The Wrong Cat Died

"In high school we had a huge ensemble. More than a normal show and they gave everyone random names. My best friend Lauren was Cinnamon. And then I remember we had a whole day where we had to create our own backstory for our character." This episode features Lexie Plath who played Bombalurina on the US National Tour 6 of CATS in 2019 and in an award winning production in high school. Hear Lexie talk about her audition process as a "shorter" Bombalurina, how her three words changed her thoughts on how to play her character, and some really fun stories from her life on tour. Plus, Lexie and Mike spend a lot of time discussing her high school's production of CATS which won the USA Today Best High School Musical in 2008.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"From the lips of Gillian Lynne. What she said about Victoria is that she is a pulsating plum ready to be picked." This episode features Natasha Davison who was Victoria on the US National Tour 4. Hear Natasha talk about how she paused a producing career to join the CATS tour, how she was explained Victoria's backstory, and some sound advice she was given on other tours that applies to CATS. Plus, Natasha shares a very unique thought on how "stage time" impacts how to view Grizabella being welcomed back into the tribe.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"For Misto, to me, he always felt like he was ‘periphery’ to the tribe. He's definitely a part of the tribe but he comes and goes when he pleases. And then when he needs to show off and do something fun or cool or help the cats out with some magic, he's like, I got you guys." This episode features Paul Giarratano who played the magical Mr. Mistoffelees on the US National Tour 6 of CATS. Hear Paul discussing what the audition process was like during covid, how he was introduced to the Mistoffelees story, some fun stories from being on tour, and how his dance track gave him some spots to breathe before his number near the end of the show. Plus, Paul asks all of the most important questions about the Jellicle choice before picking Gus.

• Check out Paul on Instagram: @paul_giarratano

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I went in and spent two days listening to the story of the cats and the interrelationships of all the characters. You know, Tugger and Munkustrap are brothers. They're all sons of Old Deuteronomy. And then, they follow it up with, but none of this is important for the audience to know." This episode features Lee Lobenhofer who was Gus on the US National Tour 4 and was in the CATS Chorus in the original Broadway Production. Hear Lee talk about spending two full days learning the story (but it's not for the audience), the times he got to go on as Old Deuteronomy, the legend of Ray's makeup expertise, a few other fun stories from tour, and how he got to dance in sections of the show as "GeneriGUS." Plus, Lee shares how his father influenced the way he performed as Gus each night.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"Especially going through the rehearsal process as well. Every single little moment has a meaning, which was crazy to me. A lot of the time the audience wouldn't even see that. But in order for us to be able to tell an authentic story in a way of being cats, we had to know all these little things." This episode features Lucy Rice who was Bombalurina on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas production of CATS and then was a swing on the 2022-2023 Asia Tour of CATS performing in Taiwan. Hear Lucy share learning the show from scratch, the differences she saw between the cruise and Asia Tour audiences, and why Gus is her Jellicle choice. Plus, Lucy shares some of the fun stories from being able to do Tik Toks in CATS costume.

• Check out Lucy on Social Media: @lucyrice98

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I learned the show in six days. I remember telling the sound guy at Westchester the day I went on. I said don't turn my microphone on because I don’t know all the words yet." This episode features Joey Abramowicz who was Tumblebrutus on the US National Tour 5 and in 9 other regional productions of CATS. Hear Joey talk about his time in the various different productions, how he worked to help cast CATS with Marc Robin who has a slightly different take on the plot, and many other CATS theories. Plus, Joey shares all of the various different scenes used for the Junkyard and fun ways Grizabella ascended to the Heaviside Layer in various productions.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"It was the first Broadway show I ever went to and it is probably responsible for my personality." This episode features the amazingly talented writer, comedian, actress, and CATS fan Julie Klausner. Hear Julie discuss her fandom of the musical, it's influence on the rest of pop culture, and her CATS party trick. Plus, Julie and Mike have a detailed conversation on what it means to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and Julie gives a passionate defense for Grizabella as her Jellicle Choice.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"Princely Plato. He’s the price and kind to everyone. Flirtatious and fun but a teenager. And then you get to do a little quick change and jump into Macavity which is the super villain." This episode features Aiden Pressel who was Plato/Macavity on the 6th US National Tour of CATS. Hear Aiden discuss doing the tour promotional video before even being cast, the backstory behind the Plato/Victoria love story, and why his Jellice choice is Gus. Plus, Aiden and Mike dive deep into the Plato backstory.

• Check out Aiden on Instagram: @aidenpressel

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I literally couldn't remember Macavity's name because their names are all so ridiculously complicated. I really think that that was the seed of the idea. It truly came from a - what the f*** is that one cat with the spooky song." This episode features Jaime Lyn Beatty and Jon Matteson who created the viral YouTube video Spadattimy: The Reliable Cat and are big CATS fans. Hear Jamie and Jon discuss the nuances of the plot, the genesis of their video, and all kinds of funny stories from the time working together. Plus, a strong Old Deuteronomy case is made for the Jellicle choice.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"It was just a brown and gray generic cat. They made my shoes still in Spike colors but they made them look like the shoes like Alonzo would wear or Pouncival would wear so that when I was on stage I could look down at my feet and not get confused about which cat I was playing that day at that show." This episode features Tucker Ty Davis who played the infamous Spike as a swing on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Tucker explain the internet lore of Spike, how the cast made the most of Spike, and some other Spike theories. Plus, Tucker shares his experience doing CATS over 800 times in other various productions.

• Check out Tucker on Instagram: @tuckdavis

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices