"Cats," Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical theatre sensation, will open tonight at Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., for a limited engagement.

The current touring production of the musical is the only North American production that is currently approved by Webber.

The Tony Award-winning "Cats" opened in London's West End theatre district in 1981, and in 1982 the American production opened on Broadway in New York. The Broadway production closed in 2000 after a 19-year run, making "Cats" the longest running show in Broadway history at the time.

In 1983, "Cats" won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book (Musical), Best Lighting Design, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score.

The touring production began rehearsals in August, and since the tour left in September, the cast members have been traveling the country on a bus. While touring can be stressful, the cast members also enjoy the chance to visit new places and do what they love.

"Today we've just been on a bus," Jillian Schiralli said. "We did one show and now we're driving for a few days. But once you get on the stage, everything else goes away."

Fellow cast member Lynn Craig agreed.

"I love touring so far," Craig said. "You're on the road so much. It's wonderful to travel and see the country. It's difficult to live on a bus, but I think we all really enjoy it. It's an adventure."

The tour's cast members have come from across the country to be a part of this production.

"I got a call to come audition in New York after I was in a showcase in college," said Schiralli, a graduate of Ball State University in Indiana.

Schiralli, who has been dancing since she was young, has played the same role the entire time. She is also an understudy for some roles.

"I started dance classes when I was 3," she said. "Then when I got in elementary school I was asked to be in a play. So then it was kind of a no-brainer this is what I'm going to do. I've been doing it my whole life."

The musical is based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The actors in the show actually crawl on the stage floor to portray their characters at times.

The story tells of the Jellicle Cats, a special tribe of felines. Once a year, the Jellicle Cats gather in a trash-strewn alley for a special celebration all their own: the Jellicle Ball. A devious cat named Macavity and his gang shatters the excitement of the annual event.

The show opens with a musical number in which the cats that give the show its title introduce themselves and tell the audience what makes them special. They are awaiting the arrival of their leader, Old Deuteronomy.

Webber's score includes a variety of different musical styles and songs. A range of artists, including Barry Manilow and Barbara Streisand, have performed the show's most popular musical number, "Memory."

Webber's score is accented by Gillian Lynne's original choreography, which has remained the same since the show opened in London in 1981.

"The choreography is the same choreography they did years ago on Broadway," Schiralli said. "The intention of the show has stayed exactly the same."

Schiralli plays the role of Jennyanydots, a tap-dancing cat who she describes as "the mother of all the cats."

"I never thought I would ever be in 'Cats,' " Schiralli said. "At first it was a little weird crawling on the floor and acting like a cat, but when you think about the tradition and the memories behind it, it's really great."

Over the course of its 26-year run, "Cats" has become a musical favorite of many.

"It's great for families because it's people dressed as cats," Schiralli said. "It's not a very complicated story."

Craig said she enjoys letting people experience the show. Some audience members have seen the show multiple times, whereas others are experiencing it for the first time.

"People come to the show and if they know what it is, if they know the show, it's so great to fulfill their expectations. To introduce them to (the show) is great, too," Craig said. "It's such a treat."