Harry Francis has put together an amazing tribute to Dame Gillian Lynne called Cats in Quarantine featuring 333 cast members from productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats around the world.
‘Cats in Quarantine’ is a tribute to Dame Gillian Lynne. ‘Cats in Quarantine’ features 333 cast members from productions of Cats around the world dancing to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic music, whilst in isolation. This video brings together cast members from London, New York, Toronto, Zurich, Vienna, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Moscow, South Korea, UK tours, US National tours, International tours, the Royal Caribbean Cruise, and the hugely successful 1998 film. The video also features original London cast members: Bonnie Langford, Seeta Indrani, Luke Baxter and original Broadway company members: Héctor Jaime Mercado, Herman Sebek, Christine Langner, Steven Hack, Marléne Danielle and Ken Page.
Cats in Quarantine is conceived and edited by Harry Francis and features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Dame Gillian Lynne’s original choreography. Music for this film produced by Josh Sood with electric guitar by Mike Collen, flute, saxophone and clarinet by Jamie Fathers.
Cats the musical was based on The Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats by T.S Eliot, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Cats exploded into life thanks to the creative genius of Trevor Nunn’s direction, John Napier’s atmospheric sets and costumes. The incredible choreography of Dame Gillian Lynne who reignited the dance element in British musicals. The musical is regarded as “one of the most challenging shows to dance in musical theatre history” (Toronto Star) mainly due to the fact that score of Cats in unceasing with the majority of the cast remaining on-stage for the majority of the show. Gillian Lynne’s choreography would win an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement of the year in Musicals and earn her her two Tony Award nominations.
Lynne considered the 13-minute “Jellicle Ball” dance to be the crux of the show, noting that in order to work as a dance-driven musical, Cats “had to succeed there or die” (Robert Baxter, Courier-Post).
Cats would win Best Musical at the Laurence Olivier Awards and at the Tony Awards eventually running for over 8949 performances in its 21-year occupancy of London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre (then known as the New London Theatre). On Broadway, it would run for 18 years amassing 7485 performances. It is the fourth longest-running Broadway show and Sixth longest-running West End show.
So, what did Andrew Lloyd Webber make of it?
Thank you for those who tuned in for that little surprise to celebrate the 42nd Birthday of @officialevita. I hope you all have a lovely rest of your evenings! – ALW pic.twitter.com/VQ0VkDZU6W
— Andrew Lloyd Webber (@OfficialALW) June 21, 2020
If you enjoy the video, please consider donating to The Theatre Support Fund+ (Which supports Acting for Others, The Fleabag Support Fund and The NHS Charities National Covid-19 Urgent Appeal). The Theatre Support Fund+ have created a range of merchandise to raise money for the theatre community. https://theatresupportfund.co.uk/
