Cats, “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats”/“Memory”

The cat-themed cabaret by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which featured a chorus in yak fur and Kiss-like makeup, was so well-known when it first debuted that it is now difficult to remember how bizarre it was. The show was a loose musical interpretation of light verse by T.S. Eliot with little to no plot.

The show's opening number, which perfectly captures the variety-show vibe of the performance and Gillian Lynne's slinky choreography, as well as its breakout song, "Memory," were combined for the Tony Awards. Betty Buckley performed "Memory" with wounded, searing delusional intensity, at the height of her formidable powers. The background is a massive pile of trash, with furry costumes and heavy makeup. alternatively, the formula for one of the most enduring Broadway musicals. Her rendition of "Memory" and "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" at the 1983 Tony Awards featured sensual choreography by Gillian Lynne, making it a performance to remember.

Year: 1983