I would like to post a couple of things that could me a bit of bother and worry as far as this show is concerned.
I'd be worried if this show sank into oblivion and became a cult show like the Rocky Horror show. Though we've got an excellent film version I would say that CATS seems to exist better as a stage show, as the film made many unfortunate cuts. I know that the Broadway & London productions have been closed for almost a decade now and I know they weren't doing good business in their last two or so years. However, I do hope it isn't wishful thinking to hope it could hve a homecoming at the New London one day...
Also, I might mention something about the score. Several numbers have had variants and undergone rewrites and changes over the years, especially Mungojerrie & Rumpelteazer and Growltiger's duet with Griddlebone. I'm well aware from the CATS UK Tour site and elsewhere that ALW would rather his Growltigers sang Billy M'Caw rather than the pastiche opera number. I've mentioned in some of my other posts that I like the opera pastiche better. But will this mean that we won't hear the pastiche opera in any future official productions, and will there be less chances of hearing the various variants of numbers outside the cast albums?

Currently Cats play in at least Rome, Oslo and Stockholm, has a running US tour and a australia dito and from what I can see is running preatty much at sold out houses every where. So even thou it no longer has a home in west end or broadway its still one off the most popular shows out there. So from that point I think youre concern is a bit over the top.

What I do miss is a european english speaking tour that would complement the now popular local speaking shows and give every one in thoose country a chance to see Cats in its original laungage.

As for the changes I think its a healty thing that Cats is alive and evolve. But there is no need to change things for its own sake if its not ads something to the show. Just my two cents.

But Rome, Oslo and Stockholm productions are not replica productions... What I miss is a good replica production in any European country that would be worth seeing for people who like the original production style. And I'm also worry there are fewer and fewer productions.

About the opera part, I prefer it to Billy McCaw too. In the lasts replica European productions (those which run after the London closing) had all the Ballad instead of the aria. So I'm not sure we will have again the chance to hear the aria...

well, there WAS a good english production in Europe, the CATS tour. It ended in Frankfurt this January and, from what i recall, was rather a success.
From what I believe it is just considered to early to be set up again, especially now with this financial crisis going on (which, frankly, in my eyes even makes sense, not seen through a fans eyes that is).

I am very much wishing that there would be a stable place with CATS the original in it, not bashing the newer productions, but just looking at the pictures of the current to be in Rome gave me the willies (I'm sorry... silicone masks?). That combined with the fact that CATS lives on stage and not on CD and video, makes me fear that a return of CATS original gets pushed aside until its forgotten and noone is willing to put it on stage again (in professional, original form).
I dont think and neither hope it will happen, but if the danger has ever been for this to be, I would say its now.

I got a mail from RUG today clearly stating that there is no plans for a european tour so Id guess theyre waiting out the current wave of locally prodced Cats shows and the current finance crise. Hopefully they consider doing a european tour with the replica show when the times is better...

Might partly be due to ALW/RUG's changed attitude toward the whole replica issue. They've allowed a lot more variations to the ALW musicals now than what was done originally. Even Phantom is performed as a non-replica production in some countries (Hungary and Poland, not a fan of neither, though if I have to choose: Hungary all the way...).

A major change came when they allowed the Hungarian "Cats" production to even translate the title. That had never been done before. After that, non-replica productions seems to have dominated. Some has looked wonderful, some has looked horrible...

I understand your desire for a revival of the original design. I still think it's the best "look" out there. A question, though - did the 2003 Copenhagen use the original design, or just a look that reminded?

http://www.detnyteater.dk/flora/flora.asp?page=1349
http://www.detnyteater.dk/flora/flora.asp?page=1361

Copenhagen was replica, exact London costumes too.

I think the first non-replica was Budapest in 1983, although I've only ever seen it as CATS still. Apparently, the first translated name was KOTY in Warsaw in 2003, but I have seen KATTER for the 1985 Oslo production.

Oh yes the Cats Tour that ended in Germany last year was great !
Stage Entertainment made some brilliant Cats productions too in the past years. I hope they will bring it back again.

It's right that with the financial crisis, producers are probable reluctant to open new tours. But there are musicals running successfully and making money (even with very high prices - like Les Mis tour), so we have to keep hope.

I think we had a swedish non replika, at least for the seting (was a loft I think) in 1987 something. ALW is said to have disliked that version.

As for me Ive seen both none replicas that works (as stockholm) and none replicas that doesnt work or at least doesnt seem to work (Like the Jersey one, all thoose boxes?) so I am a bit flipped on none replicas.

The best way seems to be if you have a clear idea of what you want to do and a idea thats work its maybe worth it but other than that dont do it cause you want to be creative.

And all theese local translations off the cats names just make me sick. Esp the norwegian and danish ones. Sofa cat any one?

That was never used by the theatre itself, as far as I can tell. All promo stuff and brochures I own use the classic "cats" logo, in English. Ditto for the 2009 production.

I've learned that Hungary (Madách Theatre) was the first to translate the title of Cats, calling it "Macskák". As far as I know it opened there in 1983, and has played on and off for 25 years (!). Seems like they've varied between English and Hungarian title in promo stuff, though.

On RUG's site: http://www.reallyuseful.com/news/a-spec ... y-for-cats

The theatre's site: http://www.madachszinhaz.hu/Ea_Madach/M ... skak_h.php

25 years in hungary I think that was. Was there a Cats celebration in london to?