Broadway Musical Logos: 2025-2026 Season: Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Broadway Musical Logos:

2025-2026 Season: 

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

It surprises me, pleasantly, that the logo for Cats: The Jellicle Ball is my favorite so far this season. That surprise comes due to how much I loved the original, iconic logo with its yellow dancer eyes and its simple, evocative font. So why do I love this one nearly as much?

First of all, I love how it plays homage to the original. It is primarily black and its featured image is as synonymous with this iteration of the show as the cat-like dancers were with the original. I also appreciate the similar austerity of the font used here, that resembles the kind of lettering that might be used on a flyer for a drag ball. 

I absolutely love the central image - a cat shaped mirror ball! Clever and perfect for a drag ball gathering of the Jellicles. And I can't be alone in hoping that I can buy one at the show's merch Booth, can I?

It meets all of the criteria for a successful show logo: it is eye-catching bright yellow on black (and the opposite) which will immediately draw the eye. Further it is simple and easy to get in a simple, quick glance. Everything you need to know and will likely remember in mere seconds. And the iconography is fun, stylish and memorable (no pun intended).

As a theater lover, I also appreciate how it is both respectful of its roots, but makes its own statement. And I'm not just talking about the title change. The original off-Broadway key art was, I think too close to the original, and leaving one to think it might just be an esoteric overlay of a concept on what is essentially the same show. Only after seeing it, and coupled with extremely positive word of mouth would one thing you weren't seeing a rehash of the 80s mega-musical.

Subsequent iterations of the new logo have only enhanced and verified my initial take on it. Now, some of the advertising features a switch of colors - a bright yellow background with black titling. Still other key art shows dancers in poses representative of the ball culture: runway, realness, face, body and Vogue. Even the tilted cat mirror ball suggests that this will set the Cats we think we know on its ear.

Still further versions get even more clever - a simple "Meow" suggests a fun cattiness (pun intended), and the fan is a standard prop at these types of events. Plus, it's fun that they brought back the eyes. I love them all!

Finally, it all comes together, as it should on the marquee of the Broadhurst Theatre.

I must admit that my take on all of this is greatly informed by my recent viewing of the documentary Paris Is Burning which takes a deep dive into the drag ball culture from its roots right up until its release in 1990. It provided me with a new knowledge and understanding that will certainly help me enjoy the revival of Cats even more. If you get the chance to see the film do it.