Berkeley Playhouse closes out its 25/26 MainStage Season with the fantastical feline musical Cats, beginning May 22, 2026.
ABOUT CATS:
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. Directed by Kimberly Dooley, assistant directed by Clara Holland, music directed by Michael Patrick Wiles, and choreographed by Kevin Gruwell.
Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Cats explores the hijinks and heart of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. The musical follows a non-traditional structure of vignettes that introduce each member of the Jellicle tribe, spotlighting each cat’s personality while incorporating the poetic movement of their story and interactions with each other.
Berkeley Playhouse’s production moves the musical’s traditional junkyard setting to a long-forgotten vintage theater, transforming the historic Julia Morgan Theater into a dream-like spectacle. The production will blend fantastical costumes and the mesmerizing movement of many dance styles–such as ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatics–with the intrigue of an old vaudeville stage.
FROM THE DIRECTOR:
“For my tenth birthday my family brought me on a day trip to San Francisco. Little did I know, it was a ruse,” Dooley said. “We were actually there to see the Broadway tour of Cats, which was not only my big birthday surprise, but also my first live musical and the beginning of my lifelong love affair with the art of theater.”
“From the moment a dazzling feline creature danced past me in the aisle my mouth dropped open in awe and I sat mesmerized for the whole rest of the show. I vowed to spend my life trying to make this kind of magic. So, now…decades later…what better place to set this song poem by the great T.S. Eliot and Andrew Lloyd Webber than an old theater – once forgotten but with the spark of pure magic still alive within it – to be brought back by this troupe of wonder-filled cats.”
THE CATS CAST:
Kyle Herrera as Old Deuteronomy
Tielle Baker as Grizabella
Lucca Troutman* as DemeterTed Sclavos as Munkustrap
Roeen Nooran as Rum Tum Tugger
Karen Canfield as Jennyanydots
Liam Cody as Skimbleshanks
Dale Tanner as Bombalurina
Aleshani Altan as Jemima
Johan Raymundo Casal as Mistoffelees / Quaxo
Ariel Anderson as Macavity / Bustopher Jones / Admetus
Diella Wottrich as Jellylorum
Ronnie Anderson as Asparagus
Hannah Martinez-Crow as Rumpleteazer
Mateo Urquidez as Mungojerrie
Casey Dela Cruz as Victoria
Samantha Ayoob as Cassandra
Scout Del Real as Alonzo
Ayani Dorsey as Tantomile / Coricopat
Sasha Holton as Pouncival
Meaghan Wottrich as Etcetera / Electra
Mark Kanazawa as Carbucketty / George
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
PREVIEWS: Friday, May 22, at 7pm, and Saturday, May 23, at 1pm
OPENS: Saturday, May 23, at 7pm
PRESS: Saturday, May 23, at 7pm, through Sunday, June 14, at 2pm
PERFORMANCES: Performances run Friday through Sunday, and select weekday evenings, beginning May 22, 2026. Press can reserve comps for performances running May 23 (opening night) to June 14, 2026, by emailing press@berkeleyplayhouse.org.
TICKETS: For tickets ($29 for previews, $19–$55 for regular performances, plus $3.95 ticketing vendor fee per ticket) or more information, the public may call (510) 845-8542 x351 or visit berkeleyplayhouse.org. Group rates are available for 10 or more people. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. Due to the unique performance schedule, please check the website for specific dates and times. All performances at the Julia Morgan Theater, located at 2640 College Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704.
