Cats

Act 1: The Jellicle Ball and the Introduction to the Cats

Main Characters:

• Grizabella:

  • Outfit:
    • Grizabella’s costume reflects her outcast status. Her outfit is tattered, with a ragged, worn appearance. She wears a long, torn dress with a faded, muted color palette of browns, grays, and earth tones.
    • Accessories: Torn gloves, ragged hair, and a weathered face. Her costume symbolizes the hardship she has faced over the years, and her disheveled appearance contrasts with the more lively, energetic Jellicle Cats.

• Munkustrap:

  • Outfit:
    • Munkustrap’s costume is sleek, with a bold, masculine look that is designed for leadership. He wears a form-fitting, dark-colored bodysuit with stripes or fur patterns, along with a belt that signifies his role as protector.
    • Accessories: A long tail, face paint or makeup to give him a cat-like appearance, and a collar to reflect his commanding presence in the tribe.

• Rum Tum Tugger:

  • Outfit:
    • Rum Tum Tugger’s costume is flamboyant and extravagant, designed to reflect his playful, rebellious personality. His outfit features bold colors, such as black and gold or silver, often with metallic accents or rhinestones.
    • Accessories: A large, voluminous mane of hair or wig, jewelry, and a playful expression, all highlighting his charismatic, rock-star persona.

• Old Deuteronomy:

  • Outfit:
    • Old Deuteronomy, as the wise and respected leader of the Jellicle Cats, wears a more regal costume. His outfit is often a mix of browns, golds, and rich, earthy tones to symbolize his age, wisdom, and importance.
    • Accessories: A long, flowing cloak or shawl, a crown-like headdress or fur, and facial makeup to reflect his elder status.

• Victoria:

  • Outfit:
    • Victoria’s costume is sleek and elegant, reflecting her purity and grace. She wears a white or light-colored bodysuit with intricate patterns or fur accents, which gives her a delicate, graceful look.
    • Accessories: Light face makeup to accentuate her gentle features, and a flowing, ethereal tail that enhances her elegant presence.

• Magical Mister Mistoffelees:

  • Outfit:
    • Mister Mistoffelees’ costume is magical and flashy, with a black bodysuit that includes silver or gold accents. His outfit often features sparkles or sequins to reflect his magical abilities.
    • Accessories: A top hat, gloves, and flashy face makeup to emphasize his trickster, magical persona.

Ensemble (Jellicle Cats, Dancers, and Background Characters):

• Jellicle Cats:

  • The ensemble’s costumes are designed to highlight the different personalities of each cat while maintaining the overall cat-like aesthetic. The costumes often feature skin-tight bodysuits with various fur patterns, bold colors, and tail attachments.
  • Accessories: Cat ears, face makeup, long, curled tails, and sometimes additional elements like collars or fur to add depth to each character’s look.

• Dancers and Backup Cats:

  • The dancers, who are part of the Jellicle tribe, wear similar bodysuits to the main characters, but with more variation in the patterns or colors to reflect their individual personas. The colors are often bright and vivid, and each dancer’s outfit is designed for mobility and performance.
  • Accessories: Cat ears, tails, and face makeup to give them the feline look.

Act 2: The Jellicle Choice and Farewell

Main Characters (Continued):

• Grizabella:

  • Costume Change (The Jellicle Ball):
    • As Grizabella sings her iconic song, “Memory,” her costume can evolve to show her acceptance and redemption. Her once-ragged dress might become more regal or bright to reflect her emotional transformation.
    • Accessories: Grizabella may receive a fresh coat of makeup and a slightly more polished look to reflect her acceptance among the Jellicles.

• Munkustrap:

  • Costume Change:
    • Munkustrap’s costume remains similar to Act 1, maintaining his leadership role within the tribe. His sleek bodysuit stays intact, though the energy of his movements may change as the story builds to its climax.
    • Accessories: A tail and face makeup, which remain consistent throughout the show.

• Rum Tum Tugger:

  • Costume Change:
    • Rum Tum Tugger’s costume may change to reflect his continued flirtation with the Jellicle Cats, with more glitter and shine added as his playful and confident persona grows throughout Act 2.
    • Accessories: A bigger, bolder mane, rhinestone jewelry, and his flirtatious energy.

• Old Deuteronomy:

  • Costume Change:
    • Old Deuteronomy’s costume may remain the same or become more elaborate as the Jellicle choice occurs, reinforcing his authority and the importance of the Jellicle leader.
    • Accessories: His cloak, crown, and makeup may be adjusted for the grand finale.

Ensemble (Jellicle Cats, Dancers, and Final Celebration):

• Jellicle Cats:

  • In the final scene, the Jellicle Cats wear their most festive and colorful costumes as they celebrate the Jellicle choice. Each cat wears unique but celebratory attire with vibrant colors, sequins, and extra embellishments.
  • Accessories: Extra facial makeup or sparkles, festive costumes with more decoration, and a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere in their movements.

• Dancers and Final Cats:

  • The ensemble's costumes for the grand finale may have a more festive and celebratory tone, with some dancers donning more intricate details or fur patterns. The vibrant colors and detailed sequins or beadwork in their costumes reflect the high-energy final act.
  • Accessories: More exaggerated tails, oversized cat ears, and dramatic makeup to showcase their role in the grand Jellicle ball.

Special Notes:

• Color Palette:

  • Act 1: Earth tones (browns, grays, golds) and metallic accents dominate, especially in the costumes for the main characters like Grizabella and Old Deuteronomy. The overall look is meant to reflect the gritty, street-level life of the Jellicles before the Jellicle choice.
  • Act 2: The costumes evolve into more vibrant, festive colors, with shades like reds, blues, purples, and golds reflecting the exuberance of the Jellicle ball and the celebration of the Jellicle choice.

• Fabric Choices:

  • Act 1: The costumes are made from fabrics that mimic fur, with materials like velvet, stretch fabric, and faux fur to provide flexibility for the dancers and convey the furry, cat-like aesthetic.
  • Act 2: The fabrics remain consistent but are enhanced with more shimmer and sparkle for the Jellicle ball. Sequins, glitter, and added embellishments bring a sense of grandeur to the costumes in the final scenes.