tour of cats

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Your home for information about the touring broadway productions in north america, ‘cats’ north american tour cast announced.

The full cast and a complete 2021/2022 tour route were announced today for the North American tour of Cats .

The new production officially opened last week at RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, NY and will visit more than 50 cities in the 2021/2022 season. Click here to see the current tour route.

Composed by  Andrew Lloyd Webber  and based on T.S. Eliot’s  Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats , the record-breaking musical spectacular has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is back on tour across North America! Featuring new sound design, direction and choreography for a new generation — experience  Cats for the first time as it begins a new life, or let it thrill you all over again!  

The  current cast of Jellicle cats includes  Vinny Andaloro  as “Alonzo,”  Zach Bravo  as “Bill Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger,”    Chelsea Nicole Mitchell  as “Bombalurina,”  Lexy Bittner  as “Cassandra,”  Taylor James Rosenberger  as “Coricopat,”  Lauren Louis  as “Demeter,”  Tayler Harris  as “Grizabella,”  Kayli Jamison  as “Jellylorum,”  Michelle E. Carter  as “Jennyanydots,”  Paul Giarratano  as “Mistoffelees,”  Max Craven  as “Mungojerrie,”  Devon McCleskey  as “Munkustrap,”  John Anker Bow  as “Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asparagus,”  Aiden Pressel  as “Plato/Macavity,”  Dominic Fortunato  as “Pouncival,”  Kelly Donah  as “Rumpelteazer,”  Brianna Kim   as “Sillabub,”  Christopher Salvaggio  as “Skimbleshanks,”  Alexia Waites  as “Tantomile,”  Sean McManus  as “Tumblebrutus,”  Indalecio De Jesús Valentín  as “Victor/Old Deuteronomy,”  Hyla Mayrose Perillo  as “Victoria,” along with  Gracie A. Anderson, Megan Arseneau, Carolyn Bacon, Kelliann DeCarlo, Connor Orion Bermingham, Kieran Macdonald, Tony Mowatt, Brian Craig Nelson,   José Raúl Mangual,  and  Elana Valastro.  

The creative team for the new production of  Cats  includes  John Napier  (Scenic & Costume Design),  Natasha Katz  (Lighting Design),  Mick Potter  (Sound Design), choreography by  Andy Blankenbuehler ,   based on the original choreography by  Gillian Lynne , and   direction by  Trevor Nunn .  Kim Craven  is the associate choreographer and  Chrissie Cartwright  is the associate director/choreographer. 

Since its world premiere, Cats has been seen by more than 75 million people worldwide. Originally directed by  Trevor   Nunn  with choreography and associate direction by  Gillian Lynne ,   scenic and costume design by  John Napier , lighting design by  David Hersey , and sound design by  Abe Jacob ,  Cats  opened in London’s West End in 1981.  

The original Broadway production opened in 1982 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre, where it ran for 7,485 performances and 18 years.  Cats  was originally produced on Broadway by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Company Limited, David Geffen, and The Shubert Organization.  The Tony Award-winning Best Musical held the title of longest-running musical in Broadway history until it was surpassed in 2006 by Lloyd Webber’s  The Phantom of the Opera . The original Broadway production closed on September 10, 2000 and is currently the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history.  

Cats  returned to Broadway in July 2016 in a stunning revival at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran through December 2017.  

The 2021/2022 tour of Cats   is licensed by The Really Useful Group and produced by TROIKA Entertainment.  

For more information and a complete tour route, please visit CatsTheMusical.com  

VINNY ANDALORO  ( Alonzo ) is thrilled to be making his national tour debut. Favorite credits:  West Side Story, Newsies  (The LEX),  Carousel, The Wedding Singer.  BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Thank you, Momand Dad, for everything! IG:@vinny_andaloro  www.vinnyandaloro.com  

ZACH BRAVO  ( Bill Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger ) is thrilled to be making his national tour debut in  CATS . Readings:  The Wanderer ; Regional Theater:  Matilda, Evita, Mamma Mia!, Footloose.  Grateful to casting and the creative team, CTG, my friends and family, especially my parents.  www.zachbravo.com  

CHELSEA NICOLE MITCHELL  ( Bombalurina ) is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. She is an undergraduate at Point Park University majoring in modern dance. Regional credits include SOUL:  The Stax Musical . Chelsea is immensely grateful to God, family and friends for their ever-present love and support. IG: @_nicmitch 

LEXY BITTNER  ( Cassandra ) is making her Touring debut with  CATS!  Lexy is from Pittsburgh, PA and has trained with Boston Conservatory, Lincoln Park Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Elite Dance by Damian, Michele’s Dance Center, Juilliard and Hubbard Street (SI). Dreams do come true, so excited! 

TAYLOR JAMES ROSENBERGER  ( Coricopat, u/s Billy Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger, Munkustrap ) is thrilled to be on the road with these Jellicle cats! Theater: Beauty and the Beast (Paper Mill Playhouse), All Shook Up (Westchester Broadway Theater) Television: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon). Pace University BFA Commercial Dance alum! Thanks to Mom, Dad, friends and MSA! @TaylorJRose 

LAUREN LOUIS  ( Demeter, u/s Grizabella) CATS  is Lauren’s first national tour! She worked for Disneyland as a principal vocalist & dance swing while getting her Musical Theatre BFA from CSU Fullerton. Regional credits:  West Side Story  &  A Chorus Line.  She’d like to thank the team, her family & friends! @laurenalouis 

TAYLER HARRIS  (Grizabella)  Credits include:  Much Ado About Nothing  (Public Theater),  50in50Letters To Our Sons  (Billie Holiday Theatre),  Godspell  (Prima Theatre). Western Carolina University (2018). Much love to her family, friends and Hudson Artist’s Agency for all their love and support. Taylerharris.com 

KAYLI JAMISON  ( Jellylorum)  Recent credits include: Kate Monster ( Avenue Q – MTKC), Evelyn Nesbit ( Ragtime – Music Theatre Heritage), Shelly ( Hairspray – Starlight Theater). Kayli lives in Brooklyn with her husband Jesse and dog Pippin. She would like to thank them, her family and friends for all their love and support! 

MICHELLE E. CARTER  (Jennyanydots)  is elated to be tapping across the country with  CATS!  REGIONAL: Signature Theatre- A Chorus Line , Barrington Stage Company- The Royal Family of Broadway , Olney Theatre Center- Matilda & Elf , MacHaydn Theatre 2017. Marymount Manhattan College grad. Take 3 Talent. @idtapthat03  www.michelle-e-carter.com  

PAUL GIARRATANO  (Mistoffelees)  is thrilled to be making his national tour debut! Credits:  West Side Story  (Fifth Avenue Theater). Company: Spectrum Dance Theater, Dance Lab New York, Keigwin+Company (guest). B.F.A dance, SUNY Purchase. Lots of love to family, friends and MTA. 

MAX CRAVEN  ( Mungojerrie ) is a professional theatre performer from Saskatoon, Canada. In 2020, he graduated from AMDA New York. Maxis excited to make his national tour debut in  CATS!  He is thankful to his friends and family for their unconditional support. 

DEVON MCCLESKEY  ( Munkustrap, u/s Billy Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger)  A recent graduate of University of Michigan, Devon is thrilled to be making his National Tour Debut! Endless gratitude to Linda Goodrich, Ann Evans Watson and all my family and friends! Love you Mom and Dad! And as always, GO BLUE! devonmccleskey.com  @devon.devoff 

JOHN ANKER BOW  (Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asapragus, u/s Victor/Old Deuteronomy)  BA Rider University. National Tours:  Kinky Boots  (George),  Ragtime  (Henry Ford),  A Christmas Carol  (Jacob Marley). International: Disney Cruise Line. Regional:  Les Mis (Thenardier), Spamalot  (Arthur),  Drowsy  (Man in Chair),  Forever Plaid  (Smudge),  Noises Off  (Lloyd),  Peter Pan  (Hook). Podcast: Flop of the Heap. 

AIDEN PRESSEL  (Plato/Macavity/Dance Captain)  is a recent graduate from Pace University in New York City where he received his BFA in Commercial Dance. Aiden is represented by MSA in New York. He is thrilled to be joining the touring company of  CATS . @aidenpressel 

DOMINIC FORTUNATO  ( Pouncival, u/s Mistoffelees)  is a graduate of Mercyhurst University. He is very excited to make his touring debut. His dance credits include SoMar Dance Works and Syracuse City Ballet. His most recent credit is  CATS  with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. 

KELLY DONAH  (Rumpleteazer)  is ecstatic to be a part of  CATS!  She is originally from Bethlehem, PA and just graduated with her BFA at Shenandoah University. If you would like to know more about Kelly, visit her website!  www.kellydonah.com  

BRIANNA KIM  (Sillabub)  Current: Twyla Tharp, John Selya (NY City Center) Performance: Abbott Awards (Al Blackstone, Billy Griffin, SDC 60th, Agnes De Mille Tribute), IHeartDanceNYC (Tyler Hanes) Film: Broadway4Biden (Chris Gattelli, Grady Bowman) Pre-Production:  The Outsiders (Lorin Latarro); Kanyok Arts Initiative Alum; Instagram @bri.kimm 

CHRISTOPHER SALVAGGIO  (Skimbleshanks, u/s Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asapragus)  National Tour Debut! NYC based, Rochester, NY born/raised. BFA Musical Theatre Nazareth College. Recent credits: Chicago  (Arizona Broadway),  The Little Mermaid (Argyle Theatre), Joseph  […] Dreamcoat (Axelrod PAC). Love and thanks to family, friends, The Luedtke Agency, CATS team. KZL. Christopher-salvaggio.com . @salvaggio_chris. 

ALEXIA WAITES  (Tantomile)  is ecstatic to be making her National Tour debut in  CATS!  Alexia isa graduate of Pace University’s Commercial Dance program in NYC. Endless thanks to her agents at LDC Artist Representation and her entire family for the constant love and support. @alexia_waites 

SEAN MCMANUS  ( Tumblebrutus ) is thrilled to be making his national tour debut. Regional:  Newsies  (The LEX),  Sound of Music  (Paper Mill) and  A Chorus Line  (Interlakes). BFA: Boston Conservatory. He sends love and enormous gratitude to his amazing family, friends, Troika and The Collective. @smcmanus3 

INDALECIO DE JESÚS VALENTÍN  ( Victor/Old Deuteronomy ). Works include:  In the Heights  (Piraguero/Graffiti Pete U/S),  Songs for a New World  (Man 1),  Cinderella  (Prince Charming),  Dogfight  (Eddie Birdlace U/S),  Elf the Musical  (Buddy the Elf U/S),  Damn Yankees  (Smokey),  RENT  (Featured Soloist). @idjvalentin 

HYLA MAYROSE PERILLO  (Victoria)  is incredibly delighted to be making her tour debut in the national tour of CATS! She is a Marymount Manhattan College alumni and Michigan native. Thank you to my Mom, Dad, family and friends for their endless love and support in this journey! 

GRACIE ANDERSON  ( Female Swing/Dance Captain)  is thrilled to be making her National Tour debut with  CATS!  Gracie graduated from Marymount Manhattan College as a Gold Key recipient for her BFA in Dance. Many thanks to Kim, Grace and the entire Jellicle team. Love to Craig, Mom and Zoey!@gracieanderson___ 

MEGAN ARSENEAU  ( Female Swing)  This is Megan’s first national tour! Previously, she played Peggy Sawyer ( 42nd Street ), Kristine ( A Chorus Line ) and Catherine ( Pippin ) at Weathervane Playhouse. Megan is a proud alum of Wright State University- Never Raider Down! <3 — Instagram: Megskilove –  www.meganarseneau.com  

CAROLYN BACON  ( Female Swing/Booth, u/s Grizabella ) is excited to join her first national tour! Regional:  Carousel, South Pacific, The Fantasticks. TV: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. Proud feminist. Currently writing a play about violence against women, female killers, and finding community. Love to Brian and Mom. Get vaccinated and stay safe! www.carolynannebacon.com  

KELLIANN DeCARLO  (Female Swing/Booth, u/s Grizabella)  NY:  Radio City Christmas Spectacular  (Singer). Regional: CATS  (Grizabella),  Beauty and the Beast (Belle u/s),  Miss Saigon  (Ellen). Concerts: Delaware Valley Symphony. BM, Rider University,  kellianndecarlo.com , @kellianndecarlo. For Mom – love you. 

CONNOR ORION BERMINGHAM  (Male Swing)  graduated from Pace University. He’s thrilled to make his national tour debut with  CATS.  Credits:  All Shook Up  at Westchester-Broadway-Theatre and Dance-Lab NY. Connor partnered Misty Copeland for Bernstein’s-Centennial-Tribute and was featured on “SYTYCD”. Connor trained at Jacob’s Pillow and is represented by CESD. (@connor_orion_) 

KIERAN MACDONALD  (Male Swing, u/s Mistoffelees)  is honored to be joining the cast of  CATS  for his first National Tour. Credits: NUVO Dance Convention, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, Gucci, Alessia Cara. Thanks to Jim and everyone at Bloc. Endless love and appreciation to my family for their never-ending support.  www.kieranmacdonald.com  

TONY MOWATT  (Male Swing/Booth, u/s Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asapragus, Victor/Old Deuteronomy)  Off-Broadway:  Little Match Girl  (St. Luke’s Theatre), Whiskey Pants:  The Mayor of Williamsburg  (HERE). NYC/Regional:  Tesla, an Elektrical Spectacle  (workshop);  Twisted Operettas  (Joe’s Pub);  An Octoroon  (Kean Stage);  Titanic  (Rodeheaver Auditorium);  The Producers, Legally Blonde, Chicago  (Woodstock Playhouse) @baloneytones /For Sandra and Gloria 

BRIAN CRAIG NELSON  ( Male Swing ) is thrilled to be joining the  Cats  family. He holds a BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah. Past companies include: Ririe-Woodbury, BodyVox, and Tuachan. Brian is extremely happy to have the support and love of so many friends and his  family.@clownfish2113  

JOSÉ RAÚL MANGUAL  ( Male Swing, u/s Billy Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger, Munkustrap ) Touring debut. A dream come true. Regional: Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Shakespeare in Clark Park, On the Rocks (Philadelphia Fringe), American Pops Orchestra. To the  CATS  team, my supporters, Dr. Fleming and Amina!  www.JoseRaul.org . You are capable. 

ELANA VALASTRO  ( Female Swing ) National tour debut! Regional favorites:  West Side Story, Godspell  (New London Barn Playhouse),  Little Mermaid  (Northern Stage),  Spamalot, Fiddler on the Roof  (Saint Michael’s Playhouse). Oceania Marina Cruise. Cornell University 2017. Endless thanks to Mom, Dad, Laura, Michael. @elanavalastro,  elanavalastro.com  

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Through the Years

• Original Cast
• Facts & Figures
• The Junkyard

The Story Of Cats

Midnight. Not a sound from the pavement. Suddenly an explosion of music and lights reveals a larger-than-life junkyard.

Probing car lights tear across the darkened landscape of bottles and boxes, briefly catching the darting image of a running cat. Tonight is the one special night each year when the tribe of Jellicle Cats reunites to celebrate who they are.

They emerge singing of their unique abilities and special traits. The cats are at first suspicious and proud, reluctant to allow an audience into their domain.

In The Naming of Cats , however, they begin to reveal themselves and that cats have three different names: the one the family uses daily, a more dignified name, and a secret name. It is the contemplation of these secret names that keeps felines deep in thought.

– The Invitation –

Victoria , a young white cat, dances to signal The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball . Munkustrap, a large grey tabby, explains that the Jellicle Cats meet once a year to rejoice.

They are waiting for their leader, the wise Old Deuteronomy, who will choose which of the Jellicle Cats will journey tonight to the Heaviside layer to be reborn into a new life.

And so begins our introduction to the cats. One by one they step forward to audition for the role, to be chosen to make the special journey to be reborn.

Jennyanydots, The Old Gumbie Cat, sleeps and lounges all day long; Rum Tum Tugger, a playful prankster that the female cats find extremely attractive, and who enjoys being the centre of attention, Grizabella, The Glamour Cat, who is shunned by the rest of the tribe despite being a Jellicle Cat and Bustopher Jones, a large “twenty five pounder”, always clad in signature white spats.

A thunderous crash and the sound of police sirens will signal that the villainous Macavity is on the loose and send the Jellicles scattering!

– The Pekes –

Distant giggles signal the entrance of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, a fun-loving, frolicking team of pranksters who are always in trouble with the family with whom they live. The entire tribe returns as their benevolent and wise old leader Old Deuteronomy arrives. The cats adore and respect him, indeed he is father to some of them. They entertain him with a special show narrated by Munkustrap, The Aweful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles together with the The Marching Song of the Pollicle Dogs. The cats dress up as the two rival dog factions who bark ceaselessly at each other until they are frightened away by the Great Rumpus Cat, a sleek and powerful feline.

Finally, it is time for The Jellicle Ball, the great annual dance in which all the cats celebrate.

Grizabella appears once more, wanting to rejoin her family and be a part of the celebration. She is left to contemplate her “Memory” of the time before she left the tribe. She stretches out her hand behind her, hoping another cat will touch her. She is still not accepted and, disappointed, slinks off into the night.

– Moments –

After the Jellicle Ball, the cats rest and contemplate “The Moments of Happiness” before introducing more cats. Gus the Theatre Cat is an aged stage actor who worked with the greatest actors of his day and Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat introduces himself.

Macavity returns with two of his henchmen who invade the proceedings and kidnap Old Deuteronomy. Demeter and Bombalurina sing what they know of Macavity, whose evil deeds have resulted in his being dubbed the Napoleon of crime.

Macavity returns once more, disguised as Old Deuteronomy, but he is exposed and battles with Munkustrap and the other male cats. Tired and almost defeated, Macavity rigs an electrical explosion that puts out all the lights, leaving the Jellicles in the dark. But they still have to find Old Deuteronomy.

The Rum Tum Tugger calls upon Mr Mistoffelees, the conjuring cat, to use his magical powers to bring back their leader. Mistoffelees succeeds in reinstating the lights, locating Old Deuteronomy and showing off his spectacular magic tricks, including his infamous conjuring turn.

– Journey –

At last the time has come for Old Deuteronomy to make the Jellicle Choice and decide which cat will be reborn into a new Jellicle life. At that moment, Grizabella reappears. Again she recalls her “Memory” of how things used to be. This time the cats accept her back into the tribe and it is she who is chosen to Journey to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn.

The Jellicle Ball has come to a conclusion, but first Old Deuteronomy instructs the human spectators in “The Addressing of Cats”

Oct 1 , 2021

Cast announced for north american tour of cats, playing at the first interstate center for the arts in downtown spokane, october 19-24.

The full cast has been announced for the North American tour of CATS. The new production officially opened in September at RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, NY and will visit more than 50 cities in the 2021/2022 season.

CATS will open Spokane’s STCU Best of Broadway season October 19-24 at the First Interstate Center for the Arts.

Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats , the record-breaking musical spectacular has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is back on tour across North America! Featuring new sound design, direction and choreography for a new generation — experience CATS for the first time as it begins a new life, or let it thrill you all over again!

The current cast of Jellicle cats includes Vinny Andaloro as “Alonzo,” Zach Bravo as “Bill Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger,” Chelsea Nicole Mitchell as “Bombalurina,” Lexy Bittner as “Cassandra,” Taylor James Rosenberger as “Coricopat,” Lauren Louis as “Demeter,” Tayler Harris as “Grizabella,” Kayli Jamison as “Jellylorum,” Michelle E. Carter as “Jennyanydots,” Paul Giarratano as “Mistoffelees,” Max Craven as “Mungojerrie,” Devon McCleskey as “Munkustrap,” John Anker Bow as “Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asparagus,” Aiden Pressel as “Plato/Macavity,” Dominic Fortunato as “Pouncival,” Kelly Donah as “Rumpelteazer,” Brianna Kim as “Sillabub,” Christopher Salvaggio as “Skimbleshanks,” Alexia Waites as “Tantomile,” Sean McManus as “Tumblebrutus,” Indalecio De Jesús Valentín as “Victor/Old Deuteronomy,” Hyla Mayrose Perillo as “Victoria,” along with Gracie A. Anderson, Megan Arseneau, Carolyn Bacon, Kelliann DeCarlo, Connor Orion Bermingham, Kieran Macdonald, Tony Mowatt, Brian Craig Nelson, José Raúl Mangual, and Elana Valastro.

The creative team for the new production of CATS includes John Napier (Scenic & Costume Design), Natasha Katz (Lighting Design), Mick Potter (Sound Design), choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler , based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne , and direction by Trevor Nunn . Kim Craven is the associate choreographer and Chrissie Cartwright is the associate director/choreographer.

Since its world premiere, CATS has been seen by more than 75 million people worldwide. Originally directed by Trevor Nunn with choreography and associate direction by Gillian Lynne , scenic and costume design by John Napier , lighting design by David Hersey , and sound design by Abe Jacob , CATS opened in London’s West End in 1981.

The original Broadway production opened in 1982 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre, where it ran for 7,485 performances and 18 years. CATS was originally produced on Broadway by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Company Limited, David Geffen, and The Shubert Organization. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical held the title of longest-running musical in Broadway history until it was surpassed in 2006 by Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera . The original Broadway production closed on September 10, 2000 and is currently the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history.

CATS returned to Broadway in July 2016 in a stunning revival at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran through December 2017.

The 2021/2022 tour of CATS is licensed by The Really Useful Group and produced by TROIKA Entertainment.

Cats - US Tour Tickets, News, Info & More

Produced by CATS-Eye, LLC, the national tour of CATS is the only production in North America sanctioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. With original direction by Trevor Nunn and choreography by Gillian Lynne, this is the CATS credited with the British invasion of Broadway. CATS celebrated its 30th anniversary on May 11, 2011, holding its place as the longest continuously touring Broadway musical in history. New for the 2011-2012 season will be the reintroduction of “psychic twins” Coricopat and Tantomile. These mystical cats, who are always in sync, were last seen in the Broadway production. Where one goes, the other follows...! 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, 2002. CATS opened on Broadway on October 7, 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and continued to live up to its motto "Now and Forever." On June 19, 1997, it became the longest running musical on Broadway. CATS ended its 18 year run on September 10, 2000 with 7,485 performances.

Get Cats Email Alerts

Center Theatre Group (CTG) announced today the North American premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, starring Bernadette Peters (Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun) and Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Here Lies Love), and directed by Sir Matthew Bourne (Swan Lake, My Fair Lady), playing at the Ahmanson Theatre from February 8—March 9, 2025. 

Broadway veteran Natalie Toro has been honored with an alumni award from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Discover more about Toro's illustrious career and this prestigious recognition.

Perelman Performing Arts Center has reveald the initial cast for Cats: 'The Jellicle Ball'. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.

The Heart of Rock and Roll, the new musical inspired by the iconic songs written and performed by Huey Lewis and The News, officially begins previews tonight, March 29. The musical  will open at The James Earl Jones Theatre on Monday, April 22. Meet the cast of The Heart of Rock and Roll here!

The honorees have been revealed for the WP Theater 2024 Annual Gala, which include Sutton Foster, LaChanze, and Anne Quart. The event will be hosted by Eden Espinosa  at The Edison Ballroom on Monday, May 20, 2024.

Decca Broadway, a frequent contributor of Broadway cast recordings and movie musical soundtracks, is a subsidary of Universal Music Group, therefore all its releases have been taken off TikTok. This includes Wicked, Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, SHREK the Musical, Phantom of the Opera, Spring Awakening, Cats, Evita, and more.

Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy by Obie Award winner Sarah Gancher, will now play until March 3, 2024, at Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15th Street).

Atlantis by Lally Katz comes to the New Theatre next month. Performances run 19 March - 13 April 2024.

Cult film legends Mink Stole and Peaches Christ are bringing their new cabaret show 'IDOL WORSHIP' to NYC on Feb. 16-17.

Get a first loo at photos and video of Boop! The Betty Boop Musical.

Watch Jerry Mitchell discuss developing BOOP: The Betty Boop Musical in Chicago on ABC 7!

New York City Ballet has revealed number of guest artists who will perform with the Company during its ongoing 75th Anniversary Season.

Theatre Aspen will present the return of their celebrated cabaret series for its third year. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets!

BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical officially began previews in Chicago last night, November 19.  The musical plays at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) through December 24. Check out the video of the first curtain call here!

Tickets have gone on sale for Perelman Performance Arts Center's spring musical productions starting for members and Citi cardmembers first on Citi Entertainment.

The Broadway Tenors bring your favorite holiday songs to life in a multi-media concert. Join them on December 5, 2023, at The SHEID in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Get ready for an enchanting evening of entertainment!

The Gilded Age has returned for season two with a fresh lineup of Broadway stars! The first season of Julian Fellowes' series featured over 60 Broadway alums, including Audra McDonald, Nathan Lane, Cynthia Nixon, and more. Check out which faces you recognize from the theatre, including new additions like Laura Benanti and Jeremy Shamos.

In advance of preview performances of BOOP! THE BETTY BOOP MUSICAL starting this weekend at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago, an all new video has been released of Jasmine Amy Rogers performing 'Where I Wanna Be' in the studio! Check out the video here!

Broadway In Chicago's BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical met the press this week at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre. BroadwayWorld sat down with the cast and creative team to talk about bringing the beloved character to the stage.

First look! Broadway In Chicago's BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical met the press this week at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre. Get your first look at the world premiere cast performing, 'Where I Wanna Be' led by Jasmine Amy Rogers, in a production from Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell.  See the video!

Amas Musical Theatre and the Amas Musical Theatre Lab, will present developmental lab readings of Onward & Upward, a new musical based on the play “Up (The Man in the Flying Chair)”, with music by Charlie Romano, lyrics by Will Wegner, book by Will Wegner and Charlie Romano at Ripley-Grier Studios.

 The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque has shared featured soloists' biographies and special events for the 2023 engagement.

The search for the grail continues, on Broadway this fall! Direct from a sold out run at the Kennedy Center, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical comedy Monty Python’s SPAMALOT returns to Broadway tonight! Meet the cast of SPAMALOT here!

Broadway In Chicago has released a first look inside rehearsal for BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre. See the video!

Symphony Space announces program updates and additions for upcoming events and screenings. Livestream and in-person tickets available.

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Great Shows. Good Times. Celebrating 15 Seasons

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One of the greatest musicals ever.

CATS , the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America! 

Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater—"Memory”. Winner of 7 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber ( The Phantom of the Opera , School of Rock , Sunset Boulevard ), original scenic and costume design by John Napier ( Les Misérables ), all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz ( Aladdin ), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler ( Hamilton ) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne ( Phantom ) and direction by Trevor Nunn ( Les Misérables ) make this production a new CATS for a new generation!

For other services and accomodations, visit our  Accessibility Page here .

Age Requirement

Recommended for all audiences including couples, parents, grandparents and kids alike (ages 6 and above only please).

NEW - Cashless Payments for Snacks and Beverages at DPAC

• Cash is no longer accepted for snack or beverage purchases at DPAC’s lobby bars or snack and beverage stands.
• Snack and beverage purchases now require payment using credit or debit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay or a DPAC gift card.
• If you happen to arrive at DPAC with cash only, guests may purchase a DPAC gift card in $20 increments at our Entry Lobby Guest Services window. These gift cards can then be used at any lobby bar or snack and beverage stand.

Content Advisory

This production includes strobe lighting and CO2 atmospheric effects.

DPAC offers a diverse selection of entertainment. Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every guest or for all ages. Ticket buyers should take responsibility for making informed decisions regarding their purchases. We recommend visiting the official show website of each show you are coming to see at DPAC. If you ever have questions about the content or appropriateness of a show, please contact us at [email protected] . 

Digital Lottery

A limited number of discounted tickets will be sold to winners of DPAC’s official digital lottery. Please visit CATS Digital Lottery  for more information.

Lobby doors open 60 minutes prior to the start of the event and doors to the seating area open 30 minutes prior. 

Event Schedule

Act 1: 1 hour, 2 mins

Intermission: 20 mins 

Act 2: 58 mins 

Total: 2 hours, 20 mins

Face Covers

• Based on personal preference, face covers are encouraged at this event, but not required.
• Please note that health or safety requirements are subject to change per requirements of local or state officials or as specified by individual shows.

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All performances scheduled at DPAC normally take place as planned. For more information on our inclement weather policy, please visit INCLEMENT WEATHER FAQ .

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Related Links

• Official Website
• Twitter 

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• For your safety, all guests and their bags are subject to inspection before entry.
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• Small clutch purses are STRONGLY recommended.
• For family shows that allow very young children, diapers bags are allowed for guests with infants and toddlers (child must be present).
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• In addition to purchasing online, DPAC offers several other ways to purchase the seats you want to the best Broadway, concerts, comedy, family shows and special events in North Carolina.
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Vaccination / Negative Test Result - NOT REQUIRED

• Given the declining number of cases and the declining percentage of people who test positive here in our region, this show will no longer require verification of vaccination status or a negative test result as a condition of attending events.
• DPAC continues to encourage guests to consider public health guidance or advice from their medical providers on becoming fully vaccinated, receiving the booster vaccine (if eligible) or being regularly tested before coming to an event at DPAC.

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Become a Truist Broadway Member to Never Miss a Sellout

Midnight…

Not a sound from the pavement….

Suddenly an explosion of music and lights reveals a larger- than-life junkyard. Probing car lights tear across the darkened landscape of bottles and boxes, briefly catching the darting image of a running feline. Tonight is the one special night each year when the tribe of Jellicle Cats reunites to celebrate who they are. They emerge singing of their unique abilities and special traits. The cats are at first suspicious and reluctant to allow the audience into their domain. They are proud, however, and in “The Naming of the Cats” explain to their human visitors who they are and reveal that cats have three different names: the one the family uses daily, a more dignified name and a secret name. It is the contemplation of these secret names which keeps felines deep in thought.

Victoria, a young white cat, dances to signal “The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball.” Munkustrap, a large grey tabby, explains that the Jellicle Cats meet once a year to rejoice! They are waiting for their leader, the wise Old Deuteronomy, who will choose which one of the Jellicle Cats will journey to the Heaviside Layer to be ‘reborn’ into a new life!

Jennyanydots, the Old Gumbie Cat, sleeps and lounges all day long. ‘She sits and sits and sits and sits, and that’s what makes a Gumbie Cat!’ 

The Rum Tum Tugger is a playful prankster that the female cats find extremely attractive, and who enjoys being the centre of attention.

Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, is shunned by the rest of the tribe despite being a Jellicle Cat. She left the tribe years ago to explore the outside world and now wants to return. 

Bustopher Jones is a large ‘twenty-five pounder’, always clad in his signature white spats. He spends his time eating, eating and eating in one of the many English pubs and clubs that he frequents.

Suddenly a thunderous crash, followed by the sound of police sirens and flashing red lights, signals that the villainous cat Macavity is on the loose! The cats scatter, leaving an empty stage. Two off stage giggles signal the entrance of Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, a fun loving, frolicking team of pranksters who are always getting into trouble with the family with whom they live.

The entire tribe re-enters as their benevolent and wise old leader Old Deuteronomy arrives. The cats adore and respect him. ‘And now that the Jellicle leader is here, Jellicle Cats can all rejoice!’ Yet another crash from the villainous Macavity is heard, which sends the cats scurrying. Old Deuteronomy soothes them as they come back one by one. It is time for “The Jellicle Ball,” the great annual dance in which all of the cats celebrate.

Grizabella appears once more, wanting to rejoin her family and be a part of the celebration. She is left to contemplate her “Memory” of the time before she left the tribe. She stretches out her hand behind her, hoping another cat will touch her. She is still not accepted and, disappointed, slinks off into the night.

After the Jellicle Ball, the cats rest and contemplate “The Moments of Happiness” before introducing more cats. “Gus the Theatre Cat” is an aged stage actor who worked with the greatest actors of his day. Gus tells of his greatest theatrical triumphs, and yearns to perform again. 

Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat introduces himself. A friendly uncle to all the cats, Skimbleshanks attends the trains he rides, and makes sure every detail is perfect.

A third crash interrupts the celebration, and this time the villainous Macavity appears. Two of his henchmen invade the proceedings and kidnap Old Deuteronomy. Demeter and Bombalurina sing what they know of Macavity, whose evil deeds have resulted in his being dubbed ‘the Napoleon of crime.’ Macavity returns, disguised as Old Deuteronomy, but he is exposed and battles with Munkustrap and the other male cats. Tired and almost defeated, Macavity rigs an electrical explosion that puts out all the lights, leaving the Jellicles in the dark. But they still have to find Old Deuteronomy.

The Rum Tum Tugger calls in Mr Mistoffelees, the conjuring cat, to use his magical powers to bring back their leader. Mistoffelees succeeds in reinstating the lights, locating Old Deuteronomy and showing off his magic tricks, including his infamous conjuring turn. 

At last the time has come for Old Deuteronomy to make the Jellicle Choice and decide which cat will be reborn into a new Jellicle life. At that moment, Grizabella reappears. Again she recalls her “Memory” of how things used to be. This time the cats accept her back into the tribe and it is she who is chosen to “Journey to the Heaviside Layer” and be reborn. 

“The Jellicle Ball” has come to a conclusion, but first Old Deuteronomy instructs the human spectators in “The Ad-Dressing of Cats.” For all their unique qualities and differences, he says, ‘cats are very much like you’.

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"The Jellicle Ball"

Choreographed by Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles Directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch

Inspired by the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot

A radical reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic dance musical based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats .

Inspired by the Ballroom culture that roared out of New York City over 50 years ago and still rages on runways around the world. Staged as a spectacularly immersive competition by Zhailon Levingston ( Tina: The Tina Turner Musical , Chicken & Biscuits ) and PAC NYC Artistic Director Bill Rauch ( All the Way ), with all new Ballroom and club beats, runway ready choreography, and an edgy eleganza makeover that moves the action from junkyard to runway.  Come one, come all, and celebrate the joyous transformation of self at the heart of Cats and Ballroom culture itself.

By arrangement with The Really Useful Group.

A PAC NYC Production.

Major support for Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” is provided by BNY Mellon.

Photo by Jai Lennard. Model, Jodi Mugler.

Andrew Lloyd Webber – Composer Zhailon Levingston – Director Bill Rauch – Director Arturo Lyons – Choreographer Omari Wiles – Choreographer

Rachel Hauck – Scenic Design Qween Jean – Costume Design Adam Honoré – Lighting Design Kai Harada – Sound Design Brittany Bland – Projection Design Nikiya Mathis – Hair/Wig Design William Waldrop – Music Supervision and Music Direction David Lai – Music Coordinator Trevor Holder – Beats Arrangement Capital Kaos – Ballroom Consultant/DJ Josephine Kearns – Dramaturg & Gender Consultant X Casting/Victor Vazquez C.S.A., Sujotta R. Pace C.S.A. – Casting

Paris Is Still Burning A modern take on Jennie Livingston’s 1991 film Paris Is Burning , New Pride Agenda presents a speaker series featuring pioneers, legends, and stars from the House Ballroom community. Discussion topics include mentorship, chosen family, legacy, the upcoming kiki scene, and more!

The aim of this space is to bring together the LGBTQ+ community and our allies to learn more about our history and impact together, and to disrupt the mainstream narrative of Ballroom life and culture.

Moderated by Mother Jocelyn Milan.

The following discounts are currently available by calling 212-266-3000:

Student Discounts Full-time students are invited to purchase tickets at 50% off plus applicable fees for select events, subject to availability. One student ticket per valid ID. Identification is requested at the time of ticket pick up.

Under 30 Discount Under 30s are invited to purchase $30 tickets for select events, subject to availability. Proof of age for each member of the party will be required at the time of ticket pick up. Under 30s can purchase one ticket per event, and applicable transaction fees will be applied to each purchase.

The following discount is currently available by calling 212-266-3011:

Group Discount Groups of 10 or more receive 10% off and 20 or more receive 15% off.

Cats remains a theatrical milestone that speaks to the transformative power of imagination.

— The New York Times

The Ballroom scene is a culture of freedom, expression, and creativity that has always been about pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers. It is a living, breathing, evolving art form that continues to inspire and empower people all over the world.

—Jack Mizrahi, founder of the House of Mizrahi

Josephine Kearns

Josephine Kearns (she/her) is a dramaturg, theatre creative, and gender consultant who tells stories of queer and trans affirmation and joy.

Zhailon Levingston

Zhailon Levingston is a Louisiana-raised storyteller, director, and activist. He is a Board Member for the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, which he co-created, and teaches the Theatre of Change course at Columbia University.

Arturo Lyons

Arturo Lyons (aka NY Father Icon Arturo Miyake-Mugler) is a choreographer based in New York. Finding dance in school at a young age, he’s studied Hip Hop, Vogue, Reggae and Street Jazz, and combined them to form his own signature style as well as learning music as a DJ and creating dance tracks of his own.

Bill Rauch is the inaugural artistic director of PAC NYC.

The Really Useful Group

The Really Useful Group is wholly owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and exists to produce, licence and promote his shows and music around the globe, including some of the world’s longest running and most successful musicals including  The Phantom of the Opera , Cats , Jesus Christ Superstar , Evita , Sunset Boulevard  and School of Rock – The Musical . The Really Useful Group works across theatre, film and television, producing and developing new projects and partnerships worldwide, alongside ongoing work in education, amateur licensing and music publishing. Each year, across markets in every corner of the world, The Really Useful Group’s content reaches and is shared by hundreds of millions of people.

William Waldrop

Broadway credits include Music Director/Conductor for the revival of Cats , Associate Conductor for the revival of Evita with Ricky Martin and Associate Conductor for the final company of The Phantom of the Opera . Guest conductor with many US orchestras, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony and the Rochester Philharmonic. Off-Broadway/regional credits include Grey Gardens (starring Betty Buckley), South Pacific , and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn . Graduate of The Peabody Conservatory (MM) and The University of Mississippi (BM).

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the scores of some of the world’s most famous musicals. From Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969) to Bad Cinderella (2023). Lloyd Webber has had shows running continually in the West End for 50 years and on Broadway for 43.

Omari Wiles

Ousmane “Omari” Wiles is an African American West African and Vogue dancer. Wiles is best known as, legendary Omari NiNa Oricci, founder of The House of Nina Oricci [est. OCT. 2019] and Creative Director of LES BALLET AFRIK dance company.

Baby was born and raised in Queens, NY. She grew up dancing on the beach, doing community theatre, and listening to music from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. In 2018, she learned many dance styles partnering with the music from her childhood: disco (waacking), classic house (old way vogue, house, and vogue femme), and hip-hop. She joined Ballroom in 2019 and has traveled extensively, walking balls and winning Women’s Performance of the Year (Southeast Region) twice. She’s grateful to her Ballroom father Omari for naming her Baby , reminding her to be curious and approach life and art playfully without judgement. Shoutout to her mom Joann and boyfriend Izzy for being the best support system! Instagram: @burnbabygocrazy

Jonathan Burke

Broadway: The Inheritance , Choir Boy , Tuck Everlasting . Off-Broadway: Love + Science (NY City Center Stage II); Patience (Second Stage); Toni Stone (Roundabout); Joan of Arc: Into the Fire (Public). Tours: Mary Poppins , A Christmas Story , Joseph… , Cats . TV: Harlem (Prime Video); New Amsterdam (NBC); Only Murders in the Building (Hulu); Bridge and Tunnel (EPIX). Film: Noah’s Arc: The ‘Rona Chronicles , The Distinguished . Co-creator of @notlookingtheseries. BFA, Ithaca College. Facebook: Jonathan Burke | X: @itsjonburke | Instagram: @itsjonathanburke

Emma Sofia Caymares

Emma Sofia Caymares graduated from SUNY Purchase Dance Conservatory 2012 and immediately joined the international tour of West Side Story . She’s performed with ballet companies Morphoses and Ballet Hispanico. Her Broadway debut was in the original cast of Finding Neverland as Wendy. She originated the role of Veruca Salt in Broadway’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . She can be seen in Fosse/Verdon (FX) as well as in Law and Order: SVU and Alternatino . You can see her as Celia in Call Your Mother (ABC).

Tara Lashan Clinkscales

Off-Broadway debut! Tara is an alumna of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama where she played Sonya in The Great Comet of 1812 and Clara in A Movie Star Has to Star in Black and White . Credits: Nell Gywnn in Nell Gywnn and Mrs. Squires in The Music Man at Texas Shakespeare Festival. She would like to thank God, Mom, Alex, Dad, Lisa Blair-Hawkins, and friends for every ounce of love along the way! @taraclinkscales

André De Shields

In a career spanning fifty-five years, André De Shields, at age 78, has distinguished himself as a legendary actor/activist, iconic philanthropist and Broadway deity. As Actor, Mr. De Shields’ mission is to fill intimate spaces with enormous beauty, defining intimate spaces as the hearts of humanity. As Activist, he endeavors to to restore majesty, elegance and literacy to the Black Thespian’s toolbox; to advocate for long term survivors of HIV and AIDS, and to champion the legacy of the Wellderly (elderly individuals who continue to kick butt). www.andredeshields.com. Ubuntu!

Sydney James Harcourt

Sydney James Harcourt is a Grammy®-winning multidisciplinary artist from Detroit, Michigan. Stage credits include: Hamilton (Aaron Burr), The Lion King (Simba), American Idiot , Girl from the North Country (Joe Scott – Drama Desk nomination). TV/Film includes: FBI , Blue Bloods , Elementary , Tell Me A Story , Edouard on Netflix’s Castlevania: Nocturne , Enchanted , and Disney’s Hamilton movie. Sydney recently appeared on PBS’s Black Broadway concert and is currently working on a Dance/Electronic album with Netflix Music Lab.

Antwayn Hopper

Broadway: A Strange Loop , HAIR! Select Off-Broadway/New York: Memphis in The Life dir. by Billy Porter (NY Encores!); A Strange Loop (PHNY); The Loophole (NY Public); Civil War Christmas (NYTW); Showboat (Carnegie Hall); and This Ain’t No Disco (NYSF). Select Regional: A Ghost in Satin (Williamstown); Nick’s Flamingo Grill (Alliance); Camino Real (Goodman); The Brothers Size (Old Globe); Rent (Syracuse Stage); Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyric Opera). Film/TV: FBI , 100&1 , Girl Most Likely , The Knick , and more. CMU! #HCKR Upcoming: Debut Album!

Dava Huesca

Originally from New York City, Dava holds a degree from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance and is an alum of Springboard Danse Montreal. Her performance career commenced as a company member with Dance Theater Company VIM VIGOR. Other performance attainments include works by: Yin Yue Dance Company, Telfar TV, Jacolby Satterwhite, Johannes Weiland, Laja Martin, Maxine Doyle, Rena Butler, Marla Phelan, Stephanie Batten Bland, Sidra Bell, Christoph Wrinkler Company, & Martha Graham Dance Company.

Dudney Joseph Jr.

Dudney Joseph Jr. is deeply honored to be part of PAC NYC’s Inaugural Season and share the enchanting spirit of Ballroom culture since joining the community in 2011. Off–Broadway: The Harder They Come (The Public Theater). Regional: Angels in America , Little Shop of Horrors , Ain’t Misbehavin’ . Film: The True Adventures of Wolfboy , The American Side . TV: The Crowded Room , Harlem , Wu-Tang: An American Saga , Run the World . Dudney would like to thank his parents, loved ones, and DGRW for their support and love. @DudneyJr

Capital Kaos

Capital Kaos is a Brooklyn, New York-based Ballroom DJ and producer who is part of an international collective production crew called PUMPDABEAT. He draws inspiration from the sounds of Ballroom music and from other producers such as the late, great Vjuan Allure and the well-known DJ MikeQ. His blends and mixes are guaranteed to get your body moving and voguing on the dance floor. Some of his well-known works are the tracks Runaway and Majorette C*nt .

Junior LaBeija

A member of The Iconic House Of LaBeija for more than 50 years, LaBeija is popular within Gay Culture and Ballroom (Worldwide) for being the trailblazer, pioneer, and iconic master of ceremony for the annual “Paris Is Burning Ball” hosted by the late trailblazer, pioneer, and icon Paris Dupree. LaBeija is the M.C. in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning by filmmaker Jennie Livingston. He is a humanitarian.

Dominique Lee

Dominique Lee is a dynamic singer and performer whose magnetic stage presence and soulful voice captivate audiences worldwide. With a passion for people and music, he appreciates the opportunity to connect with them through song. From pop, Motown, R&B, gospel, classical, and beyond, he delivers it all. To this day, he continues to enchant fans with his special Prince tribute. He looks forward to creating music that will be enjoyed by generations to come.

Robert "Silk" Mason

Robert “Silk” Mason is a multidisciplinary artist born in the Bronx, and raised in Columbia, SC. Robert attended The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities for dance and The Juilliard School for Dance. They are an international award-winning film actor seen in Into the Colors , Forged in Chaos , and Hold You Down . National commercials: Facebook Messenger Rooms 2020, Super Bowl LVII Apple Music and Rihanna Halftime Show 2023, 212 Carolina Herrera Fragrance Campaign 2024. They are a published model, choreographer, LGBTQIA+ youth leader, and founding mother of the new Kiki Royal Haus of Silk.

"Tempress" Chasity Moore

Tempress (Chasity Moore) is an actress, singer, and Ballroom Icon/Hall of famer from Mount Vernon, N.Y. She began singing in church at age 5, which led her to Star Search , The Apollo , and traveling with a high school drama troupe. Chasity attended Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA) and pursued a singing career. She was discovered by Tyler Perry, being cast as a transgender person prior to her own transition in I Know I’ve Been Changed . The name Tempress was born in Ballroom. She’s a founder and Queen Mother of her house organization Maison Margiela, has made appearances on Ryan Murphy’s Pose , and in campaigns for Sephora and Tvone. She hosts a YouTube series and a podcast FqCrazySexyCool .

Shereen Pimentel

Shereen Pimentel was last seen as Eva Perón in ART & STC’s co-production of Evita . Her other credits include West Side Story in the 2020 Broadway revival as Maria, Young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway, Guenevere in Camelot at The Muny, and New York City Center’s Encores! production of Into the Woods as Rapunzel. Shereen is a graduate from the Juilliard School with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance.

Primo is a Cincinnati, Ohio, native living in New York City. At 14, Primo started at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. Ballets include Giselle , Dracula , The Nutcracker . Musicals include 101 Dalmatians , Brigadoon , Peter Pan . In 2015, Primo attended The Young Americans College of Performing Arts, touring more than 16 countries and teaching dance, vocal music, and confidence building through the arts. Primo has performed in international dinner theater (Germany) and was the top producer choice for the final season of So You Think Can Dance (2020). He’s a freelance instructor and voguer and hopes to own his own dance studio to plant just a tiny seed of hope that music can change the world.

Nora Schell

Nora Schell graduated from The University of Michigan with a BFA in musical theatre and a minor in gender, race, and nation. They received Drama Desk, Drama League, and Clive Barnes Award nominations for their Off-Broadway debut in Spamilton . Nora made their Broadway debut in Jagged Little Pill . With their educational background, Nora continues to cultivate a career focused on the intersection of performing and social justice. Love and gratitude to Gregg Baker Management, their family, and Jane.

Kendall G. Stroud

Kendall Stroud is honored to be part of this ‘Jellicle’ family since the beginning. This project has taught them more about family, self-love, and artistry than their entire artistic career. They are immensely grateful to the Ballroom community for welcoming them and providing a space where they could find themselves. They thank PAC NYC for putting their trust in them to be a part of this historic moment. They’d also like to thank X Casting for everything they’ve done for this budding queer artist of color. NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ Department of Drama graduate (2022). Thank you for coming and welcome to… The Jellicle Ball !

Frank Viveros

Recently seen on Broadway in Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Camelot . Broadway: Aladdin (Genie standby). Tours: Phantom of the Opera (Piangi); Aladdin . Off-Broadway: Yellow Brick Road ; Play Like A Winner ; When Pigs Fly . Disney: Finding Nemo—The Musical (Original Bloat) TV: Danny’s House . Gracias a Dios, Creatives, Pantera/Murphy, Familia, Amigos y Matt! Made in Colombia. @frrankly

Garnet Williams

Garnet Williams is a writer, actor, and singer originally from Atlanta. Some favorite roles include The Lovebird in Skyward: An Endling Elegy (Powerhouse ), Dionne in Hair (Roundabout), Miss Olivia Blonde in At Hotel MacGuffin (Parity). More recently she has been on concert stages from Caveat to Joe’s Pub. For Lucile.

Teddy Wilson Jr.

Ft. Lauderdale born with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Penn State University, Teddy, is extremely grateful and excited to be a part of this production of Cats: The Jellicle Ball . With special thanks to CTG and the friends and family who have supported them along the way. The show is filled with a rich culture and history that is so necessary to the black and brown queer community. We hope to do it justice!

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As ‘CATS’ national tour prepares to land on its feet in Fresno, a conversation with cast member Lauren Louis

T he national tour of Fresno Lexus Broadway in Fresno’s “CATS” makes a two-night stop at the Saroyan Theatre, opening Tuesday, Oct. 26. It is the first tour to play the city since the pandemic began. Here’s a conversation with cast member Lauren Louis:

Pictured above:Lauren Louis, left, as Demeter, Chelsea Nicole Mitchell as Bombalurina, and the company of the 2021-2022 national tour of ‘CATS.’ Photo: Matthew Murphy

The role: Demeter, a troubled and skittish Jellicle cat best known for her duet with Bombalurina in “Macavity the Mystery Cat.” Lauren Louis also is understudying the role of Grizabella the Glamour Cat.

The costume: Think yellow. Which is a good fit, because “yellow is my favorite color,” Louis says.

The tour: It picks off where the last national tour abruptly ended because of Covid. It started in Rochester, New York. When I speak to Louis a couple of weeks before Fresno’s Oct. 26 opening, the show is in Las Vegas (and will move on to Spokane before settling in at the Saroyan Theatre for a two-night run.) She’s been on the road with this new cast for a month or so, having visited a lot of the Midwest (Iowa, South Dakota, etc.).

The production: It’s based on the 2014 London revival (which later moved to Broadway). The updates from the original production mostly have to do with new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler throughout the show, featuring more hip hop dance styles and “Gaga Movement.” But it’s still firmly rooted in Gillian Lynne’s original choreography. “It’s a beautiful combination of Gillian and Andy’s work,” Louis says.

STORY CONTINUES AFTER SPONSORED CONTENT

The prep: Louis bumped up against some big names early in the rehearsal process. Chrissie Cartwright, who was Lynne’s assistant, and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber himself popped up. The cast went through “Kitty Boot Camp” in which actors paced about the room acting nervous, scared, sensual, etc.

The actor: Louis grew up in Tracy and went to Cal State Fullerton in musical theater. She always wanted to be in “CATS.” At age 12, she saw it at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco and was hooked. “I would run that old 1980 VHS tape dry with my sisters,” she says. “For my first national tour to be ‘CATS’ is to really come full circle.”

The Fresno connection: Growing up, she was on a competitive dance team. The finals were held at the Saroyan Theatre. It seemed so big to her back then.

The diplomat, Part 1: Louis is artful when it comes to a potentially troublesome topic: the recent movie version of “CATS,” which some — OK, many — people essentially say belonged in the litter box. What do she and her castmates think of the film? “We think the movie is great for what it was, but there’s nothing like the theatrical show,” she says. “It’s definitely a live-show experience.”

The diplomat, Part 2: And, while we’re on the subject, does she ever run into any haters of the stage show? (I know that as a journalist, I sure do.) Again, Louis could join the Foreign Service: “Most of our interactions are with people who are ‘CATS’ fans. We always take in the good energy and release what’s not good for us. If it’s not your cup of tea, it’s not for your cup of tea. But it is for me.”

The takeaway: Louis is thrilled to be back on stage, working, as the Age of Vaccination takes hold. At the tour’s first performance, people in the audience started clapping in the middle of the “Jellicle Ball” number just because they were back in the theater. “I’m so excited for people to feel that joy again,” she says.

The Munro Review has no paywall but is financially supported by readers who believe in its non-profit mission of bringing professional arts journalism to the central San Joaquin Valley. You can help by signing up for a monthly recurring paid membership or make a one-time donation of as little as $3. All memberships and donations are tax-deductible.

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Donald Munro

Covering the arts online in the central San Joaquin Valley and beyond. Lover of theater, classical music, visual arts, the literary arts and all creative endeavors. Former Fresno Bee arts critic and columnist. Graduate of Columbia University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Excited to be exploring the new world of arts journalism.

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• Drama featuring cats in Forbidden City to tour nationwide
• The Cat God in the Forbidden City, an original song and dance drama co-produced by the China National Theater for Children and the Palace Museum, will start a nationwide tour on Friday.

The tour will include cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Changzhou, Wuhan, and Shenzhen, according to the theater.

The drama, adapted from an eponymous children's book, tells a heartwarming story of friendship and companionship, memory and history, as well as life and eternity, from the perspective of a cat.

It premiered on Dec. 23 last year in the China National Theater for Children and concluded the first round of performances in the theater in February.

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Doja Cat at Coachella review – an electrifying tour de force

Empire Polo Club, Indio, California

Festival headliner delivered an A-game set, ignoring some of her mainstream hits yet bringing enough energy to power what some have called a middling year

D oja Cat took the Coachella main stage as the last official act to perform on Sunday’s bill, becoming the first female rapper to headline the festival. (She’s also only the second Black woman to do so, after Beyoncé in 2018.) Her closer rounded out a Sunday showcase of powerhouse female performers such as Reneé Rapp and Kesha duetting the recession banger TiK ToK – changing the opening line to “wake up in the morning saying fuck P Diddy” – and Victoria Monet grinding through a slick and ultra-sexy set, at one point receiving artfully-simulated oral sex from a background dancer.

It would be diplomatic to say that Doja maintains a distant relationship with her fans, who call themselves kittenz, though their fave does not sanction this moniker. Doja has told those who engage in parasocial relationships with the idea of her to “get off your phone and get a job” and “rethink everything” about their lives. Such boundary-setting has cost her some Instagram followers – around 300,000, to be exact, after going off on them in a social media tirade – but she could care less. “I feel free,” she wrote in an Instagram story after the snafu last year.

So it’s not surprising that Doja kept the stage banter to a minimum; about an hour in, she allowed a cursory, but seemingly genuine, “Thank you everyone.” That was about it. Still, Doja didn’t need to give us the cliched “it’s always been a dream to perform on this stage” monologue to show a deep respect for her audience. She did so by putting on a tour de force of a set, one that merged her musical talents with a clear knack for spectacle. I suspect it will become a staple on best-of-Coachella lists for years to come.

Doja first appeared by popping up on the stage’s extended catwalk, opening the night further back in the crowd, so those of us who hadn’t made it to the pit got a good look at her, too. She first wore an all-white hazmat suit. I thought it was a little Patrick Bateman; the girl next to me remarked that Doja looked like “a whole-ass sperm”.

Whatever the inspiration, she took that off pretty quickly, revealing extra-long blonde hair that went well past her butt, and a matching tunic also made of hair. Her background dancers matched in their own full hair suits, and when paired with their syncopated moves, the vibe was a little Bob Fosse meets Fraggle Rock. The South African a capella group The Joy encircled Doja during Shutcho, a diss track for haters that the group turned into a melodic, choir-like crescendo.

Though Doja is a very 2020s pop star, terminally online and well-versed in the meme ecosystem, she didn’t rely on many gimmicks to make it through her set. The stage design was sparse and industrial. Her numerous outfit changes kept the same off-white palette, very Virgil Abloh-esque aesthetic: sculptural, sleek, architectural. My favorite look was a shaggy bikini set by Entire Studios that could have been a reference to Jane Fonda as Barbarella, or just a sartorial nod to the concept of merkins.

Doja tapped A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and a giant recreation of a T-Rex fossil for guest stars. During her penultimate song, Paint the Town Red, which samples Dionne Warwick’s 1963 hit Walk on By, I wondered for a moment if Doja was about to make my entire life and bring out the octogenarian legend herself. Instead, she did perhaps the opposite of that and rolled around in a sapphic mud pit with her background dancers for the finale, Wet Vagina.

Though Doja found mainstream success in the pop arena with early pandemic groovers like Kiss Me More and Say So, her Coachella set stuck to rap. Understandably, much of it came from her latest release, last year’s Scarlet. She described the album as a“masculine” response to her desire of moving away from pop princess-dom.

This meant that the fans who were there for Doja’s more accessible fare may have been disappointed by the exclusion of those songs – when the set ended, many mulled around the stage as if they were sure she’d come back rearing into Say So. (Again, she didn’t.)

But to me, it didn’t matter: Doja followed her gut, performed the songs she felt represented her best, all presented in an energetic, top-of-game triumph. For all the endless chatter this year about a lackluster lineup, Doja proved she’s worthy of a headline spot, so long as the people in charge – and, crucially, her fans – trust her to do it her own way.

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Coachella 2024: Lineup, daily schedule, ticket info, how to watch festival livestream

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival returns this weekend at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

The 23rd installment of the festival will see artists such as Lana Del Rey , Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator headline, in addition to performances from Ice Spice, Sublime, Peso Pluma, Deftones, and Lil Yachty, among others. Gwen Stefani and No Doubt will also reunite onstage for the first time in nearly a decade.

The festival is set to be held on the weekends of April 12-14 and April 19-21. Passes for the first weekend are sold out, however passes for the second weekend are still available.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Here's what you need to know about Coachella 2024, including the full lineup, daily schedule and how to watch from home if you can't make it out to California.

Coachella 2024 lineup: Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, No Doubt and Tyler, the Creator to headline

How to watch Coachella 2024 on TV, livestream

This year's festival will air exclusively on YouTube , according to the company's official blog.

The stream will begin Friday, April 12 at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET with six live stream stages and "all new multi-view for TV screens," YouTube said.

"With performances captured for all screens, plus exclusive merchandise, behind-the-scenes content on Shorts, interviews, photos, and more, our 2024 lineup is giving global music fans the ultimate all access pass from afar," the company wrote in its blog.

Fans can tune in on their smartphones, TVs or computers on Coachella's YouTube channel .

Coachella is here: What to bring and how to prepare to make the most of music festivals

Coachella 2024 lineup schedule

Lana Del Rey is set to headline the festivities on both Fridays, April 12 and 19, along with performances from Peso Pluma, Lil Uzi Vert, Bizarrap, Deftones, Everything Always, and more.

Tyler, the Creator will be the Saturday headliner both weekends and will be joined by likes of Ice Spice, Sublime, Grimes, Jon Batiste, and Dom Dolla, among others.

Doja Cat will be the Sunday headliner both weekends and will be joined by J Balvin, Jhené Aiko, Khruangbin, and DJ Snake, among others.

You can see the full schedule of performers in the Instagram post below.

Coachella 2024 set times

A full list of day-by-day set times can be found on Coachella's website.

Coachella 2024 passes

Passes for the first weekend of Coachella are sold out, according to the festival's website, however you can still purchase passes for the second weekend .

General admission passes are on sale for $499 plus fees, while general admission passes with shuttle access are going for $619 plus fees. VIP passes are listed for $1,069 plus fees.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Brian Blueskye and Ema Sasic, USA TODAY Network

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X  @GabeHauari  or email him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coachella 2024: Lineup, daily schedule, ticket info, how to watch festival livestream

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A new declaration in Mexico gives 19 cats roaming the presidential palace food and care fur-ever

Coco nibbles on a blade of grass in a National Palace courtyard, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Nineteen cats living on the grounds of Mexico’s National Palace were declared ‘living fixed assets’ of the government. Cozying up to palace staff and making cameos on televised news briefings, the animals have long been a fixture of the gardens and offices of the colonial-style building. (AP video by Fernanda Pesce)

Coco nibbles on a blade of grass in a National Palace courtyard, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Nineteen feral cats have free rein of Mexico’s National Palace, long roaming the gardens and historic colonial halls of the most iconic buildings in the country. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Cats rest in a National Palace garden in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Nineteen feral cats have free rein of Mexico’s National Palace, long roaming the gardens and historic colonial halls of the most iconic buildings in the country. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Veterinarian Jesus Arias greets Ollin in one a National Palace courtyard, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Ollin is one of 19 palace cats that have made history after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets”, the first animals in Mexico to receive the title. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Rufino looks out from a cactus garden inside the National Palace in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Rufino is one of 19 palace cats that have made history after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets”, the first animals in Mexico to receive the title. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Ollin stands in one of the National Palace courtyards, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Ollin, one of 19 cats living on National Palace grounds, is named in the region’s Aztec language, which means “movement.” (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A trio of cats rest in one of the National Palace courtyards, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. The three cats are part of 19 living at the National Palace that have been declared “fixed assets”, a term that usually applies to buildings and furniture, but by applying it to cats, Andres Manuel López Obrador’s government has obligated the country’s Treasury to give them food and care for the rest of their lives. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A feral cat living on National Palace grounds takes a lick of ice cream, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Staff say they remember the feral cats living among the cacti and dense brush of the gardens as far back as 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Coco rests in the National Palace grounds, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Coco is one of nineteen palace cats that have made history after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets”, the first animals in Mexico to receive the title. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A sign warns visitors to avoid feeding the feral cats roaming the National Palace grounds, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Palace staff worked with vets from the National Autonomous University of Mexico to vaccinate, sterilize and chip the cats, and build them cat homes and feeding stations around the garden. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A feral cat living on National Palace grounds stalks pigeons in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. The cat is one of nineteen palace cats that have made history after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets”, the first animals in Mexico to receive the title. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Bowie rests in the shade of a towering cactus on National Palace grounds in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Bowie, named after the rockstar David Bowie, is one of nineteen cats that have made history after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets”, the first animals in Mexico to receive the title. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — They prowl through palace gardens stalking pigeons and make cameos on televised press briefings. Some greet tourists at the doors, while others take a sneaky lick of ice cream from staff.

Nineteen feral cats have free rein of Mexico’s National Palace, long roaming the lush gardens and historic colonial halls of the most iconic buildings in the country.

“They have access to every part of the palace, so they walk in on meetings, interviews and wander onto camera,” said Jesús Arias, the palace veterinarian, as a handful of feline friends brush against his ankles.

Veterinarian Jesus Arias greets Ollin in one a National Palace courtyard, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Now, the palace cats have made hiss-tory after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets,” the first animals in Mexico to receive the title.

The investment term “fixed assets” usually applies to buildings and furniture, but by applying it to cats, López Obrador’s government has obligated the country’s Treasury to give them food and care for them for the rest of their lives, even after the leader leaves office in October.

“The cats are now a symbol of the National Palace. Just as we understand this world, I wouldn’t understand the National Palace without the presence of these cats,” said Adriana Castillo Román, general director of the National Palace and Cultural Heritage Conservancy. “We have to make sure the cats are taken care of.”

Nestled in the heart of Mexico City , the presidential palace has long been the seat of Mexico’s executive branch. Now the residence of López Obrador, it is built upon the former palace of Indigenous Emperor Moctezuma. Ironically, Moctezuma’s ancient Aztec culture honored not cats, but hairless dogs known as Xoloitzcuintle , who were even buried with their masters.

But these days, López Obrador is accompanied by Bowie, Bellof, Nube, Coco, Yema, Ollin, Balam and more, who seem to have found a purr-fect home in the building. López Obrador himself has said the cats “dominate” the palace and often walk in front of him during official ceremonies.

Some are named after artists, like an orange tabby “Bowie” named after the rockstar David Bowie, who visited the palace 1997 to see the famous mural by Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Others are named after native rocks or words in the region’s ancient Aztec language, like Ollin, which means “movement.”

Staff say they remember the feral cats living among the cacti and dense brush of the gardens as far back as 50 years ago.

But it’s unclear when they first appeared or how they even got into the building. While 19 live in the building full time, many more come and go, and staff suspect they slip under a small crack in the palace gate by night.

One cat named Zeus, who has since passed away, even became famous in July when he meandered into the president’s morning press briefing. The gray cat stood in front of cameras and wandered among reporters until palace staff had to carry him off.

A feral cat living on National Palace grounds takes a lick of ice cream, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

To avoid a cat-astrophe, Castillo said the government had to ask reporters to stop feeding Zeus because he would spend his days accepting treats from different people around the palace and was “getting really fat”.

When López Obrador first took office in 2018, Castillo said the palace pets were being fed quietly by employees.

“Some employees that like cats would bring them leftovers from home and, every once in a while, canned food or rice and soup,” Castillo said.

Palace staff worked with vets from the National Autonomous University of Mexico to vaccinate, sterilize and chip the cats, and build them little cat homes and feeding stations around the garden. They also hired Arias to take care of them on a permanent basis and give them a good life.

Neither Bowie, Coco or Ollin commented when asked how they feel about being “living fixed assets.” Coco swished his tail, while Ollin stretched out below a palace pillar and fell asleep.

“Meow,” responded Nube, a gray cat named after the Spanish word for “cloud” who enjoys greeting visitors at the door of the palace.

Cats rest in a National Palace garden in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

A New Declaration in Mexico Gives 19 Cats Roaming the Presidential Palace Food and Care Fur-Ever

Feral cats have long wandered the gardens and elegant halls of Mexicos' presidential palace

Eduardo Verdugo

Coco nibbles on a blade of grass in a National Palace courtyard, in Mexico City, Thursday, March 4, 2024. Nineteen feral cats have free rein of Mexico's National Palace, long roaming the gardens and historic colonial halls of the most iconic buildings in the country. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — They prowl through palace gardens stalking pigeons and make cameos on televised press briefings. Some greet tourists at the doors, while others take a sneaky lick of ice cream from staff.

Nineteen feral cats have free rein of Mexico's National Palace, long roaming the lush gardens and historic colonial halls of the most iconic buildings in the country.

“They have access to every part of the palace, so they walk in on meetings, interviews and wander onto camera," said Jesús Arias, the palace veterinarian, as a handful of feline friends brush against his ankles.

Now, the palace cats have made hiss-tory after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets,” the first animals in Mexico to receive the title.

The investment term “fixed assets” usually applies to buildings and furniture, but by applying it to cats, López Obrador's government has obligated the country’s Treasury to give them food and care for them for the rest of their lives, even after the leader leaves office in October.

“The cats are now a symbol of the National Palace. Just as we understand this world, I wouldn’t understand the National Palace without the presence of these cats,” said Adriana Castillo Román, general director of the National Palace and Cultural Heritage Conservancy. “We have to make sure the cats are taken care of.”

Photos You Should See - April 2024

Nestled in the heart of Mexico City , the presidential palace has long been the seat of Mexico's executive branch. Now the residence of López Obrador, it is built upon the former palace of Indigenous Emperor Moctezuma. Ironically, Moctezuma's ancient Aztec culture honored not cats, but hairless dogs known as Xoloitzcuintle , who were even buried with their masters.

But these days, López Obrador is accompanied by Bowie, Bellof, Nube, Coco, Yema, Ollin, Balam and more, who seem to have found a purr-fect home in the building. López Obrador himself has said the cats “dominate” the palace and often walk in front of him during official ceremonies.

Some are named after artists, like an orange tabby “Bowie” named after the rockstar David Bowie, who visited the palace 1997 to see the famous mural by Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Others are named after native rocks or words in the region’s ancient Aztec language, like Ollin, which means “movement.”

Staff say they remember the feral cats living among the cacti and dense brush of the gardens as far back as 50 years ago.

But it’s unclear when they first appeared or how they even got into the building. While 19 live in the building full time, many more come and go, and staff suspect they slip under a small crack in the palace gate by night.

One cat named Zeus, who has since passed away, even became famous in July when he meandered into the president's morning press briefing. The gray cat stood in front of cameras and wandered among reporters until palace staff had to carry him off.

To avoid a cat-astrophe, Castillo said the government had to ask reporters to stop feeding Zeus because he would spend his days accepting treats from different people around the palace and was “getting really fat”.

When López Obrador first took office in 2018, Castillo said the palace pets were being fed quietly by employees.

“Some employees that like cats would bring them leftovers from home and, every once in a while, canned food or rice and soup,” Castillo said.

Palace staff worked with vets from the National Autonomous University of Mexico to vaccinate, sterilize and chip the cats, and build them little cat homes and feeding stations around the garden. They also hired Arias to take care of them on a permanent basis and give them a good life.

Neither Bowie, Coco or Ollin commented when asked how they feel about being "living fixed assets.” Coco swished his tail, while Ollin stretched out below a palace pillar and fell asleep.

“Meow,” responded Nube, a gray cat named after the Spanish word for “cloud” who enjoys greeting visitors at the door of the palace.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Disney to permanently ban visitors who lie about disabilities for park perks.

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The Walt Disney Company is tightening its restrictions and heightening scrutiny of individuals claiming disabilities at their parks due to a surge of fraudulent claims seeking to exploit the service.

The company announced Tuesday that guests found to have made false statements in order to obtain Disability Access Services will be permanently banned from its parks.

“If it is determined that any of the statements a Guest made in the process of obtaining DAS are not true, the Guest will be permanently barred from entering the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort,” the Disney website now warns.

It adds that “any previously purchased Annual Passes, Magic Key passes, tickets and other park products and services” belonging to customers found to have lied about disabilities “will be forfeited and not refunded.”

DAS, which is free, allows those with disabilities to get a return time for attractions rather than wait in a standard line.

Previously, DAS was indicated as for “guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability.”

Now, the Disneyland and Walt Disney Resort websites state, “DAS is intended to accommodate a small percentage of Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period or time.”

The new changes will go into effect on May 20 at Walt Disney World in Florida and June 18 at Disneyland in California, the company said. The existing “DAS” procedure will continue until then.

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In addition to the specification for those who qualify for DAS, Disney also changed the procedure for requesting the service.

At Walt Disney World as of May 20, all DAS registrations must occur via virtual video chat, and “in-person registration will no longer be available at theme park Guest Relations locations starting May 20, 2024,” says the Walt Disney World website.

At Disneyland, after June 18, guests applying for DAS can either use a virtual chat or a dedicated “accessibility services” window for same-day requests.

Those who presently have DAS will have to re-apply for the service, the company indicated.

DAS is also now limited to a guest’s “immediate family,” or a group of no more than four unrelated people, say the websites.

In recent years, Disney has struggled to bring down wait times and better organize access to park attractions as ever-increasing attendance and group-sourced exploits have compromised park planners.

Fox Business’s Christine Rousselle contributed to this report.

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In Mexico, 19 feral cats can officially roam the presidential palace fur-ever

MEXICO CITY — They prowl through palace gardens stalking pigeons and make cameos on televised press briefings. Some greet tourists at the doors, while others take a sneaky lick of ice cream from staff.

Nineteen feral cats have free rein of Mexico’s National Palace, long roaming the lush gardens and historic colonial halls of the most iconic buildings in the country.

“They have access to every part of the palace, so they walk in on meetings, interviews and wander onto camera,” said Jesús Arias, the palace veterinarian, as a handful of feline friends brush against his ankles.

Now, the palace cats have made hiss-tory after the government of  Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador  declared them to be “living fixed assets,” the first animals in Mexico to receive the title.

The investment term “fixed assets” usually applies to buildings and furniture, but by applying it to cats, López Obrador’s government has obligated the country’s Treasury to give them food and care for them for the rest of their lives, even after the leader leaves office in October.

“The cats are now a symbol of the National Palace. Just as we understand this world, I wouldn’t understand the National Palace without the presence of these cats,” said Adriana Castillo Román, general director of the National Palace and Cultural Heritage Conservancy. “We have to make sure the cats are taken care of.”

Nestled in the heart of  Mexico City , the presidential palace has long been the seat of Mexico’s executive branch. Now the residence of López Obrador, it is built upon the former palace of Indigenous Emperor Moctezuma. Ironically, Moctezuma’s ancient Aztec culture honored not cats, but  hairless dogs known as Xoloitzcuintle , who were even buried with their masters.

But these days, López Obrador is accompanied by Bowie, Bellof, Nube, Coco, Yema, Ollin, Balam and more, who seem to have found a purr-fect home in the building. López Obrador himself has said the cats “dominate” the palace and often walk in front of him during official ceremonies.

Some are named after artists, like an orange tabby “Bowie” named after the rockstar David Bowie, who visited the palace 1997 to see the famous mural by Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Others are named after native rocks or words in the region’s ancient Aztec language, like Ollin, which means “movement.”

Staff say they remember the feral cats living among the cacti and dense brush of the gardens as far back as 50 years ago.

But it’s unclear when they first appeared or how they even got into the building. While 19 live in the building full time, many more come and go, and staff suspect they slip under a small crack in the palace gate by night.

One cat named Zeus, who has since passed away, even became famous in July when he meandered into the president’s morning press briefing. The gray cat stood in front of cameras and wandered among reporters until palace staff had to carry him off.

To avoid a cat-astrophe, Castillo said the government had to ask reporters to stop feeding Zeus because he would spend his days accepting treats from different people around the palace and was “getting really fat”.

When López Obrador first took office in 2018, Castillo said the palace pets were being fed quietly by employees.

“Some employees that like cats would bring them leftovers from home and, every once in a while, canned food or rice and soup,” Castillo said.

Palace staff worked with vets from the National Autonomous University of Mexico to vaccinate, sterilize and chip the cats, and build them little cat homes and feeding stations around the garden. They also hired Arias to take care of them on a permanent basis and give them a good life.

Neither Bowie, Coco or Ollin commented when asked how they feel about being “living fixed assets.” Coco swished his tail, while Ollin stretched out below a palace pillar and fell asleep.

“Meow,” responded Nube, a gray cat named after the Spanish word for “cloud” who enjoys greeting visitors at the door of the palace.