Post by chunkecheeks on Jun 17, 2022 3:12:03 GMT
So for a good while I've been searching for any video footage of anything related to the original Broadway run of CATS (1982-2000). There were a lot of regular appearances of the cast from this run on various talk shows, so I'll list the ones I haven't been able to locate here in hopes someone can find these episodes.
First up is the episode of The Phil Donahue Show. I haven't been able to find the exact episode number but I'm fairly sure it's from the 80s as it featured Laurie Beechman as Grizabella and by the costume I *think* it's from her first run (1984-1988), however she did do some short runs as Griz in the 90s so it could also be from 91, 92, 93, or 97. However, Laurie Beechman also played Griz during the US Tour 1, so if this was promoting the tour and *not* the Broadway show then it would have been 83-84. Unfortunately a pretty wide net here. There's another episode where she performs out of makeup and is interviewed but this one I'm talking about is specifically one where she's in full Cats makeup and is joined by the rest of the cast. We actually do have a clip from this episode! It's of her performing Memory: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbS_60VbF7g The clip is great but I'd love to find the rest of this episode so I can see if there were any other segments with the Cats cast and perhaps get this performance in higher quality.
This next one I have pretty exact information on. The Rosie O'Donnell Show season 1 episode 232, it aired the day after Cats broke the record for longest running musical (June 20th 1997) and the episode description I found online mentions Laurie Beechman, so I'm pretty sure this is it! The evidence I have for this one are photos from veeeeery ancient websites.
These photos feature Jacob Brent as Mistoffelees and he was in the cast during the record breaking performance, so that lends some more credence to it being episode 232 specifically.
I have seen photos of the Broadway cast on other episodes of talk shows and the like from these ancient websites, so if you come across any even if I didn't ask for them specifically I'd love to have them! Same goes for any footage of the original Broadway run. Despite years of searching, I haven't been able to find a full bootleg of the show nor have I been able to find footage of all of the segments. The only full recording of the show that I know exists is at the New York Public Library and is only viewable in person so I have no way to watch it. I love this version of the show very much and I'll take any breadcrumbs anyone finds
Thank you <3