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'Cats' to roar into Broadway record book

June 19, 1997
Web posted at: 4:14 p.m. EDT (2014 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The hit musical "Cats" is to become the longest-running show in Broadway history Thursday evening, surpassing previous record-holder "A Chorus Line."

Watch a scene from "Cats":
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Thursday's performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical moves into the record books with its 6,138th show. The milestone performance is set to begin at 6 p.m. at New York's Winter Garden Theatre, two hours earlier than normal to allow for post-performance celebrations.

Broadway will be closed between 50th and 51st Streets to make way for the celebrations. At approximately 9 p.m., the entire cast, fully costumed, is to emerge from the theater to kick off the festivities.

cake

Klieg lights will sweep through the sky heralding the milestone. Fireworks will boom overhead. Confetti will cascade over the streets. And the champagne will flow freely.

"Cats," based on the poems of T.S. Eliot, made its Broadway debut on October 7, 1982. It won the 1983 Tony award for best musical and has become one of New York's most popular tourist attractions. Its slogan reads: "Now and Forever."

Choreographer Gillian Lynne said the show almost never made it to the stage because of financial problems. But she said she's not surprised it's lasted so long because of its appeal to theater-goers of all ages.

 
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