Pittsburgh, PA - The show that revolutionized musical theater is returning to Pittsburgh's Benedum Center on Tuesday, January 26, 2010, for six nights only. CATS explores the magical and mysterious world of the Jellicle Cats and features award-winning musical hits including the well-known "Memory." CATS is a special production on the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

Tickets ($21-$53) are available at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), by phone 412-456-6666 or online at pgharts.org. For group discounts of 10 or more, please call 412-471-6930. Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Produced by CATS-Eye, LLC, this national tour of CATS is the only production in North America sanctioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. With original direction by Trevor Nunn and choreography by Gillian Lynne, this is the CATS credited with the British invasion of Broadway. The national tour of CATS recently celebrated its 26th anniversary season, holding its place as the longest continuously-touring Broadway musical in history.

On May 11, 1981, CATS opened at the New London Theatre in the West End. Eight years later it celebrated its first important milestone: after 3,358 performances CATS became the longest running musical in the history of British theater. CATS played its final performance on its 21st birthday, May 11, 2002.

CATS opened on Broadway October 7, 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and continued to live up to its motto "Now and Forever." On June 19, 1997, CATS became the longest running musical on Broadway. It ended its 18 year run on September 10, 2000.

Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.

In October of 1991 CATS became the longest continuously touring show in American theatre history. Five continents, 26 countries, over eight and a half million audience members and 26 years later, CATS is still America's most loved family musical. Celebrating not only 26 years but the birth of the musical spectacular, CATS is still revolutionary and awe inspiring.

Contact
Lauren Bracey, (412) 471-3591; bracey@pgharts.org
Diana Roth, (412) 471-8717; roth@pgharts.org

Click the images below to download print-quality files.
Photo credit: © 2008 G CREATIVE

The cast of the national tour of CATS

Anastasia Lange starts as Grizabella

Victoria and Munkustrap

Victoria

Munkustrap

Rum Tum Tugger

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

Clockwise from left: Mungojerrie, Demeter, Jellylorum, Bombalurina and Jennyanydots