Grizabella Explained

Grizabella
Creator:T. S. Eliot
Species:Cat
Gender:Female

Grizabella the Glamour Cat is a starring role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. The show's signature number, "Memory," belongs to her.

Elaine Paige originated the role in the show's West End premier in 1981 (replacing Dame Judi Dench just four days before the production's opening night), and by Betty Buckley on Broadway in 1982. Buckley won the 1983 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal. Jennifer Hudson played Grizabella in the 2019 film version.

Character

In Act I, the Jellicle Cats are in the process of deciding who among them will ascend to the Heaviside Layer (the Jellicles' conception of heaven). Grizabella enters the scene an outsider to the tribe, old and decrepit. She is no longer the glamorous cat of her youth. Having left the Jellicle cats behind long ago, she is now alone, left with only memories of happier days. She begs for re-acceptance, but Demeter and Bombalurina, repulsed, explain to the tribe who she once was ("Grizabella the Glamour Cat"), and urge them to shun her, which they do.[1] [2]

At the end of Act I, Grizabella is left to watch from afar as the other cats dance at the Jellicle Ball. When she attempts to dance, too, she finds that she is now too weak to do so, a fact that she laments in both a reprise of "Grizabella" and a prelude to "Memory."

In the show's climactic scene, Grizabella sings "Memory" in full to the gathering of the Jellicle cats, pleading for understanding and acceptance. She collapses, near death, in midst of it but presses on until the end, encouraged by the kitten Jemima. Victoria then offers her a gesture of acceptance, and then the other Jellicles follow suit. They escort Grizabella before their leader, Old Deuteronomy, who in turn escorts her as she ascends as their chosen one to the Heaviside Layer.

The role of Grizabella requires a wide vocal range and the ability to belt to E♭5.[3] [4]

Origins and songs

T. S. Eliot omitted Grizabella when he published Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats,[5] the musical's source; he thought that her story was "too sad for children."

The opening lyrics of the musical's number "Grizabella: The Glamour Cat" are from Eliot's "Rhapsody on a Windy Night" (with the substitution of "cat" for "woman"):

The song lyric concludes with an unpublished fragment--all that remained of the omitted poem--given to Lloyd Webber by Eliot's widow and literary executor, Valerie Eliot:

Grizabella had "haunted many a low resort," and made the postman sigh "as he scratched his head / You really would have thought she ought to be dead / And who would ever suppose that that / Was Grizabella the Glamour Cat?"[6]

LLoyd Webber combined this composite figure with his own interpretation of a letter Eliot had written to his publisher referring to the Jellicle Cats as ballooning "Up, up, up to the Russell Hotel / Up, up, to the Heaviside Layer" (of the ionosphere,originally).[7] This pair of concepts transformed Lloyd Webber's musical setting of Eliot's verses for children into a landmark of musical theatre, introducing to a central death-and-rebirth theme not present in any of the Eliot source material.

Grizabella's song "Memory," is the centerpiece of the show, and is considered to be one of the most successful Broadway musical songs. Trevor Nunn is said to have loosely based its lyrics on Eliot's "Rhapsody," too, completing them only during the show's opening previews in London.

The song has been recorded hundreds of times by artists including Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Hudson, Nicole Scherzinger, Leonora Lewis and Johnny Mathis.

Notable performers

The role of Grizabella was originated by Elaine Paige in the West End in 1981.[8] She later reprised the role for the 1998 film version. Betty Buckley originated the role in the 1982 Broadway production, earning the 1983 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.[9] In 2015, pop singer Nicole Scherzinger was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the West End revival.[10] In the 2016 Broadway revival, Mamie Parris replaced Leona Lewis in the role in October.[11]

Notable performers who have played the role of Grizabella include:

West End

Broadway

Film

Others

In popular culture

Madame Tussauds New York features a wax figure of Grizabella that sings "Memory".[50]

References

Print sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grizabella. Cats the Musical (official website). 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330022806/https://www.catsthemusical.com/characters/grizabella. 30 March 2019. live.
  2. Web site: The Story of Cats. Cats the musical (official website). 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323165730/https://www.catsthemusical.com/about-the-show/the-story. 23 March 2019. live.
  3. Web site: Cats. 2 June 2017. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. 30 March 2019. live. 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330005639/https://royalcaribbeanproductions.com/featured-shows/Cats.
  4. Web site: Cast / Vocal Requirements: Cats. The Musical Company. 2 April 2019. 2 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190402073555/https://themusicalcompany.com/show/cats/cast-requirements/. dead.
  5. Web site: T S Eliot's Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats The British LIbrary . 2025-09-27 . British Library.
  6. News: Tolentino . Jia . 2019-12-16 . The Improbable Insanity of “Cats” . 2025-09-27 . The New Yorker . en-US . 0028-792X.
  7. Web site: T. S. Eliot . 2025-09-27 . tseliot.com . en.
  8. Web site: Original London Cast List. 30 March 2019. Really Useful Group. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080815020451/http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/cats/cast/origlondon1981.htm . 15 August 2008.
  9. Web site: Search Past Winners: Keyword Search – "Cats". Tony Award. 25 March 2019. live. 25 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190325130038/https://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/history/pastwinners/tonys_results.html?lname=Cats.
  10. Web site: Olivier Winners 2015. Official London Theatre. 9 July 2019.
  11. Web site: Cats, Neil Simon Theatre 250 W. 52nd St., New York, NY – Cast. Playbill. 14 April 2019. live. 14 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190414093110/http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000152-d6f4-d39d-a95f-fef413a00000&type=op#oc.
  12. Web site: Cats curls up for longer stay in West End – with Kerry Ellis joining cast. The Guardian. 5 January 2015. Ben. Beaumont-Thomas. 26 March 2019. live. 26 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190326100225/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jan/05/cats-nicole-scherzinger-kerry-ellis-andrew-lloyd-webber.
  13. Web site: Photo Flash: Beverley Knight Stars in CATS, Returning to London, January 2. BroadwayWorld. 26 October 2015. 16 May 2019.
  14. Web site: Let the Memory Live Again with a Look Back at Grizabellas Past. 6 October 2017.
  15. Web site: 1998 Video Cast List. 1 May 2010. Really Useful Group. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100407095655/http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/cats/shows-archive/cats-cast-lists/1998-film. 7 April 2010.
  16. Web site: Cats Movie Musical Officially Begins Filming; Full Cast Revealed. Screen Rant. 13 December 2018. Sandy. Schaefer. 21 March 2019.
  17. Web site: Lauer-Williams. Kathy. 24 October 2009. Flying High ** Wilson native is Broadway's newest Wicked Witch of the West ** 'Wicked' on Broadway. The Morning Call. https://web.archive.org/web/20190519084052/https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-2009-10-24-4464005-story.html. 19 May 2019. 20 April 2019. live.
  18. Web site: Music Circus Summer Season to Include O'Malley, von Essen, Page, Piro, Lanier and More. Playbill. 23 June 2003. Andrew. Gans. 1 June 2019. live. 1 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190601152816/http://www.playbill.com/article/music-circus-summer-season-to-include-omalley-von-essen-page-piro-lanier-and-more-com-113912.
  19. Web site: Music Circus Season to Feature Beach, Davi, Lee, Denman, Charles, Page and More. Playbill. 2 June 2009. Andrew. Gans. 1 June 2019. live. 1 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190601153512/http://www.playbill.com/article/music-circus-season-to-feature-beach-davi-lee-denman-charles-page-and-more-com-161433.
  20. Web site: Muny's Cats, with Block, Page, Teeter, Dunn, Dudding, Begins July 19. Playbill. 19 July 2010. Andrew. Gans. 15 April 2019. live. 19 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190519083653/http://www.playbill.com/article/munys-cats-with-block-page-teeter-dunn-dudding-begins-july-19-com-170113.
  21. Web site: Watch Taylor Dayne Glam It Up as Grizabella in Cats | Broadway Buzz . Broadway.com . 2013-08-22 . 2015-05-05.
  22. Web site: "Pensei muito se eu realmente daria conta", diz Paula Lima sobre 'Cats'. "I thought a lot if I really would," says Paula Lima about 'Cats'. pt. Terra (Brazil). 25 March 2010. Gustavo. Pelogia. 25 March 2019. live. 25 March 2019. https://archive.today/20190325072436/https://www.terra.com.br/diversao/arte-e-cultura/pensei-muito-se-eu-realmente-daria-conta-diz-paula-lima-sobre-cats,92b8078553a7a310VgnCLD200000bbcceb0aRCRD.html.
  23. Web site: Las siete vidas de CATS. The seven lives of CATS. Proceso. 7 August 2005. es. 20 April 2019. 19 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190419190359/https://www.proceso.com.mx/195165/las-siete-vidas-de-cats. dead.
  24. Web site: Gerardo Quiroz graduates with premiere of Cats. es. El Universal. Mexico City. 10 May 2013. live. 3 June 2019. 3 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190603033236/http://archivo.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/922227.html.
  25. Web site: Cats, teatro mexicano con talla de Broadway. es. Forbes (Mexico). 16 May 2014. Viridiana. Mendoza Escamilla. 3 June 2019. live. 3 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190603032223/https://www.forbes.com.mx/cats-teatro-mexicano-con-talla-de-broadway/.
  26. Web site: Rocío Banquells cumple su sueño de participar en 'Cats'. El Informador. es. 20 July 2014. 3 June 2019. live. 3 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190603035417/https://www.informador.mx/Entretenimiento/Rocio-Banquells-cumple-su-sueno-de-participar-en-Cats-20140720-0089.html.
  27. Web site: Landeta asegura que elenco de Cats supera al de 1991. Landeta ensures that cast of Cats exceeds 1991. es. Vanguardia MX. 6 May 2013. 25 March 2019. live. 25 March 2019. https://archive.today/20190325061545/https://vanguardia.com.mx/landetaaseguraqueelencodecatssuperaalde1991-1734081.html.
  28. Web site: Yuri dará vida a Grizabella en el musical Cats. Yuri will play Grizabella in the musical Cats. es. El Sol De Mexico. 22 August 2018. 25 March 2019. live. 25 March 2019. https://archive.today/20190325060545/https://www.elsoldemexico.com.mx/gossip/yuri-dara-vida-a-grizabella-en-el-musical-cats-1933894.html.
  29. Web site: Ute Lemper to Bring Songs from the Broken Heart to Feinstein's/54 Below This Weekend. BroadwayWorld. 6 January 2017. 16 April 2019.
  30. Web site: Cats: Helsinki Production (1986). Ovrtur. 17 April 2019.
  31. Web site: Curriculum Vitae. piadouwes.com. 17 April 2019.
  32. Web site: Cats: 2006 Rotterdam. Stage Entertainment. 18 April 2019. 28 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190928194235/https://www.stage-entertainment.com/productions/qQ3G4QvmpxXw0/. dead.
  33. Web site: English Version of West End Musical Cats Still Popular. Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre. 20 June 2018. 25 March 2019. live. 25 March 2019. https://archive.today/20190325055148/https://www.rai.nl/en/RAI-Amsterdam/nieuwsbericht/English-version-of-West-End-musical-CATS-still-popular.
  34. Web site: Efter 20 år – nu får Pernilla sjunga "Memory" i "Cats". Aftonbladet. 28 August 2003. Fredrik. Sperling. 6 August 2019.
  35. Web site: Muzikálová diva Katarína Hasprová: Pravda o rivalstve so Sklovskou!. Musical Diva Katarína Hasprová: The Truth About Rivalry with Sklovská!. sk. Nový čas. 28 March 2016. 25 March 2019. live. 25 March 2019. https://archive.today/20190325083419/https://www.cas.sk/clanok/377920/muzikalova-diva-katarina-hasprova-pravda-o-rivalstve-so-sklovskou/.
  36. Web site: Cast Lists: UK/Europe tour, 2013. catsthemusical.com (official website). dead. 9 April 2019. 25 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130525082539/http://www.catsthemusical.com/the-show/cast-lists/ukeurope-tour-2013/.
  37. Web site: Cast lists: UK Tour, 2006. Really Useful Group. 26 March 2019. dead. 5 February 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100205020116/http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/cats/shows-archive/cats-cast-lists/cats-uk-tour-2006.
  38. Web site: Hill . Patrick . Jane McDonald lands Nicole Scherzinger's sexy Cats role after wowing composer Andrew Lloyd Webber - 3am & Mirror Online . Mirror. 2015-03-21 . 2015-05-05.
  39. Web site: Hoofdrol voor Jenna Lee-James in Nederlandse Cats. De Telegraaf. 19 November 2018. 15 May 2019.
  40. Web site: Li-Tong Hsu • Cats the Musical • International Tour.
  41. Web site: Bev Harrell. ACA Entertainment. https://web.archive.org/web/20030525202113/http://www.acaentertainment.com.au/bevharrell_1.html. 25 May 2003.
  42. Web site: CATS news: Delia Hannah confirmed to play Grizabella in Adelaide & Perth. 17 January 2016. Matt. Edwards. AussieTheatre. 25 March 2019. 25 March 2019. live. https://archive.today/20190325070621/https://aussietheatre.com.au/news/cats-news-delia-hannah-confirmed-to-play-grizabella-in-adelaide-perth.
  43. Web site: CATS – Harvest Rain Breaks Records. 5 July 2014. AussieTheatre. Bobbi-Lea. Dionysius. 25 March 2019. 25 March 2019. live. https://archive.today/20190325081525/https://aussietheatre.com.au/reviews/cats.
  44. Web site: Lea Salonga Plays 'Grizabella' the Philippines, 7/24. BroadwayWorld (Philippines). 24 July 2010. Oliver. Oliveros. 25 March 2019. live. 25 March 2019. https://archive.today/20190325075128/https://www.broadwayworld.com/philippines/article/Lea-Salonga-Plays-Grizabella-the-Philippines-724-page6.
  45. Web site: 캣츠 CATS (2008/09/19 ~ 2009/01/18). ko. 플레이 DB. 19 April 2019.
  46. http://www.playdb.co.kr/playdb/PlaydbDetail.asp?sReqPlayNo=24676 "캣츠 – 이천 CATS (2011/08/26 ~ 2011/08/28)"
  47. http://www.playdb.co.kr/playdb/PlaydbDetail.asp?sReqPlayNo=33636 "캣츠 – 제주 Musical CATS (2012/04/20 ~ 2012/04/22)"
  48. Web site: Keep Kallang Theatre. AsiaOne. 13 August 2014. Lisabel. Ting. 19 April 2019.
  49. Web site: Cast lists: Beijing, 2004. Really Useful Group. 26 March 2019. dead. 13 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100413132524/http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/cats/shows-archive/cats-cast-lists/cats-beijing-2004.
  50. Web site: Broadway fans will love this new immersive Madame Tussauds exhibit featuring 'Cats,' 'Phantom,' 'Big' and more. USA Today. 5 June 2019. 5 July 2019.

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