IN a brave and daring move to make Hongkong the theatrical hub of Asia, Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber's phenomenally successful musical Cats will be staged on a five-month run at the Academy for Performing Arts, starting next January.
Sir Andrew is expected to visit Hongkong next month to make the official announcement that the 70-member cast and crew of the Melbourne production of Cats will be the cast-in-residence during the Hongkong stint of his musical that to date has grossed more than US$1.3 billion (HK$10.8 billion) from 25 productions worldwide.
Estimated to have been seen by almost 45 million people, Cats opened in London's West End and New York's Broadway 12 years ago before spreading its paws across the globe.
The musical is based on a book of poems by T. S. Eliot called Old Possums Book of Practical Cats.
Among those involved in the venture from the Hongkong end are thought to be a leading hotelier and an impresario who visits the territory frequently.
The ambitious plan will involve flying visitors here from different parts of the region on short package tours, the highlight of which will be, of course, the performance of Cats.
