It all started in April, when I decided I wanted to see CATS on Broadway. 
We called the travel agent, and she arranged it for me, and my aunts
Sarah and Ruthie to go to New York for the weekend. My sister told me that 
a former cast member currently lived in my town, and she might be able to 
work it out for me to go backstage. It was a long process to get in touch 
with her, but soon enough Suzanne Viverito (Dance Captain) called Sarah to 
work out the details of my backstage tour. We were to meet her on August 5th 
in the lobby of the Winter Garden, 1 hour before the show started. Then we 
would go backstage again at intermission. Most people meet to go backstage at the 
backstage door, but I couldn't because my wheelchair wouldn't fit. So we had 
to go through the lobby and go back by way of the stage, which was really 
awesome.

She met us right at 7:00 and and we made our way through the doors, into the 
theatre. Some other people tried to sneak in with us, and she told them, 
"No, I'm sorry, you can't come in," and she shut the door on them. We went into 
the theatre and it was a lot smaller than I thought it would be, which meant 
our seats were really, really good ones. We walked around on stage and she 
would bring out different objects like the beetles helmet, and the giant knife 
and fork used in Gumbie Cat. 

We got to see the orchestra pit, which was backstage. We went into different 
areas backstage that I could fit into, and if my chair couldn't fit, Suzanne 
would bring the props from the room right out to me. She is one of the nicest 
people I have ever met. She took me into one of the dressing rooms and I saw 
the makeup they use. I had found out beforehand, that she was going to make 
me look like a cat, and I would get to watch the show in cat makeup. I had 
secretly hoped to be Jemima/Sillabub, but I guess I was too shy to tell her, 
so I was thrilled when she said I had the perfect face shape for Sillabub. 
Ruthie was taking pictures like crazy. While she was doing the makeup we asked 
questions about the cast, the show, and the props. I spotted a black coat in 
the corner and asked her if it was Grizabella's coat. She walked over to it 
and turned it around to where I could see it better. It had a white bow tie 
on it and it was huge. I realized it was for Bustopher Jones. It looked really 
funny. 

She finished the makeup and told us that the show started in 8 minutes so we 
had better get to our seats. She was going to bring back into the dressing room 
to meet some of the cast members at intermission. As we came out of the dressing 
room, most of the theatre was filled. People were staring at me and giving me 
jealous looks, cause I had come from backstage, and I looked like a cat. We 
decided we would tell people that I was warming up for the show and I slipped 
and fell. That would explain the wheelchair. 

We got to our seats just in time and the show began. I had an aisle seat, and 
I didn't realize how much the cast would be out in the aisles. And I was a 
little surprized when Victoria crawled right up to me and stared at me. I felt 
like I was one of them, with my makeup on. When they got to the Naming of Cats, 
I started to mouth it, because I know every word. I stopped when I looked up 
and saw Bombalurina standing two feet away from where I was. I felt a little 
intimidated, so I stopped mouthing it, and just watched her say it. She looked 
at me several times while she was standing there. 

The first half was over much too quickly, but Suzanne came out, and it was time 
to meet the cast. I was really nervous, but I tried to calm down. As we came 
into the dressing room, Munkustrap was standing in there. He waved at me, but 
then walked out because he was giving a backstage tour to someone else. Then 
3 or 4 cats came in at the same time.

Suzanne was like, "Everybody, this is Joy, Joy this is everybody." I felt 
surrounded and all I could say was, "H...hiiii, E...everybody." It became a 
little easier to talk to them and the only one I had trouble talking to was 
Julius Sermonia (Mistoffelees) because he is my favorite. I sure am glad I 
had my makeup on because I must have turned a thousand shades of red when he 
held out his hand and said, "Hi, I'm Julius," as if I didn't know. I remember 
thinking, "Oh my God, I'm talking to Mistoffelees." They were telling me 
how great my makeup looked and asking me where I was from. We got a picture 
with them, and they turned to leave. Julius stayed a minute longer to chat, 
and then he left the room too. Suzanne gave me a completely signed poster, 
and a bag of stage makeup, for me to practice looking like different cats. 
I thought it was over, but it wasn't. Suddenly Cats began pouring into the 
small dressing room, and there was like 8 of them in there. The cats just kept 
coming. And to talk to me! I talked to all of them and they were really, really 
nice. Jessica Dillan (Sillabub) tapped me and said, "Hey, you look just like 
me!" She was really sweet. I don't remember the all of the exact cats that 
were in there, except for Sillabub, Munkustrap, Mistoffelees, Tumblebrutus, 
Rum Tum Tugger, and Rumpleteazer. John Dewar (Bustopher/Gus/Growltiger) had to 
use the dressing room to put on his makeup so we go back to our seats. I was in 
shock and I kept saying, "Wow!" Suzanne told us goodbye, and we thanked her 
over and over.

Just as the second half started Misto came out through the backstage door and 
stood just a little bit away from us. I caught his attention and waved at him. 
He smiled and winked at me. 

During the second act, the cats would recognized me as they walked by. I got 
scratched twice by one, tapped by another, and Sillabub whispered, "Hey!" and 
tagged my hand as she went by. When it was time to leave, I stood up and leaned 
against my chair, while Sarah went to get the wheelchair. I was wondering why 
everyone was staring, when I remembered I still had the makeup on. Two little 
girls came up to me. I guess they were about 4 and 7. The four year old said, 
"Were you in the Cats movie?" I said, "No honey.....But I wish I was!!!" And 
that is the honest truth. They still thought I was someone important, and they 
stared at me open mouthed. Their mother had to drag them away from me. 

We went to the backstage door to say goodbye to the cast members as they came 
out. They all thanked me for coming, and told me to come back. Julius came out 
and came over to talk to us. He said, "Hi, I played Mistoffelees," as if I 
wouldn't recognize him without his makeup. I was like, "Julius, I know who 
you are." We talked to him a minute and got another picture with him, and I 
think Craig Waletzko. Then we left with my poster, my bag of makeup, and a 
lifelong Memory that we will never forget.
   
Joy