PULLMAN — CATS the Musical, the show that revolutionized musical theatre, is coming to Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum at WSU in Pullman at 7: 30 p.m. April 20.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 3, at the Beasley Coliseum box office and all TicketsWest Outlets, and by calling 800-325-SEAT or online at www.ticketswest.com.
On May 11, 1981, CATS opened at the New London Theatre, England. Eight years later it celebrated its first important milestone: after 3,358 performances CATS became the longest running musical in the history of British theatre. CATS played its final performance on its 21st birthday, May 11, 2002.
CATS opened on Broadway Oct. 7, 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and continued to live up to its motto “Now and Forever.” On June 19, 1997, CATS became the longest running musical on Broadway. It ended its 18 year run Sept. 10, 2000.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.
In October of 1991 CATS became the longest continuously touring show in American theatre history. Five continents, 26 countries, over eight and a half million audience members and 26 years later, CATS is still America’s most loved family musical. Celebrating not only 26 years but the birth of the musical spectacular, CATS is still revolutionary and awe inspiring.
Produced by CATS-Eye, LLC, the national tour of CATS is the only production in North America sanctioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. With original direction by Trevor Nunn and choreography by Gillian Lynne this is the CATS credited with the British invasion of Broadway. The national tour of CATS recently celebrated its 26th anniversary season, holding its place as the longest continuously touring Broadway musical in history.
