GARFIELD, The Musical with Cattitude
Based on the Comic Strip “GARFIELD” by Jim Davis | Book by Michael J. Bobbitt and Jim Davis | Music and Lyrics by John L. Cornelius II
Garfield, a chubby and sarcastic tabby cat, fantasizes about having the most amazing birthday in the history of birthdays... he deserves it for being the best cat ever! Unfortunately, all of his friends - Arlene, Odie, Jon, and even his nemesis, Nermal - seem to have forgotten. Feeling rejected, Garfield ventures out to find excitement, but he soon realizes that home is where the heart (and the food) is.
Suggested Audience Age: Ages 4 and Up
Running Time: 60 minutes
Cast Size: No Chorus • Small (1-10). Vocal Demands: Moderate. Dance Requirements: Minimal. Good For: Amateur/Community • Professional Theatre.
Participate in the R&H Online Community.Leave comments or talk with other fans in the forum!
About The Show
Production Info
Fan Info:
We are pleased to announce the additions of GARFIELD, The Musical with Cattitude and Mad Libs Live! to our Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) Collection! read more
Philadelphia Weekly, February 08, 2017
Interview with: Davis, Jim
Written By: Austin Macfadden
Interview with: Davis, Jim
Written By: Austin Macfadden
When Jim Davis first created Garfield he never imagined how iconic the sarcastic overweight, orange tabby cat would become. Davis, the Indiana farm boy began making comics as a child and named his most famous character, Garfield, after his grandfather—a gruff man with a soft heart.
Since those early comics in the late 1970s, Garfield has grown to be an international brand, with movies, TV shows, books, and merchandise galore. In 1981, Davis founded Paws, Inc. a company that employs licensing experts, artists and writers who work to manage Garfield’s global brand.
But it’s the creation of Garfield musical that Davis can now cross off his bucket list.
“Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude” opened Feb. 3 and runs through Feb. 18 at Walnut Street Theater. The musical tells the story of Garfield, the overweight, sarcastic kitty who loves lasagna, excited about his upcoming birthday party. But when all his friends seem to have forgotten, Garfield runs away, only to learn an invaluable lesson in the end.
"Cartoonists are frustrated playwrights. We write the script we set the stage, we create the blocking. We are the directors and the producers,” joked Davis. “The honesty in Garfield may be what has made it such a success. Having patience and being able to speak your mind[...] You develop a relationship with characters like that, and I always thought that if I could get Garfield to last more than two or three years then I could do this for the rest of my career.”
Today, he’s busy running the licensing company, and Davis relies on a staff of cartoonists to draw the daily comic strip. However he himself drafts and sketches multiple strips at one time, and of course Davis has the final say on the finished product. With so much behind the orange tabby and for so many years, it may come as little surprise Garfield is the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip.
For Davis, the pleasure of creation is in the joy it brings others. Some of the most valuable lessons he’s learned in the comics industry have come the from perseverance.
“If you have fun doing something, then others will have fun seeing it or reading it [...] When I speak with school groups, I emphasize, do what makes you happy. That’s the most important thing.”
"Garfield, The Musical With Cattitude is a fast-paced musical comedy that is vastly entertaining and perfect for kids (and grown-ups) of all ages.” — Diane Jackson Schnoor , DC Metro Theater Arts, June 21, 2016
“Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude emphasizes the importance of friends and family and in true fashion, he gets what he wants in the end, along with a sweet surprise.” — April Forrer, MD Theatre Guide, June 29, 2015
"This musical shows the brilliance of Garfield to a new generation.” — Hannah Wing, BroadwayWorld.com, June 26, 2015
“Cats and chaos. That about sums up Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude. And, it’s a splendid combination. The music is upbeat with clever lyrics." — Kelly McCorkendale, DC Theatre Scene, July 22, 2015
Song #
Song Name
Character Name
Play
Other Versions
Vocal Range of Characters:
STANDARD
- Garfield - Rehearsal Set
- 10 – Libretto
- 10 – Piano Vocal Scores
4 Men*
1 Woman
CHARACTERS
Garfield a lazy tabby cat with a large ego.
Nermal a kitten, Garfields arch nemesis.
Odie a simple-minded dog, Garfields friend.
Jon Arbuckle a nerd, Garfields human.
Arlene a cat, Garfields friend and perhaps, love interest.
Animal Control (played by the same actor as Jon)
*NOTE: The music for Nermal was written for an unchanged male voice. Because of vocal arrangements, this is very important. You can also cast a young girl or adult female.
Materials Notes
Reed - (Clarinet, Alto Sax, Flute)
Accompaniment Tracks are available for download from www.rnh.com/mydownloads upon booking.
You may also rent an Orchestra Set for live musicians.
You may also rent an Orchestra Set for live musicians.
Featured News
GARFIELD and MAD LIBS join the R&H TYA Collection!
We are pleased to announce the additions of GARFIELD, The Musical with Cattitude and Mad Libs Live! to our Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) Collection! Read More
Media Rights
Promotional
1. The Promotional Video shall be recorded and shown for the sole purposes of advertising your licensed production of the Play. For such a video, R&H allows theatres to film up to 10 minutes of total footage taken at either a performance or rehearsal (i.e.: 10 minutes of scripted moments.)
2. The Promotional Video may not include more than (i) 1 minute from any song or (ii) 3 minutes, in the aggregate, of footage of copyrighted material from the Play.
3. The Promotional Video may not include any sponsorship or underwriting without the prior consent of all R&H.
4. The Promotional Video must be submitted to R&H by sending the source video and video link to [email protected]
5. The Promotional Video must include the following: "Rights courtesy of Rodgers & Hammerstein, www.rnh.com"
6. Upon approval by R&H of the Promotional Video, you agree not to make any alterations in the approved copyrighted material used therein and you agree to obtain the prior written approval of R&H for any other use of the Promotional Video not specifically granted herein.
7. Upon termination of the Term, you shall cease to have any rights to use the Promotional Video including, without limitation, in connection with a future production of the Play, and shall immediately remove its content from any and all websites on the Internet.
8. You may not use a commercially available recording.
9. Any additional promotional rights must be approved by R&H by contacting[email protected].
Archival
1. Subject to the information provided in Licensee’s application and payment of the fee as set forth in Paragraph 3 herein, Licensee shall have the right to create a single copy of the Video for internal archival, private viewing purposes at Licensee’s address only and shall not be re-copied, distributed or otherwise exploited, in whole or in part, in any media now known or hereafter developed without the prior written approval of R&H. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Video shall not be (i) sold to anyone (ii) telecast by any television station or network, including, without limitation, any local cable station or (iii) distributed, exhibited or otherwise exploited over the Internet or as part of any online auction.
2. Licensee agrees to include the following language at the beginning of the Video:
©Year By R&H Theatricals. This production was videotaped by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals for archival purposes only. All Rights Reserved.
WARNING: Federal law provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution or exhibition of copyrighted motion pictures, videotapes or videodiscs. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and may constitute a felony with a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000.00 fine.
This Video is provided to you for private, organizational and home viewing purposes only. By accepting the Video, you agree not to authorize or permit the Video to be copied, distributed, broadcast, telecast or otherwise exploited, in whole or in part, in any media now known or hereafter developed.
Distribution
1. Licensee shall have the right to create the Video and to make up to one hundred (100) copies of the Video for sale at cost to its Members for internal archival, private viewing purpose at Licensee’s address and for private, home-viewing purpose by Members, and shall not be re-copied, distributed or otherwise exploited, in whole or in part, in any media now known or hereafter developed without the prior written approval of R&H. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Video shall not be (i) sold to anyone other than the Members (ii) telecast by any television station or network, including, without limitation, any local cable station or (iii) distributed, exhibited or otherwise exploited over the Internet or as part of any online auction.
2. Licensee agrees to include the following language at the beginning of the Video:
©Year By R&H Theatricals. This production was videotaped by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals for archival purposes only. All Rights Reserved. WARNING: Federal law provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution or exhibition of copyrighted motion pictures, videotapes or videodiscs. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and may constitute a felony with a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000.00 fine. This Video is provided to you for private, organizational and home viewing purposes only. By accepting the Video, you agree not to authorize or permit the Video to be copied, distributed, broadcast, telecast or otherwise exploited, in whole or in part, in any media now known or hereafter developed.
