Four's a charm for 'Cats'

"Cats," the longest running musical in Broadway history and winner of seven Tony awards, plays the IU Auditorium at 8 p.m. tonight and Wednesday. Since its opening at the New London Theater nearly 23 years ago, "Cats" has been seen by over 8 million people in 26 countries. This week's performances will add more people to that already impressive number.\n"It's one of the more popular shows. We've seen a lot of sales," said box office employee Claire Brosman. \nIn fact, IU Auditorium Director Doug Booher said that so far, "Cats" is the strongest seller of the season. This is the fourth time the musical has visited the campus, but its pull is still as strong as ever among theater-goers. \nThe IU box office isn't the only proof of the musical's appeal, however. In last year's member poll, "Cats" was rated the number one musical attraction by theater patrons, and the fourth most popular show overall on the Auditorium's list of possible events for the 2002-2003 season.\n"It's becoming a classic but it's still fresh," Booher said. "I'd encourage people who haven't seen it to come and see it. It's a part of popular culture but it's really a high quality experience. I've never seen anyone leave without a smile on their face."\nWith a smile on his face, Booher admitted that he has "a soft spot for it" as it was his first Broadway show. \n"Cats" is also a first for IU alumnus Molly Logan. The show marks Logan's debut as a professional actor. She joined the cast (which features another IU alum, Staci Rudnitsky, class of 1997) last December as a swing -- an actor who learns several roles in case one of the actors cannot perform. She is learning a lot and having a great time, she said\n"I really enjoy the audience reaction. It's like we make their night," Logan said. "Being able to bring a Broadway show to people who might have never seen it is beautiful. It keeps you going everyday." \nLogan was excited to be coming back to Bloomington, her "hometown," she said. \n"I love IU more than life itself! I had the best teachers and the best classmates and I learned so much from them," she said. "(If you want to act) go for it. Hang in there and keep trying. Even if you have to be a caterer for a year, just do it and keep trying." \nBloomington seems to be preparing to welcome her and other cast members with open arms. The best seats are selling fast, attesting to the excitement this show has generated among local theater patrons. Although there are still seats available, Booher warned against waiting until the last minute to buy tickets. \nThe show will play at 8 p.m. tonight and Wednesday night, with general admission tickets ranging from $32 to $57. Students may buy discounted tickets for $17 to $37 with a valid student ID.