<\/p>\n
Assistant Professor of Music Theatre Jacob Brent is reconnecting with the musical that launched his Broadway career.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Decades after his debut in \u201cCats,\u201d he is returning to the whimsical world as a member of the producing team for its newest revival, \u201cCATS: The Jellicle Ball,\u201d opening on Broadway April 7.<\/p>\n
\u201cCats\u201d is a musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on T.S. Eliot\u2019s \u201cOld Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,\u201d telling the story of a tribe of fictional Jellicle cats gathering for their annual ball to choose one cat to be reborn. The musical opened on Broadway in 1982, to mixed reviews, according to Brent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very misunderstood. A lot of people either love it or they despise it,\u201d Brent said.<\/p>\n
Originally from the town of Elon, Brent said he moved to New York the second he graduated from high school. According to Brent, he had been in New York for two days before booking his first role on Broadway, an ensemble track in \u201cCats.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was such a quick turnaround, it\u2019s crazy,\u201d Brent said. \u201cThis was not normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brent said he performed in the show for 10 years, moving from his ensemble role to playing a lead, Mr. Mistoffelees. When the Broadway production closed, he said he was invited to reprise the role in London\u2019s West End, where he performed for the next two years. In 1998, Brent said he was asked to be on a recording of the show playing Mr. Mistoffelees, another milestone in his long history with the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI really grew up through \u2018Cats,\u2019\u201d Brent said. \u201cI went from a nobody then to making the film, to having my picture on the front of the theater and people coming dressed as me to see the show and having signs with my name on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brent said because of his deep history with \u201cCats,\u201d he was originally skeptical about the revival, \u201cCATS: The Jellicle Ball,\u201d when it was first announced. When he went to see the show last year off-Broadway, Brent said he walked into the theater with his \u201carms crossed,\u201d waiting to be disappointed. But after the opening number, he said he felt so relaxed and had the best time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Brent, \u201cCATS: The Jellicle Ball\u201d is very similar to the original musical, but instead of being literal cats competing to be reborn, they are people who are competing in a New York City ballroom competition. Brent said the show emphasizes ballroom culture, a style of dance party that developed in New York\u2019s underground LGBTQ+ scene between the 1960s and 1980s.<\/p>\n
Brent said the biggest difference he noticed from the original \u201cCats\u201d to the revival was the audience reaction. According to Brent, \u201cCATS: The Jellicle Ball\u201d encourages the audience to react and pushes against the stereotype of what theater can be.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I saw it, I was like, this is the most exciting audience I’ve been in in a long time,\u201d Brent said. \u201cPeople were hollering, and fan clacking and rooting for people in the show. It was just this release of excitement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brent said he was impressed by how well the revival understood the main theme of a community coming together to celebrate each other. According to Brent, that message is true onstage as well as offstage.<\/p>\n
After seeing the show off-Broadway, Brent said the co-director saw him and recognized him as Mr. Mistoffelees and told him the 1998 film version of \u201cCats\u201d inspired him to create the revival.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe passing of the torch is so important,\u201d Brent said. \u201cYou need to understand where everything comes from. He literally told me, \u2018We’re here because of what you did,\u2019 and that was so beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Brent, another way he is passing down his legacy is by being a part of the producing team for \u201cCATS: The Jellicle Ball.\u201d He said a lead producer of the show reached out to former \u201cCats\u201d cast members and asked if they wanted to be involved, and Brent jumped at the opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is something cool about the lineage of us being part of that original production, and now ushering in this new production,\u201d Brent said.<\/p>\n
Brent said being on the producing team has involved jumping on Zoom meetings and learning about the business side of theater. He said he hopes to bring his newfound knowledge back to his students because producing will always be relevant in the industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s cool to be really in it and have hands-on, experimental learning,\u201d Brent said. \u201cWe tell our students to go study abroad and immerse themselves all the time. And I feel like this is my version of immersive learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brent said this is his first time serving on a producing team, and at this stage, his role primarily involves contributing financially. But Brent said he is hopeful to move up as he gets more producing opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy producing experience is sort of mirroring my performing experience,\u201d Brent said. \u201cI’m joining up at the baseline level of producer, and as I go, I’ll get more say in what happens in shows. It\u2019s very full circle.\u201d<\/p>\n