Cats is officially coming back on both sides of the pond! Just days after Broadway dates were unveiled for the Ballroom-inspired staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, another revival has been revealed for the U.K. Drew McOnie (Jesus Christ Superstar, King Kong) will direct and choreograph the new staging, to premiere at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London (where McOnie is artistic director) in 2026 before embarking on a U.K. tour.

The Regent's Park bow will play July 25-September 12, 2026, officially opening August 6. The U.K. tour will launch in Plymouth, with further dates through July 2027 booked in Hull, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Llandudno, Glasgow, and more.

The production is the latest Lloyd Webber musical to come to Regent's Park before further runs. Their 2016 Jesus Christ Superstar (choreographed by McOnie) toured the U.K. and U.S. along with getting several London encore runs, and their 2019 Evita, directed by Jamie Lloyd, recently closed a West End transfer.

Casting and further creative team members are to be announced. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is producing with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals.

"I am very excited to see a totally new production of Cats back on the stage where it belongs," says Lloyd Webber in a statement. I can think of no-one better than Drew McOnie to bring a new vision to the world of the Jellicles.”

“As for many dancers in the industry, Cats was a transformative experience for me, and as a former cast member it's thrilling to be directing and choreographing this brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical," adds McOnie. "I can't wait to share this much-loved piece with a new generation of audiences both in the stunning outdoor setting of Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and in theatres across the U.K. With the production heading out on tour, we are delighted that it will reach audiences across the country after its London run, continuing our commitment to working with partners—in this case the brilliant Michael Harrison—to ensure our work is seen by as many as possible beyond our home in Regent’s Park.”

Cats, which premiered in London in 1979, is a dance musical adapted from T.S. Eliot's book of children's poetry, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. Mostly plotless, the musical follows a tribe of so-called "Jellicle" Cats who gather for an annual ball, presenting themselves for the chance to be reborn in a new life. Lloyd Webber's Tony-winning score introduced "Memory," which has proved to be one of the composer's most enduring standards. The original West End and Broadway productions were among the first worldwide musical theatre juggernauts, both once holding the mantle of the longest-running productions in the history of their respective theatre scenes.

Tickets to Cats go on sale beginning October 23 for Regent's Park members, with general sales beginning October 28. Visit OpenAirTheatre.com.