CATS - Character Breakdown

Character Name Character Description Skills required Principle Characters Asparagus/ Gus - The theatre cat. One of the oldest tribe Character part, can be a non male members. He was once an actor. He is dancing part old, thin and shabby with shaky paws Significant singing but has many wonderful tales to tell of his life in the theatre. Baritone – to top G Bombalurina - A saucy red female cat, protector and Significant singing and female comforter of Demeter. A very confident dancing female cat who is flirtatious and often seen as the female equivalent to Rum Mezzosop – to top E Tum Tugger. Bustopher Jones - A fat cat, a ‘twenty-five pounder’. Movement skills – can be a male Dresses in a snappy tuxedo and spats. non dancing part Respected by all, as the upper class ‘St Significant singing James’ Street Cat’, who likes nothing more than to eat and be seen in all the Baritone – to top Eb best places. Demeter - female A very skittish female cat who was Significant singing and previously abused by Macavity, she dancing remains a very nervous creature. Alto – to low G# Grizabella - female The former Glamour Cat who has lost Significant singing and some her sparkle, her coat is worn and tatty movement, doesn’t need to and she now only wants to be accepted. be a dancer Grizabella left the tribe when she was younger to see the world for herself; Alto – to low F# she has experienced the harshness of world and is a pariah in the cats’ society for seeking a life outside; but now she longs to return. Griddlebone - A fluffy white Persian cat. Growltiger’s Solo singing female lover in Growltiger’s Last Stand. Growltiger - male A theatrical character Gus recalls Some solo lines playing in his youth, and who appears Ensemble singing in Gus’ memory of the production Growltiger’s Last Stand. He is either a vicious pirate or a parody of a pirate. Growltiger has an eyepatch and a missing ear and is a bit the worse for wear after his many battles. Jellylorum - female A female who watches out for the Strong solo singing – kittens, along with Jennyanydots. She Yorkshire accent has a close relationship with Gus. Named after T.S. Eliot’s own cat. Mezzosop - low G# to top E

Jennyanydots - The old Gumbie cat. She sits and sleeps Tap dancing and significant female all day and rules the mice and singing cockroaches at night, forcing them to undertake helpful functions and Soprano – to top F# creative projects, to curb their natural destructive habits. Mr Mistoffelees - A young black tom cat who seems to be Ballet trained – significant male quiet and shy but with magical powers, dancing which he doesn’t fully control. He’s sort Some solo lines of a rascal, a bit of a child prodigy of Ensemble singing the tribe. He’s not really an adult yet but he’s not a kitten, so he’s at an in- between stage. He doesn’t quite know how to use his magical powers yet but he’s learning, he has a lot of adolescent qualities. Mungojerrie - male Half of a pair of notorious cat-burglars. Acrobatics and significant Naughty, cockney twins, always up to dancing – needs to be a mischief and all sorts of tricks. They similar height and build to look so alike their family never knows Rumpleteazer who to blame. Significant singing – cockney accent

Tenor – to top G Munkustrap - male The shows narrator. A large black and Narrator – significant singing silver/ grey tom who is storyteller, and dancing guide and protector of the Jellicle tribe. He is thought to be second in command Tenor – to top F# after Old Deuteronomy Old Deuteronomy - A very old, very wise, dignified cat, the Can be a non dancing part male patriarch and leader of the Jellicle Significant singing Tribe, respected and loved by all the cats, he will decide who journeys up to Baritone/Tenor - to top G the Heavyside Layer. Rumpleteazer - Half of a pair of notorious cat-burglars. Acrobatics and significant female Naughty, cockney twins, always up to dancing – needs to be a mischief and all sorts of tricks. They similar height and build to look so alike their family never knows Mungojerrie who to blame. Significant singing – cockney accent

Alto – to top D Rum Tum Tugger - The ladies tom. His temperament Significant singing and male ranges from clownish to serious, he is dancing, needs to have always flirtatious and usually portrayed attitude and stage presence as a feline equivalent of Mike Jagger or Elvis Presley and recognisable by his Baritone – to top F wild mane. A sleek and playful cat who likes a joke, is difficult to satisfy and is adored by the female cats.

Skimbleshanks - The railway cat. An active orange tabby Strong solo character male cat with white legs and chest and bright singing, good movement – green eyes. He lives on the trains and Scottish accent acts as an unofficial chaperon to such an extent he is considered rather Baritone – to top F indispensible to the train and station employees. He is a busy, controlled and controlling character, with a job to do. Other Characters Admetius / Plato - Teenage male cat, shy ginger and white Ballet trained or dance – pas male tom. Dances a pas de deux with de deux with Victoria Victoria during the Jellicle Ball Ensemble singing

Alonzo - male A black and white tom cat sometimes Some solo lines considered the third in command after Ensemble singing Munkustrap as he also fights Macavity.

Bill Bailey – male A London Chorus kitten. He is a playful Strong dancer and acrobat kitten young kitten, often performing Some solo lines acrobatics as well as being a strong Ensemble singing dancer. His costume is patchy browns on a white base, suggesting he is a bi- colour tabby and white.

Carbuckety - male The name was one of T. S. Eliot’s ideas Some solo lines for cat names for a ‘knockabout’ cat. Ensemble singing Cassandra- female A mysterious brown and cream Some solo lines Abyssinian queen, with a braided tail. Ensemble singing Electra – kitten - Tabby kitten who is a fan of Rum Tum Ensemble singing female Tugger, dark and quiet Etcetera – kitten - Tabby kitten who is a fan of Rum Tum Some solo lines female Tugger, pale and hyperactive Ensemble singing Exotica- female A chorus cat Ensemble singing chorus cat George – male A chorus cat who features as part of Ensemble singing chorus cat Growltiger’s ‘Raffish crew’. Gilbert/ Genghis - The leader of the crew of Siamese cats Ensemble singing male who contribute to Growltiger’s demise. Jemima / Sillabub A kitten who sings the Memory refrain Strong solo singing – female kitten in The Moments of Happiness for Old Deuteronomy. Jemima sings the happy Mezzosop – to top E parts of Memory, while Grizabella sings the more sad parts. Jemima is the youngest kitten in the tribe and wants to be a glamour cat just like Grizabella was. She is also the first cat/kitten to accept Grizabella by singing with her and not judging her.

Macavity - male The show’s only real villain. The Good movement / dance character is a literary allusion to the skills, fight scene so some Sherlock Holmes character Professor acro/ gymnastics would be Moriarty. A scruffy ginger cat, with useful crumpled whiskers and dusty fur. He is Ensemble singing a wicked criminal who always gets away with it because he is never caught at the scene of the crime. Pouncival –male A playful tom kitten Ensemble singing kitten Rumpus - male A spiky-haired cat with glowing red- Ensemble singing eyes, seen as a sort of superhero figure among the Jellicles. Tantomile - female Female twin of Coricopat. The name Needs to have similar was created by T.S. Eliot for a ‘witch’s physical characteristics to cat’. Coricopat Sings with Coricopat Ensemble singing Tumblebrutus - A playful young adult cat. Brown and Good dancing skills male white tabby with a flame lime-brown Ensemble singing patch over his left eye. Energetic young tom features in solos in many dance numbers. Victor – male Victor is a London Chorus Cat. He is Some solo lines chorus cat cream and brown tabby markings and Ensemble singing few distinguishing features. He featured as one of Growltiger’s crew. Victoria – female A pure white kitten gifted in dance who Ballet trained – significant kitten is very curious about Grizabella. The dancing ‘official’ Jellicle Ball begins with her solo Some duet singing dance. She also does a pas de deux Ensemble singing with Plato during the Jellicle Ball. She is also the second cat/kitten to accept Grizabella, but the first to touch her. Other Cats Coricopat – male Male twin to Tantomile. Coricopat and Needs to have similar Tantomile are often portrayed as physical characteristics to psychic cats, as they sense the Tantomile presence of danger before it becomes Sings with Tantomile apparent to the other characters. Ensemble singing Grumbuskin - male Munkustrap’s alter ego Ensemble singing Siamese – female Chorus cat Long limbed oriental cat chorus cat Some solo lines Ensemble singing Quaxo - male Alter-ego of Mr Mistoffelees Significant solo lines