"Cats" By The Numbers

I just got an email from my pal Elaine Young, one of the producers (along with Loretta Hayes) of the recently-completed "Cats." In the email she ran down the numbers from the show, and it gives a good indication of the kind of work and dedication it takes to put on a show as massive as "Cats."

"We went through 48 individually hand designed/painted costumes, 26 hand painted wigs, 240 tubes of makeup, 500 bottles of water, 164 leg and arm warmers, 300 bobby pins, 6000 miles of travel time by cast to and from rehearsals and performances, 40 ankle wraps, 40 pairs of false eyelashes, 2000 programs, 350 kids at our school show, 3000 people in our audiences, 20 cans of colored hair spray, 250 mic batteries, 220 feet of dance floor, 20 strands of Christmas lights, and 2 fire department visits!!!"

I'll resist the urge to add, "And a Partridge in a Pear Tree."

Oh, and it goes without saying - that's just a partial list. For one thing, it leaves off untold hours on the cell phone working out problems, and the thousands of hours donated by parent volunteers! But this gives you an idea of what goes into the job - it's not one for the faint of heart!