Press Room:
CATS
Anthropomorphical
musical 'Cats' springs
to the stage at the Willows Theatre
Record-setting Andrew
Lloyd Webber show, based on
poems by T.S. Eliot, arrives in new holiday production
The Willows Theatre Company is proud to conclude its 2007 season with the
Tony award-winning musical Cats. Based on the beloved
collection of children’s poems “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S.
Eliot, set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats opened on Broadway
in 1982 and ran for 7,484 performances, becoming the longest-running
Broadway musical of all time.
The show, originally set in an oversized garbage dump at an all-night cat
bacchanalia, has been reconceived as a reunion of former students of a
beloved teacher at an unusual private academy – the Jellicle School of
Feline Divinity. The cast of over 40 singers and dancers of all ages bring
to life such cat characters as The Old Gumbie Cat, Rum Tum Tugger, Macavity
the Mystery Cat, and others over the course of the evening. Direction and
musical direction is by Andrew Holtz, with musical staging by John
Butterfield and Daniel Uroff. Cats begins previews on
November 12, 2007. Opening night is Friday, November 16, with performances
continuing through December 30, 2007.
T.S. Eliot originally wrote his light-hearted verses about “practical cats”
to amuse his godchildren (he claimed he actually preferred dogs), and the
collection was first published in 1939. It was a favorite of composer Andrew
Lloyd Webber as a schoolboy, and he originally conceived of the idea of
setting the poems to music for a concert presentation at his Sydmonton,
England, estate in 1980. He invited Eliot’s widow, Valerie, to the concert,
and she brought with her some of her husband’s unpublished material,
including a fragment about Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, that was originally
deemed unsuitable by the author for a children’s collection. Mr. Lloyd
Webber phoned director Trevor Nunn, and Cats as a theater piece was
born.
The show had become a spectacle of lights, sound, and dance when it opened
in London later that year, and it soon became a worldwide sensation
following its New York debut, which garnered seven Tony awards, including a
posthumous “Best Book of a Musical” for Mr. Eliot. Its hit song, “Memory,”
has been recorded by dozens of artists, including Barbra Streisand, and the
show became the longest-running hit in Broadway history on June 19, 1997. It
finally closed on September 10, 2000, after a purr-fectly remarkable 18-year
run.
Sure to appeal to both young and old, the Willows Theatre production of
Cats will feature song, dance, puppetry, shadow-play, and other
theatrical techniques to bring to life Mr. Eliot’s collection of fanciful
cats, set to Mr. Lloyd Webber’s menagerie of musical styles, ranging from
British music hall to mock-operetta to Broadway pop.
“Just like The Nutcracker is a holiday treat that both adults and
kids can enjoy, I wanted to create a musical theater holiday production of
Cats,” says director Holtz. “The show is essentially a musical revue,
and that allows all of us – cast, designers, choreographers – to really use
our imaginations in bringing this show to the stage. I hope everyone can
take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season to enter our magical
world of Cats.”
Scenic design is by Mariana Cassia, with costumes by Robin Speer, lighting
by Robert Anderson, properties by Erin Roberts, and sound by Sean McStravick.
The Cast
Barbara Grant* (Grizabella) has performed on the Willows stage for
over 20 years. She most recently appeared in Over the Tavern, The
Spitfire Grill, You Can’t Take It With You, and Cabaret.
She won a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle award for Best Supporting Actress
for Brimstone and a Dean Goodman Choice award for her role as Eliza
Gant in Look Homeward, Angel.
Stu Klitsner* (Old Deuteronomy) has appeared frequently at the
Willows, most recently as Herr Schultz in the award-winning production of
Cabaret. This past summer, he was seen at Woodminster and Playhouse
West. Stu also recently appeared as Dr. Strauk in the Will Smith motion
picture The Pursuit of Happyness.
Brandy Collazo* (Young Grizabella) was most recently seen flying
around the Dean Lesher Regional Center as the title role in DLOC’s
production of Peter Pan. She has also performed with 42nd Street
Moon, Palo Alto Players, and Broadway by the Bay. She last appeared at the
Willows in Gypsy.
Herbie Raad* (Rum Tum Tugger) performed with Santa Barbara Civic
Light Opera in 36 productions during the 1990s. He then spent several years
in the Magic Kingdom performing the role of Aladdin in Disneyland’s
presentation of Animazement – The Musical. Cats is Herbie’s
Willows Theatre debut.
Ron Pickett (Bustopher Jones/Growltiger) has performed with the
Willows numerous times, most recently in 1776, Oliver, and John
Muir’s Mountain Days. He is a three-time BATCC award nominee and won for
his portrayal of Seamus in the Willows’ production of Brimstone.
Jonathan Spencer (Bustopher Jones/Growltiger) was last seen at the
Willows in 1776. Favorite roles include Pinchot in John Muir’s
Mountain Days and the Innkeeper in Man of LaMancha. Jonathan is
also a longtime principal performer with Lamplighters Music Theatre, where
he last appeared as Capt. Corcoran in HMS Pinafore.
Ricardo Rust (Mungojerrie) has performed off-Broadway in Clubworld
and Bruce Springsteen’s World Hunger Benefit Concert. National regional
credits include RM3, Convenience, Assassins, and The Best Little
Whorehouse in Texas. Cats marks his Willows Theatre Company
debut.
Mary Kalita (Rumpleteazer) is making her Willows Theatre debut. She
has performed locally with Zeum Theatre, Broadway by the Bay, 42nd Street
Moon, City Lights Theatre, and in Homeland, a new musical produced
through the San Francisco New Theatre Workshop, and performed at the Magic
Theatre.
Jessica Raaum (Jennyanydots) began her Bay Area theater career at the
Willows in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Most recently, she
returned to the Willows to play Gino (Harpo Marx) in A Day in Hollywood/A
Night in the Ukraine. Jessica received a BATCC award for Best Actress as
Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun.
Drew Fowler (Munkustrap) makes his Willows debut with Cats. He
has performed with Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Pleasanton Playhouse, Contra
Costa Christian Theater, and CTA Crossroads.
Kenneth Scott (Skimbleshanks) has performed and studied with the San
Francisco Ballet, ODC San Francisco, Chamberdance, and the Printz Dance
Project. He currently dances as a company member with Leyya Tawil’s Dance
Elixir and Deborah Slater Dance Theater. Cats is his first production
with the Willows.
Daniel Lachman (Mistoffelees) is a sophomore at Las Lomas High School
and has performed on numerous occasions with the Willows, most recently as
the Artful Dodger in Oliver! Daniel created the role of John Harper
in the world premiere of The Night of the Hunter, for which he
received a BATCC award for Best Supporting Actor.
Rena Wilson (Jellylorum/Griddlebone) was most recently seen as Wendy
in Diablo Light Opera Co.’s production of Peter Pan. She also
appeared as Hope Cladwell in CCMT’s production of Urinetown. Rena is
a dance instructor in San Jose at The Dance Zone.
Aisha Gearig (Bombalurina) is making her Willows debut. Favorite
roles include Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Philia in A Funny Thing
Happened …Forum, Dainty June in Gypsy, and Chick in Crimes of
the Heart.
Morgan Lindstrom (Demeter) has been studying music and dance at
Ohlone College and appearing in local theatre, most recently as Judy in
Stage 1’s A Chorus Line. This is her first performance with the
Willows.
Rounding out the adult cast members are Cabrina Lett, Aria McAninch, Stefan
Miller, Brian Sterling, and LeNeac Weathersby.
The litter of young performers appearing in the production include: Sydney
Babiak, Jacob Ben-Shmuel, Sabrina Berger, Sabrina Chaco, Julia Franks, Ethan
Helms, Cyrene Howland, Ashley Kim, Zachary Lewis, Tara McAninch, Natalie
O’Neal, Olivia Prado, Melayna Pratt, Zachary Pratt, Celina Reynes, Michael
Smith, Jarrett Taylor, and McKenna Williams.
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Ticket and Schedule Information
Tickets are $33-$38 with discounts for students (6-18), seniors (65+),
groups (10+), and Preview performances. To purchase tickets call (925)
798-1300 or visit the Willows Theatre Company web site at
www.willowstheatre.org. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at
7:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with matinees Wednesdays
at 3:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
The Willows Theatre is located at 1975 Diamond Blvd. next to REI in the
Willows Shopping Center in Concord, across the street from the Concord
Hilton and one block east of the Willow Pass Road exit off Highway 680.
The Willows Theatre Company daytime box office is located at 1425 Gasoline
Alley, Concord, at the corner of Bisso Lane, one block north of Concord
Avenue. The daytime box office hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
and Sunday Noon-5 p.m. The theatre box office and will-call window, located
in the theater lobby, opens one hour prior to each performance. For more
information call (925) 798-1300 or visit our web site at
www.willowstheatre.org.
Recipient of the 2002 Cyril Award of the San Francisco Business Arts Council
for Nonprofit Arts Excellence, the Willows Theatre Company is led by
Artistic Director Richard Elliott and Managing Director Andrew Holtz. The
Willows Theatre Company 2007 Season Sponsors are Rocco’s Pizzeria of
Walnut Creek, Industrial Lumber of Martinez, Alphagraphics of
Walnut Creek, and US Bank (student/teacher discount ticket sponsor).
This production of Cats is sponsored by Bank of the West.
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