Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats Have Arrived in Blackpool!
The Cats have arrived in Blackpool ahead of their eight week run at the Winter Gardens Opera House.
The full cast arrived in the resort this week complete with 15 articulated HGV’s making it one of the biggest sets to ever go into the Blackpool Opera House.
The hit show will run for a strictly limited eight weeks and the Blackpool performances will be the only place theatre-goers can see CATS North of London in 2015.
Jane McDonald, who is starring as Grizabella, said: “I am thrilled to finally be in Blackpool. We have been having a great time in rehearsals and now we are at the Winter Gardens we are all getting very excited about the show opening.
“It is going to be a great summer and I am really looking forward to performing in Blackpool and being part of such a wonderful and huge production.”
Adapted from TS Eliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’, with an amazing musical score that includes the timeless “Memory”, spectacular set designs, stunning costumes and breath-taking choreography, CATS is a magical musical like no other.
On just one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.
CATS has a successful history in Blackpool. It first came to the Opera House in 1989 for an unprecedented six-month run. It then returned to wow audiences in 2003 as part of a national tour.
Winter Gardens Managing Director Michael Williams said: “It is great to see all the Cats in Blackpool ahead of next week. The set is looking absolutely amazing and audiences are going to be absolutely wowed when they see it.
“The entire staging has come to the Opera House direct from the London Palladium and I have no doubt that everyone is going to have a fantastic time when they see the show in Blackpool.”
One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, CATS has been seen by more than 73 million people and enchanted audiences in more than 300 cities around the world – now you too have the chance to experience this legendary musical phenomenon.
CATS is directed by Trevor Nunn, with Gillian Lynne as Associate Director and
Choreographer and designs by John Napier. Book is by T. S. Eliot with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
CATS was originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group Limited.
CATS will be at Blackpool Opera House from Thursday 9 July to Saturday 5 September.
Tickets priced form £20 are on sale now and are available from www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk
Showtimes
Thursday 9 July (preview night), Opening Night Friday 10 July to Saturday 5 September 2015
(Tuesday – Sunday evenings at 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm)
There will be NO performances 4 – 9 August.
ENDS
Notes to editors: Pic attached of the Cats cast in Blackpool – Jane McDonald and the Cats cast with Blackpool’s North Pier in the background
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Rhodes, Rhodes Media
T: 01253 477480 E: [email protected]
Blackpool Opera House is one of the UK's largest theatres, with a seating capacity of almost 3,000. It's a world famous venue which has seen performances from some of the greatest entertainers and shows such as stars of yesteryear Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bob Hope to today's biggest names including Bob Dylan, Peter Kay, One Direction and Little Mix. Many of the most popular touring shows have graced the stage including Mamma Mia!, Starlight Express, Calendar Girls and Scrooge.
The Winter Gardens Blackpool offers a variety of venues for events ranging from business lunches to exhibitions and conferences. 11 separate spaces are available for hire either individually or in combination. Whether it be the grandeur of The Empress Ballroom or The Opera House, the vast space of Olympia or the more intimate surroundings of The Spanish Hall Suite, each of the venues has its own unique character and history – the perfect setting for any event.
The Winter Gardens celebrated its 135th birthday in 2013.
Jane McDonald is one of Britain’s best loved singers, presenters and entertainers. She rocketed to stardom in 1998 in the BBC 1 docusoap The Cruise with 13 million viewers.
Jane’s first album went straight to Number 1, achieving platinum status. She has gone on to achieve numerous gold and silver discs. In 2009 Jane released a new album Jane on her own record label which entered UK Album Chart at Number 7, achieving silver status. 2010 saw the 2nd release on her own label with the CD/DVD of Live at the London Palladium. In 2014 The Singer of Your Song Deluxe Edition shot to the top of the Amazon Pop Vocal Chart including 3 of her own compositions. Her new dance album Remixed has taken the club charts by storm.
On ITV1 Daytime Jane was a panelist on Loose Women for 10 years which won three TV Quick Awards and a National TV Award during Jane’s time on the show and her own series Star Treatment. Jane fronted two series of her own Saturday night prime time show Star For A Night on BBC1.
Jane has built up a phenomenal theatre audience, performing incredible live sell out tours and concerts, selling out the Royal Albert Hall and London Palladium twice. She performed on the Royal Variety Show twice and in Midsummer Magic in Lincoln, the Wicked Women concert in Hyde Park, the Chelmsford Festival and Harewood House, both with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and at Blenheim Palace
Jane performed twice with the BBC Concert Orchestra for Friday Night Is Music Night and made her West End acting debut in Romeo and Juliet The Musical at London's Piccadilly Theatre.
Jane performed a sell out concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as well as the David Foster and Friends Concert at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas and was honoured to perform at the unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London.