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The Wrong Cat Died

The Wrong Cat Died

By: Broadway Podcast Network
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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.Broadway Podcast Network Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Music
Episodes
  • Ep255 - Emma Sofia, Cassandra & Skimbleshanks in CATS: The Jellicle Ball

    Ep255 - Emma Sofia, Cassandra & Skimbleshanks in CATS: The Jellicle Ball
    May 26 2026
    "I have a dream that Skimbleshanks, as a representative of the MTA, is able to have a sit down with Zohran Mamdani to talk about the MTA fares.” This episode welcomes back the wonderful Emma Sofia for her third appearance on the show to discuss transferring Cats: The Jellicle Ball from the Perelman Arts Center to the Broadhurst Theatre, including how they adapted the PAC’s long runway into a proscenium space with tiers, onstage seating, boxes, and continued audience immersion. Emma explains how she maintains Cassandra’s boundaryless audience interaction, where Cassandra and Skimbleshanks tend to play in the house, and how the team expanded relationships and ballroom “family tree” lore. Emma talks about cast/story tweaks such as Leiomy as Macavity, Emma receiving the Legacy Robe, the pace of Tony season, and standout promo moments like Miscast and an upcoming MTA Sessions Skimbleshanks collaboration. 01:34 Broadway Transfer 04:00 Designing Immersion at Broadhurst 07:05 Cassandra Crowd Work 16:52 Legacy Robe 22:59 Miscast Experience 30:44 Dream Collabs 33:09 Award Season 40:03 Rapid Fire Check out Emma on Instagram: @emmasofiaokay 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
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    50 mins
  • Ep254 - Victor Vazquez & Sujotta Pace, Casting Directors in CATS: The Jellicle Ball

    Ep254 - Victor Vazquez & Sujotta Pace, Casting Directors in CATS: The Jellicle Ball
    May 19 2026
    “Junior does not have an agent or a manager. Junior has a community in front of him and we had to move through that in order to get the call.” This episode features the casting directors of Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” Victor Vazquez and Sujotta Pace of X Casting talking about casting the show from early workshops through the PAC run and to Broadway. They discuss their personal introductions to CATS, receiving the initial “ballroom CATS” pitch, and how evolving workshops shaped everything about the show. They describe prioritizing the ballroom community through dedicated open calls, using community networks to reach artists without traditional representation, and the challenges of assembling an ensemble while honoring CATS legacy. Enjoy this deep dive into the creative process and the intricacies of the show. 02:31 The Ballroom CATS Pitch 04:56 Writing the Viral Casting Call 07:34 Workshops and Role Discoveries 09:43 Finding Stars and Ballroom Legends 32:40 Casting For Representation 41:48 Honoring Elders Legacy 45:13 Icons Leading The Company 48:20 Rapid Fire Check out X Casting on Instagram: @xcastingnyc Check out Victor on Instagram: @victorvictorv Check out Sujotta on Instagram: @sujotta 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
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Ep253 - Dudney Joseph Jr., Munkustrap in CATS: The Jellicle Ball

    Ep253 - Dudney Joseph Jr., Munkustrap in CATS: The Jellicle Ball
    May 12 2026
    “I think that the magic that MCs create and where they're able to activate someone. I think that's a gift and it's really incredible.”” This episode features Dudney Joseph Jr. who is currently performing as Munkustrap in Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the Broadhurst Theatre. Dudney shares his first exposure to CATS via VHS in Buffalo, roles he once imagined playing, and how the production grew through workshops into a Broadway transfer. Dudney explains blending musical theater narration with ballroom MC responsibilities, learning to “take up space,” and developing the Legend Statements and Stars (LSS) curtain-call chants, an idea he voice-noted to Zhailon after the Lincoln Center workshop, then built under tight timing at the PAC before it went viral. He discusses changes from the PAC to Broadway, collaborating with creatives to honor both Cats’ legacy and ballroom culture, and working alongside ballroom icons like Junior LaBeija and Leiomy, including how they supported and informed his performance. Dudney also created a custom “Wrong Cat Died” chant for a podcast curtain call. 01:00 Introduction to CATS 04:26 Jellicle Ball Workshops 07:01 Building Munkustrap as MC 11:12 Creating the Curtain Call Chants 23:19 From PAC to Broadway 28:45 Ballroom Meets CATS 38:11 Why You Should Go 44:00 Rapid Fire Check out Dudney on Instagram: ⁠@dudney_jr 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
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    57 mins
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