Really Useful to Revive Cats and The Wizard of Oz

Two of the world’s most successful musicals are set to return. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group have plans for a West End revival for Cats and a Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz.

As with the original, Cameron Mackintosh will be co-producer for the Cats revival set for 2013. Cats premiered in London on May 11, 1981, and played 8,949 performances before its final performance 21 years later on May 11, 2002. The Wizard of Oz, currently starring Michael Crawford, began performances at the London Palladium on February 7, 2011. The Wizard of Oz, currently running at the London Palladium co-produced with Bill Kenwright, has recently extended its current booking period through February 2012.

The Wizard of Oz currently holds the biggest advance of any show in the West End, and is grossing more on a week-to-week basis than any other show, Kenwright has told Playbill.com. "Since we opened, it has been difficult, if not impossible, to get tickets for any of the three weekend performances that always play to capacity; we've averaged just below 85 percent in a two-and-a-quarter-thousand-seat theatre, and returned a third of the capitalization just 12 weeks after the opening night. It's a hit!"

The producer also revealed that they are currently in negotiation with "a major star" to take the show to Broadway. Productions are planned for Canada, Australia and a U.K. tour.

Source: Playbill.com