The creators of Katdashians! Break the Musical!, the new Off-Broadway show that re-imagines the Kardashians celebrity family as cats, spoke to Playbill about the recent warning they received from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legal team for copyright infringements.
The show, which began previews June 16 at The Elektra Theatre, bills itself as “the very unauthorized musical parody of the Kardashians re-imagined as cats” and a “cat musical parody mash-up.”
As previously reported, Lloyd Webber’s attorneys claim that the musical is “not a parody of Cats” and that the composer’s property is being “extensively misappropriated.” The action prompted Katdashians! creators Bob and Tobly McSmith, the duo behind the Full House! musical parody, to announce that they would replace all Cats songs in the show with their own original tunes.
Recent news reports suggest that Lloyd Webber took the legal action because of a contract with T.S. Eliot's estate. The poet wrote the poems behind Cats, and Lloyd Webber's agreement states the the work cannot be used in a parody.
Tobly McSmith told Playbill, “At no point did we use a single word of Eliot's. We are grateful to learn that this was his concern as we have not infringed on Eliot's copyright, so his estate has nothing to worry about!“
McSmith said Lloyd Webber was his “musical hero“ and revealed that the composer inspired the duo's upcoming work, The Phantom of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
“We would also like to personally invite Andrew Lloyd Webber to see Katdashians! next week!“ continued McSmith. “We have reserved him seats in the Selfie Zone and would like to get a picture with Lord Webber and the Katdashians! Please Andrew Lloyd Webber, we're not rum-tum-tugging your chain, it would be a great memory for us!“
Katdashians! Break the Musical! chronicles the famous family over 12 years; songs include “Meowmory,” “Kim M*therf*cking Katdashian,” “The Selfie Song,” “Dash! It's a Store That We Own!” and "KATYE WEST IS GOD (OF KIM).”
The revival of Lloyd Webber's Cats is set to open on Broadway July 31 following previews that begin July 14.
