Claim OwnershipThe Wrong Cat Died
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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 backstories of the Jellicle characters all to make a case for why they were more worthy to ascend to the Heaviside Layer than Grizabella.Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.
174 Episodes
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"What I think makes CATS so special is you could look at our cast and point out any single one of us and know exactly who our cat was because we were just like them." This episode features Katie Hutton who played Rumpleteazer on the 2022-2023 Asia Tour of CATS performing in Korea and Taiwan. Hear Katie discuss learning part of the Ball for university auditions, how her friendships within the cast influenced relationships on stage, and how her own personality fit into portraying Rumpleteazer. Plus, Katie tells the story of how part of the cast was featured in the Korean Vogue for a photoshoot.
Check out Katie on Instagram: @katiehutton
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"A couple of cast mates and I have thought of a familial relationship for Grizabella that I haven’t heard theorized before. Maybe she is Gus’ daughter and when she left, that’s why Jellylorem started taking care of him. And that’s where Grizabella got her desire to be a star from." This episode features Yardén Barr who is current performing as Grizabella on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas production of CATS. We recorded this episode during Yardén's rehearsal process before getting on the ship so hear her discuss meeting Old Deuteronomy on stage seeing the show for the first time, her theories she is bringing to this production, and what the rehearsal process has been like. Plus, Yardén shares a great new Grizabella familial relationship to consider.
Check out Yardén on Instagram: @yardenbarr
See Yardén on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas: www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/oasis-of-the-seas
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"I always say I owe my entire life to CATS." This episode features Felicia & James Gardner who met originally on the US National Tour 4 of CATS. Hear Felicia (Farone) and James tell the story of how they met on tour, how Felicia played Demeter while James worked as a sound engineer, how Felicia went on to make her Broadway debut in CATS, and a ton of other crazy stories. Plus, Felicia and James tell the fun story of how they didn't actually connect on tour but how they hit it off while on Broadway.
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"For the Met Gala, I was like, I have to make a CATS joke before anybody else does. So I made it and it ended up being, at the time, my most watched and my most liked video ever." This episode features Nina Straface who is a theatre content creator, performer, and CATS defender. Hear Nina share how her CATS Tik Toks continue to go viral, how she strategically plans her content, and her thoughts on the musical. Plus, Nina shares a cool parallel between a book series called Warrior Cats and CATS the musical.
Check out Nina on Instagram: @nina_cecilia__ & @itsneengreen
Check out Nina on Tik Tok: @itsneengreen
Check out Nina on YouTube: @neengreen
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"On that tour I was a very innocent, inexperienced young lady. I did not really understand a lot of the movement that I had to. I really had to fake it until I made it with being the sexy cat." This episode features Samantha Sturm who was a swing on the US National Tour 5 and then played Demeter in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS. Hear Samantha discuss learning sections of the Jellicle Ball in dance class as a 12 year old, the differences from being on tour vs on Broadway with different choreographies, and how her cast came up with backstories for their cats. Plus, Samantha shares a crazy story on how she ended up as a stage manager calling the show at one point on tour.
Check out Samantha on Instagram: @samanthasturm
Check out Samantha on Tik Tok: @samanthasturmnyc
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"When a show opens you are the mayor of the little town. That is the theater. And you have to solve all the problems and social issues of the cast, as well as running all the technical aspects of the show." This episode features Scott Faris who was the Production Stage Manager for the US National Tour 2 and part of the US National Tour 4. Hear Scott share what goes into being a PSM on tour, what type of notes he had to frequently give the cast, and a detailed breakdown of how CATS actually works. Plus, Scott shares how his work on CATS and connection to John Napier led to him running Siegfried & Roy a the MGM in Las Vegas.
Check out Scott's website: scottfarisdirector.com
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"In SPAMALOT, there's two eight counts during the Broadway number where we can do whatever choreography we want from a Broadway show and I do the Jellicle Ball." This episode features Michael Fatica who performed as a Swing on the US National Tour 5 of CATS and is currently in the ensemble of SPAMALOT. Hear Michael discuss watching the 1998 movie in college, how his tour worked on various backstories for the characters, and his fun experiences performing in Central and South America. Plus, Michael and Mike cast SPAMALOT characters as CATS and Michael shares a fun CATS Easter Egg you can find in SPAMALOT.
Check out Michael on Instagram: @michaelfatica
Check out SPAMALOT on Instagram: @spamalotbway
Check out SPAMALOT on Broadway: spamalotthemusical.com
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"I saw it in Seoul, Korea. It was a local production … It was the first time I really saw a musical transcend language. It was much more about the language of the cat." This episode is features John Schwab who who is an actor and the host of another Broadway Podcast Network show called Curtain Call. John and Mike teamed up for a special BPN crossover series where we each joined each other's shows. Part 1 can be heard on the Curtain Call podcast and part 2 is here. Hear John discuss seeing the show in multiple different languages, how he became a fan of CATS, and how he was one of the first listeners to The Wrong Cat Died. Plus, John shares how his amazing show started and what to expect from episodes.
Check out John on Social Media: @johnschwab
Check out the Curtain Call Podcast: bpn.fm/curtaincall
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"The name for Jennyanydots in Spanish is Bombonachoona. If I had to translate it, it would be a mix between marshmallow and good cat." This episode features Cecilia Arias who played Bombonachoona which is the Spanish translation for Jennyanydots on the Mexico Tours 3 of CATS in 2019. Hear Cecilia discuss how she performed in CATS in school growing up, how she handled having multiple injuries during her run, and why she is firmly Team Gus for the Jellicle choice. Plus, Cecilia runs through all of the fun translations for the CATS names and how they were updated to describe the characters in many cases.
Check out Cecilia on Social Media: @ceciliaarias28
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"The main focus in the beginning was on Rumpleteazer and finding your individuality in your cat. Then after that was understanding where does your cat fit into the story?" This episode features Rose Iannaccone who played Rumpleteazer on the US National Tours 6 of CATS in 2019 before the pandemic. Hear Rose discuss dancing to the 1998 VHS as a two year old, how she came up with her Rumpleteazer backstory, and fun stories from being on tour during the buzz of the 2019 movie. Plus, Rose shares a fun memory when over 100 family and friends came to see her perform on tour one night.
Check out Rose on Instagram: @riannaccone98
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"We had all of us in that night. We were at the call board and our stage manager is divvying up to us… you're gonna wear this CAT costume… So there were three Grizabellas on stage that night." This episode features Michelle E. Carter who played Jennyanydots on the US National Tours 6 of CATS. Hear Michelle discuss how the 2019 CATS movie was her very first introduction into the show, how she had different stories for her character depending on who else was on stage with her, and how she infamously nicknamed her cat Sweatyanydots. Plus, Michelle shares a full recap of the CATS Chorus in Davenport Iowa that was hinted at in previous episodes.
Check out Michelle on Social Media: @idtapthat03
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"My first conclusion of the Heaviside Layer was that these cats were being transitioned off to be adopted." This episode features Olivia Kaye Da Silva who is a theatre content creator. Hear Olivia share how she grew up seeing only the trailer for the 1998 movie, how she saw the show for the very first time recently and how she became obsessed, and how she got into content creation. Plus, Olivia gives some insight into her deep dive into what she thought the Heaviside Layer actually was.
Check out Olivia on Instagram: @oliviakayedasilva
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Remember what you said about the train light? I saw CATS a few days ago in Japan. I saw the Japanese production and you're absolutely right. The train light shined directly into my face." This episode features John Zamborsky who played Skimbleshanks on the US National Tours 6 of CATS. Hear John discuss seeing the show the first time as a kid, some amazing Skimbleshanks canon derived from Tumblr, and, as you can see in the quote, experiencing the excruciating pain that is the light hitting you in the face into the audience during Macavity in Act 2. Plus, John and Mike compare CATS to Jesus Christ Superstar where John is currently performing on tour in North America.
Check out John on Instagram: @izamwhoiam
Check out Jesus Christ Superstar on Instagram: @jesuschristsuperstar
Check out the Jesus Christ Superstar Tour: jesuschristsuperstar.com
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Cats is one of those shows that made me fall in love with theater. It was the first show that I ever saw as a kid." This episode features The Broadway Bob who is an incredible theatre content creator and performer who has hot takes on CATS. Hear Bob talk about how he got into content creation, his experience seeing CATS as his very first musical, and all of his fun takes on the show. Plus, Bob and Mike create a new cat called "Snifflebottom," share the cat's backstory, and make it's case to be the Jellicle Choice.
Check out Bob on Instagram: @thebroadwaybob
Check out Bob on Tik Tok: @broadwaybob
Check out The Sunset Project Podcast: www.buzzsprout.com/1564919
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
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"Even though I didn’t have a big role, I made an impression on the stage." This episode features Leigh Webster who played Casandra and was a Dance Captain on the US National Tours 2 & 4 of CATS as well as the Original Broadway Production. Hear Leigh talk being a behind the scenes dance captain, how each show had to adapt to each theater, and some of the crazy tour stories. Plus, Leigh shares some fun stories about celebrities who came to visit backstage on tour.
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"As a kitten, I want to go up on that tire. I don't know where it's going or anything like that, but why can't I go up there? It looks like a fun ride, right?" This episode features Nancy Melius who played Rumpleteazer on the US National Tour 4 of CATS. Hear Nancy talk about her auditions before booking the show, how each dance movement has a specific meaning, and how she interpreted the relationship for Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. Plus, Nancy shares crazy stories about how their bus and theater caught on fire on tour.
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"The first thing we did when we got the new programs to get ready to sell for the first show is we opened up all the inserts to check out the girls in the show. As we went through the girls in the show, I picked out Leslie's picture, and I said, I'm gonna marry that one." This episode features Kevin & Leslie Harvey who met on the US National Tour 4 of CATS. Hear Kevin and Leslie (Trayer) tell the story of how they met on tour, how Leslie played Syllabub while Kevin was selling merchandise for the show, how Kevin went on to be a stage manager for CATS on Broadway, and a ton of other crazy stories. Plus, Kevin tells his wild story about his run in with the police in New Orleans.
Check out Kevin's company: senovva.com
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"This production is something that you’ve never seen before." This episode features Sam Larielle-Jones who plays Quaxo in Australia's Willoughby Theatre Company production of CATS. Hear Sam talk about how his production differs from previous versions, how he created his character story for Quaxo and how he got involved with this particular production. Plus, Sam shares the synopsis that was shared at his cast's first rehearsal including the three themes the story centers around.
Check out Sam on Instagram: @dancersam_91
Check out Sam on Facebook: Dancer Sam
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"At the end of the show after the bows when the cats sort of dance offstage I remember we were dancing together and then he picked me up and twirled me. He carried me offstage and that's one of my favorite memories from that show." On the US National Tour 4 of CATS, Helen Frank was performing as Demeter and Bombalurina and Steve Watkins was in the CATS Chorus where they met and married on tour. Fast forward to 2014 and their daughter Lauren, who was 17 at the time, performed with Steve in the Casa Mañana Theatre regional production of CATS in Texas where they performed as Syllabub and Gus. Hear the Watkins family discuss their experience as a family doing the show, along with really fun stories from their time together on stage.
Check out Lauren on Instagram: @lauren___watkins
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"I couldn't wait to learn the shadow dance. I got to rehearsal and it wasn't happening. I finally got up enough nerve and I went up to T Michael Reed and said, ‘am I going to learn the shadow dance?’ And he said, ‘we don't do that on the tour.’" This episode features General McArthur Hambrick who played Alonzo in the Original Broadway Production and on the US National Tour 4 of CATS. Hear General talk about his auditions for the US National Tour 3 before getting cast in the 4th tour, how there is a section of the Alonzo dance behind Demeter that wasn't on tour but that he got to do on Broadway, and what it was like making his Broadway debut at the Winter Garden. Plus, General shares a fun story about the time he got to cover for Tugger.
Produced by:
Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network
Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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