Jellicle Ball at PPAC (NYC)

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

CATS is back.  Gird your loins.

This version blends LGBT ballroom culture with mostly original arrangements of the long-running British musical.

While I was curious to see what they'd end up with, I have seen the near-universal raves for this production.  I'm not the biggest fan of the original show, but went in anyway and hoped for the best.

What I got was a $300 seat that would have worked a lot better in a gay club versus a legitimate theater.  The audience was young and seemed to want to make it about themselves (screaming, popping fans, talking back to the show, etc).  The performances aren't truly competitive ballroom and that lack of motivation made things feel slow and unexciting (to me,, at least). 

The vocals in the show were fantastic, especially when the company was singing as a group.  They have the choral arrangements down pat. 

I just didn't find the gimmicky nature of the show enjoyable.  

Plus, I loathe when performers break the fourth wall.  It reminds me of the awful things they do at theme parks and cruise ships.

This show keeps getting extensions, so it's likely to still be running into early Fall.  YMMV.

[+ nycman]

Don’t make us work…..

Cats: The Jellicle Ball | Perelman Performing Arts Center

PACNYC.ORG

---

PAC NYC is a new home for emergent and established artists in theater, dance, music, opera, film, and media from New York and the world.

Looks like the perfect dumb musical for a dumb block of a building….

Yes, I hate Cats.
Yes, I hate the PPAC.
Yes, I hate Ron Perlman. 

What’s your point?

[d.anders]

I was taken yesterday to the Broadhurst Theater to see this show. I initially had no interest in seeing a revival of Cats, but my friend insisted it was an entirely new and different concept. That it was. The reviews and audience interest seem to be through the roof. The theater was packed, and the audience energy was similar to what I had experienced at Titanique. Colorful hand fans were everywhere, clicking and flapping in the wind. Buzz, buzz, buzz everywhere.

I once saw Paris is Burning, and that's about the only thing I know about ball culture. This version of "Cats" celebrates ball culture. Instead of actors in cat costumes, we have contestants with cat names competing on a ball runway. It is a very creative musical theater concept. I do question its life in a Broadway theater. It seemed to me, the mostly white audience had no clue what was going on, but came along for the ride. I found the story and the stage antics a challenge to follow, but I did see the original Cats a few times, so I was familiar with the basic structure.

For the most part, the performers are very young. Many are from the house culture, so I didn't recognize those names. I did know Andre de Shields, who is in his 80's, and the show pays amazing homage to him, even giving him his golden throne on stage, and making the audience stand awhile upon his entrance. They also pay homage to Junior Labeija. I believe he was featured in Paris is Burning.

Robert "Silk" Mason was a standout performer for me. Tall, and very slender, they did things with their body that blew me away. I hear they have quite a presence on Instagram. And when hot and handsome Sydney James Harcourt appears on stage practically naked, the audience can't be controlled.

The curtain call is unlike anything I've ever seen. It is an electrifying show unto itself. I don't know how long this colorful extravaganza will last on Broadway, but it is sure to make some noise at the upcoming Tony Awards. I'm glad I got to experience it.

[d.anders]

Here is Sydney James Harcourt,

Here is a recent curtain call on Broadway,

 

[jackcali]

On 4/23/2026 at 1:10 PM, d.anders said:

Instead of actors in cat costumes, we have contestants with cat names competing on a ball runway.

Getting rid of the cat costumes is the one thing I've read about this show that I consider a positive.  

[d.anders]

This is how the show opens. The audience doesn't yet see Junior Labeija (Gus the Theater Cat). You simply hear his deep, affected voice bellow throughout the theater. This video short gives you a good idea of what the audience energy is like.