When I was as young as seven, I got into theater and musicals through the productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Nowadays shows like Disney On Ice, Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street Live dominate children’s theater. One musical in particular that I was, and still am, hooked on is Webber’s Cats. That’s why I was so excited to hear it is coming to The Fox Theatre Thanksgiving weekend. It’s musicals of this quality, which I think children are able to understand and enjoy more than people think, that flare passions about theater – not Dora.
The musical was adapted from T.S. Eliot’s book Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Webber composed the music while Trevor Nunn originally directed the production. Since its opening in London in 1981, this award-winning musical has been shown in over 20 countries and 250 cities. I doubt that modern children’s shows will have the same long-lasting admiration and love that Cats has. Unlike them, Cats has definitely found its niche.
People who have not even seen Cats are likely to, at the very least, recognize the song “Memory.” ("Memory/All alone in the moonlight/I can smile at the old days/I was beautiful then ...).
Although I’ve probably seen the musical almost a half a dozen times, its awesomeness never fades. And it takes me back to the times when my sister, friends and I put on reenactments in our garage.
The real thing will be playing at The Fox November 28-30. Tickets range between $22-$61. For ticket information go to fabulousfox.com. —Alex Bates, Fall Intern
