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[0:15] Mike Abrams: Welcome to The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast breakdown of CATS. I'm your host, Mike Abrams, and today we have three guests. They recently wrapped up their production of CATS at the Canyon Theatre Guild in Santa Clarita, California, performing as Victoria, the Magical Mystery of Staphylis, and Monkey's Trap. So welcome, Deneen, Kelby, and Zach, and thank you for joining me.

[0:31] Deneen Melody: Thanks for having us. I'm super excited.

[0:37] Kelby McClellan: Thank you. I'm excited.

[0:40] Mike Abrams: I want to hear first, I usually start with your CATS history, but we're going to come back to that because I want to hear first about what was your reaction when your theater said, "We're going to do CATS?"

[0:52] Zach Santolaya: I heard that they were going to be doing CATS when I was watching a production of The Little Mermaid. They announced it at the theater, and it kind of piqued my interest. But at the same time, it was a show that I never thought I'd be a part of. I'm not gonna lie. So I was excited to see it, not thinking that I was going to be in it.

[1:09] Kelby McClellan: Yeah, and for me, one of my best friends in the world, Kazmira Buchanan, who is also one of our choreographers, she knew that I was a huge fan of CATS because I talked about it all the time. Like, if I was going to do a musical, it would be CATS. And she was so excited to tell me, "Hey, the theater that I choreograph at is going to do CATS." And she knew I wanted to be a part of it, but she didn't want to do it. And it took a lot of convincing for me to convince her to choreograph with me. So that's how I got involved and how I found out.

[1:47] Zach Santolaya: And see, I've never done work with this theater before. Like, I'm a theater person, and I've done a lot of theater in my life, but this was my first time doing a show at Canyon Theatre Guild. So I found out because Deneen, Danine, and Kazmira—we call her Cassie—we were all in a ballet show together during Christmas doing The Nutcracker. And they were like, "Oh man, I hope people come out for CATS auditions." And I was just like, "Excuse me? Did you—what?" Because, you know, like a community theater is going to do CATS? That never happened. So I got to get in there.

[2:31] Mike Abrams: Okay. So you're in that. How much did you know? Like, are you CATS musical people? Like, is this something that you were deeply rooted in? Like, what's the first experience with CATS for you all?

[2:41] Deneen Melody: I mean, I would say that Danine is probably the biggest one out of the three.

[2:48] Kelby McClellan: Yeah, I had, like, so I'm talking about middle school, and like, me and one of my friends had websites dedicated to different characters.

[2:55] Deneen Melody: Yeah. Okay. I'm talking about LiveJournal days where we like go into like the LiveJournal groups and have fan theories and stuff like that. I loved CATS so much that when I went to like ballet workshops during the summer, I printed out pictures of like Victoria and Monkey Strap, and that's what I had on my walls, along with like anime. Aside from like everybody else had like NSYNC and stuff like that, and I was like, "Here is somebody dressed up as a cat." You know, so like, we were so into it too. And a lot of that was from the 1998 filmed version. So yeah, I've been so big into CATS throughout the years.

[3:35] Zach Santolaya: The LiveJournal days. Those days are wild.

[3:41] Kelby McClellan: I wish I missed those days. This was before my CATS history starts at 2016, and I didn't know it existed prior to that, basically. Like, I had heard "Memory," but I was not brought as a child to see the show or any other time. But as I learned about the LiveJournal days, I feel like I would have thrived in that environment because now I know so much that I could have been like, I could have carried some of this writing.

[4:04] Deneen Melody: Oh man, you would have had everybody following you on LiveJournal.

[4:08] Kelby McClellan: Yeah, it's what could have been.

[4:12] Zach Santolaya: In an alternate timeline, you have a LiveJournal, and it is banging. The account is going wild.

[4:19] Deneen Melody: Yeah, it would have made me tens of dollars.

[4:24] Kelby McClellan: Yeah, I think if there was a way—my account is now closed—but if there was a way to go back and look at my account, you could see that I even had like Victoria avatars as like my—

[4:34] Zach Santolaya: Okay, as I said, did you write most of your theories for Victoria and Monkey Strap?

[4:40] Deneen Melody: All right. Yeah. Yeah. And it just so happened—well, we'll talk about it later.

[4:47] Mike Abrams: Yeah, we're going to get to all the stuff that you all added. That's the best part about regional theater. Yeah, it's being able to add all that stuff.

[4:54] Deneen Melody: Okay, so yeah. So, Deneen, a fan?

[5:01] Deneen Melody: Yeah, I mean, huge, huge fan. I also got hooked because of the 1998 stage recording. I'm from a very tiny town in Oklahoma, so not all, you know, musical theater is not like a huge thing out there.

[5:10] Zach Santolaya: You have a whole show centered around your state.

[5:15] Deneen Melody: It's true. And it is the state song. But my tiny town, not really a big theater town. So one day I was watching PBS, and the taped version of CATS came on. And, you know, I hadn't really seen a lot of musicals in person, but I knew what a musical was, obviously, like, watched a lot of movie musicals. But when I saw the '98 CATS recording on PBS, I was like, "Oh, that's Broadway." And I got like super hooked on it. I got the VHS for Christmas that same year. I watched it constantly. If I was home alone, I would like pretend to be part of it and try to do parts of the dances that were in it.

[6:03] Zach Santolaya: All right. So again, VHS, the VHS hook. I am.

[6:06] Kelby McClellan: Okay.

[6:08] Zach Santolaya: Yeah. I know. That's a baby. He doesn't—

[6:11] Deneen Melody: Yeah. I'm a newbie, but I absolutely love it. Now, I kind of got thrown in from the—what was it? '89? recording? '98? What was it?

[6:21] Kelby McClellan: '98. Yeah, that was the first one I watched. After I got cast, I knew very little about it. I knew about Rum Tum Tugger, and I knew about Grizabella and "Memory." That was all I knew. And the only part of "Memory" that I heard was the little bit that Miranda Cosgrove sings in School of Rock when she auditioned for the band.

[6:40] Deneen Melody: Yeah. That's wild to me.

[6:50] Zach Santolaya: That's all I heard. And so one night, it was super, super late, and I was not—I wasn't going to bed. And I was like, "You know what? Let me rent CATS." And I rented that version, and it was such a spectacle. I loved every second of it. And I was just like, like this, the TV, much my hands on my chin.

[7:07] Mike Abrams: I'm glad you watched it at home.

[7:13] Zach Santolaya: Yeah, I made the mistake. The first time I watched it was very early in my podcasting days of the show. And I was like, "I should probably watch the whole thing besides just YouTube clips." And so I travel for work. I went on, got on a plane, very business casual. Everyone around me is consulting, is working. And I just bought my iPad and threw it on. And I'm telling you, every single person sitting around me stopped and looked at me like, "What is this guy watching?" And I watched the whole thing on a flight. And I took notes, and everyone looked like, you know, I was like, "This is my work right now." Everyone else is working. This is my job right now.

[7:45] Deneen Melody: And that's awesome.

[7:50] Zach Santolaya: Yes, I got a lot of very strange looks. So I do recommend watching it not in public.

[7:55] Kelby McClellan: They were just jealous.

[8:03] Deneen Melody: Yeah, you had to do that. They didn't love CATS. I want to watch CATS.

[8:09] Mike Abrams: That's right. They don't know what they're missing. Okay, so now fast forward, you are in it. You're in the thick of things. You're going through rehearsals. You're doing this for a month. So my—I'm always fascinated by how much do you get into the character and the plot and the storytelling as part of this rehearsal, knowing that at the same time, you got to make sure you don't like kick your friend in the face and sing all the notes and do this, you know, very demanding and physically challenging choreography. But there's this crazy story and backstory and like Jellicle world that you have to kind of also build. So what was that particular part of the rehearsal process for you all?

[8:47] Deneen Melody: Yeah, sorry. I think you're going to say very early on, even when we had auditions, we made sure that everybody understood that if you were going to do this musical, you had to be 100% committed and in it. Otherwise, you can't. Yeah, otherwise you can't. It just—like everything you said, the way that the dancing, the movement, the songs, the songs are difficult, all of that on top of the characters, because it doesn't have like a storyline that's very easy for people to follow. In fact, we still had people who would be like, "I don't know what I was watching, but it was fun." You need to really commit to all of that. You can't just like—you can't. So we made sure from the beginning that everybody knew you had to commit.

Very first rehearsal, commit. So that was a big thing for us. It was, you know, as choreographers, our director, Ted, and everything was just like, "You guys have to—you have to be CATS. You have to know your character. Like, you're not just some random cat. You are this particular cat with this backstory." And how be thinking about your interactions with everybody else in your relationship with everybody else while you are dancing and singing and stuff like that. So that was, again, from the very beginning, we had to make sure that everybody understood that it's important.

[10:09] Kelby McClellan: For me, what helped me, I watched a ton of video essays about the characters of CATS, and there's a really, really good video called "Let's Talk About CATS." And this person goes in depth pretty well on a good majority of the characters, even including some of like the younger kittens. And they zoom in on different parts of the original work stage recorded version on what the ensemble is doing in the background and all that stuff. And so for me, it was just diving into the research on what the characters were, even other people's characters, so I knew what they were like, what they were supposed to be like when they were interacting with me.

[10:46] Zach Santolaya: I, from like, because, you know, Deneen was on the creative team as well because she was a co-choreographer. So I feel like you ran through a completely different gauntlet on top of the gauntlet that we all ran through, as well as being in the show. For me, this was a very physical show. So we were rehearsed—we started rehearsals in January. This show opened end of March, just to give you an idea of like—and we danced for most rehearsals. Most rehearsals were like movement-based and choreography-based. And, you know, vocal rehearsals came when they could, but for about four months, we were just dancing and moving and dancing and moving.

[11:33] Deneen Melody: Yeah, it's a show that there's not that many breaks.

[11:40] Zach Santolaya: Andrew Lloyd Webber, I've—because I've done two Andrew Lloyd Webber shows now, because I did Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and then my college did Evita. I wasn't in it, but like my college did it, and I had friends in it. So I knew I was like, "Oh, it's Andrew Lloyd Webber. Everyone's on stage all the time. No one gets to leave. You will just be there on stage. You better make sure that you're on 24/7. You better not drop character. You better know your steps."

[12:07] Deneen Melody: I love knowing that there's other videos too, because I've heard a few productions that have actually used the episodes from my show to hear how somebody from original Broadway or from the West End or different things, like attack their character. And I thought about it. And that was something I never thought when I started this, that that was an opportunity. But there's so much out there. There's so much source material out there, and there's not a lot of definitive truth.

[12:32] Kelby McClellan: Yeah. And we were really lucky because Ted, the director, he gave us a lot of room to like, you know, go to the source material and see what is actually there and what you have to incorporate, but also like, what do you want to incorporate? How do you feel about it? You know, he was really good about giving us a lot of room to figure that out for ourselves. A day or a rehearsal that we had, we had written our characters' names on a little scrap of paper and thrown it in a bowl, and he had mixed it around, pulled out two, and then had those characters discuss on what their relationship was like with each other.

[13:08] Deneen Melody: Ah, I love that. That's great because it's very open-ended in a lot of cases.

[13:12] Zach Santolaya: Oh yeah. Yeah. And you were getting paired up with people that you don't even talk to on stage because it was random. So you better have a backstory.

[13:21] Mike Abrams: Yeah. I want to hear what was the craziest, you know, like, especially for the two of you that didn't know the show as well. Like, what was the part where once you started hearing the story, you're like, "Wait, what? That's like, that's part of it? Or I didn't catch that in the movie on the VHS." What was kind of those aha moments?

[13:40] Deneen Melody: I mean, like, because I had been exposed to it so young, I knew a lot of the lore, but there were a few surprises in there because I played Mr. Mistoffelees, but that was the first—being in the show was the first time I found out that he's also known as Quackso. So when he's not Mistoffelees, he's Quackso on stage. And some people, depending on productions, will make them two completely separate cats. Me personally, I decided they were the same cat, but I did not know that he had a second name until I got like the libretto, and they were like, "Quackso, that's your solo." And I was like, "Who?"

[14:26] Deneen Melody: I was really excited when I heard that we were going to do CATS. It's such an iconic show, and I think everyone has some sort of connection to it, whether it's from the original Broadway production or the movie.

[14:56] Kelby McClellan: Yeah, I had a similar reaction. I remember seeing the original production when I was younger, and it left a lasting impression on me. So, when I found out we were doing it, I was thrilled to be a part of it.

[15:26] Zach Santolaya: For me, it was a bit different. I didn't have much experience with CATS before this production, but I quickly fell in love with the music and the characters. It was a great opportunity to dive into something new.

[15:56] Deneen Melody: The character research was intense. We all took time to really understand our roles and the backstories of the characters we were portraying. It added so much depth to our performances.

[16:26] Kelby McClellan: Absolutely! I spent hours watching different interpretations of the characters, trying to find what resonated with me. It was fascinating to see how different actors brought their own flair to the roles.

[16:36] Zach Santolaya: I think that’s what makes CATS so unique. Each character has such a rich history and personality, and it’s up to us as performers to bring that to life in our own way.

[16:46] Deneen Melody: And the lore surrounding the show is incredible. There are so many theories and interpretations that fans have come up with over the years. It’s like a whole world that we get to explore.

[16:56] Kelby McClellan: Right! And there are so many memorable moments that happen backstage too. I think some of the funniest stories come from those unexpected situations that arise during performances.

[17:06] Zach Santolaya: Oh, definitely! There were times when things didn’t go as planned, and we just had to roll with it. Those moments often turned into some of the best memories.

[17:16] Deneen Melody: I remember one time during a performance, I accidentally tripped over a prop, and instead of panicking, I just turned it into part of my character's movement. The audience loved it!

[17:26] Kelby McClellan: That’s the spirit! It’s all about embracing those little mishaps and making them work for the show. It keeps things fresh and exciting.

[17:36] Zach Santolaya: And it creates a bond among the cast. We all share those experiences, and it brings us closer together as a team.

[17:46] Deneen Melody: Exactly! It’s a collaborative effort, and we all support each other through the ups and downs of the production.

[17:56] Kelby McClellan: Plus, the audience can feel that energy. When we’re having fun on stage, it translates to them, and they enjoy the show even more.

[18:06] Zach Santolaya: It’s such a rewarding experience to see the audience react positively to our performances. It makes all the hard work worth it.

[18:16] Deneen Melody: And speaking of memorable moments, there were so many highlights from our production. I think we all have our favorites that we’ll cherish forever.

[18:26] Kelby McClellan: For sure! I loved the energy during the big dance numbers. It was exhilarating to be part of such a dynamic ensemble.

[18:36] Zach Santolaya: And the music! I mean, who doesn’t love belting out those iconic songs? It’s such a thrill to perform them live.

[18:46] Deneen Melody: Absolutely! Each song has its own story and emotion, and being able to convey that to the audience is a special experience.

[18:56] Kelby McClellan: I think it’s also interesting how each character interprets the songs differently. It adds layers to the performance.

[19:06] Zach Santolaya: Definitely! It’s a testament to the depth of the material. There’s so much to explore and discover with each character.

[19:16] Deneen Melody: And that’s what makes CATS such a timeless piece. It continues to resonate with audiences, no matter how many times it’s performed.

[19:26] Kelby McClellan: It’s true! The themes of identity and belonging are universal, and they really shine through in the show.

[19:36] Zach Santolaya: I think that’s why we all connect with it on some level. Each of us can see a part of ourselves in the characters.

[19:46] Deneen Melody: Exactly! And that connection is what keeps people coming back to see CATS again and again.

[19:56] Kelby McClellan: It’s a beautiful thing to be part of something that has such a lasting impact on people.

[20:06] Zach Santolaya: I couldn’t agree more. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this production.

[20:16] Deneen Melody: Same here! I think we’ve all grown so much as performers through this experience.

[20:26] Kelby McClellan: And we’ve created some amazing memories along the way. I’ll cherish this experience for years to come.

[20:36] Zach Santolaya: Me too! It’s been a wild ride, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

[20:46] Deneen Melody: Here’s to more adventures in the world of theater!

[20:56] Kelby McClellan: Absolutely! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.

[21:06] Zach Santolaya: Cheers to that!

[21:16] Deneen Melody: And to everyone who supports live theater. You all make it possible for us to do what we love.

[21:26] Kelby McClellan: Yes! Thank you to the audiences who come out and share in these experiences with us.

[21:36] Zach Santolaya: We appreciate you more than you know!

[21:46] Deneen Melody: And we hope to see you at the theater again soon!

[21:56] Kelby McClellan: Until next time, keep supporting the arts!

[22:06] Zach Santolaya: And remember, every performance is a unique experience.

[22:16] Deneen Melody: That’s right! Each show is a new adventure.

[22:26] Kelby McClellan: Thank you for joining us today!

[22:36] Zach Santolaya: We hope you enjoyed hearing about our journey with CATS.

[22:46] Deneen Melody: And we can’t wait to share more stories in the future!

[22:56] Kelby McClellan: Take care, everyone!

[23:06] Zach Santolaya: Bye for now!

[23:16] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[23:26] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[23:36] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[23:46] Deneen Melody: Thanks for listening!

[23:56] Kelby McClellan: We appreciate your support!

[24:06] Zach Santolaya: See you next time!

[24:16] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[24:26] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[24:36] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[24:46] Deneen Melody: Thanks for being with us!

[24:56] Kelby McClellan: We hope you enjoyed the show!

[25:06] Zach Santolaya: Until next time!

[25:16] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[25:26] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[25:36] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[25:46] Deneen Melody: Thanks for tuning in!

[25:56] Kelby McClellan: We appreciate you!

[26:06] Zach Santolaya: See you soon!

[26:16] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[26:26] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[26:36] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[26:46] Deneen Melody: Thanks for listening!

[26:56] Kelby McClellan: We hope you enjoyed our chat!

[27:06] Zach Santolaya: Until next time!

[27:16] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[27:26] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[27:36] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[27:46] Deneen Melody: Thanks for joining us!

[27:56] Kelby McClellan: We appreciate your support!

[28:06] Deneen Melody: See you next time!

[28:16] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[28:26] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[28:36] Deneen Melody: Thanks for listening!

[28:46] Kelby McClellan: We hope you enjoyed our discussion!

[28:52] Deneen Melody: I think the initial reaction was just pure excitement. I mean, CATS is such an iconic show, and to be a part of it, especially in a community theater setting, was just thrilling.

[29:22] Kelby McClellan: Yeah, I remember when we first heard the announcement. It was like, "Oh my gosh, we're actually doing CATS!" It felt surreal, and I think we all had that moment of disbelief.

[29:52] Zach Santolaya: Absolutely! And then once we started rehearsals, it became real. The energy in the room was electric, and everyone was just so passionate about bringing these characters to life.

[30:22] Deneen Melody: And the history of CATS is so rich. I mean, it’s been around for decades, and it has such a unique place in musical theater. Learning about its origins and the impact it has had on audiences was really fascinating.

[30:52] Kelby McClellan: Right! And diving into the character development was a huge part of our process. Each character has such a distinct personality and backstory, which made it so much fun to explore.

[31:22] Zach Santolaya: I think what’s interesting is how each of us interpreted our characters differently. There were so many discussions about how to portray them authentically while still bringing our own flair to the roles.

[31:32] Deneen Melody: Exactly! And we also had some unique theories about the characters and their relationships. It was great to bounce ideas off each other and see how we could enhance our performances.

[31:42] Kelby McClellan: Plus, the lore surrounding CATS is just incredible. There’s so much to unpack, from the Jellicle choice to the Heaviside Layer. It really adds depth to the story.

[31:52] Zach Santolaya: And let’s not forget the backstage antics! There were so many funny moments during rehearsals and performances that really brought us closer as a cast.

[32:02] Deneen Melody: Oh, definitely! I think those moments helped us bond and create a supportive environment. It made the experience even more enjoyable.

[32:12] Kelby McClellan: I remember one time during a rehearsal, someone accidentally knocked over a prop, and it turned into this hilarious chain reaction. We all just burst out laughing!

[32:22] Zach Santolaya: Those moments are what you remember the most. It’s not just about the performance; it’s about the friendships and memories you create along the way.

[32:32] Deneen Melody: For sure! And then there were those memorable moments on stage too. There were times when we had to improvise, and it led to some really special interactions with the audience.

[32:42] Kelby McClellan: Yes! I think the audience could feel our energy, and it made the performances even more magical.

[32:52] Zach Santolaya: And the reactions from the audience were priceless. You could see them getting lost in the story, and that’s what it’s all about.

[33:02] Deneen Melody: Absolutely! It’s such a rewarding experience to know you’re impacting people through your performance.

[33:12] Kelby McClellan: Speaking of impact, let’s do some rapid-fire questions!

[33:22] Zach Santolaya: I’m ready!

[33:32] Deneen Melody: Me too!

[33:42] Kelby McClellan: Okay, first question: What’s your favorite song from CATS?

[33:52] Zach Santolaya: “Memory.” It’s such a powerful song and really captures the essence of Grizabella’s journey.

[34:02] Deneen Melody: I love “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats.” It’s so fun and sets the tone for the whole show!

[34:12] Kelby McClellan: I have to go with “Mr. Mistoffelees.” It’s just so magical and showcases the character’s charm.

[34:22] Zach Santolaya: Great choices! Next question: If you could play any character in CATS, who would it be?

[34:32] Deneen Melody: I’d love to play Rum Tum Tugger. He’s so flamboyant and fun!

[34:42] Kelby McClellan: I’d probably choose Munkustrap. He has such a strong presence and is a natural leader.

[34:52] Zach Santolaya: I think I’d want to play Old Deuteronomy. There’s something so wise and comforting about that character.

[35:02] Deneen Melody: Those are all great picks!

[35:12] Kelby McClellan: Okay, last question: What’s one thing you learned from being in CATS?

[35:22] Zach Santolaya: I learned the importance of teamwork. Every person in the cast plays a vital role in bringing the show to life.

[35:32] Deneen Melody: I’d say I learned to embrace my creativity. This show really encouraged me to explore my artistic side.

[35:42] Kelby McClellan: And I learned to appreciate the art of storytelling. Each character has a story to tell, and it’s our job to share that with the audience.

[35:52] Deneen Melody: Well said!

[36:02] Kelby McClellan: Now, let’s dive into the Jellicle choice debate!

[36:12] Zach Santolaya: Yes! This is always a hot topic among CATS fans.

[36:22] Deneen Melody: I think it’s fascinating how everyone has their own opinion on who should ascend to the Heaviside Layer.

[36:32] Kelby McClellan: Exactly! It really sparks some interesting discussions about the characters’ worthiness.

[36:42] Zach Santolaya: And it’s not just about who’s the best singer or dancer; it’s about the journey each character has taken.

[36:52] Deneen Melody: Right! Each character has their own struggles and triumphs, which makes the choice even more complex.

[37:02] Kelby McClellan: I think that’s what makes CATS so unique. It’s not just a musical; it’s a deep exploration of character and identity.

[37:12] Zach Santolaya: Absolutely! And the audience’s connection to the characters plays a huge role in their opinions on the Jellicle choice.

[37:22] Deneen Melody: It’s a debate that will probably never be settled, but that’s part of the fun!

[37:32] Kelby McClellan: Definitely! It keeps the conversation going and allows for different interpretations.

[37:42] Zach Santolaya: And that’s what makes being a part of CATS so special. There’s always something new to discover.

[37:52] Deneen Melody: I couldn’t agree more!

[38:02] Kelby McClellan: Well, this has been an amazing discussion. Thank you both for sharing your insights and experiences!

[38:12] Zach Santolaya: Yes, thank you! It’s been a pleasure.

[38:22] Deneen Melody: Thank you for having us!

[38:32] Kelby McClellan: And to all the listeners out there, we hope you enjoyed this episode!

[38:42] Zach Santolaya: Be sure to check out our production of CATS at Canyon Theatre Guild!

[38:52] Deneen Melody: We’d love to see you there!

[39:02] Kelby McClellan: Until next time, keep celebrating the magic of theater!

[39:12] Zach Santolaya: Bye everyone!

[39:22] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[39:32] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[39:42] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[39:52] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[40:02] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[40:12] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[40:22] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[40:32] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[40:42] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[40:52] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[41:02] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[41:12] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[41:22] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[41:32] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[41:42] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[41:52] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[42:02] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[42:12] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[42:22] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[42:32] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[42:42] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[42:52] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[43:02] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[43:12] Zach Santolaya: Bye!

[43:18] Deneen Melody: I think the initial reaction was just excitement. I mean, CATS is such an iconic show, and to be part of it, especially with the history that it has, was just thrilling.

[43:48] Kelby McClellan: Absolutely! I remember when we first heard the announcement, we were all just buzzing with energy. It felt like a dream come true to be able to perform in such a legendary production.

[44:13] Zach Santolaya: And the fact that we were doing it at the Canyon Theatre Guild made it even more special. It’s a great venue, and we knew we had a supportive community behind us.

[44:33] Deneen Melody: Right! And diving into the characters was a whole other layer. Each character has such a rich backstory, and it was fascinating to explore that depth.

[44:53] Kelby McClellan: I think what surprised me the most was how much character development we could bring to our roles. It wasn't just about the music and the dance; it was about embodying these characters fully.

[45:13] Zach Santolaya: Exactly! I spent a lot of time researching my character and trying to understand their motivations. It really helped me connect with the material on a deeper level.

[45:33] Deneen Melody: And the lore surrounding CATS is so intriguing. There’s so much to discover, from the original poems to the various interpretations over the years.

[45:53] Kelby McClellan: Yes! And we had some fun discussions about our unique interpretations of the characters. It was interesting to see how everyone approached their roles differently.

[46:13] Zach Santolaya: Plus, the backstage antics were a blast! We had some hilarious moments that really brought us closer as a cast.

[46:33] Deneen Melody: Oh, definitely! There were times when we would just crack up during rehearsals, and it made the whole experience so much more enjoyable.

[46:53] Kelby McClellan: And those memorable moments on stage! I’ll never forget the first time we performed in front of an audience. The energy was electric.

[47:13] Zach Santolaya: It was surreal! The audience's reactions really fueled our performances. You could feel the excitement in the air.

[47:33] Deneen Melody: And then there were those unexpected surprises during performances that kept us on our toes. You never knew what might happen!

[47:53] Kelby McClellan: Right! Like that time when one of the props didn’t work as planned, and we had to improvise on the spot. It was a little chaotic, but we handled it like pros!

[48:13] Zach Santolaya: Those moments really tested our teamwork and adaptability. It’s amazing how we all came together to make it work.

[48:33] Deneen Melody: And the friendships we formed during this production are something I’ll cherish forever. We really became a family.

[48:53] Kelby McClellan: Absolutely! It’s incredible how theater can bring people together in such a meaningful way.

[49:13] Zach Santolaya: I think that’s one of the most rewarding parts of being involved in a show like CATS. The connections we made will last a lifetime.

[49:33] Deneen Melody: For sure! And I think it’s important to highlight how much effort everyone put into their roles. The dedication was inspiring.

[49:53] Kelby McClellan: Yes! Everyone brought their A-game, and it showed in our performances. I’m so proud of what we accomplished together.

[50:13] Zach Santolaya: And the audience feedback was overwhelmingly positive. It felt great to know that we touched people with our performances.

[50:33] Deneen Melody: It really validated all the hard work we put in. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of making an impact through art.

[50:53] Kelby McClellan: Exactly! And I think that’s what makes theater so special. It’s a shared experience that resonates with everyone involved.

[51:13] Zach Santolaya: And we had some fun rapid-fire questions at the end of our rehearsals that always led to some laughs. It was a great way to unwind.

[51:33] Deneen Melody: Oh, those were hilarious! It was nice to have that lightheartedness amidst the intensity of rehearsals.

[51:53] Kelby McClellan: And it helped us bond even more as a cast. I think those moments really strengthened our camaraderie.

[52:13] Zach Santolaya: Definitely! I’ll always remember those times fondly. It’s those little things that make the experience unforgettable.

[52:33] Deneen Melody: And as we wrap up, I think it’s important to reflect on the Jellicle choice debate. It’s such a pivotal moment in the show, and everyone has their own opinions on it.

[52:53] Kelby McClellan: Yes! It’s fascinating to hear different perspectives on who should ascend and why. It really sparks some interesting conversations.

[53:13] Zach Santolaya: I think it’s a testament to the depth of the characters and the story. There’s no right or wrong answer, and that’s what makes it so compelling.

[53:33] Deneen Melody: Exactly! It’s all about interpretation and personal connection to the characters. That’s what keeps the discussion alive.

[53:53] Kelby McClellan: And I love that we can share our thoughts and experiences with fellow fans. It’s a community that thrives on passion and creativity.

[54:13] Zach Santolaya: Absolutely! And I’m so grateful to have been part of this production and to share it with all of you.

[54:33] Deneen Melody: Me too! Here’s to many more memorable moments in theater and the magic of CATS!

[54:53] Kelby McClellan: Cheers to that! Thank you for having us on the podcast. It’s been a blast sharing our experiences.

[55:13] Zach Santolaya: Yes, thank you! We hope everyone enjoyed hearing about our journey with CATS.

[55:33] Deneen Melody: And we can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us in theater!

[55:53] Kelby McClellan: Until next time, keep celebrating the magic of live performance!

[56:13] Zach Santolaya: Bye everyone!

[56:33] Deneen Melody: Bye!

[56:53] Kelby McClellan: Bye!

[57:13] Zach Santolaya: Bye!