'SPIDER-MAN' Choreographer Ezralow To Bring New Vision To Italian CATS

Daniel Ezralow, Choreographer of the upcoming "Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark" on Broadway, will bring a new vision to a revised Italian version of CATS. Ezralow will join Saverio Marconi as the director of the show, which is being produced by Compagnia della Rancia.

"I'm really happy that I've been given this opportunity" said Ezralow, "The show is taking a completely new shape where, along with the extraordinary score written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the beautiful book by T.S. Eliot, we'll try to explain the strange relationship that occurs between cats and men. There are human aspects in cats and feline aspects in men; this is the pecularity we're focusing on".

The costumes will be designed by Francesco Martini of Maison Coveri. Following some previews the show will premiere in Rome, at Teatro Sistina, on 28th October 2009.

CATS has announced the following touring schedule:

FERMO, Teatro dell'Aquila: October 10-11, 2009 Previews
UDINE, Teatro Giovanni da Udine: October 14-18, 2009 - Previews
BRESCIA, Palabrescia: October 20-21, 2009 - Previews
ALESSANDRIA, Teatro Comunale: October 23-25, 2009 - Previews
ROMA, Teatro Sistina: October 28 through November 22, 2009 - Official Premiere
NAPOLI, Teatro Augusteo: November 27 through December 6, 2009
BARI, Teatroteam: December 11-13, 2009
TORINO, Teatro Alfieri: December 30, 2009 through January 10, 2010
FIRENZE, Teatro Verdi: January 13-17, 2010
MILANO, Allianz Teatro: January 27 through February 14, 2010
BOLOGNA, Teatro Europauditorium: February 17-21, 2010
TRENTO, Teatro Sociale: February 23-28, 2010
LEGNAGO, Teatro Salieri: March 2-3, 2010
ASSISI, Lyrick Theatre: March 12-14, 2010
GENOVA, Vaillant Palace: March 19-21, 2010
REGGIO EMILIA, Teatro Valli: April 9-11, 2010

Following CATS, Ezralow will begin rehearsals for Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, which features music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy® Award-winners Bono and The Edge of U2 with direction by Tony® Award-winner Julie Taymor (The Tempest, Across The Universe, The Lion King). SPIDER-MAN is written by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger (Underneath The Lintel).

The principal creative and design team for SPIDER-MAN includes Daniel Ezralow, Choreographer (Across the Universe, The Green Bird); George Tsypin, Sets (The Magic Flute, The Little Mermaid); Eiko Ishioka, Costumes (Academy Award® for Bram Stoker's Dracula, Tony Award® nomination for M. Butterfly, the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics); Donald Holder, Lighting (Tony® Awards for The Lion King, South Pacific); Jonathan Deans, Sound (Fosse, The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, Young Frankenstein); and Teese Gohl, Musical Supervisor (Across the Universe, Frida).

SPIDER-MAN will now begin preview performances Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the Hilton Theatre with a new official opening date to be announced shortly. (The opening date was previously February 18, 2010).

Tickets for the eagerly anticipated SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark are now on sale exclusively for American Express® cardmembers at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000, or at all Ticketmaster outlets.