SKOKIE, Ill.—“Everybody in the West End of London thought we were completely and utterly crazy,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of “Cats,” in a December 2014 interview with British newspaper The Telegraph. Even the famous English director Trevor Howard said that a show “based on a children’s poem about pussycats could be the most ridiculed mounts in theater history.”
Indeed, the theatrical community had reason to be concerned when “Cats” opened in London in 1981. Would anyone come to watch this show? It had barely any plot. In it, actors dressed as cats slinked and slid around a stage singing songs with lyrics taken from “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” (1939) by 20th-century poet T. S. Eliot (1888–1965).
The cast of “Cats.” (Brett Beiner)The naysayers were wrong. “Cats” turned out to be one of the most popular musicals in London’s West End and on Broadway in New York. It won the Laurence Olivier and Tony Award prizes, and since its premiere 45 years ago, is still going strong, Now in a terrific revival at the Music Theater Works in Skokie, Illinois, audiences can revisit the show and see for themselves why the musical has had such a long-lasting appeal.
A Purr-fect Combination
Some theater aficionados may still wonder about the musical’s popularity. What is it about “Cats” that continues to enthrall audiences? In its very simple plot, a tribe of cats called the Jellicles spend a night trying to decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. A variety of cats sing and dance as they try to persuade their leader, Old Deuteronomy, to choose them for the reincarnation.
It’s interesting to hear each feline’s personal story that gives it a unique character. But the highlight of the show is Webber’s fantastic musical score, which includes a variety of styles from pop to opera with lyrics taken from Eliot’s poetry. Add to that, this show has a lot of attention-getting choreography.
Jennyanydots (Morgan Schoenecker, C) and the cast, in “Cats.” (Brett Beiner)While the original Broadway production had a large backyard stage setting, Music Theater Works scenic designer Milo Bue has set the show in a minimally furnished apartment. A large TV is in the backdrop, books are used as a staircase, and a hanging chandelier is well lit by designer Adam Jezl-Sikorski.
The show features a wide range of performance styles. Ballet, tap dance, circus arts, acrobatics, and even a roller-skating dance number bring variety and constant motion to the stage. The action moves with almost circus-style precision, and the cats also spread out into the aisles of the theater auditorium to get up close and personal with the audience.
The musical comes across as a group of vignettes in which each cat uses the musical style and dance to reflect its personality. Moreover, each cat has a special song that provides a unique sense of intimacy. Some of the best melodies include “The Old Gumbie Cat,” “The Rum Tum Tugger,” “The Jellicle Ball,” “The Moments of Happiness,” “The Journey to the Heaviside Layer,” and, of course, the show-stopping “Memory.”
Grizabella (Ava Lane Stovall) is the elderly and grizzled cat who seeks a fresh start, in “Cats.” (Brett Beiner)Directed and choreographed by Mandy Modic, the musical is a stunning concert-like spectacular that features Linda Madonia’s musical direction, dazzling costumes by kClare McKellaston, with hair, wigs, and makeup by Megan E. Pirtle. The most important aspect of the show, though, is the cast of talented performers that sing, dance, and totally capture the impression that they really are cats.
Every member of the cast turns in a remarkable portrayal. Stand out performances include Sam Nachison as the wise Old Deuteronomy and Ava Lane Stovall as Grizabella, the lonely and dejected former glamorous cat. Now shunned by the younger felines, she delivers an incredible “Memory.” Ethan Lupp does a great job as rock-n-roller Rum Tum Tugger.
Furthermore, there are wonderful performances by John Cardone, Molly Bremer, Madison Jeff-Richter, Alex Villasenor, Morgan Schoenecker, Sterling Ford, Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor, Emma Jean Eastlund, and Danny Spagnuolo.
Skimbleshanks (Danny Spagnuolo, C) dances as the other cats look on, in “Cats.” (Brett Beiner)Those who have seen “Cats” before will enjoy revisiting the spellbinding show, and those new to the extraordinary musical can look forward to an enchanting theatrical experience.
‘Cats’
Music Theater Works
North Theatre at the North Shore Center
9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, Ill.
Tickets: 847-673-6300 or MusicTheaterWorks.com
Runs: 2 hours, 20 minutes (one intermission)
Closes: March 29, 2026
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