MORE CAST ANNOUNCED FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR OF CATS AND FINAL SYDNEY PERFORMANCES NOW ON SALE
Media Release 29 April,2025
Producer John Frost for Crossroads Live today announced more cast members for the 40th Anniversary Australian tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical CATS, which will play at its original Australian home, Theatre Royal Sydney from 17 June, then head to Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide from 20 September and to Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne from 21 December.
Final performances for the Sydney season have been released today. Performances up until 6 September have been released for pre-sale, with General Public sales from Friday 2 May.
Most recently seen as Roxie Hart in the sold-out national tour of Chicago and the two-hander musical No Love Songs, Lucy Maunder is taking on the role of Jellylorum, who watches out for the kittens and takes care of Gus the Theatre Cat. Since graduating from WAPPA in 2006, Lucy has performed lead roles in Mary Poppins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pippin, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Matilda the Musical and Doctor Zhivago amongst many others.
The rebellious cat Rum Tum Tugger who likes to cause mischief amongst the Jellicle tribe, will be played by Des Flanagan. Best known for playing Christian in the Australian tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Des is currently starring as Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks’ The Producers at Hayes Theatre Co and Riverside Theatres.
WAPPA graduate Jarrod Draper has been cast as Munkustrap, the tabby tomcat who is the storyteller and protector of the Jellicle tribe. Currently playing Artie Green in Sunset Boulevard in China after performing the role in Melbourne, Sydney and Singapore, Jarrod has also starred in Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Promises, Promises.
The coveted role of Grizabella, the former “glamour cat” ostracised by the Jellicles, will be played by Gabriyel Thomas, who currently stars as Michelle and sometimes in the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier in the Australian tour of Sister Act. Gabriyel’s other credits include The Sound of Music, Ragtime and the Australian and US tours of Hairspray. Being cast as Grizabella in CATS is a dream come true for Gabriyel as the show was her introduction to musical theatre.
The remainder of the company includes Sarah Bourke (playing Tantomile), Olivia Carniato (Demeter), Mia Dabkowski-Chandler (Bombalurina), Tom Davis (Shimbleshanks), Ella Fitzpatrick (Jemima), Charlie Follows (Bill Bailey), Joshua Gordon (Coricopat), Chaska Halliday (Cassandra), Dominique Hamilton (swing), Claudia Hastings (Victoria/ White Cat), Aimee Jones (swing), Savannah Lind (Rumpleteazer), Jake O’Brien (Mungojerrie), Xavier Pellin (swing), Guy Pik (Carbuckety), Rania Potaka-Osborne (Alonzo), Edward Smith (Admetus/ Macavity), Thalia Smith (swing) and Tod Strike (swing).
They join the previously announced principal performers Todd McKenney, who will play the dual roles of Bustopher Jones and Asparagus also known as “Gus the Theatre Cat”, classical performer Mark Vincent as Old Deuteronomy, and Leigh Archer as Jennyanydots, also known as the “Gumbie Cat”.
“We have assembled a purr-fect cast for this 40th Anniversary Australian tour of CATS, led by Gabriyel, Todd and Mark. It’s a wonderful clowder of seasoned artists and new performers to the industry,” said John Frost. “CATS was revolutionary when it first opened and to celebrate the production in the theatre where it first played is a real thrill. Australia has an enduring love for CATS and it’s time to let the memory live again.”
Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS has been captivating audiences around the globe since it opened at the New London Theatre (now known as the Gillian Lynne) in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances, winning both the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. Since then, CATS has been presented in over 50 countries, translated into 23 languages and has been seen by over 81 million people world-wide. On Broadway, CATS played for 18 years and won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical.
The musical tells the story of the Jellicle cat tribe. On just one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to “The Heaviside Layer” and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.
The timeless musical score includes the hit song Memory, which has been recorded by more than 150 artists including Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Nicole Scherzinger, Johnny Mathis, Liberace and Barry Manilow. With “timeless music, spectacular sets and a superb cast” (Daily Mirror), breathtaking choreography and of course the unforgettable Memory, CATS is a magical musical like no other.
Get your tickets now at catsthemusical.com.au and let the memory live again.
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SYDNEY SEASON
Venue Theatre Royal Sydney
Season From 17 June
Performance Times Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 6pm
(schedule varies weekly)
Prices: From $69.90 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: catsthemusical.com.au or 1300 163 808
Groups 8+ contact theatreroyalsydney.com/contact-us or 1300 163808
ADELAIDE SEASON
Venue Her Majesty’s Theatre
Season From 20 September
Performance Times Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 6pm (schedule varies weekly)
Prices: From $69.90 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: catsthemusical.com.au or phone 131 246
Groups 8+ see catsthemusical.com.au
MELBOURNE SEASON
Venue Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
Season From 21 December
Performance Times Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 6pm (schedule varies weekly)
Prices: From $69.90 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: catsthemusical.com.au or call 1300 182 183
Groups 8+ call 1300 182 183
BIOGRAPHIES
GABRIYEL THOMAS
Gabriyel Thomas (she/her) is a New York City and Melbourne based actor. She is thrilled to continue in the Australian theatre scene with Cats. Cats was Gabriyel’s introduction to musical theatre as a young girl, spending evenings dancing around the living room while watching the 1998 film. She is so honoured to be one of the many people who have had the opportunity to tell this story. Some of her most recent Australian theatrical credits include Michelle/Deloris Van Cartier understudy in the Australian national tour of Sister Act The Musical (Crossroads Live) and Lorraine in the Australian national tour of Hairspray. Gabriyel received her training at Bowling Green State University where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a specialization in Musical Theatre.
Back in the USA, Gabriyel got to experience traveling across the country with another production of Hairspray. This is where her love for traveling theatre was born. She loves having chance to travel the world while doing what she loves to do. She also had the opportunity to be a part of regional theatre shows such as Ragtime (Sarah) at Village Light Opera, The Sound of Music at Ogunquit Playhouse, Rock of Ages (Justice/Mom) at Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre, and Into the Woods (The Witch) for the Northwest Theater.
Gabriyel wants to thank all the friends she has made along the way while being in Australia for making this country feel like home. She would also like to send lots of love to her family and friends back home in America who have supported her obsession with Cats and musical theatre since she was a little girl. And one last special “thank you” to her agent Tiera and her team at Firestarter Entertainment for helping make all of her dreams come true!
LUCY MAUNDER
Since graduating from WAAPA in 2006, Lucy has cemented her reputation as one of Australia’s mainstage leading ladies playing a vast range of roles over the last 19 years. Most recently Lucy starred opposite Keegan Joyce in the critically acclaimed Australian premiere of the two-hander No Love Songs (Newtheatricals), which was the first musical at Stephen Found’s new Foundry Theatre at the Sydney Lyric. And in a true career highlight throughout 2024, Lucy had the opportunity to tour Australia as the iconic Roxie Hart in the recent smash hit production of Chicago (Crossroads Live).
Other recent role highlights include Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins (Michael Cassel Group), protagonist Alison Bechdel in the Australian premiere of the hit Broadway musical Fun Home (STC/MTC), Mrs Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Crossroads Live), Catherine in Pippin (Crossroads Live), Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Group), Miss Honey in Matilda the Musical (Louise Withers/RSC), Lillian Holliday in Happy End (Victorian Opera), There’s Something About Music (The Little Red Company), Heather Chandler in the Australian Premiere of Heathers (ShowWork), Patty in Tim Finn’s Ladies in Black (QTC/MTC), Rizzo in Grease (GFO), Cinderella in Into The Woods (Victorian Opera), Lara in the World Premiere of Doctor Zhivago (GFO), Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera (Victorian Opera/Malthouse/STC), Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (TML Enterprises), Emma in Jekyll and Hyde (TML Enterprises) and Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music (Opera Australia).
Lucy’s film credits include The Eternity Man for Channel 4 UK/ABC and the lead role in the short film Identical amongst other commercial and television credits including singing the National Anthem at the State of Origin, The Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols (Channel 9) and appearances on The Morning Show (Channel 7) and Today Extra (Channel 9) as well as a huge range of orchestral concerts with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra.
Lucy’s one-woman show Irving Berlin: Songs in the Key of Black toured Australia to rave reviews at venues such as the prestigious Spiegeltent, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Noosa Festival, His Majesty’s Perth and Claire’s Kitchen. Her album featuring arrangements and musical direction by Daniel Edmonds is available across all platforms.
DES FLANAGAN
Des graduated from the VCA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre). Since then, he has performed in several musicals, most notably as Christian in Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Global Creatures), for which he was nominated for Best Performance in a Musical by Time Out Melbourne. His other highlights include Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s West Side Story, Thomas in The Beautiful Game, and Nathan in One Day in September with Perryman Theatre Company. Additional credits include Grease the Arena Experience (Harvest Rain) and Performance of a Lifetime with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Most recently Des performed the leading role of Leo Bloom in JRP’s production of The Producers at Hayes Theatre.
Des’ screen credits include T-Bone in Neighbours and the acclaimed short film Rabbits, directed by Riley Sugars, which earned him a Best Lead Actor nomination at the Black Bird International Film Festival in New York.
JARROD DRAPER
Jarrod Draper is a proud Wiradjuri man and the first Indigenous graduate of the prestigious Music Theatre course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Born in Orange, his artistic journey began with a full scholarship to the Regional Conservatorium, where he studied Music Theatre and Classical Voice, performing nationally and internationally.
Most recently, Jarrod starred as Artie Green in Sunset Boulevard (Opera Australia/GWB Entertainment). He previously made history as the first Indigenous artist to play Toulouse-Lautrec in Moulin Rouge! The Musical for Global Creatures. An original Australian cast member, he initially understudied Christian and Lautrec before taking over the role. He also starred as C.C. Baxter in Promises, Promises for Neglected Musicals.
Committed to increasing Indigenous representation in the performing arts, Jarrod champions visibility, believing that “if you can’t see it, you can’t be it.” He strives to inspire Indigenous youth to pursue theatre careers. His credits include Sondheim on Sondheim, When the Rain Stops Falling (Andrew Price, Clovelly Fox Productions), Rent (Sydney Opera House, LPD), Catch Me If You Can (Hayes Theatre Co) and his critically acclaimed one-man show (Darlinghurst Theatre Company/People of Cabaret).
A 2020 Artists of Colour Initiative finalist, Jarrod was invited by Disney to perform at the premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King and later sang at Woolworths Carols in the Domain (Network Seven). Resilient and passionate, Jarrod continues breaking barriers as a leading Indigenous artist in Australian musical theatre.
