The musical for family audiences, originally slated to bow at the Culture Project last November, was postponed with the intent to mount the production in 2008. The Culture Project has announced the musical will begin previews March 25 with tickets on sale through April 12.
The Cat Who Went to Heaven features music and lyrics by Maya the Bee creator Nancy Harrow and will be directed by Will Pomerantz.
The story centers on "a struggling Japanese artist, his housekeeper, a Buddhist priest from the local temple and an inspirational cat. When the cat unexpectedly appears in the starving artist's studio, his fortune begins to change," according to press notes.
In addition to penning the score, Harrow will lend her voice as the cat, with a cast that also includes Grady Tate, Daryl Sherman and Anton Krukowski, with a cast of puppeteers including Matt Brooks, Melissa Creighton, Ulysses Jones, Amanda Maddock, Megan McNerney, Sarah Provost and Anna Sobel.
The creative team features Jane Catherine Shaw (puppet design and construction, puppetry direction), Amanda Maddock (puppet and costume design) and Joseph Silovsky (set design). The Culture Project production marks the stage premiere of The Cat Who Went to Heaven, which made its recording debut in 2005.
The Cat Who Went to Heaven will perform Tuesdays and Sundays at 7 PM and Saturdays at 10 AM. The musical is recommended for audiences ages six and up. Tickets are available by calling (212) 352-3101 or by visiting www.cultureproject.org.
The Culture Project is located at 55 Mercer Street in Manhattan.
