The Wrong Cat Died

HAPPY 100 EPISODES!!! When The Wrong Cat Died started as a 10 episode mini series, we never expected to reach 100 episodes but here we are! After talking with various cast members from over 15 different official productions of CATS all over the world, it was time to step things up. We reached out to the US National Tour of CATS to join the party. In this special 100th episode, Mike joins the cast...

"If we don't find anyone else then we will offer you the role." This episode features Jacob Brent who was the magical Mr. Mistoffelees in the Original Broadway production of CATS, the West End production of CATS, and the infamous 1998 CATS movie! Hear Jacob share his experience from being in the show for over 9 years, his experience as a director for multiple CATS productions, and what it was like...

"Each generation of CATS fans have their own theories." This episode features CATS artist and superfan Jen Anckorn. Hear Jen talk about being a fan of CATS before the "internet era," her fandom on Live Journal that created many of the modern theories, and her theory on how The Moments of Happiness lyrics are the key to understanding Old Deuteronomy's decision. Plus, Jen goes into a deep dive on wh...

"When do you have time to think about these things? Is that why you don't sleep through the night?" In part 2 of our Catstravaganza crossover, Mike is joined by Shai, Becky, and Lily Korman who are the hosts of the Friday Night Movie Podcast. To celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the 2019 CATS movie, The Wrong Cat Died and The Friday Night Movie podcast teamed up to do a two part series. Part 1 can...

"I was on the shorter side for the adult cats so when I would put the Tugger costume on, my cast would call me Teen Heart Throb Tugger." This episode features Ian Campayno who was a swing on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Ian discuss his obsession with the 1998 DVD, his controversial take of not being a fan of Skimbleshanks, his experience as a swing, and why Grizabella is his Jellicle choic...

"Cats is a whole body experience. It just changes you. I cannot think of anything else like it. Nothing." This episode features Katharine Heaton who was a swing on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. For the first time ever shared publicly, hear Katharine tell her unique history with CATS. Plus, Katharine talks about her experience getting to Phantom on Broadway and why Grizabella is her Jellicle choi...

"I wore Leona's leotard on tour." This episode features Kelliann DeCarlo who was a swing on the most recent 6th US CATS National Tour covering Grizabella and Jellylorum. Hear Kelliann discuss having Jacob Brent as a teacher in college, the differences between learning cats in a regional production vs on tour, and her explanation on Grizabella's personal development throughout the show. Plus, Kelli...

"What if Harrison Ford wanted to come in and be Gus?" This episode features Broadway star and CATS fan Will Roland. Hear Will talk about CATS being his first show, why he thinks they should stunt cast Gus, his hate for Bustopher Jones, and why Grizabella is actually his Jellicle choice. Plus, Mike and Will explore which cat would be which character on Showtime's Billions. Check out Will on Instagr...

"I once got punched in the face doing Green Eyes." This episode features Robyn Tempest who played Grizabella on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas. Hear Robyn talk about how the new cruise version of CATS is only 90 minutes, some of her crazy stories on the ship, and about how when she was first cast she didn't really want the part. Plus, hear Robyn tell a horrifying story about how s...

"I got my equity card doing CATS in Pittsburgh." This episode features Ahmad Simmons who was Alonzo in the 2016 Broadway revival of CATS. Hear Ahmad share stories about doing different choreography of the show between productions, making his Broadway debut in CATS, and how he feels about Alonzo's backstory. Plus, Ahmad talks about his new show Only Gold which is currently running in the MCC Theate...

"I don't think (Grizabella) expected, at all, to be chosen to go to the Heaviside Layer." This episode features Keri René Fuller who is currently performing as Jane Seymour in SIX on Broadway and played Grizabella in the US National Tour 6 of CATS before the pandemic. Hear Keri share how she had to learn the show with limited backstory, her theories on Grizabella's reason for coming back to the tr...

"I remember the Tugger was shooting people with a water pistol and I knew that wouldn't fly in New York." This episode features Terrence Mann who originated the role of the Rum Tum Tugger on the original Broadway production. Hear Terrence talk about his audition process, how he had fun with the crowd during the show, and share some incredible stories from the early days of Cats. He also throws out...

"Our director Kim said that as a swing, the first time you go on, just make sure nobody dies." This episode features Elana Valastro who was a swing on the most recent 6th US CATS National Tour. Hear Elana share wild stories as a swing including the time she came in as Rumpleteazer mid show the day before the tour opening. Plus, Elana tells Mike what she remembers about all of the backstories for t...

"Jenny came out tap dancing and I was like 'that's me.'" This episode features Emily Jeanne Phillips who played Jennyanydots on the 6th US CATS National Tour before the pandemic. Hear Emily share a bunch of new CATS theories including the idea that Grizabella tired to come back to the tribe multiple times but never actually came back, that Rumpleteazer is Jennyanydot's daughter, and asks an import...

"John (Napier) gets a magic marker and starts shading. That's how he created people's shadings." This episode features Kim Criswell who played Grizabella in the 1985 Los Angeles Production which is sometimes called the US National Tour 2 despite not touring. Hear Kim share about how John Napier designed the costumes, some crazy sayings from Gillian Lynne, and how she navigated being the one outsid...

"Anyone who works on CATS, within a few weeks of working on it you become indoctrinated in it." This episode features Dori Berinstein & Sammi Cannold who produced the documentary The Show Must Go On which chronicles the 2020 South Korea production of Cats and Phantom of the Opera. Dori and Sammi share how the idea for the documentary came about, how Sammi's love for the show grew during filming, D...

"I think Tumblebrutus has the 'I just can't wait to be king' complex." This episode features Sean McManus who played Tumblebrutus on the 6th US CATS National Tour and is currently in the ensemble of Beetlejuice. Hear Sean share how the 2016 Broadway revival was his first experience with CATS, his defense for Grizabella as the Jellicle choice, and how he started doing his incredible impressions on...

"My partner describes it as a Ted Talk from hell." This episode features Linus Karp who is a comedian who has a hit show called "How To Live A Jellicle Life, Life Lessons From the 2019 Hit Movie CATS" based on his experience seeing the 2019 movie. Hear Linus share how he created his show after seeing the movie, how he compares Cats as Eurovision, and his defense for Grizabella. Plus, be sure to ch...

"It's shocking how much of the show's ethos matches my personality." This episode features Alexandra Bowman, a satirist and superfan of CATS who loved the 2019 movie! Hear Alexandra discuss how her initiation to CATS was the 2019 movie, how she has written multiple parody articles about the movie and musical, about her CATS cosplay, and her defense for Munkustrap as her Jellicle choice. Plus, Alex...

LIVE from BroadwayCon 2022 in New York City, hear our CATS debate with Zach Bravo (US National Tour 6 Rum Tum Tugger), Zach Raffio (Founder of The Broadway Beat), Jesse McAnally (Musicals With Cheese co-host), and Andrew DeWolf (Musicals With Cheese co-host). Each panelist pulled a random cat out of a hat and made the case why they deserved to ascend to the Heaviside Layer over Grizabella. Tell us...

"Kim Kardashian is Grizabella in her prime." This episode features Christopher Salvaggio, who played Skimbleshanks on the current 6th US CATS National Tour. Hear Chris discuss how he views the entirety of Skimble's life, how he get involved in Tik Tok during the pandemic, why he thinks Skimble was the Jellicle choice before Grizz showed up, and his defense for Gus as his Jellicle choice. Plus, sin...

"The CATS giveth and the CATS taketh away because the cats have battered me around so much my brain explodes with CATS." This episode features Sean Chandler who is the host of Broadway Podcast Network's show Your Program is Your Ticket. Hear Sean discuss he saw CATS initially as part of a high school trip, how CATS has been a rollercoaster in his own life, and XXX. Plus, Sean shares how CATS helpe...

"Chrissie said, 'don't ad-lib.' You cannot compete with T. S. Eliot." This episode features Zach Bravo who played Rum Tum Tugger on the current 6th US CATS National Tour. Hear Zach discuss how he knew that he was going to be a Tugger from a young age, how he pulled from Metallica for his rock influence, and how he created "Tugger Talk" for Tik Tok. Plus, since Zach is a huge Star Wars fan, Zach an...

"I believe Victoria was reborn from the Heaviside Layer which is why Old Deuteronomy is so fascinated with her." This episode features Hyla Perillo who is Victoria on the current 6th US CATS National Tour. Hear Hyla discuss her Victoria headcons, her interpretation of Victoria representing the Jellicle Moon, and her theory on Victoria being last year's Jellicle choice. . Plus, Hyla and Mike pick t...

"Everything Gillian Lynne did was on a piano or flute and everything Andy Blankenbuehler did was on a drumbeat." This episode features Caitlin Bond who was Victoria on the 6th US CATS National Tour before the pandemic. Hear Caitlin discuss her ballet dance background, her emotional experience in the final show before the pandemic, how shocked she was learning the story of CATS during rehearsals, a...