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PODCAST

The Wrong Cat Died

Broadway Podcast Network

Grizabella was the wrong cat to die. After seeing CATS the Musical for the first time in July of 2016, podcast host Mike Abrams was filled with a whirlwind of emotions. He was amused, confused, and a little angry. Almost exactly three years later when the 2019 CATS movie trailer came out, Mike had enough. It was time to speak his truth – Grizabella was the wrong Cat to Die at the Jellicle Ball. In this podcast, Mike interviews CATS cast members, CATS superfans, CATS haters, and explores the

arts performing arts

All Episodes

50:11

Ep140 - Shane Hall, Mr. Mistoffelees on US National...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/11/07

"I didn’t know who Pouncival was from a hole in the wall." This episode features Shane Hall who played the magical Mr. Mistoffelees on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Shane talk about how he fell asleep the first time he saw CATS, how he learned the show with just one other cast member, the different ways Mr. Mistoffelees entered the stage, and some really fun stories from life on tour. Plus, Shane shares a really cool story about how the costumes changed to make the dancing a little

en

52:33

Ep139 - Lynette Tompkins Engel, Tantomile in Hamburg...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/10/31

"In the ball, most of the names stay the same. Copeland was Copeland, Jutters was Jutters. But I believe in the States, there's a section called American Airlines and in Germany it was Lufthansa." This episode features Lynette Tompkins Engel who was Tantomile in the Hamburg Production of CATS. Hear Lynette discuss learning the show in German, how she was taught to perform as a cat (including not meowing), and a super fun story about how covers had to sit at certain restaurants to wait for a call in

en

59:45

Ep138 - Harry Francis, Mungojerrie in West End...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/10/24

"People talk about the ‘I Want’ song in a musical. CATS is full of ‘I Am’ songs and that is the biggest difference with this show compared to a lot of others." This episode features Harry Francis who played Mungojerrie in the West End Revival as well as Mr. Mistoffelees on the International tour and regional production of CATS. Hear Harry share his experiences working with the incredible Gillian Lynne, what it was like getting to perform with the infamous "Street Tugger," how he was allowed to do

en

56:08

Ep137 - Stan Stanley, Rum Tum Tugger on US National...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/10/17

"I didn't really get into the headspace of what the character Tugger was until probably a month or two into the run because I was so concerned about the logistics of being there and doing this and singing this and making sure my riffs were right." This episode features Stan Stanley who was the Rum Tum Tugger on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Stan discuss how his vocal coach got him into the audition process, how the CATS are numbered in the production, and some fun stories from his tour. Plus,

en

16:22

BONUS - Lauren Buege, Cinnamon in Arrowhead High...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/10/13

"Once I got the list, I think I chose cinnamon because it was fall and I think I just probably added it always to my Starbucks order." This BONUS episode features Lauren Buege who performed with our last guest Lexie Plath as Cinnamon in Arrowhead High School Center for Arts award winning production of CATS. Hear all of the fun that went into creating a show with over 40 ensemble cats and some of the memories from the experience. Plus, Lauren makes her case for Old Deuteronomy as her Jellicle choice

en

46:36

Ep136 - Lexie Plath, Bombalurina on US National Tour 6

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/10/10

"In high school we had a huge ensemble. More than a normal show and they gave everyone random names. My best friend Lauren was Cinnamon. And then I remember we had a whole day where we had to create our own backstory for our character." This episode features Lexie Plath who played Bombalurina on the US National Tour 6 of CATS in 2019 and in an award winning production in high school. Hear Lexie talk about her audition process as a "shorter" Bombalurina, how her three words changed her thoughts on

en

61:57

Ep135 - Natasha Davison, Victoria on US National Tour 4

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/10/03

"From the lips of Gillian Lynne. What she said about Victoria is that she is a pulsating plum ready to be picked." This episode features Natasha Davison who was Victoria on the US National Tour 4. Hear Natasha talk about how she paused a producing career to join the CATS tour, how she was explained Victoria's backstory, and some sound advice she was given on other tours that applies to CATS. Plus, Natasha shares a very unique thought on how "stage time" impacts how to view Grizabella being welcomed

en

42:18

Ep134 - Paul Giarratano, Mr. Mistoffelees on US...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/09/26

"For Misto, to me, he always felt like he was ‘periphery’ to the tribe. He's definitely a part of the tribe but he comes and goes when he pleases. And then when he needs to show off and do something fun or cool or help the cats out with some magic, he's like, I got you guys." This episode features Paul Giarratano who played the magical Mr. Mistoffelees on the US National Tour 6 of CATS. Hear Paul discussing what the audition process was like during covid, how he was introduced to the Mistoffelees

en

50:47

Ep133 - Lee Lobenhofer, Gus on US National Tour 4

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/09/19

"I went in and spent two days listening to the story of the cats and the interrelationships of all the characters. You know, Tugger and Munkustrap are brothers. They're all sons of Old Deuteronomy. And then, they follow it up with, but none of this is important for the audience to know." This episode features Lee Lobenhofer who was Gus on the US National Tour 4 and was in the CATS Chorus in the original Broadway Production. Hear Lee talk about spending two full days learning the story (but it's not

en

48:13

Ep132 - Lucy Rice, Swing on Asia Tour 2022-2023

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/09/12

"Especially going through the rehearsal process as well. Every single little moment has a meaning, which was crazy to me. A lot of the time the audience wouldn't even see that. But in order for us to be able to tell an authentic story in a way of being cats, we had to know all these little things." This episode features Lucy Rice who was Bombalurina on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas production of CATS and then was a swing on the 2022-2023 Asia Tour of CATS performing in Taiwan. Hear

en

55:22

Ep131 - Joey Abramowicz, Tumblebrutus on US National...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/09/05

"I learned the show in six days. I remember telling the sound guy at Westchester the day I went on. I said don't turn my microphone on because I don’t know all the words yet." This episode features Joey Abramowicz who was Tumblebrutus on the US National Tour 5 and in 9 other regional productions of CATS. Hear Joey talk about his time in the various different productions, how he worked to help cast CATS with Marc Robin who has a slightly different take on the plot, and many other CATS theories. Plus,

en

62:03

Ep130 - Julie Klausner, Writer, Comedian, Actress,...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/08/29

"It was the first Broadway show I ever went to and it is probably responsible for my personality." This episode features the amazingly talented writer, comedian, actress, and CATS fan Julie Klausner. Hear Julie discuss her fandom of the musical, it's influence on the rest of pop culture, and her CATS party trick. Plus, Julie and Mike have a detailed conversation on what it means to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and Julie gives a passionate defense for Grizabella as her Jellicle Choice. Check out

en

47:48

Ep129 - Aiden Pressel, Plato/Macavity on US National...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/08/22

"Princely Plato. He’s the price and kind to everyone. Flirtatious and fun but a teenager. And then you get to do a little quick change and jump into Macavity which is the super villain." This episode features Aiden Pressel who was Plato/Macavity on the 6th US National Tour of CATS. Hear Aiden discuss doing the tour promotional video before even being cast, the backstory behind the Plato/Victoria love story, and why his Jellice choice is Gus. Plus, Aiden and Mike dive deep into the Plato

en

64:29

Ep128 - Jaime Lyn Beatty & Jon Matteson, Spadattimy:...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/08/15

"I literally couldn't remember Macavity's name because their names are all so ridiculously complicated. I really think that that was the seed of the idea. It truly came from a - what the f*** is that one cat with the spooky song." This episode features Jaime Lyn Beatty and Jon Matteson who created the viral YouTube video Spadattimy: The Reliable Cat and are big CATS fans. Hear Jamie and Jon discuss the nuances of the plot, the genesis of their video, and all kinds of funny stories from the time

en

52:00

Ep127 - Tucker Ty Davis, Spike on US National Tour 5

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/08/09

"It was just a brown and gray generic cat. They made my shoes still in Spike colors but they made them look like the shoes like Alonzo would wear or Pouncival would wear so that when I was on stage I could look down at my feet and not get confused about which cat I was playing that day at that show." This episode features Tucker Ty Davis who played the infamous Spike as a swing on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Tucker explain the internet lore of Spike, how the cast made the most of Spike, and

en

39:32

BONUS - Chris Adams, Out For Blood

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/08/01

"You know when people say they can taste colors… I kind of get that with CATS in a weird way." This episode features fellow Broadway Podcast Network podcast host Chris Adams who hosts a show called Out For Blood about the infamous Carrie musical. Hear Chris share the similarities between Carrie and CATS, how the 80s musicals all influenced each other, and a few other fun CATS crossovers with Carrie. Plus, Chris shares more information about how he's documented his story with a new book! Check out

en

60:49

LIVE: Debating CATS Canon at BroadwayCon 2023 with...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/07/28

LIVE from BroadwayCon 2023 in New York City! Mike was joined by an amazing panel of Jonalyn Saxer (Swing in 2016 Broadway Revival and episode 29), Hank Santos (Rum Tum Tugger in US National Tour 6 and episode 126), and Will and Rachael (meme-making founders of The Theater Lovers and episode 125) to have the greatest CATS debate in Jellicle history. We split into two teams and discussed all of the controversial theories throughout the CATS fandom making sure to get audience input. After listening to

en

57:14

Ep126 - Hank Santos, Rum Tum Tugger on US National...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/07/25

"Me and Misto are homies. We have a little handshake that’s like a finger flip. Very nineties kind of surfer moment." This episode features Hank Santos who was the Rum Tum Tugger on the 6th US National Tour of CATS. Hear Hank discuss Tuggers relationships with the other cats, his life on tour, and his belief in the Tugger-Teazer relationship possibilities. Plus, Hank shares a fun story about how his Gus made jokes about not being the Jellicle choice. Check out Hank on Instagram:

en

66:30

Ep125 - The Theater Lovers, Theatrical Meme-Makers

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/07/18

"I like to ask the question in theater, is this a good character or a good song? Don't confuse a good song with a good man." This episode features The Theater Lovers Will and Rachael who are two of the funniest theater content creators in the game today. Hear Will and Rachael discuss how they got into theater meme making, some of the fun hidden gems in their content, how they approach content on different platforms, and their thoughts on CATS. Plus, Rachael reveals the secret that she has been the

en

47:46

Ep124 - Jean Michelle Sayeg, Victoria on US National...

The Wrong Cat Died ·

2023/07/11

"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 Victoria's story. Plus, hear Jean Michelle introduce us to "Spike" the swing cat who causes

en

253 results

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