• Home
  • About us
  • Advertising
  • Digital Archive
  • Contact
    • Letter to the Editor
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
lgbtq-san-diego-county-news-logo-475x166
  • A&E
    • Art
    • Film
    • Music
    • Books
    • Theater
    • Q Syndicate
  • News & Features
    • News
      • Court News
      • News Briefs
    • Politics
      • Elected Official Reports
        • Mara W. Elliot
        • Summer Stephan
        • Susan Davis
        • Toni G. Atkins
    • Features
  • Food & Drink
    • Hot Dish
    • Restaurant Reviews
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Fitness
    • Travel
    • The Frivolist
  • Columns
    • Conversations with Nicole
    • Big Mike and Friends
    • Life Beyond Therapy
    • Houston We Have a Problem
    • Queer Parenting
    • Notes from Toni
    • Trans Talk with Connor
    • Pozitively Michael
    • Powerful Black Women
    • Lambda Archives
  • Business
    • Best of Gay San Diego
    • Business Profile
    • Wedding Directory
    • Expert Advice
    • Sponsored Links
  • Out & About
  • Calendar
lgbtq-san-diego-county-news-logo
  • A&E
    • Art
    • Film
    • Music
    • Books
    • Theater
    • Q Syndicate
  • News & Features
    • News
      • Court News
      • News Briefs
    • Politics
      • Elected Official Reports
        • Mara W. Elliot
        • Summer Stephan
        • Susan Davis
        • Toni G. Atkins
    • Features
  • Food & Drink
    • Hot Dish
    • Restaurant Reviews
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Fitness
    • Travel
    • The Frivolist
  • Columns
    • Conversations with Nicole
    • Big Mike and Friends
    • Life Beyond Therapy
    • Houston We Have a Problem
    • Queer Parenting
    • Notes from Toni
    • Trans Talk with Connor
    • Pozitively Michael
    • Powerful Black Women
    • Lambda Archives
  • Business
    • Best of Gay San Diego
    • Business Profile
    • Wedding Directory
    • Expert Advice
    • Sponsored Links
  • Out & About
  • Calendar
No Result
View All Result
lgbtq-san-diego-county-news
No Result
View All Result

CATegory is: Jellicle Ball Realness!

By Berto Fernández

09/27/2022
in A&E, Entertainment, Feature, Featured, Features, Theater Reviews
0
CATegory is: Jellicle Ball Realness!

Lauren Louis as Demeter, Chelsea Nicole Mitchell as Bombalurina, and the company of the 2021-2022 national tour of CATS (Photo By_ Matthew Murphy, Murphymade)

0
SHARES
140
VIEWS

Andrew Lloyd Webber is known worldwide for his massively successful musicals. Shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Coat, and Sunset Boulevard, to name a few, made him a household name everywhere. One particular show though has enchanted audiences with its peculiar theme and aesthetic… CATS. This musical (yes, about cats), based on the popular collection of poetry Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, whimsically presents the story of a tribe of cats, named the Jellicles, and their celebration to crown the most deserving feline to ascend to Heaviside Layer, which is their version of Heaven, and gain a new reborn life. This show opened in 1981 in London, followed by New York in 1982, and went on to become a huge hit. To this date, it is Broadway’s 4th longest running show in history, and the West End’s 7th.

One of the aspects that was most impactful and iconic about the popular musical were the majestic hair and makeup these characters depicted. I mean, who hasn’t thought about being Grizabella for Halloween while blasting “Memory” on repeat through a boombox? It has certainly crossed my Theatre Queen mind once or twice.

Zach Bravo as Rum Tum Tugger in the 2021-2022 national tour of CATS (Photo By Matthew Murphy, Murphymade)

We chatted with Gabe Nunez, a San Diego native artist, who is responsible for making sure each performer’s makeup and hair is up to the high standard required by the touring show’s creative team. “This year we have 36 cast members, including our swings”, he mentions.

The record-breaking musical has reached audiences in over 30 countries and has been translated to 15 languages, being enjoyed by over 75 million people around the globe. This specific tour features new sound design (Mick Potter), direction (Trevor Nunn), and choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler), breathing new life and energy to the production.

“I started on CATS when it was in San Diego last. I was a local on the show and they were looking for a new assistant. My friend, who was a supervisor there, asked if I’d be interested in interviewing for this. I said “sure!”, and I was offered the job opening night of the show in San Diego. So I packed everything, and a week after that joined the tour.” explained Nunez, who was originally planning to study Production Management in College, but stumbled upon make-up and fell in love with the art form.

Tayler Harris as Grizabella by Matthew Murphy, Murphymade1

“I’m with the actors from the moment they start rehearsals, until they finish the tour.” Gabe also mentions that his favorite part of the process is getting the cast comfortable in this vulnerable situation where a show requires them to be artistic with their hand, as far as doing intricate make-up, something uncommon for most productions. Every single cast member gets to be in the makeup and hair chairs everyday. This undoubtedly builds a bond between the cast and makeup artists. “When a cast member runs into my room in a robe and screams “Look at my make-up!”. When they’re proud to show me their hard work, which happens at very different times in the process for each actor, I feel like I’ve done my job.” Gabe describes this as the most rewarding element of his job.

Having worked in multiple productions all over Southern California, Gabe recalls his proudest moment to date, when he was part of the Sweeney Todd production team at The Moonlight in Vista, CA, where he still assists the team when he’s not on tour. 

“I got to do the Beggar Woman’s makeup, and I remember standing out in the back of the theater during lighting tech. I saw it, and got goosebumps. Steve Glaudini (Artistic Director and Producer for Moonlight Stage) walked by me and patted me on the back in approval. It was that weird moment of knowing that this is what I’m meant to be doing”, says Nunez.

Aiden Pressel as Macavity by Matthew Murphy, Murphymade

The artist hopes to break the stigma in Theatre that the wardrobe and wig & make-up departments have less work than other members of the production team. The multiple wigs and costumes need extensive upkeep and laundering before and after every single performance. On top of that, the team needs to constantly guide the cast through achieving the very specific aesthetic of each character in the show, from head to toe. No easy task!

As a member of the LGBTQ community, Gabe recommends to up and coming make-up artists in the community to reach out to professionals in the industry for help and guidance, without fear of being turned away. Fostering the new generation of artists is a cause dear to his heart, as a natural born teacher. When asked to give a message to the local community, Gabe comments, “Go see more Theatre, it changed my life, as well as so many others’. We’re doing great work here in San Diego, so go enjoy it!”.

Whether you are on #TeamCatsFur-ever or not a fan of the feline fest, there’s no denying that CATS the musical brings impressively talented artists (on and off the stage) to create a whimsical Jellicle Ball of meow-nificent proportions for audiences of all ages. In the words of another diva of stage and screen… PAWS UP!

CATS The Musical is presented by Broadway San Diego with performances September 27 through October 2 at the Civic Center in Downtown San Diego. Tickets and info: https://www.broadwaysd.com/upcoming-events/cats-2022/

Next Post
Daniel Jordan expected to plead guilty to stabbing his husband in 2020

Daniel Jordan expected to plead guilty to stabbing his husband in 2020

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read our digital edition

Volume 4, Issue 9, February 2023

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

AIDS Memorial Groundbreaking to be Held February 1 AIDS Memorial Groundbreaking to be Held February 10th!. For over 35 years, there has been a campaign for San Diego to join cities across North America to establish an AIDS Memorial honoring and remembering the over 8,500 men, women, and children who have died of AIDS. Read full story on the link below.

http://ow.ly/16rR50ML1EG
The Devil is alive in the United States, and it li The Devil is alive in the United States, and it lives in right wing, Republican driven state legislators. According to an article written by Matt Loffman for PBS, the Human Rights Campaign has identified 30 state legislators who proposed more than 115 bills targeting Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Non-Binary rights in their states. Everything from participation in sports to accessing medical care has been attacked. According to a poll conducted by PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist fewer than 3 in 10 people support any anti-Trans legislation, yet the Republic legislators continue to introduce and vote for all of them. It is hard to understand why these Republicans are voted into office over and over when they obviously do not reflect the wishes of their constituents. click link to read more

http://ow.ly/smtK50MIEEA
What started as a personal social media project vi What started as a personal social media project via Instagram during the pandemic, Hillcrest San Diego has become a 10K subscriber resource for news, history, memes, and all things Hillcrest. We caught up with Rick Cervantes the force behind the account to get to know more about the motivation behind it, the plans for the Instagram account and the upcoming inaugural #hillcrestsandiego Honors with its reception schedule for Monday February 6 at Uptown tavern to honor local community members and organizations.
Read the full Interview on the link below
http://ow.ly/OJ9k50MIEBZ
Our community has been built on the need for resou Our community has been built on the need for resources and support, and sectors in our community have also been called to create organizations that enrich and serve their own specific needs. One such organization is the San Diego LGBTQ Coalition.  Read full article on the link below
https://lgbtqsd.news/san-diego-black-lgbtq-coalition-a-stronger-front-for-the-betterment-of-the-community/
Read all our February Issue Articles on our websit Read all our February Issue Articles on our website!
https://lgbtqsd.news

our on our Digital edition courtesy of issuu!
https://issuu.com/sdcnn0/docs/lgbtq_news_february_2023
They are fresh off the press! They are fresh off the press!
The February Issue is OUT Today! Pick up a copy a The February Issue is OUT Today! 
Pick up a copy around town!
We are Welcoming February with a NEW Issue! We are Welcoming February with a NEW Issue!
Black History Includes Black LGBTQ History! Black History Includes Black LGBTQ History!
Load More... Follow on Instagram
lgbtq_san_diego_county_news

© 2019 LGBTQ San Diego County News. All rights reserved.

Navigate our site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • A&E
    • Art
    • Books
    • Film
    • Music
    • Q Syndicate
  • News & Features
    • News
    • Features
    • Politics
      • Elected Official Reports
      • Susan Davis
  • Food & Drink
    • Hot Dish
    • Restaurant Reviews
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Fitness
    • The Frivolist
  • Business
  • Columns
    • Conversations with Nicole
    • Big Mike and Friends
    • Black Lives
    • C…Community
    • Frankly Speaking
    • Houston We Have a Problem
    • Life Beyond Therapy
    • My Good Tootie
  • Out & About
  • Contact
  • Archive
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Calendar

© 2019 LGBTQ San Diego County News. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In