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CATS coming to Shea's: a conversation with "Grizabella" (Keri René Fuller)

Broadway Buzz

Although only 25 years old, Keri René Fuller is ready to step into some big shoes and sing "Memory" in the current tour of CATS at Shea's.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical CATS is coming to Shea's in a new production that recently teched in Rhode Island with added choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler of HAMILTON fame.

"Memory" is the show-stopper tune and it's sung by the character Grizabella, a one-time glamour cat whose future looks bleak. In the current tour, the role is sung by a 25-year-old, Keri René Fuller, who spoke at length with WBFO Theater Talk co-host Peter Hall.

They talk about life on the road, the importance of going to a gym every day, cooking meals in her Instant Pot and how Ms. Fuller handles not only the day to day pressure of a Broadway tour, but also the weight of stepping into the shoes of former great Grizabellas, including Elaine Page, who originated the role in London, and Betty Buckley who won a Tony when CATS first came to Broadway.

Even though "semi-retired," Peter Hall continues to wear many hats. He is the Sunday afternoon host on WBFO’s “sister station,” WNED Classical where he has produced over 1,000 radio interviews with musical artists. If you see him at a theater with a pen in his hand, he’s probably getting ready to co-host “Theater Talk” with Anthony Chase (heard Friday mornings at 6:45 and 8:45 a.m. on WBFO) or to write a review for www.buffalorising.com. He is also a member of the "Artie Awards" committee (think “Tony Awards for Buffalo theaters”).