The original production of the international hit musical “Cats” premiered May 11, 1981, at the New London Theatre in England. The first show was staged in the United States on October 7, 1982. Performances of “Cats” have been running ever since, making it the most successful musical of all time. On June 19, 1997, after almost 15 years and 6,138 shows, “Cats” became the longest-running Broadway show ever. There have been 42 different productions performed in 26 countries. “Cats” is based on the 14 poems of T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.” Legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Weber created the music for this incredibly popular show. Its best-known song is “Memory.” Weber also created the music for “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1971), “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (1973), “Evita” (1978), and “The Phantom of the Opera” (1986). This story chronicles a gathering of special “Jellicle” cats, who meet in a junkyard to choose which of them will be reborn. The characters have curious names like Old Deuteronomy, Jennyanydots (The Old Gumbie Cat), Bustopher Jones, The Rum Tum Tugger, Grizabella (The Glamour Cat), Gus (The Theatre Cat), Mungojerrie, Mr. Mistoffolees, and Rumpleteazer.