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Riverside spares no expense on new dinner theater spectacle
'Cats,' the musical, opens at Riverside Center Dinner Theater tomorrow. Cast and crew are excited about the elaborate new production
Date published: 8/3/2006
By KATE WATERSON
THE ACTORS HISS. They purr and preen, stalk and slink.
Choreographer Holly Chorengel calls out the timing on a particular step and emphasizes with her arms: "Up! Down! Up! Down! Up! Down!"
All the cast falls in time, with spectacular effect. Even under house lights, with no special costumes, makeup or set, it is evident that this is going to be an exciting production.
"Cats" will make its Virginia dinner theater debut when it opens tomorrow at the Riverside Center in Stafford County.
The international smash hit musical is a favorite with audiences because of its dynamic dance numbers, singalong-able songs, and elaborate costuming and staging, all of which bring to life a magical world of colorful cat characters.
And Riverside has gone all out in order to capture what audiences love best about the show.
"The expenses of this production have been the greatest we have ever had in our eight-year history," said Ron Wehman, owner of Riverside and musical director of "Cats."
The show will feature choreography from the original production, the set used for the Broadway national tour, specially created wigs and more. Audio tracks were made at Omega Recording Studios in Rockville, Md., specifically for the production.
"What makes 'Cats' work is the harmony of costumes, makeup, music, dancing, set, lighting and all of that," said show co-director Mykal Kvenberg.
The original musical opened in London in 1981 and was an instant hit. It has since been performed around the world to high acclaim, winning numerous awards.
"Cats" was the longest running musical in Broadway history when it closed in 2000 after nearly 8,000 performances and 18 years at the Winter Garden Theater.
Based on T.S. Eliot's collection of poems "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical tells the tale of a tribe of felines known as the Jellicles, who have gathered in a junkyard on a special night. It is the night of the Jellicle Ball and the time when one of their tribe will be chosen to be reborn.
"It's a far more complex, multileveled piece than people take it to be," said Stephen Hayes, who plays Bustopher Jones, a fat cat about town. "Working with Holly [Chorengel], there are subplots and motivations and histories that I never realized before."
WHAT: 'Cats'
WHERE: Riverside Center Dinner Theater, 95 Riverside Parkway (off U.S. 17 north), Stafford
WHEN: Wednesdays through Sundays, tomorrow through Nov. 26
COST: Dinner and show, $40-$51; show only, $30; ages 12 and younger, $33
INFO: 540/370-4300, 888/999-8527, rsdinnertheater.com |
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Date published: 8/3/2006
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