Character Study: Mamie Parris as Grizabella in CATS on Broadway

Get tickets to CATS on Broadway: www.broadway.com/shows/cats-br...
Shot & Edited by Alexander Goyco / Produced by Paul Wontorek

[@mimiisaac6788]

Imagine having to sing Memory every night. It must be so demanding, vocally and emotionally.

[@AndrewMacLaine]

Wow, that backstory is completely different than what I had in my head! I always thought Grizabella was an ex "glamour cat" who was abandoned by her owners when she started to get old and lost her prize-winning looks. And even at her old age was still wondering why they left her and how she will survive another night on the streets all alone.

[@persephone2706]

She was a glamour cat, but not in that kind of sense.

[@maddier7820]

If you listen to the lyrics of all the different memories (There is different lyrics to the song throughout the movie) it’s actually really sad and it brings me to tears thinking about this little old cat wandering the streets alone and not having anyone to love her 😭😢

[@spunkyredhead81599]

gonna be honestly, I never got any of that backstory from the actual musical.

[@sofiarosanes9511]

yeah ever since this musical had soooooooo many plot holes

[@sof_t_]

The story in the musical actually leaves Grizabella's past up to interpretation and the story given here is Mamie's take on it - what she believes the character to be when she plays her.

[@CloyoKingdom]

I had no idea about Grizabella's backstory! So interesting! Also, Mamie is possibly one of my favourite Grizabellas :D

[@sserakaecho]

I love her but I kind of dislike Grizabella's new look. I got used to seeing Elaine Paige's version, y'know- the curly and frizzy fur/hair, the rags and all that jazz. But new things are always worth the try. Mamie is gorgeous by the way!

[@chickenofrobot567]

I think she looks more like a cat now, the old one kinda looked like a mouse

[@pumpkinpatch5]

I’m with you on this. The long hair and new makeup doesn’t do it for me. Plus she doesn’t look old enough.

[@mayle2010]

@@pumpkinpatch5 in one of these other characters studies, they decided to change up the look to reflex the younger people playing the role.

[@nicorizzo5402]

Mamie is one of my absolute favorite Grizabellas.

[@sarahhalasz2258]

I love what she says at 2:30

[@333br]

I think every human would love to say that someday in their lives.

[@sburkart2000]

I saw Cats!!! Fav musical ever and Mamie just makes it better. She is crazy talented and makes me cry every time.

[@DarkandWild2]

I think this is one of two things: either Andrew Lloyd Webber's interpretation of the character, in which case I would love to hear his other ones, or Mamie Parris' own; Elaine Paige gave a similar character study and didn't mention Grizabella's relationship with Macavity, so it may or may not be canon. Either way, I love all the cats in "Cats" very much and am always happy to hear a new actor's idea of what their cat's story is.

[@PWY5730]

so HAPPY that I got to see her and the whole cast perform CATS at Neil Simon theatre on October 16!!! A small portion of my life is complete, but I would LOVE to see CATS again and again!

[@Paigeturnernyc]

i'm so glad she got this role-i've seen her in so many things and such a talent! can't wait to see her do this!

[@tannerschannel1809]

I met her back in March of 2012. She was Elphaba in the touring company of Wicked as Elphaba. She was a sweet person. She gave me a big hug!

[@mlaugh09]

She is brilliant in the show

[@OwainMilliken]

you have to do one with Angel from the RENT tour

[@ianhimmelstein5915]

0:06 I can watch her hair bounce for hours

[@persephone2706]

Love her. But I can't believe they didn't trim the lace on that wig....

[@cifer1761]

It's like that on all of the cats wigs

[@kyradelaneyy]

They don’t trim the lace on wigs for theatre- it helps to keep the wig in top shape for as long as possible and have it (hopefully) work for many actors

[@chandacaston]

Loved this! It's a shame I only now realized Grizabella's hair has a way more human look to it

[@hauncharless5042]

Nice " backstory " for Grizzabella "I'd love to hear/see more bout the rest of the troop . Ty

[@katielawrence5420]

I love Mamie Parris.

[@marengab8811]

her talking voice sounds like Liz Callaway 😘

[@baileybieganek2446]

I had no idea about all that with grizabella! That's awesome! Tell me, am I correct in assuming macavity's other lover was bombalurina? Cause...come on!

[@Marianne_L]

Gillian Lynne mentioned that it was Demeter that had a bad relationship with Macavity, but that it was likely Bombalurina was also involved with him at some point too. Which makes sense considering how they sing together.

[@baileybieganek2446]

Marianne Lamb yeah Demeter was another option of course. I just find bombalurina more...sexy I guess? I dunno 😂

[@Marianne_L]

Yeah she has a much more obvious sexuality about her ahaha

[@Chishannicon]

I heard from a former cast member that Demeter was actually raped by Macavity and that's why she freaks out more than anyone else when he is near.

[@baileybieganek2446]

Chishannicon oh no poor Demeter! Makes sense though

[@florencereianelouricevilla7272]

Mamie is an amazing actor. meow! 🐱🐱🐈🐈

[@baronvg]

lol I know the whole point of the video was to hear the backstory but all of it totally went over my head and all I did was concentrate on watching her put makeup on lmao!

[@lennyryan2304]

ONE FOR ERIC PETERSEN AS DEWEY FIN PLEASE

[@kelseysolomon5846]

I met to say l love cats😂😂😍😍😍😍

[@marklazio11]

the early 80s FIRST los angeles show was the best ! had to be a member of SAG to go. ill never forget it. the same LA show in 2006... completely different in many ways, rum rum tugger seemed extremely gay, and frightened a little girl in the audience .

[@alannap.5165]

That honestly looks like the MOST uncomfortable wardrobe lmao

[@PauloRezendeBordados]

is leona lewis already gone?

[@Chishannicon]

Yup.

[@We_Reddit]

Thankfully.

[@kyraschoenberger810]

It's bad to say but I recently saw the show and the understudy that plays it now sings memory better than Leona Lewis did

[@fadhilramadhani1847]

Leona can't get out of there sooner lol

[@We_Reddit]

She was terrible. Just a pop star to sell tickets. Parris is wonderful. True veteran with the right experience and talent to play Grizabella.

[@selina_loves_makeup993]

Remember when Spongebob did that cat makeup?

[@waya121]

hold up, she does her own makeup for this production? they dont hire makeup artist or what

[@MrSonnanburg]

Broadway.com

[@kelseysolomon5846]

lol be cats😍😍

[@galenstone9097]

Does her own makeup as a proper Stage actor should.

[@isaiahbaston]

psa: this backstory is from one of the poems that was not made into a song by alw for whatever reason.

[@jeromealday614]

Lies. It's a made up character!

[@isaiahbaston]

Jerome Alday - I didn’t say she was real..

[@carolinawawginiak8205]

The other Cat who dated macavity and was accepted would it be...?

[@chickenofrobot567]

Cacau Wawginiak it was either Bombaluaria or Demeter I cant remember

[@sllvn356]

Bombalaurina

[@Jenny24601]

Demeter

[@milliejay1451]

Carolina Wawginiak Demeter. I recently played her in a production. That's why macavity tries to kidnap her at the end of the macavity number x

[@TheChlobo55]

meow

[@atticusjones]

What happened to older women playing grizz?

[@grannysgonerabid7425]

Well, Elaine Paige was 32 in 1981 and Betty Buckley was 35 in 1983 when they originated the roles in London and New York. I think Leona Lewis was 31. Not sure Mamie's age, so not sure what you mean by "older women." Early/mid thirties seems to be the age. I think Nicole Scherzinger was the oldest when she took the role at 36 in 2014.

[@emmadaisyhamm]

Lyric train GO Midnight, not a sound from the pavement

[@LauraBwayMorris]

Emma The Icon has the moon lost her memory? She is smiling alone

[@tarrinchambers6259]

She's so good but Grizabella is an older cat and Mamie is that.

[@betelgeuseredstone9082]

I grown up watching is the 90s movie from Universal Studios. But the last one is a flop to me.

[@christinad4432]

Wait! They have to do their own makeup? That’s bullshit! They bust their asses playing those roles. They work so much, doing 8 shows a week and they have to do their own makeup?! I hope it’s just for this video and she doesn’t always do her own makeup

[@mikeyjamieson4715]

It's so the company doesn't have to waste money on several makeup artists. Also, I think it's better for the performers to learn on their own.