A Cat's Diary: How The Broadway Production of Cats Was Born (Art of Theater Series) [Paperback]

Stephen Hanan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2002 | ISBN-10: 1575252813 | ISBN-13: 978-1575252810 | Edition: 1

Stephen Mo Hanan created the role of Gus the Theatre Cat, including the completely new Growltiger sequence that was especially created for his unique talents, in the original New York production of what became the longest-running show in Broadway history, Cats. Hanan kept a diary of every day's work from the first rehearsal through opening. Appearing in print for the first time, this is an unparalleled insider view of how a big Broadway show is put together, written in a lively, articulate, and engaging style. Not only does it offer fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses, it's also a great educational study for actors and directors. Hanan explores the fine nuances of his role, keenly observes Trevor Nunn's directorial methods, and develops strong artistic and emotional bonds with fellow cast members as they journey together to a historic opening night.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Singer, actor, and dancer Hanan presents his personal experiences from audition to opening night of what was to become the longest-running Broadway show in history, Cats. Hanan (who played Bustopher, Asparagus, and Growltiger) offers a personable day-by-day account of the highs and lows of being a part of such a creative and innovative company at the beginning of the first American production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's unique theatrical fantasy. If you haven't seen Cats, much of this narration won't mean a lot to you, but there are still plenty of insider views of the joys and heartaches shared by the original cast of a Broadway musical. Hanan provides an insightful look at both the highly improvisational nature of the rehearsal process and his personal interactions with fellow artists, most notably director Trevor Nunn. (Originally, Nunn was adamantly opposed to Hanan's keeping a diary but after 18 years supported its publication by contributing the introduction.) Reviews of the original Broadway production are included. Aspiring singers, actors, and dancers will want to experience this one. Laura A. Ewald, Murray State Univ., KY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Stephen Mo Hanan received a Tony Award nomination for his role in Cats, starred as Captain Hook opposite Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan on Broadway and across North America, and has performed leading roles in opera, regional theater, and on London's West End. He is the co-author as well as the star of Jolson & Co., nominated as Best Off-Broadway Musical of 1999-2000, and has written plays produced in San Francisco, East Hampton, Louisville, and Palm Beach County. He wrote books, music, and lyrics for An Underground Revue, a finalist for the Richard Rodgers Production ward. His essays have appeared in the Washington Post, Harvard Magazine, Tikkun, The Sun, Western Humanities Review, and New Age Journal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Smith & Kraus Pub Inc; 1 edition (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575252813
• ISBN-13: 978-1575252810
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #620,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasure, January 23, 2002

By 

Gary Malasky (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Cat's Diary: How The Broadway Production of Cats Was Born (Art of Theater Series) (Paperback)

Thoroughly enjoyable. The pages flew by. You get a real appreciation of how close the company grew, and how grueling the rehersals were. It is amazing how much was done in a relatively short rehersal period. I saw the show and loved it. I do not know if that made difference, but I would think that for anyone interested in the theater, this would be a wonderful book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for CATS Lovers!, September 28, 2002

By 

Tantomile36 (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Cat's Diary: How The Broadway Production of Cats Was Born (Art of Theater Series) (Paperback)

This book is defenitely a must-read for any CATS lover. It answers questions such as "Why wasn't the Italian aria in the Original London show," as well as giving insights into the preparation, rehersal and immense effort that was put into the original Broadway production. Also wonderfully written are the relationships between the author and the rest of the cast and production team. This book is a CATS fan's dream!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Cats' lovers will purr; actors will turn it into gold, February 12, 2002

By 

Jesse Kornbluth (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Cat's Diary: How The Broadway Production of Cats Was Born (Art of Theater Series) (Paperback)

    Seven Tony Awards. Box office receipts of more than a billion dollars. A Broadway run of nearly 8,000 performances. And yet, if I asked you to name the actors and actresses who became stars because of "Cats," you'd probably be stumped.
   Okay, Broadway buffs, so you recall Betty Buckley, for singing "Memory."
   Next?
  In fact, although this was the ultimate ensemble piece, there was one cat who outshone the others. His name is Stephen Mo Hanan, and in the original Broadway cast, he played Bustopher, Asparagus and Growltiger. "Hanan is fantastic," purred Clive Barnes in the New York Post. And the Times, Wall Street Journal and New Yorker agreed.
    Hanan's had to wait two decades for his next plum role --- this Spring, he stars as Al Jolson in an off-Broadway production --- but he's going to be immortal for a slim little book that he never intended to publish: "A Cat's Diary." Written during the rehearsal period, these nightly entries are l00 pages of delight and insight.
    DisneyWorld has spoiled us --- people disappear into animal costumes and goof around and we find them charming, in a sentimental, how-can-you-not-like-this way. But being a cat in a musical inspired by T.S. Eliot and directed by Trevor Nunn?  Not so easy. Hard physical work, in fact. And that's just the outside preparation --- as Hanan tells it, there's immense psychological inquiry and tons of improvisation.
     Although the diaries tell us a great deal about the technical challenges of mounting this musical, there's a strong human narrative (the march toward opening night) and one heroic figure (Trevor Nunn). Mostly, Nunn stands on the sidelines, watching. When he makes a comment, it's rarely what you'd expect --- before an actress does a song in rehearsal, he asks, "But are you having fun?" And, as it happens, that innocent query opens her up to deliver a terrific performance.
      Hanan, for his part, also serves up terrific little insights: "What is the acting approach? Everyone had an opinion, and I began to understand why it took so long to set up the protocols for the Vietnam peace talks." He doesn't shrink from self-deprecating anecdotes: "Trevor said, 'You've got to look like nothing anyone has ever seen before, which is easy if you're Steve Hanan, but for the rest of us....'" And, boy, does he ever show us how the griity, unglamorous work of acting takes its toll: "I come home so tired I can hardly find my way to bed."
      As the cast becomes an extraordinary performing unit, Hanan --- who is pre-disposed to a lovely hippie-esque spirituality --- doesn't fail to get the larger point. He's amazed at how far he's come, he's constantly on the verge of tears. Trevor Nunn makes the spiritual lesson less overtly. "You must remember what the greatest power in the theater is," he tells the company. "It has nothing to do with sets and special effects. It's what's going on in your minds, and how that affects the minds of the audience."
     Hanan's account of opening night is appropriately triumphant. And, because this actor is as emotional as he is analytical, you'll tear up when it's time for Nunn to leave New York and go on to his next production. Fifteen months later, with a Tony nomination on his resume, Hanan also left "Cats." To the indelible performance he gave during his stint can now be added this slim but potent book. "Cats" lovers will enjoy it. Actors, if they are smart, will turn it into gold.