The First Visit
When I first heard that CATS was coming back to Broadway, I was conflicted. I've loved the show since I saw it on tour in 5th grade, a birthday present from my parents. Back then, I'd known nothing about CATS or really musical theatre at all, but I'd been enchanted by the costumes, the dance, and of course the mere fact that these characters were cats. At this point in my life, I was enthralled by every Disney film featuring anthropomorphic animals, and had very little interest in anything that was a "real people movie". Seeing the actors bringing to life the type of characters I thought I'd only ever see animated on a screen was magical. I left the theatre in love, and with the proshot DVD in hand. For the next two years, I watched that recording practically every day. I danced along badly, I made in-depth analysis and family trees, I wrote fanfiction... everything that you'd imagine an 11 year old doing to satisfy their fascination.
In 7th grade, the tour came back through New Haven, and I saw it live for the second time ever. Around that time, I began to get involved with theatre as a performer and technician. And the more I immersed myself in the theatre community, the more I began to realize that not everyone adored CATS as much as I did. As I moved into high school and became more involved in the professional theatre world, my love was overshadowed by the negativity surrounding the show. In order to keep myself from looking like I had bad taste in musicals, I'd join in on the teasing of CATS, or admit I liked it, but only "ironically". This wasn't true at all, but what had happened was as my interests shifted, I stopped caring about it. My excuse became that I was fond of the show because I had loved it when I was younger. Who could judge a kid? As it turned out, quite a lot of people could, but that was fine. I got by. So of course when the new production was announced, it was exciting, but I was overall apathetic. I look back on some of my old Facebook statuses spewing opinions about the revival before I'd even seen it, and I can only laugh. Nothing I said back then is even close to my feelings now, and it probably wasn't even how I felt at that point either. I was very focused on presenting a specific image of myself to the theatre community I was in, and liking CATS did not fit into it at all.
I graduated high school in May of 2016, ready to move to NYC for college. I already knew I was going to go see Broadway shows all the time, although my favorite at the time (Les Misérables) was closing my second weekend in town. A friend from school asked me if I wanted to see the CATS revival with them over the summer, and of course I said yes. The chances of me actually going to see it on my own were slim otherwise, and it's always more fun to go with someone else. I got us tickets for a month into the run, and then all but forgot about it until August 16th rolled around.
That day, I took the train into Grand Central, met my friend and their parents, and gave them a little tour of Fordham University where I was going to be studying in the fall. As we sat in Central Park, the excitement started to set in. I hadn't realized until that moment how much I missed seeing what had been my favorite show for such a long time. And now, after all those years, it was happening again. I hadn't been following the new production at all. I didn't know the cast, or the changes, or anything. But when I walked into the Neil Simon for the first time, sat in seat E10 right under the giant bra hanging off the set, I knew my life was changing. I don't think I stopped smiling for all two and a half hours. I mouthed along to songs, cheered wildly, and was captivated by the Mr. Mistoffelees number, just as I had been seven years before. The actor in particular stood out to me more than anyone else. Callan Bergmann, and understudy for the role, was going on for only the second time-- yet I walked out of the theatre claiming he was the best Misto I'd ever seen in my life. And though I'd only seen three prior to him, I still stand by it, many conjuring cats later.
I firmly believe Callan set a precedent for the show with me. Rekindling my love for the character in turn threw me back into the type of obsession with the show I'd experienced in middle school. Was it a little embarrassing now, going into college? Maybe. But what I think is so special about CATS is it's so carefree and happy. There's nothing to be ashamed of in loving a show that's so thoroughly enjoyable. Did I think I would ever love it as much as I do? Of course not, but I am so glad I did, because that first visit changed my life for the better.
In 7th grade, the tour came back through New Haven, and I saw it live for the second time ever. Around that time, I began to get involved with theatre as a performer and technician. And the more I immersed myself in the theatre community, the more I began to realize that not everyone adored CATS as much as I did. As I moved into high school and became more involved in the professional theatre world, my love was overshadowed by the negativity surrounding the show. In order to keep myself from looking like I had bad taste in musicals, I'd join in on the teasing of CATS, or admit I liked it, but only "ironically". This wasn't true at all, but what had happened was as my interests shifted, I stopped caring about it. My excuse became that I was fond of the show because I had loved it when I was younger. Who could judge a kid? As it turned out, quite a lot of people could, but that was fine. I got by. So of course when the new production was announced, it was exciting, but I was overall apathetic. I look back on some of my old Facebook statuses spewing opinions about the revival before I'd even seen it, and I can only laugh. Nothing I said back then is even close to my feelings now, and it probably wasn't even how I felt at that point either. I was very focused on presenting a specific image of myself to the theatre community I was in, and liking CATS did not fit into it at all.
I graduated high school in May of 2016, ready to move to NYC for college. I already knew I was going to go see Broadway shows all the time, although my favorite at the time (Les Misérables) was closing my second weekend in town. A friend from school asked me if I wanted to see the CATS revival with them over the summer, and of course I said yes. The chances of me actually going to see it on my own were slim otherwise, and it's always more fun to go with someone else. I got us tickets for a month into the run, and then all but forgot about it until August 16th rolled around.
That day, I took the train into Grand Central, met my friend and their parents, and gave them a little tour of Fordham University where I was going to be studying in the fall. As we sat in Central Park, the excitement started to set in. I hadn't realized until that moment how much I missed seeing what had been my favorite show for such a long time. And now, after all those years, it was happening again. I hadn't been following the new production at all. I didn't know the cast, or the changes, or anything. But when I walked into the Neil Simon for the first time, sat in seat E10 right under the giant bra hanging off the set, I knew my life was changing. I don't think I stopped smiling for all two and a half hours. I mouthed along to songs, cheered wildly, and was captivated by the Mr. Mistoffelees number, just as I had been seven years before. The actor in particular stood out to me more than anyone else. Callan Bergmann, and understudy for the role, was going on for only the second time-- yet I walked out of the theatre claiming he was the best Misto I'd ever seen in my life. And though I'd only seen three prior to him, I still stand by it, many conjuring cats later.
I firmly believe Callan set a precedent for the show with me. Rekindling my love for the character in turn threw me back into the type of obsession with the show I'd experienced in middle school. Was it a little embarrassing now, going into college? Maybe. But what I think is so special about CATS is it's so carefree and happy. There's nothing to be ashamed of in loving a show that's so thoroughly enjoyable. Did I think I would ever love it as much as I do? Of course not, but I am so glad I did, because that first visit changed my life for the better.
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