These cats certainly dive through the air, not only like a flying trapeze—but on one, too! A circus-themed take on Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S. Eliot's Cats has come to Chicago's Paramount Theatre, and the felines are flying high in new production photos of the production. Get a look in the gallery below.
Directed by Trent Stork, the production began April 30 and opened May 9. Performances continue through June 15.
“I was the associate director when Paramount did Cats the first time and I remember thinking, ‘what if Victoria arrived to the Jellicle Ball on a Moon Beam of Silks…� and from there, a completely realized circus Cats has been living in my head for 11 years,� says Stork in a statement. “I’m very excited and grateful to be able to bring that vision to life with so much talent in the cast and behind the scenes. It’s going to be unlike anything the world has ever seen and totally something new for our audiences at Paramount.�
The production features choreography by Kasey Alfonso and circus choreography from Actors Gymnasium founder Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. The cast has been taking circus training intensives at the Gymnasium, Chicago's oldest circus school.
Kat Harvey in Cats
Company of Cats
Lorenzo Rush Jr. in Cats
Donovan Hoffer in Cats
Company of Cats
Company of Cats
Alexandra Palkovic in Cats
Dani Goldberg and Michael Lunder in Cats
Company of Cats
Company of Cats
Matthew Weidenbener in Cats
Ryan Huemmer and Kat Hoil in Cats
Ryan Huemmer in Cats
Kat Harvey in Cats
Company of Cats
Company of Cats
Christopher Kelley in Cats
Company of Cats
Emily Rohm in Cats
The cast of acro-cats includes Emily Rohm as Grizabella; Lorenzo Rush Jr. as Old Deuteronomy; Gene Weygandt as Asparagus, Bustopher Jones, and Peter; Jake DiMaggio Lopez as Munkustrap; Donovan Hoffer as Rum Tum Tugger; Tiffany Topol as Bombalurina; Alexandra Palkovic as Demeter; Allison Sill as Jellylorum; Christopher Kelley as Mistoffelees; Anakin Jace White as Skimbleshanks; Matthew Millin as Tumblebrutus; Dani Goldberg as Mungojerrie; Ayana Strutz as Rumpleteazer; Kara Brody as Victoria; Kat Hoil as Jennyanydots; Emma Ogea as Sillabub; Brian Bandura as Carbuckety; Matty Bettencourt as Pouncival; Liam Bradley as Admetus; Sophie Liu David as Etcetera; Shaun Dennison White as George; Evan C. Dolan as Alonzo; Kat Harvey as Tantomile; Ryan Huemmer as Coricopat; Hayley Larson as Electra; Michael Lunder as Tumblebrutus; Selena Robinson as Cassandra; Emily Scinto as Exotica; and Matthew Weidenbener as Macavity and Plato. The chorus includes Joe Giovannetti, Brian Hupp, Emilie Lynn, and Nellie Shuford.
The creative team also includes clown consultant Amanda Crockett; music director and conductor Kory Danielson; scenic designer Jeffrey D. Kmiec; costume designer Izumi Inaba; lighting designer Greg Hofmann; sound designer Adam Rosenthal; projection designer Paul Deziel; wig, hair, and makeup designer Katie Cordts; properties designer Ivy Thomas; illusion consultant Benjamin Barnes; fight, stunt, and intimacy director Max Fabian; electronic music designer Ethan Deppe; dialect coach Susan Gosdick; flight director Tracy Nunnally; stage manager Amber R. Dettmers; and assistant stage managers Natalie Cohen and Lanita VanderSchaaf.
Paramount's production is one of several dramatically reimagined Cats productions currently out in the world. An Off-Broadway revival inspired by and set in the world of ballroom, titled Cats: "The Jellicle Ball," played Off-Broadway last year and has teased an upcoming NYC return, and a country-and-western–themed revival begins at Fort Worth, Texas's Casa Mañana May 31.
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