THE JELLICLE BALL Cast and Crew From CBS Sunday Morning Segment

To celebrate the reimagined Broadway production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical CATS: The Jellicle Ball, the cast, crew, and dancers recently joined CBS Sunday Morning for a segment dedicated to the show.

Following its airing, the full extended conversations have been released, featuring in-depth discussions about their unique approach to the new production.

“This production of Cats humanizes the animal,” noted André De Shields, who reprises his role of Old Deuteronomy. Junior LaBeija, who plays Gus, added: “Simply put, what Cats does is show that our age is not a barrier. Ageism is.” Hear more from De Shields and LaBeija in the video above, joined by fellow cast members Ken Ard and Leiomy.

Inspired by ballroom and drag culture, CATS: The Jellicle Ball lacks the usual anthropomorphic felines synonymous with the original show. In the interview with the dancers, they remembered their first experience with the show, and also spoke about the ballroom influence. “I found that during our workshops… [it] was a laboratory… and also a sanctuary where [the directors and choreographers] were so careful about the integrity of the culture of ballroom…” said Dudney Joseph Jr.

In the interview with directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, they spoke about their involvement in the revival and their background with the material. “In some way, it feels like I’m having some kind of public reconnecting with my childhood self, but in the public eye,” said Levingston, who has loved the show since he was a kid. “I’m just trying to talk to that young version of me who felt like, in this material, was a kind of boundless creativity that I wanted to be a part of from a very early age. Watch their conversation below.

Currently in previews, CATS: The Jellicle Ball officially opens on Tuesday April 7 at the Broadhurst Theatre. Tickets are now on sale through September 6, 2026. 

CATS: The Jellicle Ball is directed by OBIE Award winners Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch and choreographed by Chita Rivera Award winners and New York City Ballroom icons Omari Wiles (House of NiNa Oricci) and Arturo Lyons (House of Miyake-Mugler). CATS: The Jellicle Ball has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. 

The Broadway cast includes Tony Award® and Grammy Award® winner André De Shields as ‘Old Deuteronomy,’ Ken Ard as ‘DJ Griddlebone,’ Kya Azeen as ‘Etcetera,’ Bryson Battle as ‘Jellylorum,’ Sherrod T. Brown, Jonathan Burke as ‘Mungojerrie,’ Baby Byrne as ‘Victoria,’ Tara Lashan Clinkscales, Bryce Farris, Sydney James Harcourt as ‘Rum Tum Tugger,’ Dava Huesca as ‘Rumpleteazer,’ Dudney Joseph Jr. as ‘Munkustrap,’ Junior LaBeija as ‘Gus,’ Leiomy as ‘Macavity,’ Robert “Silk” Mason as ‘Magical Mister Mistoffelees,’ “Tempress” Chasity Moore  as ‘Grizabella,’ Primo Thee Ballerino as ‘Tumblebrutus,’ Xavier Reyes as ‘Jennyanydots,’ Nora Schell as ‘Bustopher Jones,’ Bebe Nicole Simpson as ‘Demeter,’ Emma Sofia as Cassandra’/’Skimbleshanks,’ Phumzile Sojola, Kendall Grayson Stroud, B. Noel Thomas, Kalyn West, Donté Nadir Wilder, Garnet Williams as ‘Bombalurina, and Teddy Wilson Jr. as ‘Sillabub.’

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s worldwide phenomenon CATS is reimagined in a production that smashed records, won awards, and left New York City purring. And now CATS: The Jellicle Ball ascends to Broadway in a kaleidoscope of glittering spectacle, iconic music, and electrifying ballroom choreography.

When CATS: The Jellicle Ball premiered at Perelman Performing Arts Center | PAC NYC in 2024, it became the must-see theater event of the summer. The production was extended three times and left audiences and critics enraptured. The Off-Broadway production was honored with two Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding Revival, three OBIE Awards, a New York Drama Critics Circle Special Citation, a Chita Rivera Award, two Audelco Awards, three Dorian Theater Awards, and three Hewes Awards. 

The creative team for CATS: The Jellicle Ball includes Tony Award winner Rachel Hauck (scenic design), OBIE Award winner and Drama Desk Award nominee Qween Jean (costume design), Drama Desk Award nominee Adam Honoré (lighting design), Tony Award winner Kai Harada (sound design), Brittany Bland (projection design), Special Tony Award recipient Nikiya Mathis (hair and wig design), Rania Zohny (makeup design), Josephine Kearns (dramaturg & gender consultant), Paul Kieve (magic), William Waldrop (music supervisor and music director), Doug Schadt (music producer), Trevor Holder (beats arranger/producer), Cooper Howell and N’yomi Allure Stewart (associate directors), Chelsey Arce (associate choreographer), Michael Samarie George (assistant choreographer), X Casting: Victor Vazquez, CSA and Sujotta R. Pace, CSA (casting director), Ann James (sensitivity specialist), and Cody Renard Richard (production stage manager). Baseline Theatrical serves as general managers.