@showsiveseen Congrats to Woodland Park Players for selling out the closing weekend of their Andrew Lloyd Webber "#Cats " #musical production. Tatianah Summers shined as Grizabella singing the seminal "Memory" song, while Trina Nguyen’s Mr. Mistoffelees dazzled the audience with fantastic dance moves. #Meow! #Review : showsiveseen.com/12227 Photos: Colin Madison Director: Ruben Van Kempen Musical Director: Paul Linnes Choreo and Associate Director: @Natalya Czosnyka Stage Manger: Mackenzie Breda Producer: Linda Joss Production Manager: Clara King #theatre #showsiveseen #felines #meow #cat #feline @Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals ♬ Prologue: Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats – Andrew Lloyd Webber & "Cats" 1983 Broadway Cast
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Congrats to Woodland Park Players for selling out the closing weekend of their Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats musical production. Tatianah Summers shined as Grizabella singing the seminal “Memory” song, while Trina Nguyen’s Mr. Mistoffelees dazzled the audience with fantastic dance moves. Meow!
See it if 1) you want to support community theatre, 2) you like cats, 3) or you enjoy vignette-like musicals such as You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I previously saw the national tour.
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No, twice is enough for me.
Mainstream Appeal: Low to medium
My Synopsis (No Spoilers): A band of stray cats compete for the opportunity of reincarnation to another realm. Each feline shares their unique story through song in a musical spectacle.
Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Based on T.S. Eliot’s whimsical collection of poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular musical brings together a tribe of Jellicle Cats on a moonlit evening, who must make the “Jellicle choice” to decide which of them will ascend to the mysterious Heaviside Layer to be reborn. Featuring such celebrated standards as the haunting “Memory,” Cats was an international phenomenon and its original production is still the fifth-longest-running show on Broadway. A magical, moving, and often hilarious glimpse into the lives of others, Cats takes Eliot’s lyrical poetry and puts it into the mouths of a diverse company of singing, dancing felines.
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: One
Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Mostly static
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No
Defined Plot/Storyline: Not really. It was more a collection of songs showcasing on the unique personality of each cat.
Live Band/Orchestra: Yes
Union Actors: None
Total Actors: Too many to count
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed
Was there an intermission? Yes
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours
Other Rave(s)
- Grizabella: Tatianah Summers captivated the audience as Grizabella, the worn old has-been cat. The crowd went wild as she soared through the climactic “touch me” verse of the iconic “Memory” song.
- Mister Mistoffelees: Among all the dancers, Trina Nguyen stood out the most with the polish and presence of a professional musical theatre dancer. She exuded commanding energy like a performer in the Chicago musical. It was no surprise to later learn that she is a dance instructor and actually recently led a Chicago dance workshop.
- Rotating Stage: It was impressive to see a community theatre production implement a rotating stage, complete with a rising interior tier reminiscent of Broadway’s recent Cabaret production.
- Favorite Song: Aside from the classic “Memory” song, my favorite number was one with the tap dance sequence early in the show, featuring a trio of tight female harmonies. What can I say? I have a soft spot for tap dance breaks in musical theatre!
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
- Cast Size: It’s remarkable how they managed to fit such a large cast onto the small stage with full choreography. To accommodate the full cast choreography sequences, many extended breaks spilled into the aisles and onto the audience.
- Feline Interjections: I don’t recall as much meowing and hissing from the national tour cast. It could be polarizing. Some may find it cute, while others might feel it’s rabidly excessive.
- Audience Reaction: The high school theatre girls seated near me were absolutely ecstatic, while gasping, oohing, aahing, and ohmigod-ing at every turn. At one point, one girl excitedly shared that she was “lightheaded” and “literally shaking,” even going so far as to imply this production rivaled The 5th Avenue Theatre’s recent Waitress. As someone who sometimes leans into a more “okay calm down” cynicism, it’s oddly refreshing to observe young people with such enthusiasm and optimism for community theatre.
Theatre Company: Woodland Park Players
Venue: Shoreline Community College Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
Price Range: $30
Ticket Affordability Options: You can self-select the $20 price point.
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Free parking
Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:
Buy a Ticket or Learn More:
Pictures: See production pictures below by Colin Madison Photography.
Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.
