Welcome to the Ridge Drama Club’s production of CATS. It has been a very special journey to our Junkyard this spring season. For starters we are thrilled to have a guest choreographer and co-director, Zachary Daniel Jones, joining our staff. Mr. Jones made his Broadway debut in the revival of CATS as Mungojerrie. Also within our staff we celebrated a wedding and two babies being born! It has definitely been a season for the books.
Tonight we invite you to a world where we “see in the dark” the magic of Jellicle cats. At first glance CATS can seem simple. When Stephen Sondheim asked Andrew Lloyd Weber what it was about in 1981, Weber answered, “it’s about cats.” In reality this musical broke theatrical boundaries by discovering the concept musical, creating an immersive audience experience, and honoring the source material through style and form. It also incorporated new technologies (sound, set, lights) as story-telling elements. Our hope is that you fall in love with the show as much as we have over these past three months. We encourage you to read the lyrics below known as the 12 Lines to gain insight into the world and story you will be a part of this evening.
Jellicle cats meet once a year
At the Jellicle Ball where we all rejoice
And the Jellicle leader will soon appear
And make what is known as the Jellicle Choice
That's when Old Deuteronomy just before dawn
Through a silence you feel could cut with a knife
Announces the cat who can now be reborn
And come back to a different Jellicle life.
For waiting up there is the Heaviside layer
Full of wonders one Jellicle only will see
And Jellicles ask because Jellicles dare
Who will it be?
Tonight we will all get to experience a show centered around redemption, acceptance and community. Beyond these being major themes of the musical they are also ones that Ridge Drama Club holds dear. If you’ve ever been to the Drama Club website and read the manifesto our Officers wrote you’ll see phrases like “we treat our club as family” & “anyone can be heard and seen.” That’s exactly the spirit of this show; the strength and value of community and how powerful it can be when used for good. The Jellicle Ball welcomes every cat to be seen and heard and in a beautiful story of redemption, only one is chosen to enter the Heaviside layer.
I could not be more proud of these students and all they have accomplished for this musical and the entire school year. This drama club has not only been able to perform two live productions, but they have also created a virtual performance (Showtime!), won state awards at our NJ Thespian festival (some ranking Nationally!), and even created an entire “virtual library” for elementary teachers to use as they brought story books to life in videos for curriculum use. It has been a busy and wonderful year for Ridge Drama Club. Thank you to our amazing boosters and administrators for the support along the way and to the finish line!
To the cast and crews: I am so proud of you and your creative and fearless spirit. We look up on the stage tonight and see a gorgeous set, amazing lights and sound, incredible costumes, and cats dancing and singing like I’ve never seen them perform before. You guys did it! (And all during a pandemic!) My hope is that you take this “memory” with you forever.
“Look, a new day has begun.”
Love,
Mrs. Harvey & Mr. Jones
