CATS - 1983 Tony Awards - Betty Buckley

[rellenoz]

Betty Buckley struts out there in those heels and slays them all!

[FISTRIG]

ONE DOES NOT HERE PERFORMANCES LIKE THIS OFTEN.  IT IS A REMARKABLE READING OF AN FABULOUS PIECE OF MUSIC !

[hermitcrabbot]

I looked up the definition of 'Grande Dame' on the web, and up came a picture of Betty.....

[ValtronW]

I really like the man who played Skimbleshanks!

[oofahman]

When she hits that "TOUCH ME!" oh my!!! Goose bumps!!! Betty rocks..I have all of her albums! Got to see her in Sunset too...AMAZING!!!

[nu2rasln2010]

Betty is such an awesome singer.  She really put her heart and soul into this song and performance.

[carihigs]

One of the many things I love about Cats is how the choreography was barely ever changed. The dancing for the parts in this video are the exact same in the film. And when Cats came to town back in April, the dancing was still very much the same. I always found that interesting. :D

[MewPassionAngel]

Does anyone have any footage of Timothy Scott as Mistoffelees (besides what's here)? I've been searching for ages and can't find anything, only a couple of pictures. I'm dying to see his version of Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer (and his own song if that were possible).

[MillerMo10]

Betty is extraordinary here! People say Elaine's was better but I'd have to give the nod to Betty Buckley.

[MrAmazingMarcus]

@MillerMo10 Elaine is a heartless performer, with no power. I'm always shocked she is given so much credit. Her voice PALES in comparison

[MultiPearl007]

who's the queen at 0:44?

[snapperhead2]

If there's any doubt that Betty owns this song....

[NewNickTahoe]

@BWoppy123 first part was taped in cat's theater, the wintergarden, and only from betty's entrance on was actually live. same thing was done for starlight express a few years later...part taped in other theater, part performed live

[outlanderfrog]

Which character does the guy at 0:30 with the epic mustache play?

[GreekFood08]

Wow. She is amazing. Buckley is one of the best Grizabellas in CATS history. Jemima seemed to have a little trouble at her solo. But Buckley nailed it on the 'touch me!" part! I wonder if the cast had planned it?! :)

[SingingFool123]

one of my fav musicals!

[kamwrites]

OH. MY. GOD. What a find!!!

[patriciaru39]

2:16 check out that feline's CRAZY EYES!

[noodle0912]

I'm surprised nobody broke into applause when she hit the climax of the song. I would have given her a standing ovation right then and there.

[jodona76]

Growing up in NYC..I'm so glad my mom took me in the 80's to see CATS...never been to Broadway show so lively...they would dance in the aisles of audience...very lively. Love this.

[Macrogue65]

Never seen this - great to see. Thank you.

Elaine Paige still wipes the board clean.

[shirlychor]

WOW!

[sevenlemon]

one of the most underrated singers/actors , Bravo Betty, Bravo!

[IchLiebenBill]

Betty Buckley's version makes me cry ='( She makes an excellent Grizabella

[highgranite]

Does anyone know if there exists a video of Stephen Hannan's performance as GrowlTiger available anywhere? His vocals were spectacular, and I would love to see his physical performance....

Thanks for any info

[NewNickTahoe]

@highgranite none that i know of :( saw him do it live and he was AMAZING! he also was samuel in the orig pirates of penzance...on the cast recording with kevin klein, but when the movie version was filmed, while it is still his voice, it's not him in the film. maybe recorded the soundtrack then had scheduling conflict when they actually filmed? not sure...

[gogetyourverb]

Elaine Paige is the BEST GRIZABELLA! I feel as though Betty Buckley sings way too much vibrato and doesn't have the emotion that elaine has.

[SingingBlondie1028]

I cry when I see the Misto/Quaxo in this video. His name was Timothy Scott and died not long after being in CATS from AIDS. I have Stephen Tate's diary from his time in CATS and in it it describes Timothy being so sick off and on, even though he didnt know he had it at that point. A great book for all CATS lovers!

[loopylupin09]

@SingingBlondie1028...is Stephen Tate's diary a published book...or did you get it from him, because I'd be interested in reading it...and yes, it's extremely upsetting to see someone so talented die...

[Chickokitty93]

I've watched the recorded movie version of CATS multiple times and I couldn't help but realise that some of the camera angles/shots of "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" from this video are almost identical to the camera angles/shots used in the newer filmed version... I wonder if that's sheer coinsidence or what ;)

[PiecesOfRainbow7]

2:16!!!

[sweetmistakexx]

how many awards did the Cats got from there?

[broadwayfan66]

is this Old Dueteronomy Ken page? He's very nice. I sent him a letter and he wrote back with a hand written personal letter and an autograph. It was very cool

[NewNickTahoe]

@broadwayfan66 yes, that would be ken!

[Disneydanny]

Whitney Kershaw sounds different here then om the album.

[clamman27]

Betty is nearly impossible to beat with this one. She's IN the moment when she sings. THAT'S why she gives you goosebumps. She's an artist. Great singer. Amazing performance.

[brittyandemi3]

victoria looks weird

[DBAat2C]

I saw Betty in CATS in 1982 on Broadway and it is a highlight of my life. Every time I watch this clip I get the same goosebumps I got that night. My partner and I also got the chance to meet her after she did a concert at the Plush Room in SF. We talked for a couple of hours. She is down to earth and sweet and loves her cutting horses more than singing, I think. I LOVE Betty Buckley!

[cpd8882]

I saw Elaine Page sing Memory in Broadway on Broadway in 2001 the year Cats closed...Amazing!

[chrissi2810]

It was Betty Buckles who sang it and it was in 2000 ;)

[cpd8882]

yeah, i meant Betty Buckley...but you're right, it was 2000!!

[karrezza]

@chrissi2810 uh wait what? Betty Buckley was not in Cats in 2000,

[spitfire9b]

I saw Cats in London in 1981 & thought Elaine Paige was wonderful. While visiting my sister in New York in late 1982, she kept nagging me to go see the mother from TV's Eight Is Enough perform the role of Grisabella on Broadway. I was very skeptical but gave in. It was one of my better decisions. I was stunned by just how good Betty Buckley was: her vocal range & acting skills - she nailed the role. Her version of Memory is still my all-time favourite. I love this.

Thanks for sharing.

[constan1678]

WOW O_O COOLLLXD !!!!!!!!

[007candytrojan]

bravo bravo

[juliafan310]

Betty is the BEST!!!! Saw this with her in it..Absolutley incredible!!!!

[pickledantique]

Humans are so weird.

[lilclarinets]

OMG.... has the best story line ever. You can't help but love a story about an old cat that everyone loves that gets to go to heaven. BEST STORY EVER!!!!!

[Javaisreve]

this is so ridiculous you can't help but eat it up. You got to give it up to Lloyd Webber he sure can write some fun melodies, I'm going to go hum jellicle cats for an hour and a half...

[petterwoien]

The makeup is unbelievely amazing in this-.-

[highbelter]

Ahh... Betty Buckley is unbelievable here.  Thanks for posting this!

[TeDdYBoObOo]

not many of them seem to be really invested in the performance which is sad

[BroadwayFairy]

CATS is one of those shows that wasn't like anything anybody had seen before at the time, which is probably why it dominated the tonys that year, but c'mon, the music is really catchy, the costumes kick-ass, and the choreagraphy is amazing... so it lacks in plot, whatever, its an entertaining show, and really, that's what a show is meant to do, entertain... and Memory is one of the most cliche, yet, amazingly beautiful broadway songs ever... :)

[ryboe77]

What exactly makes "Cats" gay? Is there a make-out scene between two male cats? Because I've seen the show many times, and I'm sure there isn't. And please don't reply to this saying something along the lines of, "Oh, I meant gay as in stupid!"

[armandofarras]

no i didn't mean gay as stupid, i meant gay as "glittery", not like Chicago or A Chorus Line, those are more "straight" more sexy, also the music, Cats is very childish or sissy-like, Young Frankenstein is very darkish- funny like.

[feelingpeanuty]

Did you just say that Chicago is less gay than Cats? Okay. It's obvious that you have no idea what you're talking about.

[feelingpeanuty]

Barely any clothes? Are you serious? The men in Cats are dressed from head to toe in full costume and make-up. The men from Chicago are lucky to be wearing a vest with no shirt underneath.

[armandofarras]

last time i checked billy flynn and amos hart were not nude or dressed like sissy cats, and i was talking about the women in chicago, not the men.

[feelingpeanuty]

Uh. "The last time you checked" must have been at least two decades ago. You just picked out two of the most masculine men in the entire show. What about the other 80+ men in the ensemble? You know, the dancers with no shirts on. And why are you bringing up the women? They are also dressed in full costume, anyway. You're so completely off here that I can only assume you watched the wrong video and meant to comment on something else.

[feelingpeanuty]

And how would half-naked women make the show "more gay?" You have no idea what you're talking about.

[Evilqueen1985]

Are you serious... Chicago is one of the most "glittery" musicals ever... Bob Fosse practically used every sequined in the entire world when he did that show... And young Frankenstein is very naive-stupish

[ohioweatherguy]

Can't believe everyone sat on their asses at the conclusion of that performance. Betty Buckley and Memory... very little in the history of Broadway is comparable to that combination.

[disneydanny2]

@ohioweatherguy i'm pretty sure it was a taped and edited piece. i saw the show in New York and that set was HUGE & way to complicated to remove & relocate for one evening now if they had had an inflatable set like the current U.S. Tour does then they could have done that live

[bubbafluff21]

didn't cats like dominate the tony's that year?

wow all the actors in this show need so much training

[commenterboi]

well, cats just started out then, maybe they changed the choreography a lil in the past 20 years of the show?

lol

[smichelle65]

"Susan Boyle"? "greatest singers"?

Sorry--I appreciate that her 'underdog' story has won the hearts of many, but she's not that great a singer. She can carry a tune, but no way can you put her in the same category as Streisand, Dion, Buckley, or Paige.

[bubbafluff21]

i think shes quite talented and unlike the others shes not a trained singer so for being untrained she's pretty damn good

[clamman27]

@smichelle65 Right? She's just not THAT good. She's always smiling. She's never IN her music. Singer yes, ARTIST? NO.

[tess1312]

@smichelle65 .you might want to add: ruhtie henshall's category..compare, i dreamed a dream of ruhtie and susan.

[weirdowaldo]

Was that Richard Burton looking like hell?

[abakusek]

yes, that was him...he died just a year later, from all the booze-related illnesses

[Disneydanny]

do you happen to have any videos of the Tony acceptance speeches for "CATS"?

[firewalkwithbob]

genital cats?

[Hrdcorellamas]

Jellicle Cats. Haha

[scarymovie715]

wat it is

[MsTexas73]

Thank you SOOO much for posting this...I've never seen the entire play before...but I 've seen excerpts of the different versions...and I am a Betty fan...and I've always liked her rendition of Memory...and I wish they would put this original version of the play on dvd.

[scarymovie715]

why would they riter it it was such a good musical

[Nellis4321]

I love this musical. I've seen it once on broadway and twice at theaters that I can't remember.

[Swizle13]

susan boyle? are you serious? i cant BELIEVE people are putting her the same level as streisand and paige. if she wasn't so ugly and having a 'meltdown' no one would even care about her.

[jackskellingtonsora]

There is absolutly no story to Cats, so the only thing it has going for it is its amazing dancing and singing and costumes.

[Chocsii]

Of course there is a story to cats!

[jackskellingtonsora]

What? The main guy gets kidnapped and they rescue him? Make no mistake, I do like the show, it just lacks a decent story.

[bubbafluff21]

isnt there dialog before memory comes on?

[bugramps]

Better with Elaine Paige, but it's good. Not fair to be that talented: sing, dance, and act. Those people are insanely talented.

[UndercoverCracker]

Well the voice goes to Betty.

[profratigan]

I agree, Betty over Paige any day.

[EvanOz85]

Amen..

[EvanOz85]

Booooo! Elaine doesn't stand a chance against our Betty.

[karrezza]

Thumbed up you to cancel the thumbs down someone gave you! I like Elaine (its my daughter's name after all) but Betty, I dunno I connect with her better.

[robbiehrte66]

Cats has got to be one of the silliest musicals of the modern era. No plot no story, no character development. But as a musical theatre experience there's no more thrilling and moving show in the history of the theatre. Thanks for posting. This clip is incredible.

[mamabear0204]

I agree. I saw Cats in London in 1985 and it is the most memorable musical I have ever seen. Although I recently saw The Lion King and I have to say that it was the most creative, visually stunning and moving musical production since Cats. The Lion King is a must-see. I would ask people to please not be put-off by the fact that it was originally an animated film for children. You will not be disappointed.

[billycruise899]

This is absolutely amazing. No wonder it was the second longest running musicals in history (recently beaten by Les Miserables).

[henners167]

susan boyle brought me here

[taikoshepherd]

I've never been a huge fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's work, but I feel Cats is stunning.

[MacNair]

I prefer the taped version mainly because the make-up and costumes seem cleaner and more efficient. I am not a fan of what they have here. It looks like what you would get from a third-rate community theatre's production of the show.

The dancing, acting, and singing are still great though.

[mamabear0204]

If this looks like community theatre to you, then I want to live in YOUR community!

[SilentApprentice]

Was her song rushed because they were at the Tony awards? or was it really like this with the show?

[MichaelCH2007]

Probably rushed. They do this freguently at the Tony Awards so that they stay on time.

[gmaureen]

Magical, just magical the way Betty sings Memory.

[Bellajemima708]

2:16 AHHHHH!!! that was scary! lol

[invaderzim1414]

hahaha i almost screamed

[Sessly]

I love this, I think I prefer Elaine just a little more because of how you can feel Grizabella's pain through her interpretation.

Though I will say Betty has the "Touch Me it's so easy to leave me" down like no other, even Elaine.

[UndercoverCracker]

Yes Paiges acting is better but that last part no one can compare to this woman!

[MT4Ever]

The way the T in "touch" came out is almost scary. It's like she fired it out of a tank. Huge voice. Reminds me of Whitney's singing of the word "time" in One Moment In Time live at the Grammys. Same type of jaw-dropping belt.

[UndercoverCracker]

OMFG I always that that too. Two of the best notes ever!

[Disneydanny]

and if i'm not Mistaken at the first performance following the Tony's the roof of the Winter Garden collapsed forcing Grizsabella to ride back down on the tire w/ Old Deuteronomy

[BroadwaysMyBeat]

"Broadway's Lost Treasures: Part 1" has this number (and many others) in great DVD quality. By the way, Scott Wise isn't in this video. Though he replaced Ken Ard (as Macavity), it's Ken who is seen in this clip from the Tony Awards.

[runbaby1163]

This performance gives me chills. She is amazing!! Always THE Grizabella to me.

[OneoftheImmortals]

Barbra Streisand, eat your heart out. When Betty sang this one New year's Eve on Johnny Carson . . . she ripped my heart out.

What a SUPER TALENT!!!

[virginQ]

Betty Buckley rocks! voice like none other, i wish we could hear and see more of her these days.

one Texas size voice...

[kkharding4137]

this is awesome

[MarblesTheMoose]

Is that Timothy Scott playing Mistoffelees? I've been trying to find pictures of him, but it's hard to.

[d3fyinggr4vity]

this is far better than the movie version!

[beentheredonethatb4]

I think Betty's singing has so much more soul and power than Elaine Paige's version. But they are both good.

[Iamdio]

i also prefer elaine page but i felt it, that 'touch me, it's so easy to leave me...' that was... wow!

[RaWrZzZz]

why is that high C recorded?? its not even high. o.o i pop those at school to get peoples attention. OH MY GOD! even though eaine will always be grizabella for me, listen to that voice! so tender and soft!

[RaWrZzZz]

munkustrap is always sexy.. they like cast munkuon sex appeal. :D

[bevsoprano]

To each his own, but that "Touch me" of Betty's is like nobody else's - what power - and she's not even standing up straight!

p.s. this is actually part of the DVD called Broadway's Lost Treasures, so I wouldn't really classify it as long-lost footage. But thanks for putting it up because I love it and am gonna watch it over and over!

[NewNickTahoe]

oh i agree...betty is unmatched. and by long lost footage, i meant of the stuff i had. forgot i ever recorded it.

[RaWrZzZz]

i started crying when she sang it! i was tearing up and couldn't stop xD

[AriesModerator]

A great medley. Plus, it's nice to see Richard Burton. :-) Betty is great, but I personally prefer Elaine Paige's Grizabella.

[crvrslpntddsstrs]

Thanks for uploading this.

:-)