In the Broadway musical Cats, what is the name of the annual gathering of the Jellicle cats?

In the Broadway musical Cats, the annual gathering of the Jellicle cats is called the Jellicle Ball.

Cats, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. During the Jellicle Ball, the cats gather to celebrate and present themselves before Old Deuteronomy, their respected leader.

The evening leads to the selection of one cat who will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and return to a new life. This framework connects otherwise separate character introductions, including songs about Grizabella, Rum Tum Tugger, Mr. Mistoffelees, and Macavity.

Cats first opened in London in 1981 and reached Broadway in 1982. The Broadway production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The Jellicle Ball is distinct from the Heaviside Layer: the former is the gathering, while the latter is the destination associated with the chosen cat.