The Wrong Cat Died

"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,...

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...