November 2018
Royal Ballet Principal Steven McRae cast in Universal Pictures and Working Title’s film adaptation of Cats
Steven McRae, Principal dancer of The Royal Ballet, is to join the cast of Universal Pictures and Working Title’s film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats, directed by Academy Award® winner Tom Hooper.
Director of The Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare comments: ‘It’s really exciting that Steven is joining the cast of Cats, alongside fellow Royal Ballet Principal Francesca Hayward, allowing him to showcase his fantastic versatility and theatrical flair on film. We look forward to him returning to the Opera House stage as Romeo in the Spring.’
Cats is produced by Working Title Films in association with Monumental Pictures and The Really Useful Group and executive produced by three-time Oscar® winner Steven Spielberg, Lloyd Webber and Angela Morrison. Based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. Eliot, the film is due for theatrical release in December 2019.
Cast changes will be announced in due course.
Images are available to download here.
— ENDS —
Notes to Editors
BIOGRAPHIES
Steven McRae Australian dancer Steven McRae is a Principal of The Royal Ballet. He joined The Royal Ballet School on a Prix de Lausanne scholarship in 2003. He graduated into The Royal Ballet in 2004 and was promoted to First Artist in 2005, Soloist in 2006, First Soloist in 2008 and Principal in 2009.
McRae was born in Sydney and trained with Hilary Kaplan and at The Royal Ballet School. He won the 2002 Adeline Genée Gold Medal and the 2003 Prix de Lausanne. His roles with The Royal Ballet include all the classical repertory and leading roles in works by choreographers including Frederick Ashton, David Bintley, William Forsythe, Kenneth MacMillan, Alastair Marriott, Wayne McGregor, Liam Scarlett and Christopher Wheeldon. His role creations include Magician/Mad Hatter (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland), Jack (Sweet Violets), Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), Florizel (The Winter’s Tale), Emble (The Age of Anxiety), Creature (Frankenstein) and roles in Three Songs – Two Voices, Children of Adam, Chroma, Acis and Galatea (Royal Opera), 24 Preludes, The Human Seasons, Tetractys, Connectome, Woolf Works and Multiverse.
McRae has performed as a guest artist with companies including American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Australian Ballet, Tokyo Ballet and at numerous international galas. His awards include the 2006 Emerging Male Artist (Classical) and the 2011 Best Male Dancer awards at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. In 2014 he was named Young Australian Achiever in the UK by the Australia Day Foundation.
About the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House’s aim is for many more people to enjoy and engage in exceptional ballet and opera. As The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, we bring together the world’s most extraordinary ballet and opera artists in more than 500 performances every year; live events that thrill, move and excite, and that transport people to other worlds through music, theatre and dance.
The Royal Ballet Under the directorship of Kevin O’Hare, The Royal Ballet unites tradition and innovation in world-class performances, and is a driving force in the development of ballet as an art form. Based at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, it brings together today’s most dynamic and versatile dancers with a world-class
orchestra and leading choreographers, composers, conductors, directors and creative teams to share awe- inspiring theatrical experiences with diverse audiences worldwide.
The Company’s extensive repertory embraces 19th-century classics, the singular legacy of works by Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan and the compelling new canon of work including pieces by Resident Choreographer Wayne Mcgregor, Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon and Artist in Residence Liam Scarlett.
Cats Cats, one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981 where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances. The ground-breaking production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983 the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony awards including Best Musical, and ran for 18 years.
PRESS OFFICE CONTACTS The Royal Ballet Ashley Woodfield Head of Ballet Press Tel: 020 7212 9165 Mob: 07984 513676 [email protected]
Sarah Farrell Ballet Press and Communications Officer Tel: 020 7212 9241 [email protected]
To unsubscribe, please email