Big news for musical theatre buffs. Andrew Lloyd Webber is releasing Cats for free online.
For those who don't know, the legendary composer has been uploading filmed versions of his musicals on the YouTube channel The Show Must Go On! each week, which are available for 48 hours at a time.
And next on the list is the Cats (the famed 1999 theatre production, not the internationally ridiculed movie with dodgy CGI!)
Advert
Based on the 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, the musical will be landing on the YouTube channel from 7pm this Friday.
Elaine Paige and Sir John Mills star in the production, which also features John Partridge, Jacob Brent and Jason Gardiner.
Plus, there will also be an eight piece orchestra and choreography from the famous ballerina, Dame Gillian Lynne.
Advert
Previously, the King of musicals has offered up the likes of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Love Never Dies.
Lloyd-Webber also gave us The Phantom of the Opera for free, alongside his Royal Albert Hall Collection and By Jeeves.
Cats' musical online debut comes after it was the word on everyone's lips last year when Dame Judi Dench, James Cordon, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift and Rebel Wilson were among stars to appear in Tom Hooper's movie adaptation.
Advert
As it aired, The Guardian's Simran Hans said: "No amount of A-list stars can save Tom Hooper's dire adaptation".
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal called it "a confusing litter box of intentions, from its crushed-velour aesthetic to its strip-bar sensuality to its musical cluelessness."
However, Lloyd-Webber's musical has had nothing but glowing reviews, and has run successfully for 21 years in the West End, meaning it promises a far better reception!
The YouTube page gives fans the opportunity to make a charitable donation if they've enjoyed the performances, with suggested organisations including Acting for Others, Broadway Cares and Actors Benevolent Fund listed on the the performances.
Advert
Alongside the full-length theatre shows, the YouTube channel also treats us to some behind-the-scenes footage on the channel regularly, too.
Advert
Andrew Lloyd-Webber has been doing his best to help fans get through the coronavirus pandemic by hosting live sing-a-longs on his Twitter, too.
He recently called for people to send in submissions of themselves singing Joseph and compiled them all together, playing the piano alongside them.
Plus, he also entered a 'playoff' with fellow composer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, and even took up Chic hitmaker Nile Rodgers' challenge of re-working Get Lucky.
If you need us at the weekend, we'll be binge-watching Cats. See you at the Jellicle Ball.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Coronavirus, Cats
