Published: November 12, 2009 12:56 pm      

'Cats' performed at Amish Acres

NAPPANEE — “Cats” in a barn is appropriate.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber production is being performed at the Amish Acres Round Barn Theatre through Dec. 31.

“Cats” received nearly every theater award Broadway and Lloyd Webber’s own West End in London have to give. It became the longest-running Broadway show in history until it was overtaken by Lloyd Webber’s musical “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“Because of the complexity of the show,” explained Laurie Schotz, managing director of the Round Barn, “the demand for nearly continuous, often acrobatic dancing, and singing, casting the production has been an intensive recruitment process with auditions in Memphis, St. Louis, and Charlotte, North Carolina.”

Few regional theaters have the resources to produce “Cats,” she said.

“We are fortunate,” Schotz said, “to have a dedicated and talented artistic and technical staff to bring this ambitious project to reality.”

The show is being directed and choreographed by Bryan Wlas who directed this summer’s production of “Oklahoma!” He is the resident choreographer and an adjunct dance instructor for The Renaissance Center in Tennessee.

Nathan Brown, who music-directed “Oklahoma!” with Wlas, teams up for the “Cats” production.

“Among the challenges for the cast,” Wlas said, “(are) distinctive and detailed makeup for each character, taking up to an hour before each performance.”

Donations sought

Amish Acres staff and the Humane Society of St. Joseph and Elkhart counties have teamed up to save more than “nine lives.”

On Nov. 21 and 22 at the 2 p.m. matinées, Dec. 19 at the 2 p.m. matinée and Dec. 20 at the 7 p.m. performance, patrons are invited to bring in a pet supply donation of food, blankets and toys to receive $5 off an adult ticket for any of these four performances.

In addition, various actors from the show will host a face-painting session beginning at noon before the 2 p.m. matinées Nov. 28 and Dec. 27.

Children are invited to get their face painted like their favorite cat.

Donations will be accepted and half of the proceeds will go to the Humane Societies of both Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.