Brandon Twp.-Debbie Sebetic is a dog person.
She owns four Boston terriers and never understood cats. The long-time Brandon High School teacher and musical director saw a production of “Cats,” the third-longest running musical in Broadway history, in the 1980s in Ohio, but vowed she would never bring the production to the BHS stage.
She was wrong.
“Cats” will be performedat 7 p.m., Feb. 20 and 21 at the BHS Performing Arts Center, 1025 S. Ortonville Road.
‘We don’t like what we don’t understand,? said Sebetic this week as BHS students rehearsed to the musical stylings of Lynn Lusty, pianist. ‘This is one I said I’d never do.?
However, Sebetic reconsidered as she searched online for a moderate-sized student production and ‘Cats? came up. She went to visit a friend with three rescued felines and studied the animals in a new light, realizing that each had their own personality. One in particular engaged her as having a temperament she found similar to a dog. With a new appreciation for the species, she began reading the script for ‘Cats,? which is based on ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,? by T.S. Eliot. The musical is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and tells the story of a tribe of Jellicle cats that choose one of their members to ascend to the ‘Heaviside Layer? (heaven) and be reincarnated to a new life.
The BHS production, which Sebetic called a ‘fun, whimsical, light-hearted musical? is sung all the way through by a cast of 38 and features 20 musical numbers as well as a great deal of choreography coordinated by BHS senior Reba Morlock, assisted by Shana Pycik.
‘For this musical, we are using mostly ballet and contemporary jazz,? said Morlock. ‘From knowing most of these kids, I play to their strengths and coordination. Some are experienced, and for others, this is their first time. Hence why we’ve used our football player for a good portion of our lifts.?
A moment later, in a glance over her shoulder at what is transpiring on stage, she calls out, ‘Don’t drop her please!?
Morlock, who has taken dance lessons since first grade, is grateful to have the opportunity to choreograph so large a production, and is also excited to play the role of Victoria, a deaf cat who uses the rhythm she feels through her feet to dance.
‘I hope the audience likes (‘Cats?) as a whole, because we’ve put a lot of hard work and effort in,? she said.
James McArthur, a BHS junior, said he is not much of a dancer, and he was excited to get the part of Old Deuteronomy, a cat who is too old to dance, but sings in an operatic style. He was concerned at first that some lines in ‘Moments of Happiness? were out of his range, but after some practice, it feels like second nature.
‘I like my character because I picture him as a classy kind of guy,? he said. ‘One of his lines is, ‘With cats, some say one rule is true? don’t speak til you’re spoken to. Myself, I don’t hold to that.? I always just thought that show the trait of a good leader and that is something I gravitate around.?
Audrey Barratt-McCartney, a sophomore who plays Munkustrap and made her own costume, said her own favorite numbers are ‘Gumby Cat? and ‘Growltiger’s Last Stand.?
‘I watched ‘Cats? twice before rehearsals started,? she said. ‘It was very strange, but we are doing it in an easier to understand, traditional way… The production is coming together well and the audience will appreciate the fun scenes and songs.?
Tickets for ‘Cats? are $10 each and available at the door for first-come first-served seating the evening of each performance.