Could Leona Lewis Play Grizabella in Broadway Revival of Cats?

The naming of cats is a difficult matter and it would seem that this is especially true in the case of Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats. After Nicole Scherzinger dropped out of playing the glamour cat, it's now reported that Leona Lewis is eyeing the role. A source told the Daily Star: "Leona is first in line for the job if she wants it."

The production, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Hamilton’s Andy Blankenbuehler, will begin preview performances at the Neil Simon Theatre on July 14. Opening night is set for July 31.

Lewis won the third series of the U.K.'s The X Factor in 2006; she is the second best-selling act to have emerged from the franchise, having sold 20 million records worldwide, and is a seven-time Brit Award and three-time Grammy Award nominee. Lewis is renowned for her massive four octave mezzo-soprano vocal range, power, technical control and, especially, her frequent use of the falsetto register. Ironically Scherzinger is not doing Cats so she can be a judge on the latest season of X Factor.

Lewis would join a cast that will include Tyler Hanes as Rum Tum Tugger, Ricky Ubeda as Mistoffelees, Quentin Earl Darrington as Old Deuteronomy, Eloise Kropp as Jennyannydots/Gumbie, Giuseppe Bausilio as Carbucketty, Jeremy Davis as Skimbleshanks, Kim Faure as Demeter, Sara Jean Ford as Jellylorum, Lili Froehlich as Electra, Daniel Gaymon as Macavity, Shonica Gooden as Rumpleteazer, Christopher Gurr as Gus/Bustopher Jones, Andy Huntington Jones as Munkustrap, Kolton Krouse as Tumblebrutus, Jess LeProtto as Mungojerrie, Georgina Pazcoguin as Victoria, Emily Pynenburg as Cassandra, Arianna Rosario as Sillabub, Ahmad Simmons as Alonzo, Christine Cornish Smith as Bombalurina, Corey Snide as Coricopat, Emily Tate as Tantomile and Sharrod Williams as Pouncival.

Featuring a score by Lloyd Webber and lyrics by T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn and Richard Stilgoe, Cats follows a clowder of jellicles and each cat’s quest to be selected to ascend to the Heaviside Layer. The show, based on Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, ran for 21 years in London and 18 years on Broadway, where it won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. This production will be the first Main Stem revival.

Remind yourself why Lloyd Webber would want Lewis to sing "Memory" below.