Former Pussy Cat Doll Nicole Scherzinger may star as Grizabella in the previously reported revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats in the West End. According to the Daily Mail, Scherzinger is in "very early discussions" to play the glamour cat. The tuner will play a limited engagement December 6 through February 28, 2015 at the London Palladium, with opening night scheduled for December 11.
Scherzinger has sold 50 million records with the Pussy Cat Dolls and 16 million records as a solo artist. She recently served as a judge on the U.K. X Factor and won the U.S. Dancing With the Stars in 2010. Stage credits include Maureen in Rent at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Neil Patrick Harris. Screen acting credits include How I Met Your Mother, Men in Black 3, Half & Half, My Wife and Kids and Love Don’t Cost a Thing.
Cats ran for 21 years in London and 18 years on Broadway, where it won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the musical tells the story of the Jellicle cats and each cat's individual quest to be selected as the lucky one that will ascend to "the heavyside layer." In their desire to be chosen to rise above to cat heaven, each cat sings his or her story. Cats features the Billboard top 40 hit “Memory." The revival will be based on the current U.K. touring show, which all the original creative team are involved with. Director Trevor Nunn, designer John Napier, choreographer Gillian Lynne and Lloyd Webber will be overseeing the transfer.
Check out Scherzinger performing The Phantom of the Opera with Ramin Karimloo, Simon Bowman, Earl Carpenter and John Owen-Jones at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance below.