Legendary musical set to bring feline magic to Perth crowds
Musical theatre performer Gabriyel Thomas has taken dogged dedication to the next level to make her Jellicle CATS dream come true.
During the final weeks of Perth's Sister Act season — where she played Michelle and alternated the role of Deloris Van Cartier — Thomas would spend her weekdays in Sydney-based CATS rehearsals and weekends on the Crown Perth Theatre stage.
While that is a lot of frequent flyer points, the 29-year-old said she would have done anything to be in the 40th anniversary Australian tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous musical based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.
Not only is the Ohio-born performer in the record-breaking musical, but she has landed the role of former glamour cat and now ostracised feline, Grizabella. Gabriyel Thomas will play Grizabella in the production of Cats that will come to Perth later this year, at Crown Perth. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian
'My introduction to musical theatre was CATS the musical,' Thomas said, laughing at the full circle moment.
'It's crazy how life plays out that way but my mum just randomly brought home the 1998 VHS one day and from that moment on, I just remember being hooked.
'I don't even know if I would be a performer if it weren't for CATS, which is so crazy that I'm in this rehearsal room now for this show.'
Thomas will star in the production alongside Todd McKenney, Mark Vincent, Lucy Maunder, Des Flanagan, Jarrod Draper, Leigh Archer and the rest of the talented ensemble.
The show opens in Sydney from June 17 before the tour reaches Crown Theatre Perth on November 8. The tour reaches Crown Theatre Perth on November 8. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian
'I think the thing that's set apart this experience from any other rehearsal experience is the fact that everyone who is teaching the show is someone who has been a part of the CATS world for years,' Thomas, who is based between New York City and Melbourne, said.
'They love the show, and they have so many different specifics and nuances they're able to bring into the rehearsal space that helps us as actors get into the mindset and get into the world of the show.
'It's just been a magical room, because the people who are teaching the room have already brought the magic there, and they just kind of hold our hand and show us how we can bring that magic to the stage.'
CATS is at Crown Theatre Perth from November 8. Ticket presales start June 10, with general public sales from June 13 at catsthemusical.com.au.
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