The Wrong Cat Died

"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 defense for why Gus should be the Jellicle choice. Plus, Melody humors me by discussing her thoughts on next year's Jellicle Ball. Check out Me...

"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...

"I do think I'm a little responsible for making Skimbleshanks nuts." This episode features Cathy Susan Pyles who played Jennyanydots in the 1987 US National Tour 3. Hear Cathy discuss her experience as a swing on other national tours before going on as Jenny in CATS, how contributions from the initial casts help drive backstories for the cats, and her arguments to sacrifice one of the kittens for...

"We can make this work. I would be Meatloaf Tugger." This episode features Nathan Patrick Morgan who played Old Deuteronomy in the most recent CATS National Tour. Hear Nathan talk about his experience in multiple productions of CATS (dinner theater, multiple US national tours, read throughs, and more), discuss covering so many different characters, and discuss his theory on how Old Deuteronomy has...

"My son says the whole idea of CATS is creepy.". This episode features Karen Longwell who was in the ensemble in the 1987 US National Tour 3. Hear Karen discuss her experience as a dancer in the show, give backstories for multiple Cats, and her arguments for for both Grizabella and Gus. Plus, Karen tells the story of how she acted as a puppeteer during the With Love, Now and Forever fundraiser. Ch...

"Grizz. Easy. She's Tonya Harding. She's had a tough life. She's a fighter." This episode features stand up comedian and the host of Sports Tabata Meghan Hanley who has never been in CATS but had a crazy experience seeing the show. Hear Meghan talk about how her CATS jokes bombed when she tried them during a set, how she grew up in Long Island seeing the CATS commercial her whole life, and why her...

"Everyone was just very curious about the show." This episode features Adrea Gibbs who played Bombalurina in the 1987 US National Tour 3 along with a few other CATS in other productions. Hear Adrea discuss being part of the initial Los Angeles cast of CATS as Tantomile, her experiences at the stage door on tour, and her rationale on why Grizabella is not ready for the Heaviside Layer. Plus, Adrea...

"The cab driver insisted we were wrong about the title and the show was called - Those Darn Cats". This episode features Christine Toy Johnson who played the Sillabub in the 1987 US National Tour 3. Hear Christine discuss her experience on the show, how she wrote the script for the recent 2020 Broadway Cares fundraiser, and her arguments for both Gus and Grizabella. Plus, Christine starts up her o...

"Have you ever heard the theory that Old Deuteronomy is actually just a serial killer?" This episode features Dan Hoy who played Munkustrap in the most recent CATS National Tour. Hear Dan talk about how he was obsessed with the show burning throw the 1998 CATS VHS, discuss all the crazy Munk rumors, and discusses if Old Deut should be considered more for the Heaviside Layer. Plus, Dan humors me by...

"I think Grizz and Mistoffelees are close." This episode features Randy Slovacek who played the magical Mr. Mistoffelees in the 1987 US National Tour 3. Hear Randy share how he knew he was going to be in the show from the first time he saw it, his Macavity and Bomb theory, and his aha moment where he learned how to bring his best self to performances. Check out Randy on Twitter & Instagram: @randy...

"His carbon pawprint is huge!" You probably know Donna Vivino from her time on Broadway as Elphaba in Wicked or as the original Young Cosette in Les Misérables but she joins Mike to talk about her time as Grizabella on the 2020 6th US National Tour. Hear Donna discuss how she had never seen the show until 2020, give a breakdown on which Cats she loves and hates, and matches which Wicked character...

I want to hear from you! The feedback I've been getting is great, but I want to know more about if you think Grizabella was the wrong cat to die. Record yourself and tag @thewrongcatdied on IG or Twitter to let me know, or email it to thewrongcatdied at gmail.com. Music by: Anthony Norman Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Instagram & Twitter: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about you...

"People thought we were a baseball team." This episode features Austin Jetton who played Old Deuteronomy on 1987 US National Tour 3. Hear Austin talk about the show jackets that confused people into thinking they were a baseball team, his emotional experiences sitting on stage during intermission, how he came up with the idea for the recent fundraiser, and his theory that Jellicle tribe is actuall...

"You will all pick for the same reason that I already know that she is the one that should be picked" This episode features Tricia Tanguy who played Grizabella in the 2007 5th US National Tour and then again over 10 years later in the 2019 6th US Tour. Hear Tricia discuss what it was like learn the show from some of the original CATS team, how Andy Blankenbuehler uses the ensemble to tell the CATS...

"Grizabella is the girl at the end of the bar. It's not the age, it's the mileage." This episode features BK Kennelly who played Rum Tum Tugger on 1987 US National Tour 3 and three other productions. Hear BK share what it was like being on the infamous CATS National Tour in the 80s, what his experience was going to play Tugger in Hamburg, and his emotional memory from the fundraiser. Plus, he sing...

"Who is this young 17 year old coming?" This episode features Madison Mitchell who joined the CATS cast as a 17 year-old and was in 4 different productions of CATS including the 2016 Broadway revival. Hear Madison discuss covering multiple characters, her experience seeing the show as a teenager, and what it was like going on as Grizabella the first time. Plus, hear Madison share how Hair is nearl...

"They had us crawling on the floor pretending to play with a ball of yarn." This episode features Deborah Geneviere who played Demeter on 1987 US National Tour 3. Hear Deborah share what it was like being on the infamous CATS National Tour in the 80s, how their cast supported the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraiser during their tour, and how the cast has reunited to fundraise for the thea...

"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 Skimbleshanks and his experience with the musical. Plus, hear Colin give the first Heaviside argument for Victoria!  Check out Colin on Instagram: @colin_hollis_sh...

Pyrotechnics. The Junkyard as a bombed out World War II cathedral. Individual makeup artists. A $44,000 production budget. This episode features fellow Broadway Podcast Network host Michael Kushner who performed in the most elaborate high school production of CATS in the US History**. Michael and I discuss how we would cast World War II historic figures as CATS characters, all the crazy things his...

"My goal was not to be Victoria; it was just to be an a**hole and wear a white unitard." This episode dives into one of the grandest CATS audition you'll ever hear. Emma Caymares, who starred on Broadway as Veruca Salt in the original cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and as Wendy in the original cast of Finding Neverland, discusses her infamous audition and how she always stays true to he...

This episode features Adam Richardson who played Old Deuteronomy on the CATS National Tour. Adam shares his strong opinion on why Victoria shouldn't be the first one to touch Grizabella before Memory at the end of the show, how his opera and booth singer experience related to playing Old Deut, and why he agrees with me that Peter is the worst Cat in the show. Check out Adam on Instagram: @atomrich...

This episode features CATS superfan Nat DiMario who saw the 2016 Broadway revival 88 times! Hear Nat explain their fandom, how they were able to see nearly 15% of the performances, and give the background on how their conversation with the actors lead to the infamous Tuggershanks rumor. Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Instagram & Twitter: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your...

This episode features Fergie L. Philippe who stars as James Madison in the Broadway production of Hamilton but also played a wild weekend as Old Deuteronomy during the Elon University Production of CATS. Fergie shares how his Elon production utilized a Beyonce and Elvis cat, how CATS influenced his career, and how we would cast Hamilton characters as Cats aka HamilCATS. Check out Fergie on all soc...

This episode features Sarah M. Jenkins who played Jennyanydots during the 2016 Broadway revival. Sarah shares her incredible 16 point summary of CATS, tells a behind the scenes secret to the Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer number, and educates me how the tour used a "bounce castle" set in certain cities. #DoKickGetCheck Check out Sarah on all social media platforms: @sarahmjenkins Produced by: Alan S...

This episode features the hosts of the brilliant podcast The Fabulous Invalid, Jamie DuMont and Rob Russo. Jame and Rob educate me on the deep history of CATS, their love of the show, Rob's Stage Left thesis on CATS, and everything else you might want to know about the history of the show. Check out Jamie on Instagram: @troutinnyc Check out Jamie on Twitter: @jamiedumont Check out Rob on all socia...