The Wrong Cat Died

"What overtly having categories does dramaturgy of CATS itself is that there is a particular outcome of winner or loser that happens at the end of every song." This bonus episode features the creative team of the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS set in a ballroom which is appropriately titled: "CATS: The Jellicle Ball". Like me, many of you have been obsessing over this new production. I originally spoke with one of the directors Bill Rauch in July of 2022 when I first got wind of this potential new production which was just a reading at the time and the PAC wasn’t even open yet. Nearly 2 years later, I'm joined by directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch as well as music supervisor William Waldrop to discuss what you can expect from this new production. We recorded this episode two days before the team started rehearsals and discussed how this incredible production is being brought to life. This is an episode you won't want to miss.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Instagram/Twitter/Tik Tok: @TheWrongCatDied

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"When I got the audition appointment I was like this would be a blast to pretend to be a cat at this audition. Let's do it. I texted Kim and asked - How much cat do you give at the audition?" This episode features Mackenzie Warren who was Bombalurina in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS. Hear Kim discuss seeing her friend Kim perform as Demeter in the show, how she created her backstory for Bombalurina, and her experience on the TV show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt which had a CATS episode. Plus, Mackenzie shares a crazy story about how her Green Eye incident with a dog became a massive news story.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"Part of me just needed to come on and defend Munkustrap. He gets a bad rap. You haven't talked to a lot of them. It's a rough time being in a leadership position when everyone's just trying to fool around. And you talk about herding cats, literally herding cats." This episode features Brett-Marco Glauser who perform as Munkustrap on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas production of CATS in 2016. Hear Brett-Marco share his experience in multiple regional productions of the show including one set in an abandoned video arcade, what it was like on the ship right out of college, and what the audiences were like with the show being included entertainment. Plus, Brett-Marco shares his experience participating in CATS in Quarantine in 2020.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I remember there's Green Eyes and a couple other times that the cats go into the house and into the audience. Because of everything that was going on I was an advocate about being like… can we figure out a way around that right now? And that night we didn’t." This episode features Brett Michael Lockley who performed as Pouncival on the US National Tour 6 of CATS and is currently a swing (and making his Broadway debut) in The Who's TOMMY at the Nederlander. Hear Brett discuss being in the show that was the final performance before the pandemic lockdown, what it was like to be on tour during the peak moments of the 2019 CATS movie, and what you can expect when you come to see The Who's TOMMY. Plus, Brett and Mike cast The Who's TOMMY characters as CATS.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"What I think makes CATS so special is you could look at our cast and point out any single one of us and know exactly who our cat was because we were just like them." This episode features Katie Hutton who played Rumpleteazer on the 2022-2023 Asia Tour of CATS performing in Korea and Taiwan. Hear Katie discuss learning part of the Ball for university auditions, how her friendships within the cast influenced relationships on stage, and how her own personality fit into portraying Rumpleteazer. Plus, Katie tells the story of how part of the cast was featured in the Korean Vogue for a photoshoot.

• Check out Katie on Instagram: @katiehutton

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"A couple of cast mates and I have thought of a familial relationship for Grizabella that I haven’t heard theorized before. Maybe she is Gus’ daughter and when she left, that’s why Jellylorem started taking care of him. And that’s where Grizabella got her desire to be a star from." This episode features Yardén Barr who is current performing as Grizabella on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas production of CATS. We recorded this episode during Yardén's rehearsal process before getting on the ship so hear her discuss meeting Old Deuteronomy on stage seeing the show for the first time, her theories she is bringing to this production, and what the rehearsal process has been like. Plus, Yardén shares a great new Grizabella familial relationship to consider.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I always say I owe my entire life to CATS." This episode features Felicia & James Gardner who met originally on the US National Tour 4 of CATS. Hear Felicia (Farone) and James tell the story of how they met on tour, how Felicia played Demeter while James worked as a sound engineer, how Felicia went on to make her Broadway debut in CATS, and a ton of other crazy stories. Plus, Felicia and James tell the fun story of how they didn't actually connect on tour but how they hit it off while on Broadway.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"For the Met Gala, I was like, I have to make a CATS joke before anybody else does. So I made it and it ended up being, at the time, my most watched and my most liked video ever." This episode features Nina Straface who is a theatre content creator, performer, and CATS defender. Hear Nina share how her CATS Tik Toks continue to go viral, how she strategically plans her content, and her thoughts on the musical. Plus, Nina shares a cool parallel between a book series called Warrior Cats and CATS the musical.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"On that tour I was a very innocent, inexperienced young lady. I did not really understand a lot of the movement that I had to. I really had to fake it until I made it with being the sexy cat." This episode features Samantha Sturm who was a swing on the US National Tour 5 and then played Demeter in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS. Hear Samantha discuss learning sections of the Jellicle Ball in dance class as a 12 year old, the differences from being on tour vs on Broadway with different choreographies, and how her cast came up with backstories for their cats. Plus, Samantha shares a crazy story on how she ended up as a stage manager calling the show at one point on tour. 

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"When a show opens you are the mayor of the little town. That is the theater. And you have to solve all the problems and social issues of the cast, as well as running all the technical aspects of the show." This episode features Scott Faris who was the Production Stage Manager for the US National Tour 2 and part of the US National Tour 4. Hear Scott share what goes into being a PSM on tour, what type of notes he had to frequently give the cast, and a detailed breakdown of how CATS actually works. Plus, Scott shares how his work on CATS and connection to John Napier led to him running Siegfried & Roy a the MGM in Las Vegas.

• Check out Scott's website: scottfarisdirector.com

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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