Cats: The Musical at the Erie Playhouse

Contributed

The feline-loving folks at the Erie Playhouse are ready to pounce onto the stage to present Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats. Teaming up with the Purrista Cat Cafe, the cast will be slinking into some special events throughout the show's local run.

BEGINNING FRIDAY, JUL. 25

Memory may be all alone in the moonlight, but audiences won't be while enjoying Cats: The Musical at the Erie Playhouse.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's wildly successful musical based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats tells the story of a group of cats called the Jellicles and the night on which they hold their Jellicle Ball, an event which culminates in the choosing of one cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.

First opening in 1981 in the West End in London and 1982 on Broadway, Cats has seen great success over the years, winning a multitude of awards and holding the honor of fifth-longest-running Broadway show. Further, it has seen two film adaptations in 1998 and 2019.

If the plot itself hasn't hooked you with its odd but interesting premise, let the highly visual nature of the show draw you in, with dance numbers sure to impress from a talented group of performers who have been working together to bring the show to life.

"It takes time and effort to blend everyone's abilities into a cohesive look," said show director Richard Davis, "but through repetition and the support of our trained dancers, we always find a harmonious middle ground. It's deeply rewarding to see a group of relative strangers transform into a cohesive ensemble and build a strong sense of community."

In addition to staging the musical in July and August, the Erie Playhouse will be holding a special Cats event alongside Purrista Cat Café. On Sunday, July 6 from 1 to 3 p.m., the cafe will host a meet-and-greet with cast members from the production and some will be in full makeup and costume for photo opportunities. The entire cast of Purrista cats will be available to visit with as well, for those who are able to make the minimum donation for entry to the cat room. A raffle basket with Purrista and Playhouse items will be up for a chance to win, and Purrista will also be premiering a Cats-themed drink menu which officially begins July 21.

Fridays and Saturdays, Jul. 25 through Aug. 10 at 7:30 p.m. // Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, Aug. 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. // Erie Playhouse, 13 W. 10th St. // $19-$30 // For tickets and info: erieplayhouse.org