"Sometimes I look back and I’m like I don’t think I was good enough to do CATS. But I did it. And I was a swing and being a swing on a non-equity tour is kind of like being a traveling mascot people spit on a lot. It was an interesting experience." This episode features Kevin Zak who was a swing on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Kevin share some incredible stories from his tour including games they used to play, his thoughts on Munkustrap kicking off the show, and how CATS will always be a part of his life. Plus, Kevin shares how his Instagram Heaviside Layer memes have come to life.

• Check out Kevin on Instagram: @kevinjzak

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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From The Vault: Originally released on June 22, 2021, this was Episode 52 with Claire Camp who was a Dance Captain & Swing in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS.

"This show will change your life if you let it." This episode features Claire Camp who was the dance captain and a swing in the 2016 Broadway revival. Hear Claire explain her deep love for the show, share how she tells her friends which cat she thinks they are, and discuss her regional productions of CATS prior to Broadway. Plus, Claire gives such a passionate defense of Grizabella that she nearly changed my mind on who deserves to die.

• Check out Claire on Instagram: @camp_claire

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"When the auditions came, I’m a 17 year old girl so I wanted to be a sexy cat. I wanted to be Rum Tum Tugger and since it was all girls you could have. That was my dream. But I got cast as Grizabella." This episode features Ana Villafañe who performed as Grizabella in her all girls Catholic high school production of CATS in Miami. Hear Ana share how she became obsessed with the musical, the craziness of performing CATS at the age of 17, and her perspective on why Grizabella is her Jellicle choice. Plus, Ana and Mike insert the CATS characters into the worlds of some of her other projects.

• Check out Ana on Instagram: @anavillafaneofficial

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"The very first thing they said was there is a very real plot to CATS. It’s not just poems put to song and talking about this real meaning behind the Jellicle Ball and who goes to the Heaviside Layer." This episode features Wendi Bergamini who played Jellylorum and is currently performing in the ensemble of Once Upon A Mattress on Broadway. Hear Wendi share how her casting story influenced the trajectory of her career, the fun times she was able to play with the Jellylorum character, and her full circle moment being on tour after seeing a tour production as a young kid. Plus, Wendi and Mike cast the Once Upon A Mattress characters as CATS.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"They did the production of CATS, which at the time I really don't think I thought about how hilarious it was that the camp director just decided to name it KATZ but my parents obviously got a chuckle out of it." This bonus episode features Eitan Levine who played Macavity at his Jewish day camp named Camp Kaleidoscope where they renamed the production KATZ. Eitan's husband Spencer went viral after posting an Instagram Reel that said “can’t sleep thinking about how my husband did CATS the musical at his Jewish summer camp and they renamed it Katz” so we had to have Eitan on to hear his experience as Macavity. Hear everything about this magical production and so much more.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Instagram/Twitter/Tik Tok: @TheWrongCatDied

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"We’d always say Shove With Love. If someone doesn’t know where they are going, you should Shove With Love." This episode features Allison Little who was a swing and a Dance Captain on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Allison share how she had a full circle moment from seeing the show as kid, what the role of Dance Captain adds to the show, and fun stories from tour. Plus, Allison shares the story of that first experience on stage as Victoria.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"Our rule was eight minutes. If someone had some sort of injury, a sickness, or something that happened to them mid-show, as a swing we were told you need to be on the stage in eight minutes." This episode features Laura Cable who played Jellylorum on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Laura share really fun stories from her time as a swing on tour including one infamous moment with Old Deuteronomy, the impossible eight minute swing rule, and how she learned the musical from a record player. Plus, Laura shares the story of how she got the nickname Doctor Cable.

• Check out Laura on Instagram: @doctor_cable & @lauracablespeaks

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I feel like I always have intrusive thoughts. I do really want to knock that person’s water bottle over just to mess with them. But I would never do it in real life. But as Rumple, you kind of get to." This episode features Amanda LaMotte who played Tantomile and was a swing on the US National Tour 5 of CATS and is currently performing in the ensemble of Once Upon A Mattress on Broadway. Hear Amanda share her experience performing many roles all over the country, her experience in regional productions of CATS, as well as some of the small differences between the productions she did. Plus, Amanda and Mike cast the Once Upon A Mattress characters as CATS.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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"I went out and bought a cat tail, ears, cut up fingerless gloves. I had a white tank top with a black vest. I looked insane." This episode features JJ Niemann who played the magical Mr Mistoffelees in the Elon University 2017 Winter Production of CATS and is currently in the ensemble in the Back To The Future Musical. Hear JJ share all about the craziness and fun related to this weekend college production that produced many fun stories. Plus, JJ and Mike cast the Back To The Future characters as CATS.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied

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Throughout the summer, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team.

"That was my immediate first question. I was like, are we doing tails? What’s the tea? I had some other ideas." This episode is with Qween Jean who was the costume designer for CATS: "The Jellicle Ball." Qween Jean dives into the creative process that went into creating these icon costumes, how the process iterated over time, and how footwear played a part in each character's identity. Plus, Qween Jean gives a passionate defense for Syllabub as her Jellicle choice.

Produced by:

Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network

Instagram/Twitter/Tik Tok: @TheWrongCatDied

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