MANILA, Philippines - Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece, Cats, will premiere in Manila. One of the best-loved musicals the world has ever known, Cats has been acclaimed worldwide by over 65 million people. With a score composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber — including the poignant hit song Memory — an imaginative set, inspired choreography and stunning costumes, Cats is a brilliant song and dance spectacular not to be missed.
The musical, featuring an international cast starring Lea Salonga and company, will be performed for a strictly limited season at CCP, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo starting July 24, 2010.
The original production of Cats, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber’s The Really Useful Group and directed by the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company Director, Trevor Nunn, burst onto the London stage on May 11, 1981 to rave reviews and won a record-breaking number of awards worldwide, including two Olivier Awards for Musical of the Year and Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Musicals and seven Tony Awards.
Cats opened on Broadway on Oct. 7, 1982 and went on to hold the unique position of being the longest-running musical in both West End and Broadway history until Jan. 9, 2006 when it was overtaken by The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, followed by Les Miserables claiming the West End title in October that year. Cats played for 18 years on Broadway, closing on Sept. 10, 2000, and played its final West End performance on its 21st birthday on May 11, 2002. However, a touring production continues to play to capacity audiences in the US.
Cats has been presented in 10 languages in 300 cities over 26 countries, including such diverse destinations as Buenos Aires, Seoul, Helsinki and Hong Kong, where it toured in 1994.