Exclusive interview and GIVEAWAY: CATS, Sept. 3-15, Fisher Theatre, Detroit {ends 8/21}
*Disclosure: I have an ongoing media relationship with Broadway in Detroit. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own.
CATS will be performed at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit this fall, and one of my lucky readers will win a 4-pack to the opening night of the show!
You can purchase tickets to CATS here.
About the show:
One of the biggest hits in theatrical history, CATS will come to Detroit from September 3-15, 2019 as part of a multi-season North American tour. Tickets are currently on sale.
Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the record-breaking musical spectacular has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America! Featuring new sound design, direction and choreography for a new generation — experience CATS for the first time as it begins a new life, or let it thrill you all over again!
The original Broadway production opened in 1982 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre, where it ran for 7,485 performances and 18 years. CATS was originally produced on Broadway by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Company Limited, David Geffen, and The Shubert Organization.
Since its world premiere, CATS has been presented in over 30 countries, has been translated into 15 languages, and has been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide. Originally directed by Trevor Nunn with choreography and associate direction by Gillian Lynne, scenic and costume design by John Napier, lighting design by David Hersey, and sound design by Abe Jacob, CATS opened in the West End in 1981. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1982 where it won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Both the original London and Broadway cast recordings won Grammy Awards for Best Cast Album. CATS hit song “Memory” has been recorded by over 150 artists from Barbra Streisand and Johnny Mathis to Liberace and Barry Manilow. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical held the title of longest-running musical in Broadway history until it was surpassed in 2006 by Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. The original Broadway production closed on September 10, 2000 and is currently the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history. This marks the first tour of the first-ever Broadway revival of the iconic musical.
The first-ever, live-action film adaptation of CATS, produced by Universal Pictures and Working Title, will open on Dec. 20, 2019.
The revival of CATS is produced by The Shubert Organization, James L. Nederlander, The Really Useful Group and Cameron Mackintosh.
For more information, please visit CatsTheMusical.com.
INTERVIEW:
I was able to chat with Timothy Gulan, one of the CATS cast members, about his role in the show and his opinions about Detroit.
Yes/No Detroit: What role do you play in the show, and how long have you been in the role for?Timothy Gulan: One of the most fun things about CATS for me is that I actually play FOUR parts. I am Peter for the first two scenes. He is a very lazy tabby who talks a big game, but doesn’t do anything. Then I completely change my costume and makeup and wig and become Bustopher Jones. He is the fat cat who is also a . . . well, the ladies love him. After that I change into the very old and frail theatre cat Gus. In the play, Gus puts on a performance transforming into the Rumpus Cat. See - FOUR PARTS! I have been playing these parts since the tour opening in Providence, Rhode Island. Fun fact: I have never called in sick.
YND: How does CATS compare to other musicals you've been in?
TG: Okay, that is a huge question. Well, in another show I was in, Lion King, the cats and all the animals are puppets of one kind or another. So, that really means the puppets interact with each other. With CATS, it’s as if cats can stand on two legs when the need to, etc., and we get to directly interact with each other. It’s more direct, and therefore our interaction into the audience is also more direct. CATS was the first musical that really put people into the show and the cast into the audience. I love that.
The music (ALW is amazing) is really fun and CHALLENGING. I sing in the choral numbers all of the highest notes that the men sing. I also sing the lowest, depending on the number. It requires me to really stay on top of my voice to keep it flexible. I also do a very gravely character voice for the Rumpus Cat - but I do voice work in movies and on TV, so I know how to do that without killing my throat.
The orchestra is live - but they are never on the stage with us, or even in an open pit. It would have been weird if the conductor was seen, since he is indeed NOT a cat.
I like that CATS asks a lot of the audience. You sort of have to participate because it’s a series of poems and songs that add up to an overall experience that speaks of inclusion and redemption - but it isn’t just a straight thru line story where you can just sit back and let us do all of the work. It uses YOUR imagination as much as we use ours. I love that.
YND: Had you seen the show prior to being cast in it?
TG: I did not, nor have I ever seen CATS. I would love to, but since I am in it, I don’t think it’s going to happen. I of course had listened to it and knew about it. In a way, having read the poems as a kid and . . . O.K. For my Gus audition, I had a special way of preparing. When I was a kid I saw this move called Logan’s Run. I so wanted to be Michael York. Anyway, in this movie, the oldest man in the world is played by Peter Ustinov. He actually reads the poem about Gus the Theatre Cat, and he is surrounded by dozens of cats. I used that memory for inspiration.
YND: Have you seen the trailer for the new CATS movie and if so, what did you think of it?
TG: I am super excited about the movie. It’s going to make people come and see our live show even more. I was in Les Mis when the movie came out, and that is exactly what happened. The one thing I think the trailer does extremely well - which is it’s only purpose, by the way - it makes you want to see the movie. I really want to see this movie. I am also very curious about what choreography Andy has got going on. So excited!
YND: Have you been to Detroit before? If not, do you plan on visiting anywhere and/or dining anywhere interesting while in the city?
TG: Detroit. Yes! This is my fourth trip. My first trip was in 1993. I learned to SCUBA in Detroit. No joke. A whole bunch of us in Les Mis did all of our school/pool work thru Don’s Dive shop. I still have all of my gear. I have never done the Motown touristy thing. I am looking forward to that and the killer food scene that I keep hearing about (I watch a lot of Food Network).
Timothy Gulan (Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asparagus) is thrilled to be in this amazing production of CATS. Most recently on Broadway, he performed in Sting’s The Last Ship. Other Broadway & Tours include Les Misérables 25th Anniversary (Thenardier), South Pacific (Billis), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy), Some Like It Hot (Jerry/Daphne, opposite Tony Curtis), Picasso at the Lapine Agile (Picasso), Carousel, Falsettos, The Lion King, Blood Brothers, Passion, and The Frogs. World Premieres: Mr. Knightley in Paul Gordon’s Emma(New movie released at streamingmusicals.com), For the Boys, Houdini (Houdini), Eliot Ness in Cleveland, King Stag, Just So, Get In the Car. Movies/TV: South Pacific at Carnegie Hall, LCT’s Passion, “The Knick,” Salt, MacGruber, Ice Age, “Boardwalk Empire,” EL&IC, The Producers. Regionally, Tim has been fortunate enough to perform in The Glass Menagerie (Tom), Arsenic and Old Lace (Teddy), Amadeus (Mozart), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Gooper), Billy Elliot (Jackie), Bridges of Madison County (Bud), and Big Fish (Edward Bloom). Tim has also taught and guest lectured at colleges and theatres around the country. Gratitude to my family at Professional Artists and the whole team at Tara Rubin Casting. Love to my wife Kat. In memory of Lynn; we miss you every day.
GIVEAWAY:
One of my lucky readers will win a 4-pack of tickets to the opening night show! The show will take place Tuesday, September 3rd, 7:30pm at the Fisher Theatre, Detroit.
Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Wednesday, August 21st, at 11:59pm EST, and winner will be notified via email, and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen.
Detroit and Metro Detroit residents only, please.
Good luck!
4 tickets to CATS, ______ at the Fisher Theatre, Detroit
