The Jellicle ball begins. The Jellicle cats all meet for their annual ball. Where they will sing and dance and have fun. At the end of the night the Jellicle leader Old Deuteronomy will pick a cat worthy of being re-born. The cats being with an introductory song and then are welcomed in as Munkastrap explains the nights events for some new comers.

The first person introduced is Jennyanydots the Gumbie cat. They explain how she's the cat who trains the mice and the cockroaches. They dance and sing and act out the way she trais the cockraoches by dressing up as them and doing a tap dance.

Interrupted they all turn to see The Rum Tum Tugger. He comes down and sings about how he can never make up his mind as the queens fall in love with him. He's more trying to be the center of attention then presenting himself.

Out of the shadows limps an old Cat, Grizabella. When she comes out she is immediately shunned by all the Jellicles. She walks sadly across the junkyard as Demeter tells her sad tale to the kittens.

They take the ball up a notch quickly bringing out Bustofer Jones. He's the cat of the town, the richest, fattest, cat there is. They all talk about how successful he is, and the girls take a seat for this song.

They're interrupted by a crash. 'Macavity!' Demeter shrieks and everyone flees. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer sneak quietly out of the shadows. They tell about themselves, how they're pranksters that love to steal from their humans. Their number is cut short by the angry Jellicles coming back to the Junkyard.

Suddenly Tantomile, Corcicopat and Mistoffelees can sense something in the air. 'Old Deuteronomy?' they ask. Old Deuteronomy, their beloved leader comes slowly towards them. They great him with open arms and many smiles, all the while singing about his years as their leader.

(in certain productions)After Old Deuteronomy is settled they begin to put on a small play for him. Munkastrap narrates a tale about a battle between the Pekes and the Pollicles(dogs). He tells of how they fought when the Police dog was absent and they wouldn't stop until the Rumpus Cat came in. Admedus plays the Rumpus Cat and the cats dress up as Pekes and Pollicles.

'Macavity!' Demeter shrieks again and they all flee the scene. Munkastrap and Old Deuteronomy look around. The other cats come back out one at a time and they begin a dance number, which intensifies when they see Grizabella watching over them, they need to prove to her that you need to dance too to be a Jellicle.

Grizabella comes back and the Jellicles give her dirty looks and flee the stage. Old Deuteronomy stays behind to listen to her story. Grizabella trys to dance but her old sore body won't allow it. Defeated she looks up to the moon and cries out her story. she tells of how she's so lonely and sad and she just wants to be beautiful and loved like in her memories.

She wanders sadly off stage and the Jellicles return. Jellylorum is helping an old frail can, Gus out. The others get him his things and he sits down. Old Deuteronomy sings to the Jellicles, and then he sends his message to Jemima/Sillabub who gets up and sings angelically about finding happiness, what Old Deuteronomy was saying but shorter and sweeter.

Jellylorum helps Gus to tell his story to the other cats. He tells about how in his days he was a well knows actor. He talks about his plays and movies that he was in.

(most productions)Jellylorum and Gus put on costumes along with the other cats and re-enact the story of Griddlebone and Growltiger. They tell about how Growltiger is a sailor cat feared by most who falls in love with Griddlebone. His ship is attacked by the Siamese and his love flees but he is left behind.

The cats then tell the story of Skimbleshanks the Railway cat. He is the cat who lives on the Sleeping car Express keeping the mice off. He tells them about his travels and they make a train from things they pull out of the trunk in the junkyard.

There is a crash of lightning. 'Macavity!' Macavity apears in the corner, The cats are scared and confused. Black hench cats appear and throw a net over Old Deuteronomy and take him away. The male cats all run off to try and find their leader.

Demeter and Bombalruina, Left behind, tell the female kittens about Macavity. Demeter tells of how he can never be caught by authority, how when you look he's not there. Bombalruina tells of how unkempt he is and how you never know whether he's asleep or awake. The toms come back and Macavity appears again seeming to give back Old Deuteronomy. Demeter know's otherwise and attacks the imposter. Macavity jumps out and gets into a fight with Munkastrap ending with him turing out the lights and disappearing.

Distraught and upset the Jellicles sit around trying to think of what to do. The Rum Tum Tugger Comes up with a solution, 'ask Mr. Mistoffelees'. He tells them about how Mistoffelees is a powerful cat and all the neat tricks he can do. Mistoffelees then appears and tells a bit more about himself, showing off a few of his tricks, before trying his trick. He calls Cassandra(sometimes Bombalurina) to be his assistant and he covers her with a red sheet. some dust and the magic words and...Old Deuteronomy returns! his assistant returns a few minutes later, everyone rejoices.

Jemima announces to the tribe that dawn is coming. Munkastrap reminds them all that now is the time that a cat will be chosen to be reborn and everyone looks to Old Deuteronomy to see whom he will pick.

Out of the shadows limps Grizabella. The jellicles, furious that she came back, turn their backs to her. Old Deuteronomy tells her to go on. She sings her song about how lonely she is and the cats start to change their minds about her and turn around to face her. She collapses on the ground exhausted and Jemima sings to tell her that she understands. Grizabella begins to walk away when Victoria reaches out and touches her hand.

They cats all sing in rejoice as Old Deuteronomy picks her. They all want to hold her hands in congratulations and Old Deuteronomy sends her away to be re-born. Then he turns to the Jellicles and tells them about what they should have learned through this. How to address a cat, and a cats proper names.