In the nearly three decades since its initial debut, the timeless musical “CATS” has become a global Broadway icon.   What began as a risky move on the part of a star composer is now regarded as a masterpiece that revolutionized musical theater, having been translated into more than 20 languages and grossing billions over the years.  Next week, the beloved classic makes its long-awaited return to Los Angeles, with a two-week run at the Pantages.

Andrew Lloyd Webber had just embarked on his solo career when he became inspired to create a musical based on a treasured childhood book of poems by T.S. Eliot.  He teamed up with renown Shakespearean director Trevor Nunn to recognize his vision, and “CATS” premiered in London’s West End in 1981.

Despite having a quirky concept and an unusual structure for a musical, the play was an instant success, winning over audiences and critics with its imaginative aesthetic, brilliant choreography and, of course, the now-legendary tunes.  When “CATS” made its Broadway debut in 1982, it exploded into a bonafide theater phenomenon, and hasn’t really lost momentum since.  It was the longest-running Broadway production until 2006, when it was surpassed by Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.”

After retiring from Broadway in 2000, “CATS” now tours the country, passing the magic on to a new generation of theater-lovers.  Audiences remain as captivated by the zany cast of felines, who recite T.S. Eliot’s whimsical verse amid Webber’s timeless compositions, which include the show tune mega-hit, “Memory.”

It makes sense that the show’s tagline is “Now and Forever” –since “CATS” remains every bit as brilliant as it was 28 years ago.