Showbiz Roundup: CATS Gets a Glow Up; Pop Stars Make Their Mark in Musical Theatre
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
In this Showbiz Roundup:
Broadway's getting fiercer by the day! A 'yassified' new take on a beloved classic has opened to cheering crowds; a sitcom star and dance icon is lighting up Off-Broadway in a trendy, staged dance party; pop personae continue to permeate the theatre world in new announcements for SIX and the Tony Awards.
CATS is back on stage, and it's better than the movie (thankfully).
CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL is strutting onto Broadway with unapologetic ferocity. This queer, ballroom-inspired reimagining of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical—originally based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats—first turned heads during its wildly successful 2024 Off-Broadway run at the Perelman Performing Arts Center.
This revival cleaned up at the 2025 Obie Awards, receiving a special ensemble citation and picking up wins for both design and direction. Leading the cast is Broadway legend André De Shields (The Wiz, Hadestown), joined by an electrifying mix of talent from theatre, television, film, and the ballroom world—including Temptress Chasity Moore, Leiomy Maldonado, known for POSE, and ballroom icon Junior LaBeija, featured in the seminal documentary Paris Is Burning.
This reimagined CATS shines a spotlight on ballroom culture, an underground art form rooted in Black and Latinx queer communities. During balls, performers conquer the runway (sometimes just an open floor) in categories like face, body, and vogue. Ballroom has long been a space for self-expression, chosen family, and resilience. Its origins trace back to the mid-19th century, evolving into a vital cultural movement that continues to influence fashion, music, and performance today. (Check out Paris is Burning or POSE for a realistic look at this phenomenon).
From McKinley High to Off-Broadway.
Glee star Heather Morris, who iconocally played Brittany S. Pierce—is making her New York theatre debut in the Off-Broadway dance piece 11 to Midnight.
The show unfolds almost entirely through movement, chronicling the countdown to midnight at a chaotic New Year’s Eve party, that touches on all the emotions—excitement; introspection; love. It’s the brainchild of viral choreo duo Cost n’ Mayor alongside Hideaway Circus, led by Josh and Lindsay Aviner (who produced and directed).
Described as a mix of heartfelt storytelling, high-energy dance, and a genre-hopping soundtrack, the show has generated buzz since opening in February. 1 Minute Critic called it “one of the best parties you’ll attend all year.”
Morris appears in the production through May 11, with social media dance sensation JJ Niemann joining the cast from April 30 to May 24.
A new queen prepares to reign in SIX.
Over at the Lena Horne Theatre, Broadway’s SIX is about to crown a new (and very recognizable) queen.
On June 1, trans icon Dylan Mulvaney will wrap her run as Anne Boleyn, passing the mic and the bedazzled scepter to Kirstin Maldonado, founding member of the Grammy-winning a cappella group Pentatonix.
This marks Maldonado’s return to musical theatre following her 2018 Broadway debut in Kinky Boots, where she earned praise for her performance as Lauren. With her polished pop sensibility, SIX could be the perfect vehicle to solidify her as a full-fledged Broadway crossover star.
The big question: Will fans be losing their head over her performance? And will her band be changing their name to PentatonSIX?
Broadway turns Pink (sort of).
Pop superstar P!nk is set to host the 2026 Tony Awards this June at Radio City Music Hall.
The announcement follows her recent stint filling in on The Kelly Clarkson Show, which sparked speculation about whether she might take over the show full-time when Clarkson departs.
Showbiz Roundup: CATS Gets a Glow Up; Pop Stars Make Their Mark in Musical Theatre This announcement has stirred some controversy, as the tenured pop icon has never performed on or even Off-Broadway. Does that matter? Is her publicized respect for the art form enough to assuage the criticisms that she's essentially just another incident of 'stunt-casting' (casting a celebrity in a theatre production for promotional reasons).
The singer knows of the public's skepticism, and she pulled off a playful stunt backstage at Broadway's The Great Gatsby, dressing in a glam 1920s costume, and 'sneaking' into the wing to poke her toe out onto the stage. "Now I've been on Broadway; now I can host the Tony's," she stated in a video posted to social media.
Is P!nk a good choice? And does this mean she'll finally make her real Broadway debut soon? What role would she be perfect for?
That’s your Showbiz Roundup.
Remember, art is the universal language!
Comments