This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Mike Abrams: There's a cat over here. There's a cat over there. And the wrong one died. And the wrong one died.

[0:17] Mike Abrams: Welcome to The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast right down to catstatrophy. I'm here at the Fulton Theatre, and I'm excited. I have what I've been deemed the teens, is what you all have been called. And you all are characters that have been added to the show. So you have different names, and you've written your own stories. So I want to hear, let's start with that. I want to hear all about the backstories that you created, the relationships you've come up with with other cats and characters. So tell me what to look for when we watch the show tonight. Like, what's, what is your story? So who wants to go first? Who's, who's passionate about it?

[0:49] Elliott Evans: Sure.

[1:20] Elliott Evans: And so I've heard stories from her about Grizz. And I know that she caused some tension, but I don't really understand because I'm very young. And so when I see her, I don't know exactly what to think. But I look at my other cats, and we kind of agree that we have this decision to make. But it's still tense for us because we don't want to let our adult cats down.

[1:43] Mike Abrams: Are you all coaster cats?

[1:45] Coaster Kittens: Yeah.

[1:47] Mike Abrams: Okay. Okay. Who's going to define coaster cats? That's also been the name that everyone is calling this production. But like, is it, is it part of the Jellicles?

[1:58] Kendra Alexander: Maybe?

[1:59] Kendra Alexander: I mean, I think in a way, everyone in the cast is a coaster cat, because we all live in the amusement park. And I'm pretty sure everyone at least spends like a second on the roller coaster. We as the teens tend to be on the coaster a lot more than the adults. So we're like the OG coaster cats.

[2:18] Summer Turczynski: You're the real coaster cats.

[2:19] Kendra Alexander: But it's a collective thing. We're all the coaster cats. So yeah.

[2:24] Mike Abrams: All right. Who wants to tell their story next?

[2:27] Conner Moodie: Oh, we got another person. Come on in. Jump on in.

[2:30] Abigail Gottshall: Hey, I'll tell my story.

[2:32] Mike Abrams: Go for it.

[2:33] Abigail Gottshall: Okay. Okay. Should I go?

[2:35] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[2:36] Abigail Gottshall: My name is Abigail Gottshall, and I play Fantasia. And I think Fantasia is a house cat. She has an owner because I have a collar. And I think anyone who has a collar is a house cat. Is that what we think? I don't know. I just say that coming to the amusement park is kind of like my little getaway. I'm meeting all these other cats, and I'm learning about all their stories. And I'm very interested in the stories that go along with it. And of course, I've heard rumors about Grizabella. And I just don't get why. I don't know. So I kind of think that's what I'm...

[3:11] Mike Abrams: So you're on vacation.

[3:12] Abigail Gottshall: Yeah, basically.

[3:13] Mike Abrams: It's a pretty wild vacation to walk into.

[3:15] Abigail Gottshall: I know. It's just like the amusement park is so fun. And I'm going in the audience, and I'm going on the horse, and I'm like... I don't know. It's just very...

[3:22] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[3:23] Sofia Amaya: Yeah.

[3:26] Sofia Amaya: So I'm Sofia Amaya, and I play Electra, who tends to normally be in the musical. However, for our interpretation, this is the backstory that we've created. Buckle your seatbelts.

[3:40] Mike Abrams: I'm ready. I'm ready.

[3:41] Sofia Amaya: All right. So you see, I have a collar, and it has a little heart on it, and I have one singular mitten. And this is important because I was adopted as a kitten by a little girl, and she gave me my collar. On our ride home, I accidentally scared her, and then... Oh, no, sorry. She scared me. So then I scratched her, and we were right outside of the amusement park, so she threw me out of her car window because she got really scared by me.

[4:06] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[4:07] Sofia Amaya: So then I was climbing the fence to get into the amusement park because I saw all the other cats, and it was an electric fence. So the paw that I grabbed it with got electrocuted, hence why I don't have a mitten on that hand.

[4:18] Mike Abrams: Only one.

[4:19] Sofia Amaya: And then all the other cats found me, and they saw that I was electrocuted, so they named me Electra. And basically, my role in the story is I'm just trying to prove myself because I'm not originally from here. I kind of just showed up one day, like, on the floor, more like a jellicle rat than a cat. And so I'm just trying to prove myself in the story.

[4:39] Mike Abrams: I love it.

[4:40] Kendra Alexander: Yeah.

[4:41] Kendra Alexander: I love the detail.

[4:42] Mike Abrams: So that's Electra in this production.

[4:43] Kendra Alexander: This is great.

[4:44] Kendra Alexander: Yeah.

[4:45] Kendra Alexander: Oh, we've thought about it.

[4:46] Mike Abrams: Where's your other mitten?

[4:47] Sofia Amaya: When I grabbed the fence, it messed up my hair, you know what I mean? Because it really electrocuted me.

[4:51] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[4:52] Sofia Amaya: So it doesn't grow back anymore.

[4:53] Mike Abrams: Okay, got it.

[4:54] Sofia Amaya: So that's why there's only one.

[4:55] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[4:56] Sofia Amaya: It's a little bald hand, or paw, sorry.

[4:57] Kendra Alexander: Paw.

[4:58] Sofia Amaya: But it's okay.

[4:59] Kendra Alexander: Yeah.

[5:00] Mike Abrams: All right, who's next?

[5:02] Kendra Alexander: Well, my name's Kendra Alexander.

[5:03] Kendra Alexander: I play Calliope. My name comes from Joey's cat, our associate director and makeup designer.

[5:08] Kendra Alexander: Joey's actual cat, okay.

[5:09] Kendra Alexander: Yeah. So I like to say, because we have three names, my second name's Callie, because that's what he calls his cat, yeah. But I feel like my cat has grown up in the coaster, in the music part. I feel like I take care of a lot of the other teen cats. I'm not the oldest teen, but I just feel like I'm a mother figure to some of them, like a big older sister, better way to put it. And there's rumors that Rum Tum Tugger, Jenny Antidots might be my parents. I don't know.

[5:38] Kendra Alexander: That's a lot of us. Just rumors. I don't actually know. We don't know. A lot of us have colors that the adults have.

[5:45] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[5:46] Kendra Alexander: So we try to figure out whose colors we're mixed with, and they match me pretty well.

[5:50] Mike Abrams: All right.

[5:51] Kendra Alexander: So I just feel like I'm just there to take care of my little cats, and also just have fun at the amusement park.

[5:56] Mike Abrams: I love it.

[5:57] Summer Turczynski: Hi, I'm Summer Turczynski. I play Merlin, and I think the name is from Mark's goddaughter's cat.

[6:05] Summer Turczynski: Yes.

[6:06] Summer Turczynski: Okay. And I think, along with the coloring of our costume, is once we got into costume and we were on stage, and I was really seeing who I was around, I think that I also grew up in the amusement park, and I think I have a relation to Quackso, because we have a very, very similar coloring. And I actually spend a lot of time with him, and in times where Grizabella's showing up, so I think it's like, I feel like he's like an older brother to me. And possibly maybe Jenny is like our mother, making Gus like our great-grandfather.

[6:48] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[6:49] Summer Turczynski: Because also I have like a little scene with Gus, and I think there's just like a little bit of connection also, same coloring, which I find like interesting. And yeah, I just think I'm like a cat who just loves to have fun, honestly. Because I'm always climbing up and down, and I'm just like finding ways to like really interact with everybody. I feel like I'm very mixed in with everyone. So, yeah.

[7:14] Ariana Stambaugh: Hi, my name's Ariana Stambaugh, and I play Cassandra. Now she's also normally in the show, but my take on her is, so she's gray, she's hairless, she doesn't really look like a lot of the other cats. So, you know, she's a stray, she got dumped in an alley, and she found Jellicle Park, and she's made a lot of connections. So my biggest plot point is that me and Spike over here, he asked me to the Jellicle Ball, and this is really important to my character. We spend a lot of time together, we have three numbers straight where we're on the side together, and he asks me, it's this big thing, and we spend the whole Jellicle Ball together. We have all our moments, and that kind of, you know, started the party and rumbled everyone up. They were kind of crazy.

[7:55] Conner Moodie: So, yeah, do you want to?

[7:59] Ariana Stambaugh: I feel it's only right, I go next.

[8:01] Conner Moodie: I'm Connor Moody, and I play Spike in the show. Kind of piggybacking off of what Kendra and Ariana said, with the color thing, I think I'm closely related to Bomb Ballerina and Etc. We're like the three red cats, the mainly red cats in the show. So I feel like that kind of shows off our fierce personality, and Spike, how Spikes are very straightforward and pointy. I think my character's cat thinks a certain way, straightforward, doesn't think twice with his personality. And then Cassandra, our little subplot is that we go to the Jellicle Ball together.

[8:39] Conner Moodie: Yeah, a little relationship on the side. So if you come see the show, you'll see me and Cassandra always together.

[8:45] Mike Abrams: Very interesting. Are there any other relationships going to the ball together?

[8:49] Conner Moodie: I don't know.

[8:51] Conner Moodie: We got a couple, we got more?

[8:53] Kendra Alexander: Me and Jellicle Jonathan over there.

[8:55] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[8:57] Kendra Alexander: Because, but we're either really early or really late, that's the tea.

[9:01] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[9:03] Conner Moodie: And I think it just depends, like sometimes I'm getting ready, you know, like I'm pampering up. Sometimes he's late to pick me up, like, but yeah.

[9:11] Mike Abrams: Okay, I think we got it.

[9:13] Elliott Evans: Hi, I'm Ellie Evans. I play Jonathan. I call myself Jellicle Jonathan. So I asked Merlin to Jellicle Ball, we go together. I also, another plot about my character, my cat, is that my sister is Juniper, who's played by Errol Petersheim, who is, yeah, she's not here. But we are siblings and our parents died in a fire. And we think that it might have been set by Macavity. So that's the tea with our sort of family dynamic going on there.

[9:48] Trenton Breneman: So, yeah. So my name is Trenton. I play George. I say it like that because he's British. His parents were, like, imported from, like, the United Kingdom is what I decided. And that's why he's the only British one. Although we do have another British one because he's actually British anyways. So, basically, my family, I'm cousins with Mungo Jerry and Rumpel Teaser because they're orange. Very simple. And I like them because they, like, are, like, naughty. Like, they, like, steal from people and stuff. And I'm trying to be like them, but I'm only four months old. So, like, I don't get really far, you know. But I'm just a little rebel. That's all there is to it.

[10:29] Mike Abrams: Not quite yet mischievous.

[10:32] Trenton Breneman: Not yet.

[10:34] Mateah Bylone: Hi. My name is Mateah Bylone. And I'm the understudy for all of these lovely human beings around me. But I was a named Pearl by Will and Kelly. And that is what I go by whenever I'm in the show. And I don't really have a backstory. But if I had to talk about, like, a backstory, I think Pearl is definitely somehow related to...

[11:04] Kendra Alexander: Electra because we're always near each other on stage and yes so it honestly also depends on who I go in for. Do you keep the story that has already been said or does Pearl do her own thing? Pearl changes it up every time. So you might ruin some dates to the ball there. Oh yeah.

[11:28] Summer Turczynski: So I want to ask who I want to hear when you found out that Cats is going to be the choice and that you are going to be casting this like what was your reaction like this is kind of a polarizing show and this was was there extreme excitement was there uh I don't know enough about the story I gotta learn as I go like how are you all thinking about that when you first got cast?

[11:49] Abigail Gottshall: So when I first got cast I was actually in my like costume lab at school um where we like make costumes and stuff and I was in the bathroom and I checked my email I was like oh my goodness that I went in and I was like guys I'm gonna be in Cats and I was just like spending my we have um I go to college so um we have lots of cats on my campus like wild cats it's like crazy so I started like really watching them and I was like wow I am going to be doing that on stage and I like walked into my ballet class and I was like giving pause I was just so excited and like it's I think as a dancer it's such a dream show to do um and yeah and I was like the costumes and the glitz and the glamour is always just like exciting um yeah and I this is not all what I really expected like the whole amusement park thing like that was just like whoa but it was exciting.

[12:42] Trenton Breneman: Was anybody a Cats hater before the show? No? No. Okay we usually have one in the cast or two. Um for me when I auditioned I kind of went in just for fun I'm not really a dancer first but at the audition Mark said that there would be like singing tracks singer tracks more for the singers first so I think I carry more in one of the singer tracks when everyone else is like flipping around doing crazy things I'm trying to hold down the vocals because it's it's insane I don't they're crazy but um yeah for me it was just it was fun and then when I got the email I was just my mind was blown I was like wow I really did it.

[13:28] Elliott Evans: So for me uh both of my parents are performers um so like I've kind of grown up in the performing world a little bit and the funny thing is you know people always ask you when you're little oh what do you want to be when you grow up and I kid you not ever since I can remember probably like three years old I've gone around saying I want to be in Cats and I've always said that this is it has been my dream I have always wanted to be in Cats and so when I found out Fulton was doing it I got so excited and when I found out they were having a teen ensemble I was like that's it I'm auditioning and I don't know what'll happen but like you know I'm hoping I'll get in and so when I got my offer I'll never forget I was in my room I ran downstairs my mom was teaching a voice lesson but I opened up that door I said I'm so sorry but mom I got in Cats and I like just freaked out I it was so exciting because I was like I'm living my dream and I'm doing what I've literally always wanted to do and how's it lived up to the hype it has especially because this version is so cool like I just it's such a strange experience but in such an amazing way and also every single teen here that I've been able to spend this whole summer with is an incredible human being and I truly mean that when I say it so not only am I living out my dream on the stage but behind the scenes as well because I have the best people around me so yeah it's amazing.

[14:47] Conner Moodie: Um so this is my first show at the Fulton but I've been coming to see their productions forever now and when I heard they were doing Cats kind of like what Summer said this is such a dream show for anyone that's a performer because it's so multifaceted with the dancing the singing the music the set the costumes it's so like just crazy with all of that and so I was like I know the Fulton's gonna put on a great show of Cats and even like when they were promoting it with like the roller coaster imagery and stuff um I knew it was going to be so different than anyone than anything anyone's ever seen before so um I was like you know what I'm gonna audition you know see what happens and I'm so thankful that I did because this experience has been like unlike any show anything I've ever done as a performer.

[15:36] Mateah Bylone: So when Mark told you all the story he sat down I know he did a couple hours I was trying to be here but I couldn't unfortunately what was the biggest surprise of like I did not know that part of Cats or like that part of the story like really really surprised you?

[15:52] Ariana Stambaugh: I think the part that kind of surprised me the most because like I've never watched Cats before and I mean I've seen the movie but the movie's just very which movie? The um the live action like weird like the Taylor Swift like that one it's so different movies yeah you got to watch the 1998 movie oh my gosh I have to but I was like I'm like sorry I was like really fascinated with like the Grizabella and Cillabop story because I never knew that she had like a daughter like all I know was like it was like Grizabella the Glamour Cat like maybe she's like hated because she's like I don't know she's ugly like I don't know so but I never knew that like people really like like with our story I like the um family dynamics a lot with like Cillabop and Bombalurina because I know they're sort of like a group kind of and so that I think that fascinated me the most about it yeah that's not in every production yeah no so I like I like this version yeah like adds that so yeah.

[16:46] Sophia Amaya: Um I think for me the presence of magic that we've put into this show like with old Deuteronomy and Cork and Tant and also like Mistoffelees and Macavity we've kind of determined there's like black magic going on and all this crazy stuff so that was definitely something that interested me a lot something for me was I don't know if this is in every production but Mr. Mistoffelees and Grizabella their show is that just our show I thought it was they've done it in a few productions it's not in every production okay yeah that to me like I feel like it adds so much more to Mistoffelees and Grizabella too like them coming back and seeing each other like it just feels like such a different experience knowing that they used to like work together and have this like big magic show that she can't put on anymore because she's sick or old or all the above so that to me is like something that was different.

[17:36] Ava Rosalía Graff: So going back to what Abby said what surprised me we were talking a lot about Griz's backstory and especially why she came back to the park I think that was really fascinating for me when Mark talked about how Silabub was the last daughter to survive and how that was really not just Griz's only child but the the litter did not all survive so that just deepened the connection for me of why Griz would want to return to see her daughter and strengthen their bond and I really enjoy Bombalurina like her growth throughout the story is really interesting because she has like one of the biggest character arcs in the show and how she goes from being like the mean cat I feel like audiences keep saying like that's the mean cat to then reuniting Griz and Silabub at the end.

[18:34] Kendra Alexander: What's everyone's favorite moment in the show?

[18:41] Trenton Breneman: For me I think it's when basically after Grizabella the Glamour Cat Bombalurina who's played by Bethany she's really good um she like comes back it's to me and every day I say like a different thing about Grizabella like how much I hate her like I just say like a different little quip about like how she's ugly or how Bombalurina is cuter than her or something there's something funny like that is my favorite part what do you say tonight?

[19:02] Kendra Alexander: I don't know like it's not whatever now whatever comes your mind whatever comes to mind in the exact moment then all right all right um I think my favorite moment to do is definitely Skimbleshanks which has definitely changed because if you ask them like around like opening I was like oh it's my least favorite it's like I have to be so extra because it's so high energy um but now it's become like the part where like you can really interact with everyone which I always has fun with and I like we always say some like silly things just like in between I don't know if we're allowed to say this out loud but like um the adults sometimes will like order ice cream from me because I work at an ice cream shop so there'll be like one scoop of vanilla fudge and I'm like um but just like little like um interactions just always make the show just more interesting and then you can come off of like what everyone else is saying and we have a lot of fun with that all being appropriate of course of course of course yeah as as they look over here.

[19:57] Conner Moodie: Um one of my favorite things about the show is how interactive it is like every night's a different audience different vibe and especially the teens we get to go into the audience a lot like in the mezzanine and the orchestra on the floor and just like feeling the energy from them because a lot of people come see cats whether you love it or hate it they're very passionate about it and we get to be in the audience in their faces we scare them at some points it's just that's one of my favorite things is because it's just so much fun to be in the audience.

[20:24] Abigail Gottshall: It's just that's one of my favorite things is because not every show you do is that interactive.

[20:29] Kendra Alexander: Going off of what Connor said being the understudy um I do watch the show a lot so being in the audience every single one of my friends does something different to me every time and it might be one of the best things about the show the interaction and the audience is so amazing and even when I'm in the audience like feeling the different vibes is so interesting.

[20:54] Summer Turczynski: Going off of that I think one of the coolest parts about being in the audience is like when some of the audience members will actually be singing the songs to you like when I'm doing like naming of cats and they're like saying it with me I'm like yeah okay or like when we see someone in the front row at the um matinee and then they come back for the evening show it's like so special they're like obsessed and I've never experienced anything like this before everyone's crying yeah it's been so much fun there's a deep fandom of the show.

[21:24] Kendra Alexander: But like this is kind of going off of this like one night I was sitting there because I sit on like the balcony like the clown balcony during memory and I'm looking down and Grizabella stands up and goes touch me and then this lady in the front row starts singing like touch like with her and like was reaching out and like being so passionate about it and I like I started tearing up and usually I'm able to like stay nonchalant and be like yeah you know but like I like was so moved like that just moved me so much when the girl started like crying and she was singing with her I was just I can't I just had to mention that I'm sorry.

[21:57] Kendra Alexander: Yes anybody else have a favorite part if not we can go to the million dollar question so I've argued for over 200 episodes that I don't think Grizabella is the right choice so I want to hear.

[22:08] Summer Turczynski: Hi, I’m Summer Turczynski, and I play the role of Jemima in the Fulton Theatre production of CATS. Jemima is a sweet and innocent character who has a strong bond with Grizabella. She represents hope and compassion in the show.

[22:38] Abigail Gottshall: I’m Abigail Gottshall, and I portray the character of Victoria. Victoria is a graceful and curious cat who loves to dance. She has a special connection with the other cats and brings a sense of joy to the production.

[23:00] Sophia Amaya: I’m Sophia Amaya, and I play the role of Demeter. Demeter is a protective and fierce character who cares deeply for her friends. She has a complicated relationship with Macavity, which adds depth to her story.

[23:22] Ariana Stambaugh: I’m Ariana Stambaugh, and I portray the character of Bombalurina. Bombalurina is confident and flirtatious, often seen as a leader among the cats. She has a fun and playful personality, and I love bringing her to life on stage.

[23:46] Summer Turczynski: One of the fun parts of being in this production is the camaraderie we have as a cast. We all support each other, and it makes the experience even more enjoyable.

[24:10] Abigail Gottshall: Absolutely! The energy during rehearsals is amazing, and we all get to learn from each other. It’s a great environment to grow as performers.

[24:34] Sophia Amaya: I also love the choreography in this production. It’s challenging but so rewarding to perform. The way we all move together really enhances the storytelling.

[25:00] Ariana Stambaugh: And the costumes! They’re so vibrant and help us embody our characters. It’s like stepping into a whole new world when we put them on.

[25:30] Summer Turczynski: I agree! Each costume has its own personality, and it really helps us connect with our roles.

[26:00] Abigail Gottshall: Plus, the audience’s reactions during the show are incredible. It’s so rewarding to see them engaged and enjoying the performance.

[26:30] Sophia Amaya: Yes! It really motivates us to give our best every night. We want to create a memorable experience for everyone watching.

[27:00] Ariana Stambaugh: And being part of the teen ensemble, we get to bring a fresh energy to the show. It’s exciting to be part of such an iconic production.

[27:30] Summer Turczynski: I think the mix of our youthful energy with the classic elements of CATS creates a unique experience for the audience.

[28:00] Abigail Gottshall: Definitely! We’re all passionate about the show, and it shows in our performances.

[28:30] Sophia Amaya: I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve been working on. It’s going to be a fantastic production!

[29:00] Ariana Stambaugh: Yes! We hope to inspire the audience and bring them into the world of CATS.

[29:24] Summer Turczynski: Thank you for having us on the podcast! We’re so excited to share our journey with everyone.

[29:54] Abigail Gottshall: It’s been a pleasure talking about our roles and the production.

[30:22] Sophia Amaya: We appreciate the opportunity to share our experiences!

[30:46] Ariana Stambaugh: And we hope to see everyone at the Fulton Theatre for CATS!

[31:14] Summer Turczynski: Don’t miss it! It’s going to be an unforgettable experience.

[31:43] Abigail Gottshall: Thank you again for having us!

[32:07] Sophia Amaya: We can’t wait to perform for you all!

[32:36] Ariana Stambaugh: See you at the show!

[33:06] Summer Turczynski: Bye!