Best Jonathan Kearns Podcasts (2024)

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Ep177 - Antwayn Hopper, Macavity in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 41:36

17m ago41:36

41:36

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "We have to remember we’re angelic cats. This is what we’re finding and it’s crazy how it lends itself. It’s called the Jellicle Ball. It’…

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Ep176 - Jonathan Burke, Mungojerrie in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" & US National Tour 5 39:49

6h ago39:49

39:49

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "In this version we are brother and sister. We have decided that Rumpleteazer is my little sister that I’ve brought into the ballroom comm…

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Ep175 - Emma Sofia, Skimbleshanks & Cassandra in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 50:39

5d ago50:39

50:39

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "Remembering the first episode I didn’t really understand CATS. Now I get it. I’m in. I drank the Kool Aid. I’m here and I love it." This …

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Ep174 - Josephine Kearns, Dramaturg & Gender Consultant in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 32:23

13d ago32:23

32:23

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "If I had a dollar for every time someone said ‘I’ve always hated CATS but I love this CATS’ I’d have doubled my salary on the show." This…

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Ep173 - Sydney James Harcourt, Rum Tum Tugger in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 52:34

12d ago52:34

52:34

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "I was able to let Tugger sit on me and fit on me listening to them say - you are already Tugger so just be Sydney." This episode features…

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Ep172 - Robert "Silk" Mason, Mr. Mistoffelees in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 34:35

16d ago34:35

34:35

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "All of us have talked about how our characters are us, who we are in life." This episode features Robert "Silk" Mason who plays the magic…

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Ep171 - "Tempress" Chasity Moore, Grizabella in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 31:32

19d ago31:32

31:32

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "When we were building, the connection between us (Macavity & Grizabella) was that he used to be in the House of Glamour at one time." Thi…

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BONUS - "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" Recap with Alan Seales of The Theatre Podcast 38:23

23d ago38:23

38:23

"I love this show and I love this production. This production was so much fun because it spans all theater fans, all ballroom fans, and just people who want to go have a good time will like this." This bonus episode is a recap of "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" featuring Mike and Alan Seales of the Theatre Podcast recorded immediately after seeing a prev…

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Ep170 - Mundi Gove, Head of Wig Department on US National Tour 4 36:31

26d ago36:31

36:31

"The interesting thing with CATS is that the actors eventually do their own makeup. They do all the cat makeup but it has to go into the wig." This episode features Mundi Gove who was the Head of Wig Department on the US National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Mundi share all of the background on the wig designs, how the wig helps determine the personalities…

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Ep169 - Mariah Reives, Cassandara on US National Tour 6 and Ensemble in The Great Gatsby Musical 42:27

1M ago42:27

42:27

"I loved how sophisticated she was. How she allowed nothing to really bother her but she was still so fierce. And that seems like exactly the type of cat that I could be." This episode features Mariah Reives who performed as Cassandra on the US National Tour 6 of CATS before the pandemic and is currently in the ensemble in The Great Gatsby Musical …

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Ep168 - 2024 St. Clair College Production ft. Kristyn Wiklanski, Tatum Roy, and Camryn Winnicky-Lewis 50:13

1M ago50:13

50:13

"Once they bought into the idea of doing the show they deep dived into the internet and quickly found the hardcore fans of the musical and would show up to rehearsal and they would have all of these theories that they had never heard of before." This episode features the 2024 St. Clair College Production of CATS where I was joined by the director K…

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Ep167 - Chaz Wolcott, Mr. Mistoffelees on US National Tour 5 and Director/Choreographer at Theatre Wichita 1:11:16

2M ago1:11:16

1:11:16

"I have a thing that I call ‘Cat Story Time’ and I sit down with the cats and I tell them my version of the events, and tell them sort of what I know." This episode features Chaz Wolcott who played the magical Mr. Mistoffelees on the US National Tour 5 of CATS and has been the director and choreographer for multiple regional productions of the show…

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Ep166 - Kevin Winkler, Skimbleshanks on US National Tour 4 and Author of new book "On Bette Midler" 1:00:51

2M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

"I had seen the show after it opened and I knew that Skimbleshanks was the role for me. I knew that was the role that I wanted to do in the show." This episode features Kevin Winkler who performed as Skimbleshanks on the US National Tour 4 of CATS and is the author of a new book called "On Bette Midler". Hear Kevin share his crazy audition stories,…

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Ep165 - Lucy Horton, Jellylorum on US National Tour 5 43:58

2M ago43:58

43:58

"Watching the 1998 VHS which I rented on Netflix. I got the DVD mailed to me." This episode features Lucy Horton who played Jellylorum on the US National Tours 5 of CATS and in multiple regional productions. Hear Lucy share how she actually booked the show multiple times but had to turn down the contracts before joining the 5th Tour, how she approa…

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BONUS - "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" Creative Team ft. Zhailon Levingston, Bill Rauch, & William Waldrop 37:44

2M ago37:44

37:44

"What overtly having categories does dramaturgy of CATS itself is that there is a particular outcome of winner or loser that happens at the end of every song." This bonus episode features the creative team of the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS set in a ballroom which is appropriately titled: "CATS: The Jellicle Ball".…

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Ep164 - Mackenzie Warren, Bombalurina on 2016 Broadway Revival 42:45

2M ago42:45

42:45

"When I got the audition appointment I was like this would be a blast to pretend to be a cat at this audition. Let's do it. I texted Kim and asked - How much cat do you give at the audition?" This episode features Mackenzie Warren who was Bombalurina in the 2016 Broadway Revival of CATS. Hear Kim discuss seeing her friend Kim perform as Demeter in …

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Ep163 - Brett-Marco Glauser, Munkustrap on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas 51:19

3M ago51:19

51:19

"Part of me just needed to come on and defend Munkustrap. He gets a bad rap. You haven't talked to a lot of them. It's a rough time being in a leadership position when everyone's just trying to fool around. And you talk about herding cats, literally herding cats." This episode features Brett-Marco Glauser who perform as Munkustrap on the Royal Cari…

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Ep162 - Brett Michael Lockley, Pouncival on US National Tour 6 & Swing in The Who's TOMMY 54:08

3M ago54:08

54:08

"I remember there's Green Eyes and a couple other times that the cats go into the house and into the audience. Because of everything that was going on I was an advocate about being like… can we figure out a way around that right now? And that night we didn’t." This episode features Brett Michael Lockley who performed as Pouncival on the US National…

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Ep161 - Katie Hutton, Rumpleteazer on Asia Tour 2022-2023 50:00

3M ago50:00

50:00

"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 universi…

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Ep160 - Yardén Barr, Grizabella on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas 44:48

3M ago44:48

44:48

"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 Griz…

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Ep159 - Felicia & James Gardner, Demeter & Electrician on US National Tour 4 & Original Broadway Production 53:02

4M ago53:02

53:02

"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 …

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Ep158 - Nina Straface, Theatre Content Creator, Performer, & CATS Defender 1:00:58

4M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

"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 st…

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Ep157 - Samantha Sturm, Demeter on 2016 Broadway Revival 45:06

4M ago45:06

45:06

"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 d…

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Ep156 - Scott Faris, Production Stage Manager on US National Tour 2 & 4 48:48

4M ago48:48

48:48

"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 Scot…

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Ep155 - Michael Fatica, Swing on US National Tour 5 & Ensemble in SPAMALOT 49:57

5M ago49:57

49:57

"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 i…

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Ep154 - John Schwab, Actor and Host of Curtain Call Podcast 54:39

5M ago54:39

54:39

"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 crossov…

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Ep153 - Cecilia Arias, Bombonachoona (Jennyanydots) on Mexico Tour 3 46:56

5M ago46:56

46:56

"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 …

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Ep152 - Rose Iannaccone, Rumpleteazer on US National Tour 6 46:14

5M ago46:14

46:14

"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 y…

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Ep151 - Michelle E. Carter, Jennyanydots on US National Tour 6 1:01:59

5M ago1:01:59

1:01:59

"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 ve…

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Ep150 - Olivia Kaye Da Silva, Performer & Theatre Content Creator 44:12

6M ago44:12

44:12

"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 …

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Ep149 - John Zamborsky, Skimbleshanks on US National Tour 6 53:42

6M ago53:42

53:42

"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…

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Ep148 - Broadway Bob, Theatre Content Creator 54:33

6M ago54:33

54:33

"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…

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Ep147 - Leigh Webster, Cassandra & Dance Captain on Original Broadway Production & US National Tour 2 & 4 36:51

6M ago36:51

36:51

"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 o…

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Ep146 - Nancy Melius, Rumpleteazer on US National Tour 4 45:57

7M ago45:57

45:57

"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 speci…

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Ep145 - Kevin & Leslie Harvey, Syllabub & Stage Manager on US National Tour 4 & Original Broadway Production 58:07

7M ago58:07

58:07

"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…

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Ep144 - Sam Larielle-Jones, Quaxo in Willoughby Theatre Company 52:40

8M ago52:40

52:40

"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 produc…

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Ep143 - Helen, Lauren, & Steve Watkins, The CATS Family 49:43

8M ago49:43

49:43

"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 th…

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Ep142 - General McArthur Hambrick, Alonzo on Original Broadway Production & US National Tour 4 50:05

8M ago50:05

50:05

"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 an…

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Ep141 - Maria Briggs, Victoria on 2016 Broadway Revival & Ensemble in SPAMALOT 1:04:41

8M ago1:04:41

1:04:41

"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…

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Ep140 - Shane Hall, Mr. Mistoffelees on US National Tour 5 50:11

9M ago50:11

50:11

"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, an…

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Ep139 - Lynette Tompkins Engel, Tantomile in Hamburg Production 52:33

9M ago52:33

52:33

"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 s…

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Ep138 - Harry Francis, Mungojerrie in West End Revival & Mr. Mistoffelees on International Tour 59:45

9M ago59:45

59:45

"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…

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Ep137 - Stan Stanley, Rum Tum Tugger on US National Tour 5 56:08

9M ago56:08

56:08

"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 …

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BONUS - Lauren Buege, Cinnamon in Arrowhead High School Center for Arts 16:22

9M ago16:22

16:22

"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 creati…

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Ep136 - Lexie Plath, Bombalurina on US National Tour 6 46:36

9M ago46:36

46:36

"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 awar…

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Ep135 - Natasha Davison, Victoria on US National Tour 4 1:01:57

10M ago1:01:57

1:01:57

"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 wa…

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Ep134 - Paul Giarratano, Mr. Mistoffelees on US National Tour 6 42:18

10M ago42:18

42:18

"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. Mistoffe…

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Ep133 - Lee Lobenhofer, Gus on US National Tour 4 50:47

10M ago50:47

50:47

"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 Na…

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Ep132 - Lucy Rice, Swing on Asia Tour 2022-2023 48:13

10M ago48:13

48:13

"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 Bombalurin…

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Ep131 - Joey Abramowicz, Tumblebrutus on US National Tour 5 55:22

11M ago55:22

55:22

"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…

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