The longest continuously touring Broadway musical in history is scratching at the door of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where it lands on its feet for eight performances January 17–22. Yes, I speak of “Cats,” which debuted in London’s West End in 1981 and also happens to be the longest running musical in the history of British theater. Though I caught part of it on PBS years ago, I’ve never seen it on stage so I welcome its arrival in Costa Mesa.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, “CATS” won seven 1983 TonyAwards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.
Produced by CATS-Eye, LLC, the national tour of “CATS”—the only production in North America sanctioned by Webber—is now reintroducing “psychic twins” Coricopat and Tantomile, the mystical cats last seen in the Broadway production. Tickets start at $20; call (714) 556-2787 or go online.
I’ll be giving canines equal time when “Lady and the Tramp” comes out on Blu-ray next month; meanwhile, Disney has more new video releases than you can shake a bone at. I have two at my elbow.
“Beauty and the Beast,” which is headed back to theatres this month in 3D, is now available for the first time in Blu-ray 3D for home viewing. The film—one of the studio’s most enjoyable animated features in the past two decades—has made more than $377 million since it came out in 1991; it features the voice talents of Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach and others.
Disney has pulled out all the stops for this one, making it available as a 5-Disc Combo Pack that includes a variety of formats—one Blu-ray 3D disc, one standard Blu-ray disc, one Blu-ray disc of bonus features, one DVD disc of the film and one digital copy. Bonuses include an extended version of the film, a storyboard version, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes stories and much more.
Hot on the heels of the Tim Burton exhibit that packed the L.A. County Museum of Art in recent months comes “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Blu-ray 3D. His most imaginative work ever in my opinion, the 1993 musical fantasy features the voice talents of Chris Sarandon, composer Danny Elfman, Ken Page and William Hickey.
The 3-Disc Combo Pack includes the Blu-ray 3D, a Blu-ray disc, and a DVD/Digital Copy hybrid. Bonuses include two short Burton films—the delightfully creepy “Frankenweenie” and “Vincent”—the latter voiced by the filmmaker’s idol, Vincent Price. Plus audio commentary by Burton, Elfman and director Henry Selick, deleted scenes, the requisite making-of featurette, and more. The film itself looks sensational.
More from Jordan:
Dali-Disney films a bonus on ‘Fantasia’ Blu-ray http://exm.nr/fGwrhU
Disney docs new to DVD recall songwriters, Walt’s trip to South America http://exm.nr/eXqhcq
Best of OC Theatre 2011http://shar.es/W5mMk
Happy 100th birthday, Spike Jones http://shar.es/oSJrC
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