The Wrong Cat Died

"Where was the little white pussycat, grand darling? Come here. And it was like the parting of the seas and I was like, oh my gosh." This episode features Jean Michelle Sayeg who played Victoria on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Jean Michelle discuss watching the 1998 movie the night before auditions, what it was like transitioning from ballet to musical theater, and some of her theories on...

"I did a lot of character study with Tumblebrutus and I chose that he was abandoned and his way of surviving the trauma of losing his family was to just really lash out." This episode features Andrew Wilson who was Tumblebrutus in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS and is currently Richard Parker in Life of Pi on Broadway. Hear Andrew discuss doing the show four different times, how the choreograph...

"The Friends are very Jellicle. I find them as a community to be very Jellicle." This episode features Carolyn Bacon who was a swing on the 6th US National Tour of CATS and is currently Rachel Green in Friends! The Musical Parody. Hear Carolyn discuss singing multiple tracks in the booth, her experience working with Chrissie Cartwright, and why Gus is her Jellicle choice. Plus, Carolyn and Mike co...

"There is so much of The Wizard of Friendship that is really based off our friendship and our history, like who we are as people." This episode features musical comedy trio Lewberger (Hughie Stone Fish, Keith Habersberger and Alex Lewis) who recently finished their hilarious sold-out off-Broadway show The Wizard of Friendship which featured special guests Wayne Brady, Alex Brightman, and Dashaun W...

"My introduction to CATS was when I took piano as a kid and Memory was the first song I ever learned to play on the piano." This episode features Jessica Hendy who performed as Grizabella on the US National Tour 4, the Original Broadway Production, and the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS and is currently performing her one woman show Walking With Bubbles. Hear Jessica discuss her experience performi...

"I distinctly remember every time I had to stay home from school sick my mom would put on the VHS of CATS." This episode features Maggie McCown who performed as Bombalurina in the City Springs Theatre Company regional production of CATS in Atlanta. Hear Maggie discuss how she learned about the show from the legendary Jacob Brent, some of the relationships her cast has created for the cats, and how...

"There is a beat in the song where she isn't singing and she just mouths to me - Oh My God" This BONUS episode features Nick Rizzo who went to the MetLife Taylor Swift Eras Tour dressed as Bombalurina. Hear Nick tell the story of how he was able to get Taylor's attention on stage, the crowd reaction to his outfit, and what it was like traveling to the concert through downtown Brooklyn. Plus, hear...

"CATS has been in my blood since I was three years old." This episode features Leslie Blake Walker who performed as Sillabub as a ten year old in the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre regional production of CATS and is currently in the ensemble in Funny Girl on Broadway. Hear Leslie discuss her experience being cast as a ten year old in a show full of adults, her thoughts on the different choreography, an...

"One pet peeve I have is when I see a movie say which character falls in which zodiac sign and every sign is represented. Highly unlikely." This episode features Yoanna Nikolova who writes horoscopes for Playbill. It's been a goal of mine to discuss the CATS astrology and zodiac signs ever since I found them on the head cannon page of the CATS wikipedia fan website. Yoanna takes us through every s...

"She asked who we thought should go to heaven and I immediately put my hand up and said I think it should be the Rum Tum Tugger." This episode features Ed Kingsley Wade who played the Rum Tum Tugger on the most recent UK/International Tour of CATS. Hear Ed discuss how we was put into the South Korea production in two days, how he helped influence a change to help with inclusivity, and his passiona...

"I remember one night this lady at the end of Memory yelled out - SING IT AGIN!" This episode features McCree O'Kelley who played the magical Mr. Mistoffelees to kick off the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear McCree discuss how he knew he wanted to be a dancer after seeing Mistoffelees perform in CATS on Broadway during his 6th grade trip, share some wild stories about doing previews in Atlantic Ci...

"You become a cat when you get your costume on." This episode features Ella Kemp who played Rumpleteazer on the most recent UK/International Tour of CATS. Hear Ella discuss her introduction to CATS, her Rumpleteazer theories, and why she thinks Grizabella is the correct Jellicle choice. Plus, Ella and Mike discuss which cat would be best competing in Eurovision. Check out Ella on Instagram: @ellaa...

"It's probably the hardest thing I'll do in my life. I loved it." This episode features Haley Fish who was Rumpleteazer in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS. Hear Haley discuss doing a middle school production of CATS in Kentucky growing up, making her Broadway debut in CATS, and why Gus is her Jellicle choice. Plus, Haley talks about what to expect when you come to see her in the new Broadway sho...

"If you are a beginning collector and you want to collect for CATS, you're going to get a pair of shoes." This episode features CATS memorabilia collector and superfan Christine Bogle. Hear Christine talk about being how she first became a fan of CATS, her experience seeing the show the very first time as a kid, and all about her expansive memorabilia collection. Plus, Christine gives explanation...

"Because of all of the relationships offstage with the cast members, it really does change the show a lot." This episode features Adam Steiner and Cara Cooley who played the Rum Tum Tugger and Bombalurina on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Adam and Cara share how they started dating during the show, how their 8 days off in Vegas really solidified their relationship, and all of the moments whe...

"You were amongst other performers at their peak because you had to be to be in this show." This episode features Darren Tyler who played Pouncival in the South Korea Tent Tour of CATS and Skimbleshanks on the Australia/Asia Tour of CATS. Hear Darren discuss how his family hated the show when they first saw it, how the cast had to crawl around sewage in Korea, and a fun story about how the directo...

"I was one of those little girls that danced around the living room to the record of CATS and my mom would yell at me not to jump because it would make the record skip." This episode features Robin Masella who was Demeter in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS. Hear Robin discuss her thoughts on Demeter, the relationships she played throughout the show, and her defense of Grizabella for her Jellicle...

"In 7th grade English we had to memorize a poem and then recite it in front of the class. I cheated a little bit and did the Naming of CATS." This episode features Jackey Good who played Jellylorum on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas. Hear Jackey talk about how she was given just three words and a paragraph about Jelly's backstory, share theories on Jellylorum and Jennyanydots, call...

"A lot of people were skeptical of the Street Tugger but I think I managed to persuade them through my energy and the way I wanted to convey the character that it did work." This episode features Daniel Assetta who played the infamous Street Cat version of the Rum Tum Tugger on the Australia/New Zealand tour. Hear Daniel discus how he was asked to hip hop dance in his audition, how the role of the...

This February of 2023, we are honoring closing of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway by partnering with Phantom to chat with Phantom CATS. This episode features Richard Poole who was Gus on the US National Tours 1, 2, and 4 as well as the Original Broadway Production. Hear Richard discuss his experience in four different productions of CATS, what it was like doing four different Andrew Lloyd Webber...

This February of 2023, we are honoring closing of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway by partnering with Phantom to chat with Phantom CATS. This episode features Maree Johnson who was Grizabella in the Australian Circus Tour. Hear Maree discuss the nuances of the Circus Tour, what it was like being a "guest" Grizabella, and studying TS Eliot growing up. Plus, hear Maree talk about her experience work...

This February of 2023, we are honoring closing of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway by partnering with Phantom to chat with Phantom CATS. This episode features Bronson Norris Murphy who was Gus on the 5th US CATS National Tour. Hear Bronson discuss his first performance with only one day of rehearsal, how he came up with his Gus backstory, and the differences between playing Gus in a regional theat...

This February of 2023, we are honoring closing of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway by partnering with Phantom to chat with Phantom CATS. This episode features Janet Saia who was Grizabella in the 90s European Tour. Hear Janet discuss singing Barbra Streisand's Memory in her audition, the nuances of the European tour, and why she thinks Victoria should go to the Heaviside Layer with Grizabella. Plu...

This February of 2023, we are honoring closing of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway by partnering with Phantom to chat with Phantom CATS. This episode features Marni Raab who was Jellylorum in the 1999 Germany Hamburg production. Hear Marni discuss learning the show in German, her thoughts on Jellylorum being a nurse, and how she had to improv during the felinity school rehearsals. Plus, hear Marni...

This February of 2023, we are honoring closing of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway by partnering with Phantom to chat with Phantom CATS. This episode features Tug Watson who was Munkustrap on the 5th US CATS National Tour and a swing on the 2016 Broadway Revival. Hear Tug discuss his many his different character backstories, a very deep backstory for how Munkustrap is part of the Mean Girls world,...