5 minutes with a Tony nominee: ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’’s Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch

Co-directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch teamed up for the first time to revive “Cats” as “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” Both are accomplished directors. Levingston is an Obie Award winner and made his Broadway directorial debut with “Chicken & Biscuits.” Rauch has shepherded large ensemble plays like “All the Way” and “The Great Society” to the Main Stem.

Both are now first-time Tony Award nominees for their direction of “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” Here, they express their pride in the musical, their collaboration and their ability to translate the magic of the show’s downtown premiere to Broadway.

5 minutes with a Tony nominee: Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch

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“Cats: The Jellicle Ball” is nominated for nine Tony Awards.

How co-directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch merged musical theater and ballroom to create a ‘third event’ with ‘Cats’

The artists say that the Broadway mounting of “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” is the deeper expression of their goal to merge forms.

Broadway NewsRuthie Fierberg

The 2026 Tony Awards will take place on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall. P!NK will host the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on CBS and livestreamed on Paramount+ Premium (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). CBS and Pluto TV will present the Tony Awards: Act One, with additional details to follow.

See the full list of nominations here.