Daily Dance: Finola Hughes As 'Victoria' In CATS

Finola Hughes as 'Victoria' in CATS

In honor of the passing of Dame Gillian Lynne, whose choreography graced two of the biggest musical theatre blockbusters of all time, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera, I share this lovely moment from the early 80s when Andrew Lloyd Webber shared a bit of Cats on a talk show as the musical launched in the West End.

For soap opera fans, yes, that's General Hospital's Finola Hughes dancing the role of the white cat, 'Victoria.'

Regular readers know that I was an actor and dancer for many years on Broadway and in national touring companies, and my first big break was as 'the magical Mr. Mistoffelees' in a new national touring company of Cats back in the mid-80s.

I smile thinking about my 'Victoria,' the now-super successful Broadway choreographer JoAnn Hunter (School of Rock, Disaster!, On a Clear Day). I watched JoAnn do this every night for hundreds of performances as the very next moment after her solo ended I made my entrance to 'break the spell.'

Good times. Thank you, Gillian Lynne.

Watch below.

Finola Hughes @finolahughes performs "The Invitation" pic.twitter.com/iH10a1piNw

— SoapRomance (@soapromance) July 18, 2018