Mandarin Cats heading to Beijing

Lu Yun, the chief designer of the musical, says all the costumes have been designed and made by teachers and students from Central Academy of Fine Arts. The costumes use Chinese elements from silk to calligraphic images and the color red, a symbolic color.

Thought has also been given to the makeup to ensure it suits Chinese actors. "Every actor has a unique makeup according to his or her face and costumes," Lu says.

Cats is not the first Broadway musical to be translated into Chinese. In 2011, Mamma Mia, a smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, performed before an appreciative audience in Mandarin.

According to the Chinese director of the musical, Liu Chun, the experience of bringing in Mamma Mia paved the way for Cats, including finding the right actors, technicians, stage crew and musicians.

Liu Yang plays the role of Grizabella, or Glamour Cat, and she will perform Memory, arguably the most recognized song of the musical in China.

Ding Zhenying, a graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, who fits the description of Demeter, a skittish female cat, was selected within 30 minutes into the audition.

Organizers say the popularity of Broadway musicals in the Chinese language is growing.

In Guangzhou, Cats sold more than 12 million yuan ($1.94 million) of tickets, which did better than Mamma Mia.

The organizers will continue localizing one hit musical a year, including classics like The Sound of Music and Phantom of the Opera.

chennan@chinadaily.com.cn