Hit musical 'Cats' gets rap song

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

The hit musical 'Cats' will be a little different when it makes its London comeback in December. A traditional song is now a rap. The musical's writer wanted to update it to appeal to younger theatre-goers. 'Cats' is based on the book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by the British writer T. S. Eliot. It is about a group of cats who must decide who gets to come back to life. 'Cats' first opened in London in 1981 and ran for 21 years. It won many awards.

The rap will be from the character Rum Tum Tugger, a rebellious street cat. Lloyd Webber said he is a modern street cat who "has to do hip-hop". He also said the 1930s poem that the cat sings has a strong rap rhythm. He joked that T.S. Eliot was the world's first rapper and the inventor of rap. The show's producer said the rap was for "a whole new generation of kids". He said parts of the musical could become a lot more energetic and modern.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/10951867/Cats-classic-musical-to-feature-a-rapping-cat.html
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/andrew-lloyd-webbers-hit-musical-cats-gets-hiphop-twist-as-it-returns-to-west-end-9589096.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_%28musical%29

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	The hit	a.	London comeback
2.	it makes its	b.	theatre-goers
3.	A traditional song	c.	many awards
4.	update it to appeal to younger	d.	back to life
5.	decide who gets to come	e.	musical 'Cats'
6.	It won	f.	is now a rap

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	a rebellious	a.	of kids
2.	a modern street cat who	b.	street cat
3.	a strong rap	c.	energetic and modern
4.	the inventor	d.	"has to do hip-hop"
5.	a whole new generation	e.	of rap
6.	a lot more	f.	rhythm

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The hit musical 'Cats' will (1) ___________________ when it makes its London comeback in December. A (2) ___________________ now a rap. The musical's writer wanted to (3) ___________________ to younger theatre-goers. 'Cats' is (4) ___________________ "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by the British writer T. S. Eliot. It is about a group of cats who must decide who gets to (5) ___________________. 'Cats' first opened in London in 1981 and ran for 21 years. (6) ___________________.

The rap will be (7) ___________________ Rum Tum Tugger, a rebellious street cat. Lloyd Webber (8) ___________________ street cat who "has to do hip-hop". He also said the 1930s poem that the cat sings (9) ___________________. He joked that T.S. Eliot (10) ___________________ rapper and the inventor of rap. The show's producer said the rap was for "a (11) ___________________ of kids". He said parts of the musical could become a lot more (12) ___________________.

RAP SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about rap in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about rap for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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