show that for sure.
DeleteThat looks like it was a blast!
ReplyDeleteLove this! I'm going to see if my daughter will come take me and we can make the trek. I've read more good things about this then the original. Reviews for this are overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with critics and audiences praising the Broadway production as a joyous, fierce, and a transformative update. I love the idea of it....as an ode to Harlem's historic queer ballroom culture, replacing the classic junkyard set with a pulsing nightclub and runway.
ReplyDeleteDo see it toots, You'll love it!
DeleteYAY! We caught this two weeks ago too and loved it. Hated the original. This was merely wonderful. It's undoubtedly fun and it's good to see a variety of performers giving their all in ways not commonly seen on Broadway.
ReplyDeleteIt was far better than I imagined it would be. Of course it was house and ballroom, of course, how could it go wrong?
DeletePet peeve of mine: Music overpowering the lyrics. No excuse in a Broadway venue. Shame, and shame again.
ReplyDeleteWill they take home the Tony? They will.