The Wrong Cat Died

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.

  1. 1 NGÀY TRƯỚC

    Ken Ard, DJ Griddlebone in CATS: The Jellicle Ball & Macavity in Original Broadway Cast

    “You have to see it. It’s one of those things that if you miss it, you’ve missed a cultural moment in time.”  This episode features the incredible Ken Ard who originated the roles of Macavity, Plato, and the Rumpus Cat in the original Broadway production of CATS and is currently performing as DJ Griddlebone in CATS: The Jellicle Ball at the Broadhurst Theatre. Ken shares his experience hearing the West End cast album, auditioning as a gymnast-singer-dancer, and developing Macavity as a chaotic street cat without the fan-made “family tree” lore, while learning in rehearsal through acting exercises alongside Betty Buckley. He describes the dangerous Rumpus Cat star-trap floor stunt, a knee injury during the original run, and meeting celebrities backstage. Ken dives into how The Jellicle Ball’s ballroom setting makes CATS clearer and emotionally resonant for a new era, his audition path into the expanded DJ Griddlebone role, and why skeptics and even CATS haters should see this reinvention, praising key performances and the production’s inclusive cast and culture. 01:05 Auditioning for CATS 03:25 Creating Macavity 05:05 CATS Lore vs Reality 09:16 Rumpus Cat Trapdoor 13:05 Original Run Memories 21:33 Becoming DJ Grizabella 28:31 Ballroom Meets Broadway 33:54 Standout Moments 44:53 Rapid Fire Check out Ken on Instagram: @thekennethard Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Social Media: @catsjellicleball Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball: ⁠⁠⁠catsthejellicleball.com⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    55 phút
  2. 21 THG 4

    Gabrielle Parker, Jemima on the International Tour

    “In my head I think Jemima is the daughter of Bombalurina and Macavity.” This episode features Gabrielle Parker who played Jemima on the 2025 International Tour of CATS. Hear Gabrielle share how a ballet background and seeing Cats around age 10 sparked her obsession with the show and her early goal to play Victoria. She recounts auditioning soon after graduating, initially being seen for Rumpleteazer before landing Victoria, and explains how character work begins with the “three words,” including Victoria’s surprising trait of being “unselfconscious.” Gabrielle discusses later playing Jemima on tours through Korea, Taiwan, China, and Europe, including the challenge and audience reaction of singing the opening of “Moonlight” in Korean and Mandarin. She offers personal Jemima backstory theories, reflects on touring culture differences, shares memorable mishaps and emergency cover moments, and reveals she met her husband on CATS, joking about a “white cat curse.” 00:50 First Time Seeing CATS 07:18 Building Victoria and Jemima 12:08 Jemima Backstory  20:20 Singing Moonlight in New Languages 24:33 White Cat Curse Love Story 26:48 CATS Wedding Performance 31:53 Rapid Fire Check out Gabrielle on Instagram: @gabbyparker_ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 phút
  3. 11 THG 4 ·  NỘI DUNG TẶNG THÊM

    CATS: The Jellicle Ball Opening Night Gold Carpet

    We were honored to be invited to cover the Gold Carpet for the opening night of the highly anticipated production of CATS: The Jellicle Ball with VIPs from the film, TV, and Broadway industries along with the cast and creative team from the production. Hear us discuss the excitement for the opening night, changes from downtown to Broadway, and which Jellicle cat each celebrity would want to play. Featuring (in order): Co-Directors Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch, Associate Director Cooper Howell, Co-Choreographers Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons, Costume Designer Qween Jean, Junior LaBeija, Leiomy, Ken Ard, Sherrod T. Brown, Garnet Williams, Bebe Nicole Simpson, Kalyn West, Jonathan Burke, Baby Byrne, Dudney Joseph Jr., Emma Sofia, Sydney James Harcourt, Nora Schell, Robert “Silk” Mason, Betty Buckley, Jacob Brent, Kevin Cahoon, Todrick Hall, Jess Val Ortiz, Lea DeLaria, LaChanze, Marti Gould Cummings, Jenn Colella, Olivia Lux, and Vanity LaVain. About the Production: Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” is a radical reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, inspired by the Ballroom culture that roared out of New York City over 50 years ago and still rages around the world. Staged as a spectacularly immersive competition by Zhailon Levingston and Artistic Director Bill Rauch. Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Social Media: @catsjellicleball Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball: ⁠⁠catsthejellicleball.com⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 phút
  4. 31 THG 3

    Nina White, Future Grizabella & You Got Older

    “I think the premise is clear. They have to compete. For their life. I really don’t know why either.” This episode features Nina White (Kimberly Akimbo, The Queen of Versailles) who is currently appearing at the Cherry Lane Theater in You Got Older. Nina comes on the show to discuss her strong pro-CATS opinions and why she thinks much of the show’s hate is unfounded. Nina shares seeing the tour in Detroit, the characters she gravitated toward, and which role she’d want today, plus thoughts on the CATS: The Jellicle Ball revival and her desire to play Skimbleshanks there. The discussion pivots to You Got Older, as Nina explains the play’s story about a woman returning home during her father’s cancer treatment and its themes of family, presence, and authentic sibling dynamics, including how personal it is to playwright Clare Barron. They end with rapid-fire CATS questions, debate the Jellicle choice, and share how to follow Nina and see the show. 02:14 First CATS Memory 05:24 Dream CATS Roles 15:11 Skimbleshanks Obsession 17:30 You Got Older 20:17 Why the Play Hits Home 34:49 Starlight Express Discussion 37:18 Rapid Fire Check out Nina on Instagram: @iamninawhite Check out You Got Older: cherrylanetheatre.org/shows/ygo Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    54 phút
  5. 24 THG 3

    Quentin Earl Darrington, Old Deuteronomy in 2016 Broadway Revival

    “ I believe that they were all linked and in sync all of the cats because there's so many parts in the play where it's so evident within the storytelling that they are all in tune with one another immediately.” This episode features Quentin Earl Darrington who played Old Deuteronomy in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS and currently appears as the Phantom in Masquerade. Quentin explains how he had never seen CATS before auditioning and researched recordings and commentary to build the show’s story, then recalls the heavy, hot Old Deuteronomy suit, ice-pack vest, and unexpectedly having to dance with elite performers while also playing an opening-number ensemble cat. He describes shaping Old Deuteronomy through biblical books and viewing the Jellicle Choice as a collective, evolving decision, not predetermined, with Deuteronomy as a servant-leader who never expects to ascend. The conversation shifts to Masquerade’s immersive demands, constant variation, and physical backstage navigation, with Quentin embracing unpredictable audience proximity.  01:20 First Encounter With CATS 03:47 Costume Heat and Survival 04:49 Old Deuteronomy Decision Theology 18:48 Masquerade  27:49 Immersive Show Demands 36:17 Reinventing Classics Today 39:07 Rapid Fire Check out Masquerade on Social Media: @masqueradenyc Check out Masquerade's website: masqueradenyc.com Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 phút
4,7
/5
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Giới Thiệu

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.

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