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The common household feline is a creature famous for having an inscrutable nature, but Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, with the help of a legendary writer, managed to capture some of that certain je ne sais quoi in a musical that salutes the cat's mysterious charms. Cats (unjustly, some would say) may not be as universally beloved as dogs, but Webber's Cats has found worldwide acclaim. The perennial favorite opens May 17 at American Musical Theatre of San Jose.
Cats offers a peek into a fantastical society of felines populated by every type, from a patriarch to a criminal mastermind, to even a prodigal daughter of sorts. Beneath their preening, posturing and playfulness, these cats reveal dreams and desires that seem rather human.
Many of the songs' lyrics, and Webber's initial inspiration for Cats, came from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, a book of poems by T.S. Eliot. However, Webber's longtime stage partner Trevor Nunn, also the show's director, penned the lyrics to what would become Cats' best-known tune, the ballad "Memory."
Cats opened in London 1981, and was staged the following year on Broadway, where the production ran until the autumn 2000. The musical garnered seven Tony awards, including best musical and best score.
American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents Cats May 17-22 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose. Tickets are $42-$67. Call 888.455.SHOW, or visit www.amtsj.org.
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