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Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The unlikely musical that conquered the world
Gabriyel Thomas remembers the exact moment she first encountered Cats. 'I was four and my mum brought home the 1998 film version on VHS,' she says. 'I started watching it, again and again, on repeat, like it was my job. 'I danced around the living room to it so much that, even now, when people have been learning their choreography here, I know almost every movement they have to learn.' The 'here' Thomas refers to is the Alexandria rehearsal room for the 40th Australian anniversary production of Cats, opening this week at the Theatre Royal Sydney. Fresh from rocking a nun's wimple in the Australian production of Sister Act, Thomas is part of the production's 28-strong cast as Grizabella, the once-glamorous, bedraggled moggie who sings the melancholic, chart-topping mega-hit Memory. 'It's one of those songs where if you don't know Cats, you still know Memory, ' she says. 'It's iconic. I did worry about doing it justice but, now, when I'm on the floor being Grizabella, the notes just come out. It takes over my entire existence.' Since premiering in 1981 in London's West End, Andrew Lloyd Webber's sung-through contemporary dance musical about the Jellicle cat tribe has taken over stages around the world. Pioneering the concept of a blockbuster musical, and earning more than $3.5 billion worldwide to date, Cats has played in 51 countries, been translated into 23 languages and played to more than 81 million people. Its original UK season won multiple Olivier and Evening Standard Awards followed by Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score and more, after the show's 1982 Broadway premiere. But there were bumps along the way.
The Age
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
The unlikely musical that conquered the world
Gabriyel Thomas remembers the exact moment she first encountered Cats. 'I was four and my mum brought home the 1998 film version on VHS,' she says. 'I started watching it, again and again, on repeat, like it was my job. 'I danced around the living room to it so much that, even now, when people have been learning their choreography here, I know almost every movement they have to learn.' The 'here' Thomas refers to is the Alexandria rehearsal room for the 40th Australian anniversary production of Cats, opening this week at the Theatre Royal Sydney. Fresh from rocking a nun's wimple in the Australian production of Sister Act, Thomas is part of the production's 28-strong cast as Grizabella, the once-glamorous, bedraggled moggie who sings the melancholic, chart-topping mega-hit Memory. 'It's one of those songs where if you don't know Cats, you still know Memory, ' she says. 'It's iconic. I did worry about doing it justice but, now, when I'm on the floor being Grizabella, the notes just come out. It takes over my entire existence.' Since premiering in 1981 in London's West End, Andrew Lloyd Webber's sung-through contemporary dance musical about the Jellicle cat tribe has taken over stages around the world. Pioneering the concept of a blockbuster musical, and earning more than $3.5 billion worldwide to date, Cats has played in 51 countries, been translated into 23 languages and played to more than 81 million people. Its original UK season won multiple Olivier and Evening Standard Awards followed by Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score and more, after the show's 1982 Broadway premiere. But there were bumps along the way.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Micron announces $30 billion investment in America as scare of Trump Tariffs loom, says: These investments are designed to allow ...
Micron Technology, a leading memory chip manufacturer, announced Thursday an additional $30 billion investment in U.S. operations, bringing its total planned investment to $200 billion. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The expansion comes as President Donald Trump pressures companies to increase domestic production and threatens new tariffs on semiconductors, while also signaling plans to renegotiate or potentially dismantle the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. The new investment will fund a second advanced memory fabrication facility in Boise, Idaho, and the expansion of Micron's manufacturing plant in Manassas, Virginia. The company aims to meet rising demand for its DRAM chips , critical for personal computing, automotive, industrial applications, wireless communications, and artificial intelligence. Micron's High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips are particularly vital for next-generation AI models, a point emphasized by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who called the investment 'an important step forward for the AI ecosystem.' Micron's announcement builds on its earlier commitments of $100 billion for a New York manufacturing hub and $25 billion for Idaho facilities. In December, the U.S. Commerce Department, under former President Joe Biden, awarded Micron nearly $6.2 billion in subsidies—one of the largest grants under the $52.7 billion CHIPS Act—to support semiconductor production in these states. Additionally, Micron finalized a $275 million direct funding award to expand its Manassas facility. However, the future of such subsidies remains uncertain. President Trump has repeatedly criticized the CHIPS Act and threatened to repeal it. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed last week that the administration is reviewing grants awarded to semiconductor firms, including Micron, as part of efforts to renegotiate terms. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Micron also plans to allocate $50 billion to research and development, focusing on advanced memory manufacturing and HBM capabilities. The company aims to produce 40% of its DRAM in the U.S., aligning with growing market demand and strengthening its position in the global semiconductor market. The announcement follows Nvidia's April pledge to invest up to $500 billion in U.S.-based AI server production over the next four years, in collaboration with partners like Taiwan's TSMC. As a key Nvidia customer, Micron's expanded U.S. operations are poised to support the booming AI sector, despite uncertainties surrounding federal support and trade policies. Micron's investments signal a robust commitment to bolstering U.S. semiconductor manufacturing , even as the industry navigates political and economic challenges.
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
6 unhinged Donald Trump moments as he gets booed and trolled by drag queens
Among the many surprising things about Donald Trump is his apparently sincere and deep love for popular stage musicals of the 80s and 90s. He's frequently spoken of his love of the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber - citing Cats and Phantom of the Opera among his favourites. Anyone who's been to one of his speeches will be familiar with his warm-up tape. Alongside high energy radio rock hits, MAGA fans are regularly treated to often lengthy cuts from the soundtracks of the above musicals - usually soft solo ballads like Music of the Night from Phantom and Memory from Cats. Last night, Trump got a treat - a performance of his other favourite musical, Les Miserables, at the Kennedy Centre. Regular readers will be familiar with Trump's offbeat plan to recast Washington's major cultural centre to be more to his tastes - fewer drag queens and experimental theatre, more basic musicals and country rock. Well, last night was the culmination of that process - a command performance of the epic show just for him. And a half full audience. And some drag queens. Here's more on that, and some other things that happened in Trump world yesterday. "Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men?", the cast of Les Mis intone at one of the show's many emotional climaxes. Well, Trump, sitting at the front of the circle, certainly did. He also heard the people boo. As he and rarely seen First Lady Melania Trump took their seats, parts of the (roughly half capacity) crowd erupted in boos. Shortly after, cheers took over from elsewhere in the crowd, followed again by chants of "USA! USA!". Later, someone accurately shouted "felon" at the President. Among the modest crowd were a large contingent of drag queens, who sashayed past the first family. About a dozen performers from the show's cast refused to appear at the performance in protest against the administration. Asked on the red carpet whether he identifies more with unfortunate, redemption-seeking ex-convict turned politician turned revolutionary Jean Valjean or obsessive and vindictive policeman Inspector Javert, Trump said: "Oh, that's a tough one." 'You better answer that one, honey,' he said, deferring to his often absent wife. 'I don't know.' Meanwhile Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to tell a Congressional committee how much it'll cost to refit the "free plane" Trump was gifted by Qatar. A contract has been awarded for reconfiguration of the plane, which it's been claimed the President could use as a temporary replacement for Air Force One while a new presidential jet is being completed by Boeing. Trump has become increasingly impatient with the slow pace of ensuring the Boeing jets are suitable for use as a flying White House. Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here - Lizzy Buchan, Mikey Smith, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke and Ashley Cowburn. Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday. But it's been pointed out that even the free plane would have to be subject to the same rigorous programme of security checks - effectively dismantling it and rebuilding it to ensure there aren't any bugs or ancient Greeks hiding in the walls. But asked how much all this was going to cost, a not unreasonable question for the Senate Appropriations defence subcommittee - which is in charge of approving the departmental budget - Hegseth said no. "That cannot be revealed in this setting," he said. "Why can't it be revealed in this setting?" asked Senator Jack Reed, "This is the appropriations committee of the United States Senate. We appropriate the money that you will spend after it's authorised by my committee, and you cannot tell us how much the contract is for." "You will have that number, senator," Hegseth insisted. "We want it now. The contract has been signed, correct?" Reed asked - reminding him of reports that aviation firm L3Harris had been awarded the contract. But Hegseth said: "Nothing on that front, that I'm aware of, is being executed." This Saturday, tanks and other military equipment will roll through the street of Washington DC. It's totally in celebration of the 250th birthday of the US armed forces, and not for Trump's 79th birthday, which happens to also be on Saturday. Anyway, Trump is very much looking forward to it - as are we. We'll be on the ground to see the whole grotesque spectacle of military might unfold. But about 60% of Americans say the parade is "not a good use" of taxpayers' money, according to a poll published last night. The NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found just 4 in 10 Americans "somewhat" or "strongly" approve of the parade, while about 3 in 10 "somewhat" or "strongly" disapprove. About 3 in 10 neither approve nor disapprove. Matt Wheeler, 40, called the display "extremely wasteful" and "a bit of a performance" that "just sends a bad message" in terms of the overt military display. "The only other time I can think about this, it's been in old throwbacks to the USSR or things you see out of North Korea," said Wheeler, who works in nonprofit fundraising in Los Angeles and described himself as a lifelong Democrat. "It's a direction this administration is inclined to move in that isn't in line with what I thought our country really was." Lee Greenwood, whose patriotic anthem "God Bless the USA" has soundtracked almost every Trump speech since 2016. The song - which many people loathe, but I personally consider to be an absolute stone-cold banger - contains the line "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free." It is Greenwood's only work of note. But he unashamedly dines out on it - and under Trump it's even been played at official naturalisation ceremonies for new citizens. Well, great news everyone. Greenwood will be singing it live at definitely not Trump's birthday party. As the military rolls through the nation's capital, a string of protests are scheduled to take place in hundreds of cities across the US. Protests are growing in response to his immigration policies. The "No Kings" protests have been called, organisers say, to protect America's democracy as Trump vows to increase his deployment of military forces inside the United States. But there aren't any planned for the capital, which is probably a good thing after Trump warned any protesters disrupting his not birthday parade would face a severe response.
Korea Herald
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Doyoung soars with wider musical spectrum
With NCT and as solo vocalist, Doyoung promises broader future Many say that a person should think of what they love and do best and turn it into a career. In that sense, NCT's Doyoung was born to be a singer. Singing brings him the most joy and confidence, and now he returns not just as a member of an idol group that electrifies tens of thousands of fans, but as a solo vocalist carving out his own musical path with a second full-length album. 'I'm incredibly grateful to be releasing a second album. It captures the stories I wanted to tell, and I had the chance to work with people I've long hoped to collaborate with. Just like the main theme of the album — 'the power to dream,' it gave me the strength to keep dreaming,' Doyoung said during a group interview held Thursday in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Following his first LP "Youth" in 2024, which explored a range of emotions and experiences of young people, Doyoung shared that he aimed to embrace an even broader theme with his new release. 'At first, I was inspired by the image of wings. After settling on the title 'Soar,' I envisioned creating an album that inspires people to dream through imagery of transcending and rising above,' he explained. The album's notable lineup of contributors — icons in the history of Korean bands — underscores just how meaningful "Soar" is to Doyoung. 'Kim Yuna of Jaurim, Kim Jong-wan of Nell and Yoon Do-hyun of YB — all of them have been central figures in Korea's band music scene. I had long hoped to work with them and have been knocking on doors, sending proposals and this time it finally came together. Each of them has such a distinct musical identity, recognized by the Korean public, and they taught me so much throughout the production of this album.' From Kim Yuna, he learned the importance of how a vocalist interprets a song. Kim Jong-wan of Nell gave him detailed guidance on vocal technique. And Yoon Do-hyun, who gifted him the deeply meaningful track 'Still' — written during Yoon's own battle with cancer — left Doyoung with a strong impression of human warmth. The album's lead track, 'Memory,' tells a story Doyoung had long wanted to express. 'If memories had a life of their own, I think becoming a cherished 'recollection' would be their most beautiful conclusion. That's the kind of story the song tells.' Doyoung emphasized how vital his fans and the public are to his musical journey. 'Even as a child, I didn't want to be a singer just because I liked singing alone. I loved singing in front of people. This doesn't mean that I only want to sing songs that are bound to be commercial hits, but I do sing with the hope of being loved by many listeners. I need people who love my music.' Now 29 years old, Doyoung is aware that a hiatus due to his compulsory military service is inevitable, though the timing has yet to be decided. He expressed hope that fans will think of him during that time through his album. 'I wanted this album to be like showing someone my diary — something personal that you only share with those dearest to you. I hope it becomes an album that lets people remember me.' As for the upcoming hiatus, the singer confidently said he has no worries. 'Even if I take a break for a while, I'm confident I'll be singing for a very, very long time. I want to tell my fans — please don't be sad.'
