“Cats:The Jellicle Ball” at the Broadhurst Theatre is not your mother’s “Cats,” the 1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. In the original musical, the poems, set to Webber’s memorable music, were loosely strung together. The characters were an interesting assortment of cleverly named cats with distinctive personalities who meet in the alley. The end of their get-together culminates with a ‘glad cat’ given another life and rising to the heavens. The music, costumes and incredible dancing captivated audiences for nearly 18 years.

This “Cats: The Jellicle Ball“, with its talented cast is set in a ballroom. Directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, the cats congregate at the ballroom to compete in categories such as “realness,” “body,” and “runway”. These competitions spotlight several individual performers. Celebrity judges (different at each performance ) award the winner’s trophies. Alex Newell and Wendell Pierce were the judges at the performance I attended. Although they might not have won the trophies, real standouts included Jennyanydots (Xavier Reyes), Skimbleshanks (Emma Sofia) and Rum Tum Tugger (Sydney James Harcourt.)

Ballroom culture is an underground scene that provides a safe place for the Latino and Black and participants from the LGBTQ communities. The ballroom features “houses” which serve as teams and families. (e.g., House of LaBeija, House of Xtravaganza) Here the musical uses the House of Macavity, Victorian Grove, NJ and the House of Dots. During the second act photos of actual “heads” of the houses were flashed on the large screen. Many in the audience recognized and applauded them. One actual veteran of ballroom culture, Junior LaBeija appears as Gus, the ‘theatre cat” giving the production even more credibility.

The costumes are spectacular, the work of Qween Jean who produced over 500 designs for the show. Dancers move and contort and even disrobe in unbelievable ways in their costumes, stretching and moving with them. Co-choreographers Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons have the dancers move in ways that boggle the mind.

Some more knowledgeable audience members came dressed in costumes, some of which rivaled the ones on stage. Everyone was encouraged to participate, and we were given fans as we waited outside to enter the theater.

The Jellicle Ball offers veneration for the past and the elders and younger cats show their respects for their elders like Old Deuteronomy (80 year old Andre DeShields) and Gus ( Junior LaBeija who gives a touching humorous performance as the aging kitty.) Even Grizabella, the glamour cat,” has obviously experienced better days. “Temptress" Chasity Moore brings the house down with her performance of “Memory".

I was impressed by the musical. However, much as I resist researching a show or even reading reviews, I would have enjoyed Cats:The Jellicle Ball much more had I learned about ballroom culture beforehand. The show sets up competitions between the performers, but the real winner is the informed audience member. While we did get free fans as we entered the theater, the production probably won a lot of new “fans” of the music and story.