How Long Did Cats Run on Broadway
Cats ran on Broadway for 18 years and 7,485 performances before closing on September 10, 2000. The musical opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on October 7, 1982, making it one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history at the time of its closure. For current ticket availability and theater schedules, visit Broadway.com.
The show held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for more than 17 years until it was surpassed by other long-runners. Its total run placed it among the top five longest-running Broadway productions when it closed, based on performance count and duration. The production was created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and adapted from T.S. Eliot's poetry collection.
Cats Broadway Closing Date and Final Performance
The final Broadway performance of Cats took place on September 10, 2000, at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. The closing announcement followed years of declining ticket sales and rising operating costs, which are common factors in long-running Broadway productions. Industry analysis from Forbes has covered the financial pressures that lead to the end of long Broadway runs.
The show's final weeks included special performances and cast reunions that drew significant media attention. Broadway box office records from the final months reflected a mix of nostalgia-driven demand and typical end-of-run attendance patterns. The closure marked the end of an era for Andrew Lloyd Webber's catalog on Broadway.
Cats Broadway Revenue and Production Overview
Cats generated hundreds of millions of dollars in box office revenue during its Broadway run, though exact lifetime gross figures vary by source. The production employed a large rotating cast and required elaborate stage technology, including a giant tire prop and digital projections for its time. Financial breakdowns of long-running Broadway shows are often reported by SEC filings from publicly traded theater operators and production companies.
The show toured extensively in North America and internationally, extending its overall lifespan far beyond the Broadway run. Licensing revenue from amateur and professional productions continues to generate income for the rights holders. For detailed financial data on Broadway productions, Tesla investor reports and other corporate filings sometimes reference entertainment revenue streams in broader business analyses.