The Wrong Cat Died
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172 episodes
"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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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: @ninastraface Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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
"I got to final callbacks and I was like, I should maybe watch this cause I don't know what I'm auditioning for. I got to Mungo and Rump and then I don't even think I finished it." This episode features Maria Briggs who performed as a swing and as Victoria in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS and is currently in the ensemble of SPAMALOT. Hear Maria discuss how she twice booked tours of CATS but did not take the jobs, what it was like making a Broadway debut as Tantomile, and how surreal it was to perform The Music Man in the Winter Garden Theatre knowing the CATS history. Plus, Maria shares a little about what to expect in her upcoming show SPAMALOT. Check out Maria on Instagram: @mariarbriggs Check out SPAMALOT on Instagram: @spamalotbway Check out SPAMALOT on Broadway: spamalotthemusical.com Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 easier. Check out Shane on Instagram: @shanehallcreates Check out Shane's Dance Studio on Instagram: @prodigydancecentrega Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 case they were needed. Plus, Lynette shares a cool fact about how different parts of the ball have different names depending on the production. Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 his turns the opposite way, and stories from all of the times he's performed the show. Plus, Harry shares how he was able to create "CATS in Quarantine" during the pandemic as a way to celebrate the show have hundreds of dancers perform the ball virtually. Check out Harry on Social Media: @harryrfrancis Watch CATS in Quarantine: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cxwl84Ep5c Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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, Stan discusses how he dated his Mr. Mistoffelees on tour adding more fuel to Tuggoffelees rumors. Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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. Check out a snippet of Lauren's High School Production of CATS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eizS1BqiYgk Check out Pause 4 Paws' website: www.pause4pawsmn.org Check out Cats in the Cradle's website: www.catsinthecradle.rescuegroups.org Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Instagram/Twitter/Tik Tok: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 how to play her character, and some really fun stories from her life on tour. Plus, Lexie and Mike spend a lot of time discussing her high school's production of CATS which won the USA Today Best High School Musical in 2008. Check out Lexie on Instagram: @lexie.plath Check out Lexie on Tik Tok: @readinginthewings Check out a snippet of Lexie's High School Production of CATS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eizS1BqiYgk Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 back into the tribe. Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 story, some fun stories from being on tour, and how his dance track gave him some spots to breathe before his number near the end of the show. Plus, Paul asks all of the most important questions about the Jellicle choice before picking Gus. Check out Paul on Instagram: @paul_giarratano Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 for the audience), the times he got to go on as Old Deuteronomy, the legend of Ray's makeup expertise, a few other fun stories from tour, and how he got to dance in sections of the show as "GeneriGUS." Plus, Lee shares how his father influenced the way he performed as Gus each night. Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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 Lucy share learning the show from scratch, the differences she saw between the cruise and Asia Tour audiences, and why Gus is her Jellicle choice. Plus, Lucy shares some of the fun stories from being able to do Tik Toks in CATS costume. Check out Lucy on Social Media: @lucyrice98 Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"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, Joey shares all of the various different scenes used for the Junkyard and fun ways Grizabella ascended to the Heaviside Layer in various productions. Check out Joey on Instagram: @joeytumble Check out the Fulton Theatre: thefulton.org Produced by: Alan Seales & Broadway Podcast Network Social Media: @TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
