This episode we’re joined by Beth Berry, artistic director and playwright for GEAR Productions! GEAR stands for Give Everyone a Role, and is an organization that strives to provide positive performance experiences for students of all interests and abilities. Beth talks about her roots in theater, fills us in on the history of GEAR in this their 25th year, and lets us in on the secret to making Chocolate Biskvi, a 3-layer Swedish Cookie! The Coconotes join with Sophia Pearson to give us ...

Rhythm, rowing, and roasting are on the agenda as we talk with our good friend Jenna Hetzell! Jenna is a drummer who was also a collegiate rower and is currently the owner and roaster at Seaworthy Coffee Roasters. Jenna talks us through the importance of rhythm in each of these endeavors, and lets us in on the secret to whipping up the tastiest scrambled eggs ever! The Coconotes contribute a couple of covers, and we top things off an encore of the Two Cat Comedy Hour featuring- you guessed it...

“I couldn’t ignore the fact for me that I was playing Grizabella while also pregnant so for me I had to allow that piece of me to layer into my version of Grizabella.” This episode is with Jalise Wilson who performed as Grizabella in the 2023 City Springs Theatre Company production of CATS. Jalise shares her unique perspective on playing the iconic role while pregnant, her unexpected audition process, and her journey from jazz singer to musical theatre performer. Discover the depth and storytelling

Send us a text Join us for part two of our series on the rise of the electric guitar in Texas as we explore the life and music of Charlie Christian, America's first electric guitar hero. In this episode we discover how an unknown Jazz guitarist, born in Bonham Texas became not only the new musical voice in Benny Goodman's popular swing band but actually created the template that virtually all guitarists after him would follow. He re-invented not only swing and jazz but laid the foundation for...

“Chrissie said that when Munkustrap admits Grizabella back into the tribe, that is Old Deuteronomy's confirmation that he is ready to lead the tribe.” Check out this latest episode with José Raúl, a talented swing performer from the US National Tour 6 of CATS. In this episode, José shares his unique experiences playing various roles in the iconic musical, from his start in community theater to his upcoming role as the Rum Tum Tugger on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. Dive deep into the world of

"Only connect" (E.M. Forster) For what else can be done in these times? I can reach you with this curated show of sound and words. Will you open your heart like a flower and be receptive? Music from Beach House, Ivy, Yellow House, Daphne's Demise, Hibou, Peter Gabriel, poem M.C. Escher by Binnie Klein, Basia Bulat, Futurebirds, etc.

There is nothing more glorious than the sight and sound of a dog jumping into a pile of leaves. I recorded this episode out on my deck on one of the few remaining glorious autumn days. Amidst gorgeous music by, among others, MILCK, Bastille, New Order, Kae Tempest, Phish, Perfume Genius, Cold War Kids, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti's 1958 poem "I Am Waiting," (read by Abu B. Rafique), I water the plants and bug spray gives me a coughing fit.

I walk in the woods with my small dog. I talk about a new hybrid bird species. Music includes Ladytron, Not for Radio, Ponybird, Automatic, Antelope, SAULT, The Marias, Winona Oak, In These Trees and Tartie, Christopher Mir, Kate Bush, Lord Huron, etc...

“I’m not religious but Chrissie Cartwright would be the person I would pray to.” This episode is with Aaron Jenkins who is a versatile performer known for his extensive involvement in various CATS productions. Aaron shares his journey, from watching CATS on VHS as a child to performing in the 2019 CATS movie, an outdoor production at Kilworth House Theatre as Macavity, and on the international tour in China as a swing covering multiple roles. He delves into the unique challenges and memorable

We’re excited to welcome acoustic blues and roots musician Sonny Boy Jorgensen to the program! Sonny tells us how he got into the blues and brings us songs by Chicago blues artists Little Walter and Hudson Whittaker aka Tampa Red. Sonny also brings a fantastic cheesecake recipe, and gives us the skinny on his trademark biscuit recipe. The Coconotes finish thigs off with a ride on the Midnight Train- right here on the Two Cat Kitchen (meow!) Performed by Sonny Boy Jorgenson: It’s Too Late Brot...

From The Vault: Originally released on December 14, 2020, this was Episode 32 with Fergie L. Philippe who was Old Deuteronomy at Elon University's production of CATS and is currently on tour with Beauty and the Beast.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

Send us a text EP.7: JAYKERS and RAY reunite with questionable jokes, wild stories, and shout-outs from Arizona to Singapore—and everywhere in between. From comedy clashes to cat chaos, nothing’s off-limits when these two hit the mic. Support the show

“I started to realize that Skimble had a little bit of a cheeky side to him and that’s the thing I wanted to balance out along with his meticulous side.” This episode features Michael Guerriere who recently played Skimbleshanks in the Shawnee Playhouse 2025 production of CATS. They discuss Michael's introduction to CATS, his character development process for Skimbleshanks, and the unique experience of performing with a different Grizabella each night. Michael shares his intricate approach to doing

When two podcasts collide, the conversation gets wild — and that’s exactly what happened when Mike Abrams of The Wrong Cat Died joined me for this crossover episode with actor Ian Knauer. We cover Ian’s journey through Broadway, the West End, regional theater, and even his time performing on Disney Cruise Line. Along the way, Ian shares the perseverance it took to finally land Cats after years of auditioning, what it was like stepping into the role of Jafar at sea, and how those experiences shaped

Brendan chats this week with comedian Rosebud Baker! They talk about manifestos, starting Wellbutrin, and the future of comedy. They sing a song about an obsessive painter and write a mole people musical.Watch Rosebud's special "THE MOTHER LODE" on Netflix! FOLLOW

In this special bonus episode we celebrate the podcast's six-year anniversary with the show’s producer Alan Seales who is also the host of The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales and the Co-Founder of the Broadway Podcast Network. Mike and Alan reflect on the origins of the podcast, memorable moments, and the evolving journey of analyzing and interpreting the musical CATS. Mike shares his experiences interviewing Broadway stars, the unexpected depth of the CATS fan community, and his dreams for future

“I am barely five one. Macavity was not a role that I ever thought I would be in the running for because he's typically the tallest in the show but he doesn't have to be. He is the Napoleon of crime.” Join host Mike Abrams as he chats with Erik Simon, an actor with a deep history in the world of CATS. Erik recounts his journey from childhood fascination with T.S. Eliot’s poems and the original London cast recording, to experiencing the immersive Winter Garden Theater performance at a young age

“Chrissie Cartwright wants more than anything, she wants specificity. So she doesn’t necessarily need to know what all of the relationships are that you’re playing, as long as it’s clear.” In this newest episode, we chat with Michael Robert-Lowe, the actor currently playing Old Deuteronomy in the International tour of CATS. They dive into Michael's journey with the show, his thoughts on the character dynamics, and how he interprets various elements of the musical. From discussing the musical's

The Solo Sessions: A Live Interview with TrestlesThis special one-on-one interview featured Trestles, a "four-piece rock 'n roll band from Santa Cruz." Their frontman performed a stripped-down, solo set, showcasing the band's energetic live presence.During the interview, he talked about the band's musical influences, including The Kinks and early '60s surf and British Invasion rock. He also shared stories of how the band members—Sophia Wall, Jackson Jones, and Melinda Clark—all came together from

Two Cat Kitchen travels to the Saunderstown Weaving School in Saunderstown, RI for this exciting episode! We talk with Norma Smayda, founder of the school, about its origins and history and some of the programs they offer. The library at the Weaving School has more than 2300 books in its collection as well as many other items and is a significant resource for weavers and scholars. We check in with Betty Rozum, a librarian who has been working with Norma to catalogue the collection and m...