Hamburg: The 15-year run, opening in 1986, is often cited as the catalyst for Germany's shift away from repertory-based theatre and towards more commercial productions. This iconic 1981 ‘Cats’ poster was issued in the first year of the London production at New London Theatre and features many of the original cast members including Paul Nicholas and Brian Blessed. In September 2018, Laurie Davidson and Mette Towley were cast, with Steven Spielberg announced to be executive producing. [39] [40] In October 2018, Idris Elba and Judi Dench joined the cast of the film. [41] [42] Dench was cast in the original stage musical, but had been forced to pull out due to a torn Achilles tendon; Lloyd Webber and Hooper decided to make Old Deuteronomy a female cat and offered her the role. [43] a b " Cats (2019)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019 . Retrieved 19 February 2021.

Cats, as a true showcase for triple-threat performers, has featured quite a few star-studded casts since its inception. Leona Lewis - Following the many famous actresses who had played the role before, Lewis had some very large paws to fill as Grizabella in the 2016 Broadway Revival. Ifeanyi, K. C. (18 December 2019). " 'Cats' director Tom Hooper defends the deeply polarizing use of CGI in his new musical". Fast Company . Retrieved 8 January 2021. Kroll, Justin (29 November 2018). "Robbie Fairchild to Play Munkustrap in 'Cats' Movie Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)". Archived from the original on 6 March 2019 . Retrieved 4 March 2019.

The film premiered at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center in New York City on 16 December 2019 [74] [75] and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom and United States on 20 December 2019. [76] CGI errors and modified release [ edit ] Andrews, Travis M.; Rao, Sonia (18 July 2019). "The 'Cats' trailer dropped. We have 34 questions". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019 . Retrieved 19 July 2019. Jennifer Hudson - Speaking to her time on set as the 2019 film, Hudson says of her character Grizabella, "You wonder for her, you want to know her story—you feel for her."

The Ad-Dressing of Cats" - Old Deuteronomy and Company What awards has Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats won? Japan: A brand new theatre was built to house this production in Tokyo, which debuted in 1983 and caused a "musical boom" across Japan. As of 2019, this production has played over 10,000 performances. Cats (U)". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019 . Retrieved 16 December 2019. a b c d Friend, David (19 November 2019). "Don't judge 'Cats' film by its trailer, says Canadian music producer Greg Wells". The Canadian Pres/Toronto Star . Retrieved 18 October 2020.Nominations Announced for the 28th Huading Awards – "The Global Film Satisfaction Survey Release Ceremony" ". Tyler Morning Telegraph. 23 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020 . Retrieved 14 November 2020. Simran Hans of The Observer agreed that "many of its uncanny images are sure to haunt viewers for generations". Her one-star review described the film as "a clear career low" for most of the actors, wondering whether they "are aware of what they've gotten themselves into". [62] Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian agreed with the one-star rating. In a review parodying " The Naming of Cats", he criticised the visual style and particularly the character design, while lambasting the film as a "dreadful hairball of woe". [91]

a b c Hans, Simran (21 December 2019). "Cats review – will haunt viewers for generations". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019 . Retrieved 21 December 2019. There are two dramatically different film adaptations of Cats. Both were released in English and had tremendously talented casts. Ross, Daniel. "5 reasons why Jennifer Hudson's version of 'Memory' is the best thing about the new Cats movie". Classic FM. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019 . Retrieved 2 January 2020. Galuppo, Mia (31 August 2018). " 'Cats' Movie Adaptation Sets December 2019 Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018 . Retrieved 31 August 2018.Original West End Production: The Original West End production in 1981 was the first full-scale performance of the musical we know today. It was directed by Trevor Nunn, designed by John Napier, and choreographed by Dame Gillian Lynne. It is one of the longest running shows in West End history, and took home two Olivier awards. Burr, Ty (18 December 2019). " 'Oh God, my eyes': Read Ty Burr's scathing review of 'Cats' – The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019 . Retrieved 22 December 2019. Most of the Jellicle Ball competitors are introduced and sing about themselves: Jennyanydots, a domestic tabby who sleeps during the day and by night boosts the productivity of mice and roaches; the Rum Tum Tugger, an extravagant yet indecisive cat who riles up the others; Bustopher Jones, a bourgeois cat who boasts about his weight and shares food scraps from the garbage; Skimbleshanks, a tidy ginger cat who tap dances and supervises the operation of a train, and Gus, an aged theatrical cat who has played some of the biggest roles in history. Peter Debruge of Variety called the film "one of those once-in-a-blue-moon embarrassments that mars the résumés of great actors (poor Idris Elba, already scarred enough as the villainous Macavity) and trips up the careers of promising newcomers (like ballerina Francesca Hayward, whose wide-eyed, mouth-agape Victoria displays one expression for the entire movie)." He criticized the direction and effects, and predicted that the film would appeal to furries, [86] though many in the furry fandom also found the effects disturbing. [87] D'Alessandro, Anthony (8 November 2018). " 'Cats' Cast: Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Steven McRae To Play Skimbleshanks". Archived from the original on 8 November 2018 . Retrieved 8 November 2018.