The creative team behind the 40th Anniversary Australian tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats has unveiled new cast members ahead of its performances in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. Produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live, the production will open at Theatre Royal Sydney from 17 June, then travel to Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide from 20 September, before concluding (at least as of writing) at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne from 21 December.
Gabriyel Thomas has been cast as Grizabella, the former “glamour cat” ostracised by the Jellicle tribe. Thomas, who is currently performing in Sister Act, has previously appeared in The Sound of Music, Ragtime, and both the Australian and US tours of Hairspray. Meanwhile Lucy Maunder, most recently seen in Chicago and No Love Songs, will take on the role of Jellylorum. A graduate of WAAPA, Maunder’s extensive credits include lead roles in Mary Poppins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pippin, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Matilda the Musical, and Doctor Zhivago.
Des Flanagan will play the mischievous Rum Tum Tugger. Flanagan is best known for his performances in Moulin Rouge! The Musical and is currently starring as Leo Bloom in The Producers. Jarrod Draper has been cast as Munkustrap, the storytelling protector of the Jellicle tribe. Draper is currently performing in Sunset Boulevard in China, following performances in Melbourne, Sydney, and Singapore. His other credits include Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Promises, Promises.
The broader company includes Sarah Bourke (Tantomile), Olivia Carniato (Demeter), Mia Dabkowski-Chandler (Bombalurina), Tom Davis (Skimbleshanks), Ella Fitzpatrick (Jemima), Charlie Follows (Bill Bailey), Joshua Gordon (Coricopat), Chaska Halliday (Cassandra), Dominique Hamilton (swing), Claudia Hastings (Victoria/White Cat), Aimee Jones (swing), Savannah Lind (Rumpleteazer), Jake O’Brien (Mungojerrie), Xavier Pellin (swing), Guy Pik (Carbucketty), Rania Potaka-Osborne (Alonzo), Edward Smith (Admetus/Macavity), Thalia Smith (swing), and Tod Strike (swing).
Everyone mentioned above will join previously announced principal cast members Todd McKenney as Bustopher Jones and Gus the Theatre Cat, Mark Vincent as Old Deuteronomy, and Leigh Archer as Jennyanydots.
Speaking about the casting announcement, producer John Frost said:
We have assembled a purr-fect cast for this 40th Anniversary Australian tour of Cats, led by Gabriyel, Todd and Mark. It’s a wonderful clowder of seasoned artists and new performers to the industry. Cats was revolutionary when it first opened and to celebrate the production in the theatre where it first played is a real thrill. Australia has an enduring love for Cats and it’s time to let the memory live again.
Tickets for the Adelaide season are now available for pre-sale, with general public sales opening on 2 May. Additional performances for the Sydney season, running until 6 September, have also been released for pre-sale, with wider sales beginning the same day. For booking information across all three confirmed venues, please visit the official Cats Australia website.
