[OldDeuteronomy]

Is the show always designed in such a way that the Orchestra is always backstage. I know in the US touring productions (except Tour IV) they were always in the pit.

[Cassandra]

Actually, they were in the pit for the 4th Natl. Tour.

I guess it really depends on the theatre. For Broadway and London, where they specially built the set and manipulated the innerworkings of the theatre, they put the orchestra backstage so they could build the ramps out front to have more audience interaction. I think most specially built CATS productions were the same way. I don't know if this is what they're doing for the newer productions now (Madrid, Moscow, etc.), but I would assume so.

I can't speak for the UK Tours or the earlier US tours, so maybe someone else knows. Like I said, 4th Natl. almost always used the orchestra pit, and so did 5th Natl. in the beginning. Now I think it depends on the theatre and which set (blow-up or regular) they use.

[Rumblepurr]

The CATS "Orchestra" is hidden because of ALW... He wanted CATS to be about cats and nothing but... A visible orchestra would distract.

Respectfully submitted,
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat

[OldDeuteronomy]

whoops when I said Tour IV I meant V. I'm no good at Roman Numerals.