Original Broadway CATS " Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats " 1982

Original Broadway cast of CATS performing the opening number " Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats " at the Winter Garden Theatre , New York 1982 . Cast : Ken Ard Alonzo , Stephen Hanan Gus , Donna King Bombalurina, Steven Gelfer Carbucketty , Rene Ceballos Cassandra , Rene Clemente Coricopat , Wendy Edmead Demeter , Christine Langner Rumpleteazer , Betty Buckley Grizabella , Bonnie Simmons Jellylorum, Anna McNeely Jennyanydots , Timothy Scott Mistoffelees , Harry Groener Munkustrap , Ken Page Old Deuteronomy , Hector Mercado Plato , Herman Sebek Pouncival , Terrence Mann Rum Tum Tugger , Whitney Kershaw Sillabub , Reed Jones Skimbleshanks , Janet Hubert Tantomile , Robert Hoshour Tumblebrutus , Cynthia Onrubia Victoria

[@93E28]

I have no idea how you got this footage but how wonderful to see my fellow cast mates. So many of them have left us. I realize looking back at how hard we worked. Loved hitting those high C.s while doing attitude jumps...I am tired just watching this. Thank you whoever you are for sneaking your camera into the theater.

[@tristanbray2184]

Well, Janet, as far as I know, 6 of the original cast are dead: Tim Scott (Mistoffelees), Steve Gelfer (Carbucketty/Genghis), Rene Clemente (Coricopat/Mungojerrie), Reed Jones (Skimbleshanks), Rene Ceballos (Cassandra) and Bob Morrisey (Swing).

[@joamy5762]

Janet, who sang The Moments of Happiness with Old Deuteronomy in the original cast? Was it you as Tantomile or Whitney Kershaw as Sillabub?

[@tristanbray2184]

Well, John, according to the cast recording, it's Janet.

[@joamy5762]

@@tristanbray2184 Yeah but I've seen articles where Whitney Kershaw says she sang it. Cast recordings aren't always exactly the same as the live shows anyway, unless it's a live recording.

[@TheaterPup]

I got to watch the entire original Broadway show at the New York Public Library's archives. It was awesome finally putting faces to the voices I'd heard all these years. :D

[@boonesnake]

These are real, true, dedicated, powerful, talented performers.

[@dakotaboy80]

I can not even imagine how difficult it must be to sing so well while moving like that.

[@indobiga]

My brother Herman Sebek as Pouncival! (one of the baby cats) A role he did while he was still attending Juilliard!

[@lionblaze0384]

It's incredible that this even exists. It's incredible that it looks and sounds as good as it does. It's incredible it's made it to the internet. And most incredibly of all is the fact that after 40 years, the costuming and choreography are almost exactly the same. Incredible stuff

[@saxongirl2054]

I like that Harry Groener and Terrence Mann were together during the choir and the last part :) I love them both with all my heart. I so wish they have had a career in movies, that way I could watch them, but most of all because they are incredibly talented underrated actors and deserved much more.

[@kanumbra]

it is SOOOOO interesting to see what they still keep the same to this very day! this is just an honour to watch, absolutely unbelievable.

[@kevinriley6320]

Even this short video is better than the movie.

[@saxongirl2054]

Do you mean the 2019 movie or 1998? I know the 1998 movie is very popular but for me it's too sexualized and cringe.

[@saxongirl2054]

This is the cast that ALW should have professionally filmed and released on video.

[@diegopabon1678]

For me, no English-speaking cast past or present can ever beat this one. I'm planning on going up to N.Y. just to make an appointment at the N.Y.P.L. to watch this!

[@rjjames1518]

Gosh even with the 1980s costumes I can still pick out so many characters I know and love ❤

[@unclegeemus]

Around time they came to Seattle and mom took us I was 16. Meant nothing to me at that age yet infinitely more now, and glad for mom and the memories of that show. Now my City is not even survivable by a cat may she rest like a cat.

[@mc539625]

What a hard working cast. The tempo was much faster back them. This number drags now

[@ValtronW]

Such energy. It's really something amazing.

[@liam6169]

40 years ago! Thats 40 years ago!!!

[@tristanmichels5721]

This is actually from 1982? I am just blown away!

[@artelmiller642]

At some point when I was younger, I use to get the performers from cats mixed up with the zombies from Michael Jackson's thriller.. LOL

[@meagab11]

I have the original broadway cats of cats on cd this one of my favorite casts.

[@limesquared]

Gorgeous.

[@paulanthonyhoeflich8988]

So incredible to see after all these years. My whole life I have overtly pleased others. I feel pleased seeing this. Whoever posted this much thank you. Maybe one day I will join a cast.

[@kevinmcguire5696]

miss those 25 piece orchestras...

[@MewPassionAngel]

WOW it's amazing that you had this, such a rare piece of footage! THANK YOU SO MUCH! ^_^ I really love the original broadway cast and really wish there was more footage like this available (besides the 1983 Tony Awards footage). You wouldn't happen to have any visual clips of any of the other songs, would you? It seems the only clips of this cast that can be found are 'Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats' and 'Memory'. I really am dying to see more Timothy Scott clips!! (I loved him on the CD!)

[@littlesongbird1]

Wow. I wish you had more. But thanks for sharing this.

[@SamVMK]

I believe this is from the NYPL (New York Public Library) official taping of the show that you can watch (for free) at the NYPL, not available to take home and watch yourself. Whoever watched the video must have videotaped a little bit of it themselves.

[@ronnola]

Thanks for posting this! At least something on video with original Broadway cast. Hopefully someone has more clips and they will appear some day. Would LOVE to see Rum Tum Tugger part! :D

[@cdauria9924]

ABC news covered the opening of the show in 1982 and they showed a clip from this video on their news report. This must have been recorded by them and they used a snippet on their broadcast. I recently saw the news broadcast on Instagram

[@beelzebored13]

WOOOT WOOT!!!!! THIS IS AWSOME!! have all the original broadway cats songs on my Ipod

[@pucksprattle]

this is awesome footage, thanks

[@Dianaemanuel]

I hope one day to see some footage of the original London production of Evita with Elaine Paige. I'm sure there's something out there!

[@smichelle65]

On the left @4:30 -- I think that's Janet Hubert, aka "Original Aunt Viv"

[@Cats29]

More!!!!!!

[@christianmagoon4230]

CATS Original Broadway 1982 Full Show

[@ValtronW]

Does ANYONE have any footage of Betty Buckley performing "Memory" during an actual performance? I've only found one on KZbin. That would make my life.

[@zd2026]

You can hear Betty Buckley singing over everyone lol

[@zd2026]

@Jeff, the God of Biscuits around 2:19 you can here Betty singing the chorus, at least that's what my ears hear

[@Krees82]

Betty was told when she was younger to blend in with the chorus but her voice is so powerful, she couldn't lol.

[@lailahbezan4833]

Is it just me or is the choreo exactly the same? Also, it’s so satisfying when they bob their heads while saying “statistical cats” glad it was part of the original lol

[@chrissi2810]

Current productions outside the US still use Gillian Lynne's original choreography, yes.

[@SHack7498]

Christine Langner played Etcetera AND Rumpleteazer.

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

The original Aunt Viv is here.

[@tristanbray2184]

That is the late Bob Morrisey as Munkustrap.

[@SHack7498]

I'm pretty certain that is not Bob in this video. It sure looks like Harry Groener, the original Munkustrap. The video was clearly taken early in the run. I shared a dressing room with Bob, Harry's understudy, and I do not think he went on for Harry at this point.

[@tristanbray2184]

Are you sure, Steve? It doesn't sound like Harry, and I heard him on the soundtrack. Here's proof. (at half a minute) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIqklnRunrd4qa8

[@93E28]

I did not know Bob has passed, no that is Harry. So sad to hear this.

[@tristanbray2184]

I'm sorry about the misinformation. It just doesn't sound like it does the cast album, yet all the other voices do. But, then again, it sounds like Harry on all the other tracks.

[@ValtronW]

0:26 Betty Buckley!!!!

[@SHack7498]

@TheAidanRoo Christine Langner played Etcetera AND Rumpleteazer.

[@nickcorwin1410]

Not even kidding my 2nd cousin is Robert houshour haha

[@disneydanny2]

nick corwin COOL! I'm GUESSING he was a booth singer in the chjorus since I don't see a character name listed by his name in the credits.

[@kevininjc]

Must have been real early in the run...Bonnie Simmons is actually performing instead of just walking through it.

[@dogsthemusical4737]

How on EARTH did you find this?!

[@mgizzmokitty]

saw Cats five times on Broadway its been more than ten years now and NOTHING compares to the origonal where can I find a video of the whole show ??? I'm going thru Major withdrawels (sorry cant spell tonite) anyone can help out there ????

[@jarvisbmanningjr]

@musicboy192 I JUST READ THAT TOO ON WIKIPEDIA

[@HunterHuiet105]

@AAAANNNNDDYYYY100 There is but they are so hard to find.

[@omarcrobinson]

Aunt Viv 5:38

[@finleyforevermore]

Where on EARTH did you find this footage? Thank you so much!

[@sonitaberoog5233]

02:27

[@Wenubischannel]

@Cats29 I've got the whole cd of the original Broadway cast on my channel

[@gottagodisco]

@Cats29 Sorry thats all i have from the Original B'way Cast

[@MultiDom99]

shame it's the understudy on munkstrap :( but still brillient

[@SamVMK]

I believe this is from the NYPL (New York Public Library) official taping of the show that you can watch (for free) at the NYPL, not available to take home and watch yourself. Whoever watched the video must have videotaped a little bit of it themselves.

[@TheaterPup]

I've seen the NYPL's copy recently, it's taped from completely different angles. But it is cool to see this as well!

[@ihatemyname2816]

@@TheaterPup Why couldn't it be uploaded online in any form?

[@cdauria9924]

⁠@@TheaterPuphow was the quality of the recording ? Was it recorded from multiple angles ?