A revival worthy of the Heaviside layer.

Cats: The Jellicle Ball review: Purr-fect Broadway revival breathes new life into a classic

A revival worthy of the Heaviside layer.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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April 7, 2026 9:00 p.m. ET

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The cast of CATS: The Jellicle Ball. Credit:

Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Sometimes it feels like the best a revival can do is recapture past magic by transporting us back in time to something incredible. But that just means we aren't dreaming big enough.

Thankfully, there are plenty of creatives out there dreaming bigger than we can imagine. Like when Andrew Lloyd Webber decided to make a fever dream musical out of T.S. Eliot's cat poetry. Or when directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch transformed that weird dance musical into something even stranger: a glamorous mashup of musical theater and queer Ballroom culture.

*Cats: The Jellicle Ball** *isn't troubled by the idea of living up to the original production of *Cats* — an impressive feat when you consider the massive legacy left by the 1981 musical. Yes, the new iteration certainly has reverence for the past: It winks and purrs with allusions to its predecessor. But* Jellicle Ball *also has its own agenda.

Robert "Silk" Mason as Magical Mister Mistoffelees in 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball'.

Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

When Webber's feline musical arrived on Broadway in the '80s, it was heralded for its innovation and visual splendor. We all know what typically happens when such beloved shows make their grand return: the good ole' if-it-ain't-broke mentality kicks in and the concept and choreography get thrown into the rinse-repeat cycle. Famously, *Cats* has already been through such a sequence.

After its monumental 18-year original run (making it the fifth longest-running show on Broadway), the musical enjoyed a brief revival which largely replicated the original. It underwhelmed, and was shuttered the following year. Then, the *Cats* legacy was further tarnished by the universally mocked 2019 film, an adaptation so cursed that even Webber won't defend it.

Thankfully, there's something to that old adage about felines having nine lives because *The Jellicle Ball *rouses *Cats* from its grave. The Ballroom-inspired reimagining of Webber's infamously kooky musical tells a (mostly) coherent story, remains true to its source material, honors the authenticity of Ballroom culture and does it all while being magnificently entertaining.

Nora Schell as Bustopher Jones in 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball'.

Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

The once-underground subculture was famously chronicled in Jennie Livingston’s 1990 documentary *Paris Is Burning* and that same year was ushered into the mainstream by Madonna, courtesy of her hit "Vogue." It was popularized more recently by the FX series *Pose*, which ended after three seasons.* Jellicle Ball* joins that lineage, inviting its audience to experience the joys of the Black and Latino ball scene while venerating its bittersweet roots.

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It's uncanny how well Ball fits into the classic musical. Gone are the junkyard cats (sort of). Our characters are only concerned with who will ascend to the Heaviside layer in a metaphorical sense: Here, they're competing in vogueing competitions and showing off their runway talent in the grand tradition of Harlem drag balls. It's so ridiculous that the more you think about it, the more sense it makes.

What was once a mocked aspect of the show — *Why am I watching a series of cats introduce themselves? Where's the plot? *— now feels self-explanatory. Ball is about pageantry and realness, and what is *Cats*, if not a cathartic talent showcase?

Sydney James Harcourt in 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball'.

Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

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In that way, *The Jellicle Ball* does as *Cats* did in 1982: innovates, astonishes, and exceeds expectations, an accomplishment made possible because the cast is absurdly stacked with talent. The musical boasts traditional triple threats, shining star newcomers, old legends, trained dancers, ballroom icons and more, all showcasing excellence.

Tony-winner and Broadway legend André DeShields shines as Old Deuteronomy, and the rest of his litter rises to meet him on his throne. Ken Ard (Broadway's original Macavity!) is a reverent constant; Junior Labeija is fierce as Gus the Theatre Cat; Dava Huesca steals scene after scene as Rumpleteaser; Sydney James Harcourt is a phenomenally fresh Rum Tum Tugger; Robert "Silk" Mason is a mystifying Magical Mister Mistoffelees; and “Tempress” Chasity Moore delivers as a dazzling Grizabella, with a rendition of "Memory" that fits right alongside preceding legends.

A pair made in the Heaviside layer, choreographers Omari Wiles (founder of the House of NiNa Oricci) and Arturo Lyons showcase the rich diversity of dance with nods to the balletic, jazz-inspired movement perfected in the original production while leaning fully into Vogue Femme floorwork, hands, catwalks (pun intended), spins and dips.

The cast of 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball'.

Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

It's a wholly immersive experience. Before the show begins, the crowd is urged to get involved — stand, clap, call out a "fierce" moment when you see it. But don't expect to catch every detail after a single viewing: once "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" kicks in, everyone is constantly in movement, fighting for your attention. One cat steals the spotlight and another snags it right back. And when it isn't their moment center stage, don't worry — they're somewhere else, showing off for whoever is lucky enough to look.

Crucial to its success is the fact that *Jellicle Ball* is brimming with love: As it pays tribute to Webber's music and the long history of Ballroom, it's clear the show is exceedingly aware of the shoulders it stands on. We aren't just dwelling in the past but luxuriating it, all while embracing a fresh perspective.

Through it all, there's a euphoric energy pulsing through the theater, manifesting in several moving ways. Quiet weeping, dropped jaws, fervent applause and the occasional attendee literally vibrating with excitement. Obviously, everyone sporting cat ears to the show knows they're in for a treat — but you need not come with the score already memorized. The spectacle of *Jellicle Ball *is intoxicating for all who enter and give themselves over to the glamor. **Grade: A**

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