The Wrong Cat Died

" Bustopher Jones was Bustopher Mürr and I don’t know why except that it rhymed." This episode features Nancy Leach who was a swing in the Hamburg production of CATS. Nancy shares her introduction to CATS, learning the show in German, and her journey from New York to Hamburg. She discusses her roles, particularly as Grizabella, and provides insight into her character's emotional depth and backstor...

"The truth is every good play is hinged on the one particular character having a life changing moment." This episode features Director/Choreographer Marc Robin and Associate Director/Makeup Designer Joey Abramowicz to discuss the Fulton Theatre's upcoming summer 2025 production of CATS. They delve into the unique concept of setting the musical in an abandoned amusement park, the challenges and joy...

" Chrissie Cartwright looked at me and she’s like ‘you've gotta like see the mouse, follow the mouse, pounce on the mouse, chase the mouse again.’ And I was like, wait, wait, wait. Are we cats?" This episode features Sarah Bowden who performed as Sillabub in the Australian Circus Tent Tour production of CATS and is currently performing in the ensemble in Smash on Broadway. Hear Sarah share tales f...

"I tried to imbue as much of me as an older brother, as a leader among friends, in my role in the pack." This episode features Victor Carrillo Tracey who performed as Munkustrap in the 2017 STAR Theatre regional production of CATS and is currently performing as a swing in The Outsiders on Broadway. Hear Victor Carrillo share his family connection into CATS, how it was a huge part of his introducti...

"My favorite word that Grizabella has is ‘indomitable.’ She’s been beaten down and is not afraid to continue to stand back up." This episode features Elise O'Connell who is currently Grizabella on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas productions of CATS. Hear Elise share she performed the T. S. Eliot poems in high school, her introduction to CATS, and some fun stories from the boat....

" A lot of it was me trying to find a middle point. Most nights I would just pick up someone and have a little dance to them, make the crowd clap for them. Sometimes if there was a kid in the audience, I would give them a little high five. My favorite one was anytime if there was an empty seat in the front row. I would go sit down on that seat and just watch." This episode features Jesse Chidera w...

" I conned my way into the Winter Garden on the back of my parents' wedding anniversary so that I got to experience CATS in person." This episode features Robert Bannon who is the host of The Roundtable which is another Broadway Podcast Network show. Hear how Robert conned his way into seeing CATS for the first time, his thoughts on all productions including the 2019 movie and the PAC Cats: "The J...

"My name is Alexis. Electra sounds a lot like Alexis. Is that why I got this part?" This episode features Lex Miller who performed as Electra in 2015 Stage Left Children's Theater production CATS. Hear Lex share the craziness of doing the show at such a young age, how their production did the full show for multiple weekends, and some fun things she learned long about the characters long after the...

" I definitely think what is appealing about swinging is that it really helps keep the show feeling fresh for you." This episode features Lucas Thompson who was a swing and Coricopat on the US National Tour 5 of CATS and sang in the CATS Chorus in the 2016 Revival. Hear Lucas share how he ended up in the various productions, how he approached covering so many cats as a swing, and why Grizabella is...

"This can be the gift that keeps on giving. Jellicles Forever. I'm going to be a Jellicle forever. And I am." This episode features Pepe Muñoz who was in six different productions of CATS starting as Admetus in Madrid in 2003 and is currently performing as Santiago in Moulin Rouge The Musical on Broadway. Hear Pepe share how CATS changed his professional life, what it was like performing the show...

"Because they’re going to meet me there. They’re all going to eventually meet me there. I’m just first." This episode features Liz Callaway who performed as Grizabella in the original Broadway production of CATS and is one of the longest running Grizabellas from the run. Hear Liz discuss her introduction to CATS, her Grizabella backstory, what it's like to sing Memory all over the world in concert...

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of BroadwayCon, we hosted a panel with the cast and creative of Cats “The Jellicle Ball” discussing their historic production. We were joined by director Bill Rauch along with Sydney James Harcourt, Dudney Joseph Jr., and Robert “Silk” Mason from the cast. About the Production: Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” is a radical reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musi...

From The Vault: Originally released on July 29, 2021, this was Episode 53 with Melody Rose who was Tantomile on the US National Tour 6 of CATS. "I had a little plush Mistoffelees when I was younger." This episode features Melody Rose who played Tantomile in the most recent CATS National Tour. Hear Melody discuss how she was a CATS fanatic growing up, share the backstory of the Twins, and gives her...

"By the end of her spiel, I was like, I still have no idea what this show is about." This episode features Zach Raffio who is the founder of a theater satire website called The Broadway Beat. Hear Zach share his experience with CATS junior, how he created The Broadway Beat, and some good advice for aspiring satire writers. Plus, Zach and Mike pick which NBA player would be which CATS character. Ch...

"If we went on together, they would announce that the ‘Flying Lubecks’ were on." This episode features Chuck and Mickey Lubeck who were swings and dance captains on the US National Tour 4 of CATS for many years. Hear about how they met before tour, grew their family on tour, and all kinds of fun memories from their time in CATS. Plus, there is a fun connection with their son who also performed in...

From The Vault: Originally released on March 9, 2021, this was Episode 37 with Colin Cunliffe who was Skimbleshanks in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS. "We have a lot to talk about Mike because I listened to your Skimble..." This episode features Colin Cunliffe who played Skimbleshanks in the 2016 Broadway revival. Hear Colin break down all of the things I got wrong in Episode 11 about Skimblesh...

From The Vault: Originally released on November 7, 2019, this was Episode 8 with Christopher Gurr who was Gus in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS. This episode features Christopher Gurr who played Gus and Bustopher Jones during the 2016 Broadway revival. Christopher and Mike discuss the musical, fan theories, and who Christopher thinks is more worthy to die than Grizabella. They also go over why...

"I see everyone has stars in that room. No one is going to dim your light except for you. You can’t let anyone dim your light." We couldn't get enough of the PAC production so this episode is with Jenny Mollet who was Jellylorum in Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball." Jenny shares her experience with the workshop of CATS before joining the...

"I took my family to go see the CATS movie right before Covid. They all said to me ‘that’s going to be the last movie we ever see’ and it’s become a long running family joke." This episode features Jennifer Ashley Tepper who an acclaimed theatre historian, author, and producer, the Creative and Programming Director at 54 Below and the author of “Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy that the History...

"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 gam...

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 ca...

"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 crazin...

"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 tra...

"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 afte...

"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 s...