Nicole Scherzinger Will Be Andrew Lloyd Webber's Glamour Cat in London's Cats Revival
What's new, pussy cat? The previously reported rumors were true and Nicole Scherzinger will headline the West End revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. The former pussy cat doll will play Grizabella, the glamour cat, and thus belt out the infamous 11 o'clock number, "Memory" for eight shows a week. Cats will play a limited engagement December 6 through February 28, 2015 at the London Palladium, with opening night scheduled for December 11. Final casting will be announced later.
Scherzinger has sold 50 million records with the Pussy Cat Dolls and 16 million records as a solo artist. She recently served as a judge on the U.K. X Factor and won the U.S. Dancing With the Stars in 2010. Stage credits include Maureen in Rent at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Neil Patrick Harris. Screen acting credits include How I Met Your Mother, Men in Black 3, Half & Half, My Wife and Kids and Love Don’t Cost a Thing. This is her West End debut.
Joining Scherzinger in the cast will be Cameron Ball as Macavity/Admetus, Kathryn Barnes as Tantomile, Cassie Clare as Cassandra, Ross Finnie as Skimbleshanks, Charlene Ford as Bombalurina, Adam Lake as Alonzo, Paul F Monaghan as Bustopher Jones/Asparagus/Growl Tiger, Joel Morris as Carbucketty, Natasha Mould as Jemima, Benjamin Mundy as Coricopat, Joseph Poulton as Quaxo/Mistoffelees, Nicholas Pound as Old Deuteronomy, Sophie Ragavelas as alternate Grizabella, Clare Rickard as Jellylorum/ Griddlebone, Adam Salter as Bill Bailey, Laurie Scarth as Jennyanydots, Hannah Kenna Thomas as Victoria/White Cat, Callum Train as Munkustrap, Zizi Strallen as Demeter and Dawn Williams as Rumpleteazer. The swings will be Ryan Gover, Barry Haywood, Alice Jane, Grace McKee, Dane Quixall and Libby Watts.
Cats ran for 21 years in London and 18 years on Broadway, where it won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the tuner tells the story of the Jellicle cats and each cat's individual quest to be selected as the lucky one that will ascend to "the heavyside layer." In their desire to be chosen to rise above to cat heaven, each cat sings his or her story. The revival will be based on the current U.K. touring show, which all the original creative team are involved with. Director Trevor Nunn, designer John Napier, choreographer Gillian Lynne and Lloyd Webber will be overseeing the transfer.
This isn't the first Lloyd Webber-Scherzinger collaboration. Check her out performing The Phantom of the Opera with Ramin Karimloo, Simon Bowman, Earl Carpenter and John Owen-Jones at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance below.