Cool Cats Eye Beijing Blockbuster

One of the most successful musical productions the world has ever seen is set for a stunning series of shows in Beijing.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit Cats will be staged at the Great Hall of the People from the end of April and into the May holiday period in 2004 as part of a done deal between the show's production company, The Really Useful Group and China Performing Arts Agency.

The biggest in a string of worldwide hits penned by Webber, Cats has broken records on both sides of the Atlantic with sell-out runs in front of thrilled audiences. The Englishman's show closed on Broadway, in New York City, on September 10, 2000, after a record-breaking 7,485 performances.

Due to have been staged last year but cancelled during the SARS period, the proposed 72-show run has been reduced to a nine-performance deal. And in a first for the musical, the production will be staged in a non-theatre setting. The success of Riverdance at the same venue convinced organizers to switch from the original plan to stage the show at Tianqiao Theater.

Webber, who has already explored the market in China with shows in Beijing and Shanghai, is known to be keen on further expansion after a wildly enthusiastic response to date. Organizers say the planned run was cut because of the cost of the production -- only one sponsor is backing the latest plans.

Fans who bought tickets for last year's shows will enjoy special discounts this time around.

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Time: April 27   May 3

Venue: The Great Hall of the People

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