The 40th Anniversary Australian tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats is preparing to prowl into Brisbane, with final tickets now on sale for a limited season at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC) Lyric Theatre from 6 to 22 February. A pre sale is underway, with general public tickets available from Friday 21 November. Additionally, one final performance has been added to the Brisbane run, scheduled for Tuesday 10 February at 7pm. This extra date is on sale now. Tickets for all remaining legs of the Australian tour, including the surprisingly short Australian season, can be purchased via the musical’s official Australian website.
The current Australian tour has already passed through Sydney and Adelaide and is presently playing in Perth – and is part of a 40th Anniversary celebration of the musical’s Australian premiere. In this anniversary staging, the role of Grizabella, the former glamour cat, is performed by Gabriyel Thomas, with Todd McKenney appearing in the dual roles of Bustopher Jones and Asparagus the Theatre Cat. Classical vocalist Mark Vincent returns to the musical theatre stage as Old Deuteronomy, the Jellicle patriarch – with the principal cast rounded out by Lucy Maunder as Jellylorum, Des Flanagan as the rebellious Rum Tum Tuggerm, Jarrod Draper in the role of Munkustrap, and Leigh Archer as Jennyanydots, the motherly Grumbie Cat of the tribe.
Producer John Frost of Crossroads Live says he is eager to bring the 40th Anniversary tour to Brisbane with this line up of performers:
I’m thrilled to bring this 40th Anniversary Australian tour of CATS to Brisbane with the most fabulous cast. CATS was revolutionary when it began 40 years ago and Australia has an enduring love for the show. Now it’s time to let the memory live again. Melbourne, queue up to grab your tickets before they sell out as it’s only in town for five weeks!
