(MACON) – The show that defined spectacular for the musical theatre is coming to The Grand Opera House 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, May 21-22. While both evening performances are sold out, tickets are available for the recently added matinee performance at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 22. Tickets are available at Mercer Ticket Sales—478-301-5470—and online at thegrand.mercer.edu.
On May 11, 1981, Cats opened at the New London Theatre in the West End. Eight years later it celebrated its first important milestone: after 3,358 performances, Cats became the longest running musical in the history of British theatre. Cats played its final performance on its 21st birthday, May 11, 2001.
In 1982, Cats opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and continued to live up to its motto “Now and Forever.” On June 19, 1997, Cats became the longest running musical on Broadway. It ended its 18-year run on September 10, 2000.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes. It has been seen by more than 8,250,000 audience members.
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