Leiomy, a legendary figure in the voguing community and a judge on HBO Max's "Legendary," is making her Broadway debut in "Cats: The Jellicle Ball." This revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1982 musical "Cats" reimagines the feline characters as contestants in queer ballroom competitions, offering audiences a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ culture.
Known as the "Wonder Woman of Vogue," Leiomy portrays Macavity, originally "the mystery cat," now a scene-stealing fashionista. "She's a crafty diva who steals for her houses, but she actually cares for her community," Leiomy said. "And she's funny!" The production, which opened at New York's Broadhurst Theatre in April, has become one of the year's biggest hits, earning nine Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction for co-directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch.
Levingston, a lifelong fan of "Cats," was determined to reengage with his childhood love for the show. "When you take the ears and the tails away, you're dealing with humans and the messiness of our own stories," he explained. "I wanted to do something that allowed me to engage with what I believe is the most important political tool we have, which is the broadening of our imaginations."
The production has bridged divides, as Levingston noted: "There are people who hate 'Cats,' and there are people who are obsessed with 'Cats,' and somehow, when they see 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball,' they meet at the center of a Venn diagram." For Leiomy, a transgender Afro-Puerto Rican woman, the acclaim is particularly meaningful. "It's very important for the world to see that there are spaces that are ready to uplift us and celebrate us, especially at a time when they're trying to erase trans people and our cultures," she said.
Leiomy also expressed empathy for fellow trans performer "Tempress" Chastity Moore, whose portrayal of Grizabella in the show was not recognized by the Tony Awards. "She knows what she has brought to this, and I'm sure she's not going to let this shake her down," Leiomy said. "Something they need to work on is celebrating the girls. We're being celebrated to an extent, but I feel like we're not being uplifted how we should be."
The revival arrives amid renewed interest in Webber's work, following Nicole Scherzinger's Tony-winning performance in "Sunset Boulevard" and upcoming productions of "Evita." Levingston, who is set to direct "Passing Strange" in Los Angeles, said, "Everything I make is going to have a queer lens to it, because I'm a queer person in the world."
