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Munkustrap
Munkustrap is a Jellicle cat from T. S. Eliot's 1939 poem "The Naming of Cats". He is a principal character and the main narrator in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical ''Cats'', which is based on Eliot's poems. Munkustrap is the storyteller and guardian of his tribe. The role was originated by Jeff Shankley in the West End in 1981, and by Harry Groener on Broadway in 1982. Then, in the 1998 video production, Munkustrap was performed by Michael Gruber. Robbie Fairchild portrayed the role in the 2019 film adaptation. Character description Munkustrap is the protector of the Jellicle tribe; he is brave, level-headed and dependable. As the tribe's second-in-command after Old Deuteronomy, he oversees the Jellicle Ball and ensures that everything runs smoothly. He functions as the show's main narrator, singing several songs and introducing many of the other cats. When Macavity attacks the tribe, it is Munkustrap who fights him off. Munkustrap's relationship with the other characters ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cats (musical)
''Cats'' is a sung-through musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based upon the 1939 poetry collection ''Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'' by T. S. Eliot. It tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make the "Jellicle choice" by deciding which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. As of 2022, ''Cats'' remains the fourth-longest-running Broadway show and the seventh-longest-running West End show. Lloyd Webber began setting Eliot's poems to music in 1977, and the compositions were first presented as a song cycle in 1980. Producer Cameron Mackintosh then recruited director Trevor Nunn and choreographer Gillian Lynne to turn the songs into a complete musical. ''Cats'' opened to positive reviews at the New London Theatre in the West End in 1981 and then to mixed reviews at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway in 1982. It won numerous awards including Best Musical at both the Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Munkustrap
Munkustrap is a Jellicle cat from T. S. Eliot's 1939 poem "The Naming of Cats". He is a principal character and the main narrator in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical ''Cats'', which is based on Eliot's poems. Munkustrap is the storyteller and guardian of his tribe. The role was originated by Jeff Shankley in the West End in 1981, and by Harry Groener on Broadway in 1982. Then, in the 1998 video production, Munkustrap was performed by Michael Gruber. Robbie Fairchild portrayed the role in the 2019 film adaptation. Character description Munkustrap is the protector of the Jellicle tribe; he is brave, level-headed and dependable. As the tribe's second-in-command after Old Deuteronomy, he oversees the Jellicle Ball and ensures that everything runs smoothly. He functions as the show's main narrator, singing several songs and introducing many of the other cats. When Macavity attacks the tribe, it is Munkustrap who fights him off. Munkustrap's relationship with the other characters ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cats (2019 Film)
''Cats'' is a 2019 musical fantasy film based on the 1981 stage musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which in turn was based on the poetry collection ''Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'' (1939) by T. S. Eliot. The film was directed by Tom Hooper, in his second feature musical following ''Les Misérables'' (2012), from a screenplay by Lee Hall and Hooper. It features an ensemble cast, including James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson, and Francesca Hayward in her film debut. Filming took place from December 2018 to April 2019. It was theatrically released in the United Kingdom and the United States on December 20, 2019, by Universal Pictures, to an overwhelming negative response from critics and audiences, who criticized the visual effects and editing. Considered one of the worst films of all time, ''Cats'' grossed $75 million on a budget of $80–100 million, making it a box-office bomb. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cats (1998 Film)
''Cats'' is a 1998 direct-to-video musical film based on the 1981 stage musical '' Cats'' by Andrew Lloyd Webber, itself based on ''Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'' (1939) by T. S. Eliot. Lloyd Webber oversaw orchestration and called on Gillian Lynne, the show's original choreographer, to train the cast members. David Mallet served as the director of this production. The film is a recreation of the stage musical, but with new staging and significant edits made to reduce the runtime for television broadcast. It was filmed at the Adelphi Theatre in London in 1997, with the cast selected from various past and (then) present international productions of ''Cats''. Initially released to VHS and subsequently DVD and Blu-ray, the film has since been shown on television channels including PBS, BBC and Ovation TV. Synopsis After the overture, the Cats gather on stage and describe the Jellicle tribe and its purpose ("Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats"). The cats (who break the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeff Shankley
Jeffrey Richard Shankley (born 17 November 1947) is a British actor, singer and a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company who has had a long career as a television and stage actor particularly in the musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber for whom he originated several roles, including Munkustrap in the original London production of '' Cats'' at the New London Theatre in London in 1981 and Greaseball in ''Starlight Express'' at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in 1984. Early life Jeff Shankley was born in London in 1947, the son of Louisa Mary ''née'' Bundy (1922–1991) and Frederick John Shankley (1920–2006). He trained from 1966 to 1968 at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he won a silver medal for acting, and prizes for diction and expressiveness in movement. Television His first television role was as Sydney in an episode of ''No Hiding Place'' in 1963. His other appearances include Alec Law/Tom/Walker/George Ward in ''Dixon of Dock Green'' (1963–1966); Lionel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Gruber (actor)
Michael Thomas Gruber (born November 1, 1964) is an American actor. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the youngest of four children, two sisters and one brother. At an early age, Michael showed great interest in gymnastics and diving. He became the 2nd best diver in his age class in the world at the age of fourteen. Michael was an All-American diver who graduated from Indian Hill High School in 1982 and attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship as an Olympic diving hopeful training under then Olympic coach Dick Kimball. His passion was acting and he decided to study theatre at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He made his Broadway debut in the final company of ''A Chorus Line'', 1989-90. Michael is a composer and co-lyricist, with long-time collaborator Jennifer Allen, of three musicals: The Old Dead Five, Vegas Organic and Hit It, Mike!. He has also composed music for poems, currently working on a series set to children's poetr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robbie Fairchild
Robert Fairchild (born June 9, 1987) is an American dancer and actor. He is best known for originating the role Jerry Mulligan in the musical ''An American in Paris'', and as Munkustrap in the 2019 film ''Cats''. He was a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet. Early life Fairchild was raised in Salt Lake City. His mother is a dietitian and his father worked for Utah's wildlife resources. He started dancing at the age of four, and began formal ballet training at age ten. After attending the School of American Ballet's summer intensives in 2002 and 2003, he relocated to New York City and enrolled in the school as a full-time student in fall 2003. Fairchild's elder sister, Megan, is also a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet. Career Dance Fairchild became an apprentice at the New York City Ballet in 2005, and joined the company's corps de ballet the following year. He became a soloist in 2007 and principal dancer in 2009. During his time in the company, he had dance ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Naming Of Cats
"The Naming of Cats" is a poem in T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book ''Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats''. It was adapted into a musical number in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical '' Cats'', and has also been quoted in other films, notably '' Logan's Run'' (1976). The poem describes to humans how cats get their names. Poem The poem uses a short rhythmic dialogue to describe how cats get or choose their names. It states that "a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES"; specifically, one that is "familial", one that is "particular", and one that is "secretive". English professor Dorothy Dodge Robbins noted that the many examples of feline names given in the poem by the Missouri-born poet were heavily influenced by his love and adoption of British culture: "After all, his are the monikers of distinctly London cats; they are not the practical names of Midwestern barn cats." Familial names are typically common human names that the cat's "family use daily". Examples given include "Victo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Macavity
Macavity the Mystery Cat, also called the Hidden Paw, is a fictional character in T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book ''Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats''. He also appears in the Andrew Lloyd Webber 1981 musical ''Cats'', which is based on Eliot's book. Macavity is a cunning criminal and con artist; he possesses mystical powers and is the antagonist of the musical. Origins and etymology T. S. Eliot was a big fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle and the character of Macavity is a literary allusion to Professor Moriarty, the criminal mastermind in the Sherlock series. Evidence that Macavity was based on Moriarty was first presented by H.T. Webster and H.W. Starr in 1954, and later rediscovered by Katharine Loesch. In a letter to Frank Morley, Eliot wrote, "I have done a new cat modeled on the late Professor Moriarty, but he doesn't seem very popular; too sophisticated perhaps."David E. Chinitz, ''A Companion to T. S. Eliot'', page 231, John Wiley and Sons, 2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harry Groener
Harry Groener (born September 10, 1951) is a German-born American actor and dancer, perhaps best known for playing Mayor Wilkins in '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (seasons 3, 4 and 7). Early life Groener was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, West Germany, to an opera singer mother and a father who worked as a concert pianist, office clerk, and composer. He immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of two. As a teenager, Groener was apprenticed at the San Francisco Ballet; he went on to study drama at the University of Washington. Career Groener's reputation in New York City rests almost entirely on his work in musical theater. However, the bulk of his roles outside New York have been in classical drama or contemporary plays like ''Eastern Standard''. His Broadway credits include '' Is There Life After High School?'', Will Parker in ''Oklahoma!'' (Tony Award nomination, Theatre World Award), Munkustrap in '' Cats'' (Tony Award nomination), Georges/George in '' Sunday in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeffry Denman
Jeffry Denman is an American actor, director, choreographer and author. Early life Denman was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from the University of Buffalo as a Musical Theatre Dance major. Career He made his Broadway debut in the 1995 revival of ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,'' played Munkustrap in the closing company of '' Cats'' and understudied Matthew Broderick in the original cast of '' The Producers''. He was the assistant choreographer and understudy for the role of Noël Coward in the Off-Broadway musical revue ''If Love Were All'' in 1999. At New York City Center Encores! concert series he played Jenkins in ''Of Thee I Sing'' (2006) and Pat Mason, Jr. in '' Face the Music'' (2007). In 2004 he originated the role of Phil Davis opposite Brian d'Arcy James, Anastasia Barzee and Meredith Patterson in the World Premiere production of ''Irving Berlin's White Christmas'' at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. In 2008 he starred in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Partridge (performer)
John Partridge (born 24 July 1971) is an English actor, dancer, singer, panelist and television presenter, who is probably best known for the role of Christian Clarke in the long-running BBC television soap opera '' EastEnders'', having joined the cast in January 2008. He has worked extensively as a singer and dancer in musical theatre, portraying Rum Tum Tugger in the official film production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical '' Cats''. Professional career Partridge initially had trained in ballet at the Royal Ballet Lower School, appearing in the television adaptation of Stan Barstow's novel '' A Kind of Loving'' in 1982. He went on to train in musical theatre at the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts and Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts. He left college early at the age of 16, to join the cast of the original UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical '' Cats''. Partridge joined the touring cast of ''Cats'' in 1988 and was dance captain from 1989 to 1990. He playe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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