The Jellicle Cats will come out to play April 9-13 when the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Theatre Co. and Chattanooga Ballet present "Cats."
Nightly performances will be held at 8 p.m. in UTC's Chamberlain Pavilion and Field in the center of campus.
"Cats" is the famous musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T.S. Eliot. In the musical, the Jellicle Cats come out to play on the night of the Jellicle Ball. One by one, they tell their stories for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader.
"This musical has been an audience favorite for decades," says director Steve Ray. "There are so many reasons for its popularity: The music is catchy and mysterious, the dance is almost continual and T. S. Eliot's words are poetic and playful. The actors and the production team have had so much fun researching actual cats. The more we delve into the world of cats, the more we realize that T.S. Eliot really captured the essence of this creature. I think audience members will recognize some of their favorite feline friends."
"Cats" continues UTC Theatre Co.'s "Outside the Box" season of outdoor performances in Chamberlain Pavilion.
"While our Fine Arts Center is being renovated, we are performing in venues that enhance the production and connect with our community," says Ray. "Chamberlain Pavilion is a beautiful structure in the middle of UTC's campus that provides a striking environment for this play. We think our audience will love this outdoor theater experience as much as our actors and creative team."
UTC's opera director Perry Ward is featured in the role of Old Deuteronomy. The cast of "Cats" includes D'Andre Anderson, Gabe Bailey, Caroline Blair, Kate Coffelt, Dillon Davis, Hannah Holtzclaw and Blaine Lindsey.
Also, Will Lowery, Emeline Phinney, Tate Runyon, Kimberly Rye, Chris Shaw, Joshua Shoop, Molly Smith, Samantha Sole, Ashley Tisdale, Perry Ward, Julia Walker, Maggie Weaver and Mikki White.
The creative team includes Tim Hinck, musical direction; Kristin Nalley and Andrew Parker, choreography; Adam Miecielica, set design; Chalise Ludlow, costume design; Kaylee Vice, makeup and wig design; and Jeff Davis, lighting design and technical direction.
General admission is free, but limited seats adjacent to the stage may be reserved for $20. Bring folding chairs or a blanket for seating.
Tickets may be purchased at the UTC Fine Arts Center box office, by phone at 423-425-4269 or online at www.utc.edu/theatre.