Idina Menzel? Ramin Karimloo? Jennifer Lawrence? BroadwayWorld Readers Cast the CATS Revival
By: Sally Henry Feb. 07, 2016
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It's official: Cats is coming back to Broadway (FINALLY). So bring on the feline puns, hardcore '80s nostalgia, and snobbish sentences that start with, "Back when the original cast was on Broadway..." Can you imagine being the producers, casting directors, etc. for this thing? There must be so much pressure from literally everyone, so many expectations, and general anxiety. So that's why we, the BroadwayWorld community, have taken it upon ourselves to tackle the job of casting (at least some of it).
Based on reader feedback from our most recent BWW reader question, we've pieced together a small portion of the cast for this highly-anticipated show. You're welcome, Cameron, et al.
Below, take a look at our semi-complete Cats casting, both serious and silly.
Gus- Brian d'Arcy James
The Tony-nominated Broadway veteran definitely has experience playing a subhuman creature (see SHREK the musical). According to BWW reader Laura MacMillan, "Brian d'arcy James as the Theatre Cat." Short and sweet.
Rum Tum Tugger- Cheyenne Jackson/Adam Lambert/Christian Borle
We were pretty darn divided on this one. Do we go with the 'Too Beautiful to be True' Broadway veteran Cheyenne Jackson (who, btw, is due for a Broadway return), the American Idol star who the Broadway community tenuously reminds everyone was a musical star first, or the two-time Tony Award-winner who can do no wrong? I'll let you hear out the cases for each:
Danelle Daly: "Cheyenne Jackson as Rum Tum Tugger"
Laci Morgan: "How about Adam Lambert as Rum Tum Tugger?"
Laura MacMillan: Christian Borle as Rum Tum Tugger!
Munkustrap- Ramin Karimloo
Known as of late for being the most distractingly sexy Jean Valjean Broadway has ever seen, BWW reader Grayson Jostes wants this treasure back on Broadway. "Ramin Karimloo as Munkustrap or Rum Tum Tugger."
Grizabella- Idina Menzel/Audra McDonald/Delta Goodrem
Again, stiff competition, y'all. The Broadway baby who made us all proud by rising to mainstream acclaim via Disney, the living legend who broke the record for most Tony Awards for an actor, or recent shining star who already has experience with Cats in Australia?
Danelle Daly: "Idina Menzel or Audra McDonald as Grizabella"
Zee Theberge: "Also, Audra"
Maddy Breadmore: "Delta Goodrem as Grizabella"
Terry Dwyer: "delta goodrem she is currently grizabella in australia doing Cats smile emoticon shes amazing"
Valerie Tucker Morgan: Audra McDonald as Grizabella, please!
Joni Johnson: "Idina Menzel as Grizabella"
Demeter- Laura Osnes/Patti Murin
Could you picture the former CINDERELLA or LYSISTRATA JONES star singing "Macavity"? We'd love to see both of these ladies back on Broadway- as long as Patti can still live-tweet THE BACHELOR[ETTE] every week.
Fanny Waller Dahlin: "Maybe Laura Osnes as Demeter..."
Juliana Asbill: "Patti Murin as Demeter!"
??? Robert Fairchild
He can sing. He can dance. And, oh yeah, he beat out Lin-Manuel Miranda (HAMILTON) for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Our fans say this qualifies him for some role in Cats. "Robert Fairchild. I know this much: he dances and moves sublimely and he sings beautifully," -BWW reader Irene Woods.
??? Josh Groban
With the voice of an angel, surely they could fit him in somewhere. His album, "Stages," aka, "Josh Groban's Audition for Name-That-Broadway-Show," featured him singing some Andrew Lloyd Webber already, so I think we know what to expect. (Suggested by BWW reader Lee Ann Huckaby)
Brilliant screen actress. Do we really know much about her singing and dancing abilities? Meh. If [name that film/television star currently on Broadway] can do it, so can JLaw, right? (Suggested by Twitter friend @Buckner4Ian)
??? Andrew Lloyd Webber himself
LOL. Our Twitter friend @thebakerswifi wins everything.
That moment when Broadway's Max Crumm advocates for... Max Crumm...
@MaxCrumm: Max Crumm
-@PandaNerd1963: @MaxCrumm Max Crumm as The Rum Tum Tugger? ????
-@MaxCrumm: @PandaNerd1963 @broadwayworld No! that'll be @caseygarvin. I want to be the white cat or Jenny Any-dots
Honorable mentions:
@dancergirl_02: "@QueenLesli or @LenaRockerHall as Grizabella!"
@hannahb1533: "Hedwig"
[Please note, the suggestion wasn't Darren Criss. It was Hedwig himself. Can't picture it? She's gotcha covered.]
And the ever entertaining naysayers just keepin' it real...
@dlf11756: The only way I'd suffer a repeat of this dreck is with "weal wive puddytats" on stage!
@JohnJHance: does anyone other than Grizabella really matter? It is all about Memory.
Who do you want to see in the revival? Let us know in the comments below!
Follow Sally Henry on Twitter for more sassy casting musings: @BwayGinger
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