Dancers rehearse Wednesday, May 28, at the Old Schoolhouse Community Center in Arrow Rock in preparation for the Lyceum Theatre's first show of the seaon, "Cats." Most of the cast members have experience performing in "Cats." (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

When 17 acting professionals stepped off the plane at Kansas City International Airport Sunday, May 18, they headed for the village of Arrow Rock to prepare for "Cats," the first show in the Lyceum Theatre's 2008 season.

The run opens Friday, June 6, with an 8 p.m. showing.

Every one of the 17 survived an audition process where more than 2,000 people vied for a spot on the stage of a well-respected, professional regional theatre.

Each year the competition for a spot in a Lyceum Theatre's professional productions gets tougher as the theater's offerings step up.

Quin Gresham, the theater's artistic director, leads the 48-year-old Lyceum for the fourth season. Gresham, 30, says, "Each year the theater's board of directors sets a standard of excellence for us. Because of the enthusiasm of the audience, board, the village and actors, we try to provide better and better productions."

"This year shows that growth," Gresham said.

"Because of the caliber of talent we now attract, the Lyceum's stage will see probably its best dancing ever, both in 'Cats' and 'West Side Story.' And we've had great dancers before."

One of Broadway's most popular musicals with magical costumes, heart-stopping music and wonderful dancing, "Cats" will delight audiences from kindergartners to teenagers, from people in their 20s to senior citizens as the production is brought to the Lyceum stage for the first time.

Based on "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T.S. Eliot, Andrew Lloyd Webber's tale mesmerizes audiences with unparalleled music and dancing.

The musical centers around the annual gathering of the Jellicle cats where one special cat will be selected to ascend to the Heavyside layer. This simple story becomes an exciting, unusual stage production that audiences find to be great entertainment. "Cats" is a musical theater phenomenon, and one of the longest running musicals on Broadway.

Another reason the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre can step up its game is the addition of a managing director two years ago to the theater's year-round staff.

Steve Bertani, managing director, 39, who begins his third season with the Lyceum, says, "We have one of the most ambitious and exciting seasons in the Lyceum Theatre since it began almost 50 years ago."

"We open with the wildly popular 'Cats,' which runs June 6-18, followed by seven equally compelling shows," he said. "The theater has 80 performances this season, from June 6 to Sept. 28."

To fill the 115 parts this season, more than 2,400 requests for auditions head shots and resumes -- arrived in the Arrow Rock Post Office and over the Internet before Valentine's Day.

That's where the competitive auditioning begins. Of those 2,400 requests, 300 were chosen by Gresham as viable candidates for this season's productions. In-person auditions began Feb. 22-25 in St. Louis, then continued March 1 in Columbia, March 2 in Arrow Rock, March 3 in Kansas City and March 5-11 in New York City.

Both Gresham and Bertani auditioned the actors, looking for the right characters who could play parts from age 13 up in "Big: the Musical" and for someone to pass as being in their 80s for Norman Thayer in "On Golden Pond."

"We are extremely excited about being able to bring our audience this lineup of performances, with a gifted cast and crew, an unbelievably hard-working set of staff members who manage the box office, bring groups to the theater, coordinate the theater's marketing, make sure the 34-bed dormitory is ready for occupancy, and a vital, interested board of directors," Gresham said.

"Cats" shows from June 6-18:

Seven matinee performances at 2 p.m. on June 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18; five evening performances at 8 p.m.: June 6, 7, 11, 13, 14.

Season tickets (with a lower per-performance cost) and tickets for each production are available through the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre's Web site at www.lyceumtheatre.org or by calling the Lyceum Box Office at 660-837-3311.