When it comes to musicals, Cats is one of the most well-known around the globe. It has hit the stage in 30 countries and 20 different languages! According to the Cats the Musical site, the London production of the show ran for 21 years and 8,949 performances, while the American Broadway production ran for 18 years and 7,485 performances. This made Cats the longest-running musical in both theatre districts for a number of years.
Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based upon the 1939 poetry collection titled Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, the musical was an immediate hit and held audiences’ attention for decades. It was even revived twice in the West End and once on Broadway to show just how popular the productions were.
The ground-breaking and one-of-a-kind production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983 the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony awards including Best Musical.
The Story of Cats
One of the most unique storylines on stage, Cats tells the tale of a tribe of felines called the Jellicles. The story follows one night a year when the patriarch of the family, Old Deuteronomy, chooses which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer (their version of heaven) and be reborn into a new life. The event is called the Jellicle Ball and is the basis of the entire performance where each contender is introduced and makes their case to the tribe.
Some of our favorite feline characters include Rum Tum Tugger, Mr. Mistoffelees, Macavity, Jennyanydots, Old Deuteronomy, Grizabella, and Skimbleshanks. Each one is spotlighted as they begin to make their case to the tribe’s leader. In the end, the winner of the prized extra life is the former glamour cat turned disheveled outcast, Grizabella.
Backdrops For Cats the Musical
Cats the Musical is unique not only because it is a story about cats told by cats, but because it takes place in a junkyard mostly under the full moon and cloudy skies. Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has more than 23 backdrops that are appropriate for this production that can help your theater group set the stage for this award-winning show.
Moon backdrops and sky backdrops are among the most popular for the production of Cats. These options are just a few of the backdrops we have for rent to showcase the night sky, moon, and stars that would be seen from the junkyard where the cats congregate.
This Night Moon Backdrop #2479 depicts the beautiful night sky with bright stars and the moon. It also shows a silhouette of trees.
Or perhaps you would like this Moonlight Serenade Backdrop #2338 that shows the night sky with the moons and stars but more of a cloud cover.
For more of a city backdrop, try this New York at Night Backdrop #2300 which has a more stylized city skyline with a black sky and white city lights.
Check out our full inventory of Cats the Musical backdrops and choose one that is right for your production style. We offer easy ordering and delivery options.
