By Richard Burnett
Ever since its world premiere in London’s West End in May 1981, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS has been enthralling audiences worldwide. Inspired by Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, a series of poems about cats published in 1939, the musical then debuted on Broadway in 1982, won seven 1983 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, whose single “Memory” has become a true classic recorded by more than 150 artists including Barbra Streisand.
The current North American tour revival of CATS brings a new choreographer and lighting designer to the show, fostering new energy and vision for this classic Broadway hit. Curtains Up recently sat down with triple-threat American actor-singer-dancer Vinny Andaloro who makes his national tour debut as Alonzo in CATS which headlines Salle Wilfred-Pelletier from March 8 to 13.
Tell us about how you loved to dance to Madonna as a kid.
Vinny Andaloro: I was about 10-years-old, used to get my little boom box. My family had a pool table in our basement and I used to blast Hung Up by Madonna and dance on my pool table!
Did you always want to be in musical theatre?
Oh, yeah, there was no doubt in my mind.
What attracted you to your profession?
I think the community more than anything else. It is such a loving and accepting place where I can be myself, especially as a gay person, as a queer person. The loving and accepting theatre community was something that I was really attracted to.
How did you discover Cats The Musical?
In middle school, whenever my choir teacher was out, he would always leave our substitute teacher the stage recording of CATS for us to watch. Nobody else in class would pay attention, but I watched it every single time from start to finish. I was head over heels about it. I was excited every time we had a substitute teacher because I love watching that version!
How did you audition for this production?
I actually saw this production the revival of CATS in New York back in 2017. So I sent in an initial self-tape, then they called me in person to New York. I attended in-person callbacks where we danced and sang some more for about three or four days, and I finally got the call that I got the job.
That process was super invigorating for me because I had just graduated from college in the spring and because of COVID that was my first in-person audition in a long time.
What is your favorite number in CATS that you like to perform?
I love to perform “The Jellicle Ball”. There’s nothing as invigorating as doing a 12- minute-long, cardio-heavy number until you feel like your feet are going to fall off!
What is the camaraderie like amongst your ensemble cast traveling on the road?
This cast is really tight-knit. We really understand each other’s needs onstage and offstage. We’re together 24/7. Between shows, some people go to the gym, lift weights, others prefer rest, I tend to do a little bit of yoga during the day. Because the show is so hard on the body, and it’s a lot of physicality, I like to take the days to chill and relax. Then when I get to the theater, I really focus on warming up and getting ready for the show.
Why do you think Cats The Musical is important during these troubled and turbulent times?
I think it’s important to go see CATS because it is a timeless production about acceptance. What better storyline than acceptance to go see right now with all that’s going on right now.
CATS The Musical headlines Salle Wilfred-Pelletier at Place des Arts for eight performances from March 8 to 13. For tickets, visit: evenko.ca.
