The Wrong Cat Died

"​​The first thing we did when we got the new programs to get ready to sell for the first show is we opened up all the inserts to check out the girls in the show. As we went through the girls in the show, I picked out Leslie's picture, and I said, I'm gonna marry that one." This episode features Kevin & Leslie Harvey who met on the US National Tour 4 of CATS. Hear Kevin and Leslie (Trayer) tell the story of how they met on tour, how Leslie played Syllabub while Kevin was selling merchandise for the show, how Kevin went on to be a stage manager for CATS on Broadway, and a ton of other crazy stories. Plus, Kevin tells his wild story about his run in with the police in New Orleans.

• Check out Kevin's company: senovva.com

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"​​This production is something that you’ve never seen before." This episode features Sam Larielle-Jones who plays Quaxo in Australia's Willoughby Theatre Company production of CATS. Hear Sam talk about how his production differs from previous versions, how he created his character story for Quaxo and how he got involved with this particular production. Plus, Sam shares the synopsis that was shared at his cast's first rehearsal including the three themes the story centers around.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"​​At the end of the show after the bows when the cats sort of dance offstage I remember we were dancing together and then he picked me up and twirled me. He carried me offstage and that's one of my favorite memories from that show." On the US National Tour 4 of CATS, Helen Frank was performing as Demeter and Bombalurina and Steve Watkins was in the CATS Chorus where they met and married on tour. Fast forward to 2014 and their daughter Lauren, who was 17 at the time, performed with Steve in the Casa Mañana Theatre regional production of CATS in Texas where they performed as Syllabub and Gus. Hear the Watkins family discuss their experience as a family doing the show, along with really fun stories from their time together on stage.

• Check out Lauren on Instagram: @lauren___watkins

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I couldn't wait to learn the shadow dance. I got to rehearsal and it wasn't happening. I finally got up enough nerve and I went up to T Michael Reed and said, ‘am I going to learn the shadow dance?’ And he said, ‘we don't do that on the tour.’" This episode features General McArthur Hambrick who played Alonzo in the Original Broadway Production and on the US National Tour 4 of CATS. Hear General talk about his auditions for the US National Tour 3 before getting cast in the 4th tour, how there is a section of the Alonzo dance behind Demeter that wasn't on tour but that he got to do on Broadway, and what it was like making his Broadway debut at the Winter Garden. Plus, General shares a fun story about the time he got to cover for Tugger.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I got to final callbacks and I was like, I should maybe watch this cause I don't know what I'm auditioning for. I got to Mungo and Rump and then I don't even think I finished it." This episode features Maria Briggs who performed as a swing and as Victoria in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS and is currently in the ensemble of SPAMALOT. Hear Maria discuss how she twice booked tours of CATS but did not take the jobs, what it was like making a Broadway debut as Tantomile, and how surreal it was to perform The Music Man in the Winter Garden Theatre knowing the CATS history. Plus, Maria shares a little about what to expect in her upcoming show SPAMALOT.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I didn’t know who Pouncival was from a hole in the wall." This episode features Shane Hall who played the magical Mr. Mistoffelees on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Shane talk about how he fell asleep the first time he saw CATS, how he learned the show with just one other cast member, the different ways Mr. Mistoffelees entered the stage, and some really fun stories from life on tour. Plus, Shane shares a really cool story about how the costumes changed to make the dancing a little easier.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"In the ball, most of the names stay the same. Copeland was Copeland, Jutters was Jutters. But I believe in the States, there's a section called American Airlines and in Germany it was Lufthansa." This episode features Lynette Tompkins Engel who was Tantomile in the Hamburg Production of CATS. Hear Lynette discuss learning the show in German, how she was taught to perform as a cat (including not meowing), and a super fun story about how covers had to sit at certain restaurants to wait for a call in case they were needed. Plus, Lynette shares a cool fact about how different parts of the ball have different names depending on the production.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"People talk about the ‘I Want’ song in a musical. CATS is full of ‘I Am’ songs and that is the biggest difference with this show compared to a lot of others." This episode features Harry Francis who played Mungojerrie in the West End Revival as well as Mr. Mistoffelees on the International tour and regional production of CATS. Hear Harry share his experiences working with the incredible Gillian Lynne, what it was like getting to perform with the infamous "Street Tugger," how he was allowed to do his turns the opposite way, and stories from all of the times he's performed the show. Plus, Harry shares how he was able to create "CATS in Quarantine" during the pandemic as a way to celebrate the show have hundreds of dancers perform the ball virtually.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I didn't really get into the headspace of what the character Tugger was until probably a month or two into the run because I was so concerned about the logistics of being there and doing this and singing this and making sure my riffs were right." This episode features Stan Stanley who was the Rum Tum Tugger on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Stan discuss how his vocal coach got him into the audition process, how the CATS are numbered in the production, and some fun stories from his tour. Plus, Stan discusses how he dated his Mr. Mistoffelees on tour adding more fuel to Tuggoffelees rumors.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"Once I got the list, I think I chose cinnamon because it was fall and I think I just probably added it always to my Starbucks order." This BONUS episode features Lauren Buege who performed with our last guest Lexie Plath as Cinnamon in Arrowhead High School Center for Arts award winning production of CATS. Hear all of the fun that went into creating a show with over 40 ensemble cats and some of the memories from the experience. Plus, Lauren makes her case for Old Deuteronomy as her Jellicle choice.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Instagram/Twitter/Tik Tok: @TheWrongCatDied

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