Cats began its original Broadway run in 1982.
The musical opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on October 7, 1982, after transferring from London’s West End production. Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the music, while the lyrics were largely adapted from T. S. Eliot’s poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
The Broadway production became one of the longest-running shows in theatre history. Its story centers on the Jellicle Cats, who gather for an annual ball at which their leader, Old Deuteronomy, chooses one cat for a new life.
Cats is sometimes remembered mainly for its song “Memory,” but the production was also notable for its elaborate makeup, costumes, choreography, and immersive staging. Its original Broadway engagement closed in 2000 after more than 7,000 performances, before later revivals and adaptations introduced the musical to new audiences.