[Gwen]

I know it's not really possible, but I'm saying if you were in charge of everything, (not necessarily meaning doing the work, but in charge of planning,) a production of CATS, what would you do?
I'm not doing a production, but I'm curious as to what fans (like me,) would do.
I've had my thoughts on this, and here's what I've come up with:
I've made a geneology, planned what styles of costume to use for different characters, (ie: Broadway style Alonzo, London Style Electra,) and made slight changes in directing. Again, this is just a wild dream in my head.
If anyone would like to see any of it, please let me know! I'd be more than happy to post it, but I'd like to ask if anyone's interested first.

So if you were in charge, what would you do?
(Includes directing, costuming, etc...)

[Flitterbug]

The most major thing I would do is change the costumes - not because I dont like them how they are, but because I have a whole set of "creepy" designs that I'd like to see running aorund on stage.
I think if it were possible I'd also change the design of the set... though that's purely because I envision myself "in charge" of a proper movie version, and wouldn't want to film it in a single "location" with cameras on only one side...

[enkeli-kitten]

I would make there be a LOT of acrobatics!!! Cats turning backflips all over the place!!! *bounces* I'd also have a really big cast with all the main parts and some swings, and some kids with dancing and acting skills as kittens (there would be two casts of them so they alternate nights), and there'd always be a couple of Cats sneaking around in the audience making people jump And I'd redesign the Heaviside Layer staircase so it doesn't look like a dragon is about to eat Grizabella *grins* It would have fairy lights all over it! And the whole musical would be very colorful (except the sad bits) and the costumes would be like the ones in the video. And no songs would be left out!

[mistocopat]

I would Love love to have Cats in the round like the original production! I would combine all my favorite costumes from the different versions. I would love to create the illusion that the audience themselves is sitting in the junkyard with the cats.

[bombalur1na]

[Moongewl]

I'd have a small cast, with more boldy-colored costumes. My big thing with the costumes is that sometimes a few of the cats(mainly Alonzo, Pouncival/Carbucketty and Tumblebrutus/Bill Bailey) tend to become confused in the audience members' minds, so I'd want each one to be easily distinguishable from every other costume. The choreography would be simplified, the Jellicle Ball shortened. I'd want all the characters to have very distinct, varied personalities, from shy and quiet to strong and commanding to bold and saucy. A regional theater production(which is what I was envisioning) should be small and simple. It's mostly people out to see a little show, not huge Cats fans in the audience. The only exception is that I think the music should be done by a (relatively) big live orchestra. Good music is worth the extra effort, especially when it comes to Cats.

[Bombafanatic]

[MsMungojerrie]

I would definatley make sure that the costumes and make up stand out, and I would need to make sure the people chosen are good dancers, as well as singers.

[Dvarg]

How about doing a John Doyle? Seriously?

[Gwen]

......meaning? Sorry Dvarg, you'll have to clarify on that.

[Dvarg]

[LHSTrombone]

Hmmm I would do more to emphasize the idea of uniqueness, mostly through use of costumes.
All the original outfits except with other pieces added
Examples:
Rum Tum Tugger would have Eric Singer KISS style cat makeup and a lot more studs on his outfit
Bombalurina would definately have a coat like Grizabella does except actually pretty and very furry, make her look more queenish since people say she is the "queen" of the cats.
I would give Mistoffelees some of those little stage gadgets that go in the palms of your hand to make fire or sparks in your hands.

The set....I like the original set too much
The lighting would be alot more big and blinding
And there would be more use of a hazer to make the junkyard seem more mysterious under a full moon.

I would elaborate more but Im in a rush!

[Bombateazer]

Well, I have lots of ideas...but my main one i think is pretty good! I would Macavity make a very big entrance, twirling a baton of fire (and eating it!). So I'd need an actor who could fire-eat!!! Also, when Munkustrap and Macavity start fighting i would have a ring of fire surround them, which Macavity leaps over to make his escape! then the fire goes out with the lights!!! what do you think?

[Gwen]

I meant what you might do overall.
Hmm....ring of fire could get a bit too complicated. Would you have any specific plans for character relations, (don't have to say what they'd be,) or would you change the set or anything like that.

That's more of what I meant.

[Bombateazer]

oh! ok sorry, that idea just kind of popped into my head and i had to get it down before i forgot. My uncle used to be a fire eater, and he had that whole ring of fire thing going on, so i'd have to ask him haha!! well, since i only discovered Cats less than a month ago, and was absouletly blown away by it, I don't really have too many suggestions, though I think I'd like to see the realtionship between Bomba and Tugger intensify a little (I've never seen the film to compare to tho, just the play!) and i really had no idea that Munkustrap and Demeter were mates the first time until I saw the bit after the fight scene! Maybe a few more personal props for the kittens to play with, and i love the ides of including the audience more, as I was really included the 2nd time I saw it, because I was dressed up! but not everyone has that confidence, but still would love to be part of it. As for staging, I liked the end on effect, but thrust would be good to (and suit the Tugger down to the ground!)...and one last thing though this has nothing to do with the actual play itself...when I went to see it I had to catch the early bus (on my own ahh!) and spent about an hour sitting outside dressed as a cat, under one of the posters, and people kept coming up to me, so I started acting very cat-like (streching out etc), and then loads of people come up, they were all asking for autographs and pictures and stuff as they thought I was part of the show! I told them that I wasnt, but later was told by some really nice people that seeing me had really got them in the mood to see the show! It can't be that hard to get a couple of cast out there can it? even if it was just the swings! The little kids adore it!!!

[OldDeuteronomy]

If I were in charge of a production of "CATS I would keep it as true to the Broadway production as possible. I had thought of using the OLC Mungo & rumple # but have since thought of going w/ the OBC version.

[Gwen]

I would LOVE to direct a production of CATS. So much, I got a little too much time on my hands and made all these notes!
NOTES ON DIRECTING!!

Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats
On the trapeeze: Electra
Lift: Coricopat and Tantomile

Invitation to the Jellicle Ball
Solo dance: Victoria

The Old Gumbie Cat
Mice: Electra, Etcetera, Jemima, Skimbleshanks
first cockroach: Carbucketty

The Rum Tum Tugger
As the music to the Old Gumbie Cat plays, one of the Kittens suddenly perks up and looks to the side of the Stage. Everyone looks at her, unsure of what she?s doing. And then-
"Tugger!!" (other kittens perk up and run over.)
The other Cats all have their own reactions- some excited, and others annoyed, as the song starts. Tugger procedes to call attention to himself, flirt with the kittens, (and Bombalurina among other queens,) and joke around with a very uncomfortable Munkustrap. (evil grin.)

I'll post the rest later.

[Vice]

Mmmmmmm... I get to try this for my Gold Award....

Japanese designs, A "shadow" for Grizabella, In an outdoor theatre , and a very small bare bone cast. Very intamite.

[Rumblepurr]

I have seen some interesting ideas on this matter, and I thought I might allow some of mine to come out here...

As a director, I would like to get back to the roots of the show. For one thing, I would try to get more theaters that feature the ARENA style (or at least 3/4 thrust) performance. Napier's set broke the fourth wall, and had the 'Cats" practically in the audience's lap. The intimacy of the show was very powerful in that respect, and I would want to return to that - in short, more audience interaction if possible...

Second, I would instruct the cast to be very aware of 'personal space'. A cat is very conscious of this. Unless the cat trusts you, they maintain a distance. Thus, the cast begins the show by giving the human audience a lot of room. Thus, they only come out when they feel the audience has turned 'friendly'. Interaction can take place, but then cats only tolerate so much... and then they slink off to be by themselves.

The set would have to allow hiding places, so I would have it built in modules that could be placed along that "fourth wall". If the set could be built in a certain way, it would be great to have tubes (pipes) where the cats could go from one area of the stage to another without being seen... and maybe pop out at some places.

The biggest problem would be Grizabella's ascension into the Heavyside... An ARENA set would not allow that in most cases - my solution might be a bit of a tech miracle but I think most stages could accommodate it: a "flying platform". Similar in a way to the cherry-picker that works the Tire, this colorfully lighted platform comes into being behind the tire during the scene where it rises. Instead of the Tire moving, only the platform does - and it backs into the rear of the theater where all the lights on it blacks out... The tire and the platform can be lit and use fog machines...

For the lighting - I would like to have a type of truss or bridge built for hanging at the edges of a square that would accommodate the set. The problem here is to built it to handle most safety codes. And yes, intelligent lights would be required... Most theaters in the States are being fitted to handle the computerized boards now, so this should not be the problem...

I would have to rely on a choreographer to do the dance direction. As director, I would provide the start and stop positions...

Respectfully submitted,
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat.

[wicked_boy]

I would have it in the round again.

But for the set I would like more hiding places and trap doors in the floor that the cast can pop out of.

I would also like climbing frames and platforms for the cats to be climbing on as we all know, cats are good climbers.

I would like there to be a revolve on the stage as well. I remember seeing a show once, where there was a revolve that was on stage level, but in certain parts of the show it raised up with a set underneath came to stage level while the revolve was in the air a bit. At parts it tilted on a slant so you could see part underneath.

For the Heaveyside, I would have it so Grizabella was raised like the revolve I explained above, but have different layers like a wedding cake so the cats were at the bottom or underneath the revolve while she kept going up on tiers. Then when she got to the top there woyls be black out.

I would have Mungojerrie and Rumpletezer doing more trapize tricks. Also at the end I think it would be cool if the cats got some of the kids in the audience to come out front and dance with them.

[Reeza Joy]

I would stick to the Broadway production as well. I don't think I'd have any tech changes (assuming of course the show was well funded).

I do think costumes are very important. I saw a production where they tried to have a new take on the costumes, and they just looked like space aliens. I had to remind myself it was the same show. I'd probably make the costumes a combo from the Bway, London, and US tours. It doesn't matter really which of the 3 productions it was from. The important part is the quality of the costumes. They need to look as professional as possible.

Maybe it has something to do with my Rocky Horror background, but Another great thing would be to add more audience interaction. I'd probably have different characters throughout the theatre during the whole show. Maybe not every number, but most of them. For me personally, I've always enjoyed shows more when they have lots of audience interaction. I like feeling like I'm part of everything going on.

The most important thing I would focus on would be character relationships and development. I think a lot of people that don't know much about the show, and only see the very basic plot outline. That's great for the average theatre goer, but I've always thought the untold story comes from the characters. This gives something more to the serious fans.

I would make sure my actors had plenty of information on their characters, and give them several sources from different fansites and other things. What they create is up to them, but its important that they have a very clear vision of the character. It could be possible that someone would be cast in the show, and just go with it, not having any idea what their character is like. Like I said, this is ideal for a serious fan of the show, but it could also boost the overall quality of the production, and perhaps give an average audience member a better understanding of the show.

[OldDeuteronomy]

Sacramento Music Circus did id a production of "CATS" as their premere at the new Wells Fargo Pavilion. it was my first time seing the show on this type of scale. It was OK but not as good as the real deal.