I’ve up and gone to the Heavyside Layer
For me, before there was Hamilton, there was Urinetown: The Musical. Before Urinetown: The Musical, there was 1776, and before 1776, there was CATS.
The much-maligned musical that at one point was the longest-running musical on Broadway was my favorite musical as a child. I wore the PBS video tape out when it came out in 1998 and for years Andrew Lloyd Weber’s lyrics were embedded in my mind. I am part of a community that could be activated just by hearing the opening notes of “The Overture”. IYKYK.
I remember being astonished when I learned it was adapted from T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” because how did the same man who wrote “The Wasteland” with all its depth and beauty write a book of poems about…cats? I decided Cats was deeper than it appeared because for me it was. I think CATS introduced me to or helped me process my existential feelings as a preteen. The plot, as it were, focuses on a community of cats who are trying to win favor to get selected to go the Heavyside Layer. The audience meets various community members including a community member who is on the outs. And all of this takes place at a Jellicle Ball that can only happen during a Jellicle moon.
Oh and everyone is dressed up as literal cats.
I was fortunate to see a production in San Francisco in 2022 and was delighted to find two friends willing to ascend to the Heavyside Layer. The production was really fun and it felt like watching a childhood dream come to life.
I had to stop myself from singing and act like I had some sense, but it was really hard.
I should note, that I didn’t watch the 2019 CATS movie that earned us a global pandemic because it didn’t look good and I didn’t want to. I am all the better for it.
When I first heard about CATS: “The Jellicle Ball” on Instagram I was simply gagged. It simultaneously made no sense and all the sense in the world. I already wanted to check out the Harlem Renaissance exhibition at The Met so I bought a ticket to the ball and bought a flight.
I braved a beautiful, thunderous summer storm to get to the PAC NYC and walked into a lobby buzzing with excited nerds ready for what I’d learn was the second preview night.
The Perelman Performing Arts Center, PAC NYC, is located near the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I hadn’t been to that part of NYC since 2014 and was taken aback by how an area that has been transformed from a site of horror and terror to a multiuse space with a mall, The Oculus (because capitalism, duh!), Liberty Park, and the PAC NYC. The venue is absolutely gorgeous.
After getting a quick bite at the restaurant on site, I strolled to my seat and was gagged by seeing Honey Balenciaga, who we’d learn was a guest judge. You know when you meet a famous person and you’re not sure whether to acknowledge who they are or be cool? I did neither. I just kind of stopped walking and squeaked “Are you?”.
Once the show finally started my mouth was open nearly the entire time. This reimaging of CATS takes place in the Harlem ballroom scene and all of the characters are humans (no cat costumes necessary) who are competing in different ballroom competitions.
If you’re not familiar with ballroom culture, please watch the documentary Paris is Burning. I watched this documentary in college and it opened my eyes to a dancing style that I was unfamiliar with as being Black and Brown. I got really into watching ballroom performances after watching the series Pose which documents a family and community in the '80s and '90s, and through the MAX series, Legendary (HBO Max still owes me several seasons!) which has different Houses competing for prize money and trophies. From that series, I searched for information about the West Coast ballroom scene and am always looking for balls to attend and support.
I say all that to encourage you to learn more about ballroom AND to say that I was primed to love this production for so many reasons.
CATS: “The Jellicle Ball” enriches its source material by centering Black and Brown and queer and trans folks and allowing the original songs to be used to serve a plot. It was such a delightful experience to hear familiar music in a new context (they keep most of the songs save two). Sometimes the songs are augmented by ballroom beats courtesy of the in-play DJ, but they will be recognized by any lovers of the original.
It’s hard to spoil a 42-year-old production, but I don’t want to say too much because going into an experience and being awed is such a rare thing nowadays.
Everything about this production made me grateful and proud:
The casting? Excellent.
The vocals? Strong!
The dancing? Electric.
The costuming? Fabulous.
The centering and celebrating of queer and trans icons and history? Thoughtful, necessary, and artful.
“The greatest magicians have something to learn” from the entire production team who made this work possible.
Whether you hate CATS, love CATS, or are ambivalent about CATS you should see this production if you can. It’s recently been extended through August 11th and I hope they will be extended through the fall so I can ascend to the Heavyside Layer again.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Metropolis, a restaurant by Marcus Samuelsson is a restaurant integrated into PAC NYC. If you imbibe, I’d recommend getting a drink there before the show. You can take it to go as well. I wish I had eaten before I arrived at PAC NYC.
When selecting tickets, the cabaret tables will have you eye level to the catwalk and the cast will interact with you. I really liked my seat selection of Runway: BB. It was an investment in my experience and worth EVERY penny.
I’m newly obsessed with the podcast The Wrong Cat Died. During the show's run, the host is interviewing cast members and it’s been a delight to relive the show through their conversations. Maybe save the more recent episodes if you’re planning on seeing the show live.