The longest-running musical in Broadway history, Cats, is on its final tour through North America. The sold-out show will be performed at 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow at Eisenhower Auditorium.

But there is a twist to this "final tour."

"Actually, this tour is scheduled to continue through 2004 at least," Natalie Fleming, company manager of Cats said. "The motto for Cats is 'now and forever.' At this point in time, we don't foresee the tour coming to an end and as long as the next generation continues to want to see the production, the tour will be around."

As a winner of seven Tony Awards, Cats is a different musical to experience. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the production is based on 14 poems from the children's book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. Within the book are humorous and witty poems that describe the traits and personalities of various cats invented by Eliot. Using these poems, Webber made the lyrics for his well-known musical.

The scene for Cats is set in a junkyard where all the "Jellicle" cats reunite for their annual celebration, the Jellicle Ball, a special night when all Jellicle cats gather together in the junkyard. The cats are waiting for their leader, Old Deuteronomy, to take a selected cat to the Heavyside Layer, which is cat heaven. When he appears, they celebrate by conducting a special show for him. However, the villain McCavity interrupts numerous times and kidnaps Old Deuteronomy. During the performance, Bombalurina and Demeter sing about this "mystery cat" who is constantly crashing and interrupting the Jellicle cats' show. When Old Deuteronomy is finally returned, it is time for him to choose which cat should be chosen to be reborn in Heavyside Layer.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer have a duet in which the two mischievous cats reveal they are cat burglars. Katy Burns plays Rumpleteazer and "gets to have all the fun," she said.

"If you hear something breaking or another cat squealing, Rump's there," she said. "I identify with the character because we are both very mischievous."

One performer needed to learn the role of not one character, but five. Tucker Ty is a "swing," which means he performs several characters depending on the night and the circumstance.

"I would play any one of five characters including: Mr. Mistofellees, Pouncival, Tumblebrutus, Mungojerrie or Alonzo," Ty said. "It is nice because it never becomes monotonous or redundant."

Performing in Cats has helped Ty gain experience as an entertainer, he said.

"As a dancer/singer, it is a really good show to perform and to showcase all your talents as a performer," Ty said. "It has, by far, been the most challenging and rewarding job I have ever had."

In 1991, Cats became the longest continuously touring show in American theater history, and in June 1997 the show became the longest running musical on Broadway. Since its opening, Cats has been presented in 26 countries and more than 300 cities.

"The show is such a joy to watch for every age, but I also think that the overall message is about loving yourself for the individual that you are and celebrating in that," Burns said.

"Every college student should see that and hear that, because it is a crucial thing to believe at that age."