Andrew Lloyd Webber "Gutted" About Tonight's Closing Of 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball'; Composer Hopes Broadway Will "Come To Its Senses"
Deadline
β’Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:30:35 +0000
π° What Happened
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is 'gutted' that Cats: The Jellicle Ball is closing at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre, five months earlier than originally planned. In an Instagram message he said he's immensely proud of the daring production, which gave 17 actors their Broadway debut, but hopes the closing serves as a warning about the 'unsustainable cost' of producing new shows on Broadway.
π The Backstory
Cats: The Jellicle Ball was a queer, critically praised reinvention of the classic musical, celebrated as a groundbreaking reinvention, though it struggled commercially and recorded its best week only as its closing date neared. Lloyd Webber is using its shutdown to spotlight rising Broadway production costs.
π― Why It Matters
For theatre fans, this is a lament over the loss of an acclaimed and innovative production. It also feeds a wider industry debate about whether Broadway's soaring costs are making daring new work financially impossible, which shapes what audiences can expect to see on stage.
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is 'gutted' that Cats: The Jellicle Ball is closing at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre, five months earlier than originally planned. In an Instagram message he said he's immensely proud of the daring production, which gave 17 actors their Broadway debut, but hopes the closing serves as a warning about the 'unsustainable cost' of producing new shows on Broadway.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball was a queer, critically praised reinvention of the classic musical, celebrated as a groundbreaking reinvention, though it struggled commercially and recorded its best week only as its closing date neared. Lloyd Webber is using its shutdown to spotlight rising Broadway production costs.
For theatre fans, this is a lament over the loss of an acclaimed and innovative production. It also feeds a wider industry debate about whether Broadway's soaring costs are making daring new work financially impossible, which shapes what audiences can expect to see on stage.