Photo Flash: First Look - CATS Opens Tonight at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

The seven-time Tony Award winning Cats pounces onto the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre stage as the first musical in its 2014 Season. Andrew Lloyd Webber's playful production is the second-longest running show in Broadway history, and continues through March 30 at Beef & Boards. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Set in an alley behind a theatre in France, Cats brings audiences into the poetry of T. S. Eliot, whose "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" inspired the musical about frolicking felines gathering for the Jellicle Ball. One by one, they introduce themselves in the hopes of being selected by their leader, Old Deuteronomy, to be reborn into a new life with a journey to the Heavyside Layer.

Featuring spectacular dancing, tumbling and acrobatics, amazing makeup and colorful costumes, Cats is an unforgettable experience in the intimate atmosphere of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre - where they are close enough to touch! Not just on stage, the frisky creatures are leaping onto and off of the stage, crawling through the aisles, and appearing all around, even overhead!

Kenny Shepard reprises his role of the narrating cat, Munkustrap, while performing for the first time at Beef & Boards are JS McLaughlin as Old Deuteronomy and Eileen Faxas as Grizabella, who sings the show's famous "Memory."

Buddy Reeder, who played the role of Mungojerrie in Beef & Boards' debut production of Cats in 2004, directs the show and recreates Marc Robin's original award-winning choreography, while providing additional staging. Musical director is Terry Woods, with set design by Michael Layton.

Cats is on stage for 59 performances through March 30 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Tickets range from $38.50 to $63.50 and include Chef Odell Ward's dinner buffet, prepared in-house for each performance, and select beverages. Parking is always free.

For reservations, call the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays. Discounts are available to groups of 20 or more; contact the Group Sales Department for more details. For more information, including complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

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