Key Takeaways
- The current Broadway hit Cats: The Jellicle Ball reimagines Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical by placing it in New York’s queer ballroom scene, highlighting themes of oppression, self‑expression, and community.
- The production has garnered nine Tony nominations and won three awards, signalling both critical and popular success.
- Lloyd Webber says this version feels closer to T.S. Eliot’s original spirit than any prior adaptation, praising its authenticity and raw energy.
- Despite early skepticism—and having to mortgage his house to fund the original Cats—the show became a cultural phenomenon, running nearly 18 years on Broadway before being surpassed by Phantom of the Opera.
- Lloyd Webber emphasizes that a strong story is the foundation of any successful musical; even a superb score cannot rescue a weak narrative.
- Reflecting on his long career, he attributes his longevity to passion, perseverance, and the belief that worthwhile works eventually find new life through fresh interpretations.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical Cats has returned to Broadway in a striking new guise: Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Rather than the familiar London junkyard of felines, directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch transplant the action to New York’s vibrant queer ballroom scene. Here, performers—many in drag, others not—compete, strut, and celebrate their identities while echoing the historic struggles of marginalized communities. The setting, Lloyd Webber notes, feels “organically right,” allowing the musical to reach into “differences in humanity” that resonate deeply with contemporary audiences.
The reimagined production has not only captured public imagination but also earned critical acclaim, garnering nine Tony Award nominations and walking away with three wins. Lloyd Webber, who composed the original score in the late 1970s, observes that this iteration gets closer to the heart of T.S. Eliot’s original children‑poetry cycle than any previous version he has seen. He describes a sense of rawness and authenticity that mirrors the street‑wise nature of cats, amplified by the fact that nineteen cast members made their Broadway debuts in this show.
Reflecting on the origins of Cats, Lloyd Webber recalls the initial hostility he faced. When he first proposed a musical about singing cats, industry insiders dismissed the idea as disastrous, and the production opened with insufficient financing. He was forced to take a second mortgage on his home to cover costs—a gamble that ultimately paid off as Cats became a cultural juggernaut. The show ran on Broadway for nearly eighteen years, a record later eclipsed only by another Lloyd Webber megahit, The Phantom of the Opera, which opened in 1988 and enjoyed an astonishing thirty‑year run.
Beyond Cats, Lloyd Webber’s career spans more than twenty musicals, including early collaborations with lyricist Tim Rice on Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. He was later knighted and made a life peer, composing the anthem “Make a Joyful Noise” for King Charles III’s 2023 coronation. Throughout his journey, he has encountered both triumphs and setbacks. When asked how he deals with failure, his answer is straightforward: move on. He believes that if a work possesses genuine merit, it will resurface in some form; if the story or execution falters, it is unlikely to endure.
Lloyd Webber stresses that the cornerstone of any successful musical is a strong narrative. He argues that no amount of brilliant music can salvage a weak story, whereas a compelling tale can sometimes carry a modest score. This philosophy was reinforced by advice from legendary director Hal Prince, who told him that a musical cannot be judged solely by its soundtrack—every element, from set design to choreography, must align for the show to truly click.
Today, Lloyd Webber sees a renaissance of his earlier works as new directors reinterpret them for modern sensibilities. Besides Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a fresh take on Sunset Boulevard—originally staged in the 1990s—is gaining attention. He expresses gratitude for the serendipity of timing, noting that good shows have a way of standing the test of time. At seventy‑eight, he remains actively involved, with several new projects in development and a highly acclaimed revival of Evita slated for Broadway next year. The continued success of Cats: The Jellicle Ball—extended at least through January—underscores his enduring belief that passion, perseverance, and a willingness to let stories evolve are the true ingredients of lasting theatrical magic.