Cats: The Jellicle Ball – Broadway’s Bold Drag Ballroom Reimagining of a Classic Musical
CATS The Jellicle Ball
Come One, Come All — The Fiercest Party on Broadway
“A lightning strike that sets joy free.” — The New York Times
What Is CATS: The Jellicle Ball?
CATS: The Jellicle Ball is the electrifying, boundary-smashing reimagination of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical Cats — now set against the vibrant, ferocious world of New York City’s underground ballroom culture. Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, this radical revival transforms the Jellicle competition into a queer ballroom ball, where contestants vogue, dip, and sashay for the chance at a new life.
After smashing records, sweeping awards and leaving New York City purring during its celebrated Off-Broadway run at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) in 2024, the production ascended to Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre, beginning previews on 18 March 2026 and officially opening on 7 April 2026. The result? A five-star theatrical phenomenon critics are calling the most exhilarating fun on Broadway.
Paris is purring. The fur flies in an absolutely fabulous reconception. Levingston and Rauch’s vision fits CATS: The Jellicle Ball like a long sequined glove.
— Adam Feldman, Time Out New York ★★★★★Production Details
The Story Behind the Show
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Original Cats
Cats first roared onto Broadway in 1982 and went on to become one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, winning seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. Beloved for its iconic score — above all the showstopping ballad “Memory” — the original production became a global phenomenon, running in London’s West End for 21 years and being seen by over 73 million people worldwide.
Ballroom Culture: The New Vision
For this radical reimagining, directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch placed the Jellicle competition squarely inside the world of the New York City ballroom scene — the underground LGBTQIA+ subculture born in the 1920s, which reached its cultural zenith in the 1980s and became immortalised in the iconic 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning and, more recently, the FX series Pose.
In this context, the Jellicle Ball becomes a ballroom competition where contestants compete across categories of fashion, dance, and performance — voguing, dipping, and walking the runway in over 500 spectacular costume looks designed by Obie Award winner Qween Jean. The show’s score by Lloyd Webber is given a new pulse with dance-music-inspired beats arranged and produced by Trevor Holder, giving songs like “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” and “Memory” a thrilling contemporary energy while keeping their emotional core intact.
The result gives the show, as the Washington Post put it, “a whole new meaning to Old Way vs. New Way.”
Off-Broadway Triumph
The production world-premiered at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) in summer 2024 to unanimous five-star reviews and became the hottest ticket of the season. It was honoured with two Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding Revival, three Obie Awards, a New York Drama Critics Circle Special Citation, a Chita Rivera Award, two Audelco Awards, three Dorian Theater Awards, and three Hewes Awards — before transferring to Broadway with virtually its entire cast and creative team intact.
What the Critics Said
A lightning strike that sets joy free!
The musical of the season. Absolutely fabulous — fits like a long sequined glove.
The most exhilarating fun that can be had in the theater.
A raucous success. The most fun you’ll have at the theater.
A sexy celebration of love and resilience.
Exhilarating, fanciful, and fabulous.
Broadway Cast
The Broadway cast reunites virtually the entire Off-Broadway ensemble, blending stars from the Broadway world with icons from New York City’s legendary ballroom scene.
Creative Team
Songs from CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic score features beloved songs from the original production, now electrified with ballroom-inspired beats. Key songs include:
Awards & Nominations
CATS: The Jellicle Ball swept the Off-Broadway awards circuit before earning 9 Tony Award nominations on Broadway, including Best Revival of a Musical.
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9 Tony Award Nominations (2026) Including Best Revival of a Musical — one of the season’s most nominated productions
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3 Obie Awards (Off-Broadway) Ensemble, plus individual Obie Awards for Dava Huesca and “Tempress” Chasity Moore
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2 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Revival + Outstanding Featured Performer (André De Shields)
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New York Drama Critics’ Circle Special Citation Honoured for artistic distinction and cultural significance
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Chita Rivera Award Honouring the extraordinary dance and choreography by Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons
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3 Dorian Theater Awards Including Outstanding Featured Performance (André De Shields)
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2 Audelco Awards & 3 Hewes Design Awards Recognising artistic excellence and design innovation
Production Timeline
T.S. Eliot publishes Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the poetry collection that inspires it all.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats premieres at the New London Theatre in the West End.
Original Broadway production opens at the Winter Garden Theater, starring — among others — Ken Ard as Macavity. Runs for 7,485 performances.
CATS: The Jellicle Ball world premieres at PAC NYC (Off-Broadway) to universal five-star reviews. Sweeps the Off-Broadway awards season.
Broadway transfer announced: Broadhurst Theatre, spring 2026. Producers Michael Harrison and Mike Bosner reveal the dates and returning cast.
Broadway previews begin at the Broadhurst Theatre. Runway seating goes on sale — unique onstage seats for the most immersive experience.
Official Broadway opening night. Critics declare it the Broadway party of the season.
Production playing to 96% average capacity. Weekly gross reaches over $1 million. Tony nominations announced — 9 nods including Best Revival.
The Runway Awaits
CATS: The Jellicle Ball offers something unique — Runway Seating, where a limited number of audience members sit on stage for the most immersive, inside-the-ball experience Broadway has ever offered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CATS: The Jellicle Ball about?
CATS: The Jellicle Ball reimagines Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical Cats within the world of New York City’s underground ballroom culture. The Jellicle competition becomes a queer ball where contestants vogue, walk categories, and compete for the chance at a new life — set to Lloyd Webber’s iconic score, now supercharged with dance-music beats.
Where is CATS: The Jellicle Ball playing?
CATS: The Jellicle Ball is currently playing at the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. It opened on 7 April 2026 and is currently playing to near-capacity houses.
How long is CATS: The Jellicle Ball?
The show runs approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes, including one intermission.
Is CATS: The Jellicle Ball suitable for children?
The show is recommended for ages 12 and up. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre. The production uses strobe lights, flashing lights, and theatrical haze and smoke.
How many Tony Award nominations did the show receive?
CATS: The Jellicle Ball received 9 Tony Award nominations for the 2026 season, including Best Revival of a Musical, making it one of the most-nominated productions of the year.
What is Runway Seating at CATS: The Jellicle Ball?
Runway Seating is a unique, limited option at CATS: The Jellicle Ball that places audience members on stage for the most immersive experience possible. These seats sell out quickly and offer a one-of-a-kind perspective of the action.
Does CATS: The Jellicle Ball include the song Memory?
Yes — the beloved ballad Memory remains a centrepiece of the production, performed by “Tempress” Chasity Moore as Grizabella. The song is set to its classic Trevor Nunn and T.S. Eliot lyrics, given fresh emotional power by this extraordinary cast.
