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[0:15] Mike Abrams: Welcome to The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast breakdown of the cat's atrophy. I'm your host, Mike Abrams, and I am very excited about today's guest.

[0:21] Mike Abrams: I posted on social media a little while back that there are so many productions of CATS happening across the globe right now. And that includes this one, which I called out because they reached out to me, and I'm excited to hear more about it.

[0:32] Mike Abrams: I'm being joined today by the cast and creative team of the Westerville Civic Theatre's production of CATS. So welcome Director Michael Ruehrmund, Assistant Musical Director and Skimbleshanks Michael Neary, and Jellylorum Meghan Noonan. And thank you all for joining me.

[0:46] Michael Ruehrmund: Thanks for having us.

[0:47] Michael Neary: Hello.

[0:48] Meghan Noonan: Thank you. Hi.

[0:49] Mike Abrams: I'm excited because I, you know, you all reached out to me and I love, I hear about so many productions, but I also don't know about a lot of the productions because a bunch like this happened where it's a weekend, or I know my hometown did a junior production for like two days. And so I love learning about these because I only talk mostly about the plot. And when you're doing four shows, a plot is an interesting question, which we'll get to.

[1:13] Mike Abrams: So I want to actually start with how did you all find out about The Wrong Cat Died? Like, where did we start here?

[1:18] Meghan Noonan: Okay, I guess that was me because I was actually, I was traveling to go to a bachelorette party in Wisconsin and I was driving 11 hours and I always like to listen to podcasts. So I, you know, was like, I think I put like on my Instagram, like, oh, I podcast recommendations. And I didn't listen to any of the things that people told me to listen to. But like, I think I like put cats like in the podcast thing instead of like music or something in the Apple, instead of the Apple music. And so then I like looked and I'm like, The Wrong Cat Died. I was like, is that about cats? And they clicked it. I was like, oh, it's a podcast about cats. And so then I ended up like listening to a bunch of it. I'm in the middle of Indiana.

And then I like stop for gas. I'm like, Michael, our director, I'm like, you've listened to this before, right? Like, and he's like, no. And I'm like, oh, my gosh. But it's like, there's so many episodes and it's all about cats. Like, this is crazy. So I listened to it forever or for like a huge chunk of my drive. It was so interesting. But yeah, no. And I was like, I can't believe this. So that's how I found out. And I was sitting at work and I immediately stopped doing work stuff and turned on the podcast and listened to all of the. Well, I started with the most recent one, but I immediately jumped back to the beginning and listened to all of the initial episodes about the cats. And then we've just been nonstop since then. Megan put it in the Facebook group that we have for the cast and company, and everyone has just been like obsessed with it.

[2:50] Meghan Noonan: And that's where I got is from the Facebook group. And I'm in a weird workspace right now. And so I kind of have a little more time. And so I've been going to the gym and I've been listening to it nonstop at the gym. And sometimes I look insane because I am laughing so hard, like at the gym. And so and I did the opposite. I started at the beginning to listen to all the individual characters, like your kind of take on that. And I've been selfishly skipping around to the Skimbleshanks episodes to sort of get the motivation. And my son's playing Bill Bailey. So I listen to your two Bill Bailey episodes. And then I've just now been diving into other characters. So the three of us have been pretty much every rehearsal talking about, like, the most recent podcast or episode that we've listened to.

[3:27] Mike Abrams: Oh, that's amazing. Well, first of all, thank you all for listening. I have found and I heard about this about two years ago. There was a production in Atlanta was doing the same thing where somebody had been on the show and shared it. And they were using it as like character development and being able to kind of like research their character. Because what better way to do that than to hear from a bunch of other people who have played that role? And, you know, sometimes the highest levels. So I want to start that. How did you all decide to do CATS? Like, this is such a crazy, wild show. And you're doing four productions. It's like it's a very well known. But like, is that an exciting one for everyone at the theater? Is it like a daunting one? Like, how did you pick the show?

[4:08] Michael Ruehrmund: It is definitely daunting. And I think it is exciting. So when we sit down to pick these shows, there are a few things that we make sure the show has. It has to fit these certain checkboxes for us. So Westerville Civic Theater, one of the hallmarks of the program is that it always has large casts. So we look to cast between 65, 85, sometimes 100 people in these productions. So it has to allow for that. So if it doesn't allow any in the script, it is expandable. That kind of thing can happen. Also, we look for something that we can have multiple generations. So it's for people as young as seven or eight, all the way up to, you know, 75, 80, however old you can get. Right. And we want to make sure that there's a spot and a place for those folks.

In addition to that, we look for something that hasn't been done very often. And I know you've had some other folks on from community theaters, community theaters shy away from this production, from this show specifically, because I think it is so difficult. The demands of the music and the dancing. And so we look to see, you know, it hasn't been done in Columbus or in this area that, you know, there wasn't like a tour by a community theater, a professional theater in almost a decade. So it really just checked all the boxes for us. It allows for a giant cast, multi generations. And then it just hasn't been done recently. Plus, it's a great show for name recognition. So if we're looking to sell a lot of tickets to the show and bring a lot of people out in our community, that really helps with that too.

[5:39] Mike Abrams: Yeah. One thing you didn't mention, but I was thinking about is cost, because it's got to be on the more expensive side. Maybe it's not. Maybe they're like the costumes and everything in any show or that way. But I feel like it's got to be a little bit of a challenging one to figure out the makeup and the wigs and all the stuff, maybe more so than some of the other shows.

[5:59] Michael Ruehrmund: Yeah, I would I would agree. It is it is a costly show. But from a costume perspective, our shows with 80 people in them typically have four or five, six costume changes per person. So we end up with hundreds of costumes with cats. It's like one base costume and then a couple of little add ons here and there. So it actually helps that we're doing cats versus, let's say, Bye Bye Birdie or Oliver.

[6:27] Mike Abrams: Interesting. OK. And you've never this like you've never done cats in years of doing this for your theater.

[6:32] Michael Ruehrmund: No, this is the first time. In fact, I think we have one cast member that's done a production of cats before.

[6:36] Mike Abrams: Yes. Yeah. OK. And who was that? What did they like? Who they play before? And like, what are they doing now?

[6:42] Michael Ruehrmund: She played a pounceable or one of the kittens at Columbus Children's Theater, I believe. And she's our current Jenny Annie Dots in this production.

[6:46] Mike Abrams: OK. And when you're tackling this show and like you decide to take this on, like it is a massive undertaking. Where do you start? Like how much do you have to kind of like figure out? Because like I know the depths of the story and plot line so detailed. But at the same time, I'm like thinking about trying to teach it to somebody doing four days. And there's the dancing and singing and like don't kick somebody when you're on stage and you're going to have a bunch of extra cats probably. And then there's like the character development that is like the part I'm fascinated with. So where do you even start with those two things together when you're teaching it for four, you know, for four performances?

[7:23] Michael Ruehrmund: It really goes back to when we decide on the show, it's almost a year in advance. And my co-director, Katie Munger, and I sit down and we go through and create a vision for what we want the show to be, what we want every scene to be. We create backstory when there's not backstory, but we also allow for the individual creativity of the artists that we cast in the show. It's a community theater, but many of the folks in our production, while some might be their first show, we have folks that have gone on national tours directly after performing in our show. And so we have all levels of creatives in the company. So we sit down and we talk about it. We wanted to find something that's not really been done before.

You know, the junkyard is obviously the main thing that people do because that's the original concept. But it also lends itself really well to a circus, that kind of thing. Ours is set in a community garden, and we thought this would be a really good setting that I've not seen done before, where it kind of focuses on how gardens can fade and then regrow and rebirth. And so, you know, there's fall and the leaves change and then spring and everything comes back. And so in the same way that the cats are looking to do the very same thing, we thought that was a strong image. And then the magic of the garden and how that comes to life with the magic as more cats come, as we get closer to the decision, it kind of starts to glow and bloom with all of that magic that they're bringing there. As a human walking by, you may not notice it. And so it's sort of lost to time, this garden that exists. And it was built by people, but it has become a magical place for the cats.

[9:02] Meghan Noonan: Well, and I'll say, too, this is my first year on the team. I've been in the production for a few years and this is my first time. I'm kind of helping on the other side. And Michael and Katie are like very organized. So they have a spreadsheet upon spreadsheet. When when rehearsals start, you like. So one thing, a challenge to a 60 some person cast is we can't all be in everything, because to your point, we'd all be in each other's way. So that before that first rehearsal, you know what numbers you're in. You know who's in the numbers with you. You know which numbers you're not in. And that really helps you start to like start to develop relationships with the people that may be in numbers with you.

It helps the music director and me figure out kind of who sings what. We have an amazing choreographer, Cindy Straub. She has done the shows here for a long time and she is brilliant. And she is then able to figure out who can do what dance moves, who's in what part. So this starts at the very beginning because I got to see the spreadsheet this year for the first time. And I'm such a spreadsheet nerd. It made me so happy. Like I wasn't even looking for like names of people. I was just so impressed by the level of organization, which you have to have. Right. You can't sit down with 60 some people and just be like, OK, well, now let's figure out who's going to be in the cavity. Right. It truly has to be like and they put a lot of thought into it in advance.

[10:12] Meghan Noonan: The other thing they did, which I thought was really interesting, is all of the additional cats. To your point, you know, there's like 60 some of us. They spent the time to go through literature and pop culture. And every cat that was added is based on and named for a cat from another book or story or movie, which I think is super cool. Because those people can also do research on their character and sort of develop their character and what they're going to look like, rather than just being like, oh, this is, you know, buttons. Your name is cat number four. Like they all are a unique personality, which is kind of a really interesting thing that our directing team did.

[10:45] Mike Abrams: Yeah, that's going to be my next question. What are some of the other if you have 60 plus, there's like there's usually 30. Like, who do you think? Figaro, Dusty Miller.

[10:50] Michael Neary: I'm trying to think of random. Yeah, we threw a couple out there. So as a nod to T.S. Elliott, we have a Thomas Stearns cat for fans of Kimmy Schmidt. We have from Bumbly and Mizzle Mitts. We have a Bigglesworth who is a hairless cat lovingly played by Pam, who is a lovely, lovely adult lady who can do the splits.

[11:21] Michael Ruehrmund: And then. But, you know, I apart from that, I want to hear. I haven't talked to anybody in the cast about this specifically, but we came up with clouders. So as a way of managing the large cast, we broke people into Andrew Lloyd and Weber groups. And so if you're an Andrew, you do certain things in the show. If you're in Lloyd, you do certain things in the show. What is what are your thoughts?

[11:42] Meghan Noonan: Well, I'm a Weber.

[11:43] Michael Neary: Weber and I'm an Andrew.

[11:45] Meghan Noonan: So we're at like different rehearsals and different songs. And neither of us are Lloyd's. I think it's great. It's the negative to it is that you don't see certain people very often on stage. The positive is you can develop a lot of like fun stories within your. So my my clatter happens to be the tap dancing clatter. So I'm a tapper. So Skimbleshanks is actually a tap number in our show, which usually isn't usually on the stage. But it was in the movie. Yeah. They came up with that vision. So.

[12:14] Mike Abrams: Welcome back to The Wrong Cat Died. Today, I’m excited to have the cast and creative team of the Westerville Civic Theatre’s production of CATS. We have director Michael Ruehrmund, assistant musical director Michael Neary, and Jellylorum Meghan Noonan with us.

[12:44] Michael Ruehrmund: Thanks for having us, Mike.

[12:46] Meghan Noonan: Yes, thank you!

[12:48] Michael Neary: Excited to be here!

[12:50] Mike Abrams: So, let’s dive right in. I’m curious about your production. It’s set in a community garden, which is a unique setting for CATS. What inspired that choice?

[13:04] Michael Ruehrmund: We thought a community garden would be a really good setting because it focuses on how gardens can fade and then regrow and rebirth. It mirrors the themes of CATS in a way that I haven’t seen done before.

[13:34] Mike Abrams: That’s such an interesting perspective! How did you approach the challenges of adapting such an iconic show to fit this setting?

[13:54] Michael Neary: One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to maintain the essence of the original while also making it feel fresh and relevant. We wanted to ensure that the character dynamics still resonated with the audience.

[14:14] Meghan Noonan: Absolutely! And we also wanted to make it family-friendly, so we had to be mindful of the content and how it was presented.

[14:34] Mike Abrams: That’s a great point. Can you share a bit about how you developed the characters in this context?

[14:54] Michael Ruehrmund: We drew a lot of inspiration from the podcast, actually. It helped us think about the characters in new ways and how they might interact in a community garden setting.

[15:24] Michael Neary: Each character has their own story, and we wanted to highlight those journeys while still keeping the ensemble feel that CATS is known for.

[15:44] Meghan Noonan: The dynamics among the cast have been really exciting to explore. We have a 66-member cast, which adds a lot of energy to the production.

[16:04] Mike Abrams: Wow, that’s a huge cast! What has been the most exciting part of preparing for the show?

[16:34] Michael Ruehrmund: For me, it’s seeing how everyone has come together to create this unique vision. The collaboration has been inspiring.

[16:54] Michael Neary: I agree! And I think the excitement from the cast is palpable. Everyone is really invested in their roles.

[17:04] Meghan Noonan: Plus, we have some fantastic musical numbers that I can’t wait for the audience to experience.

[17:24] Mike Abrams: Speaking of musical numbers, do you have a favorite one that you’re particularly excited about?

[17:54] Michael Ruehrmund: I think “Memory” is always a standout, but I’m also really excited about how we’re presenting “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” in our garden setting.

[18:14] Michael Neary: Yes! The way we’ve integrated the garden elements into the choreography is going to be really special.

[18:34] Meghan Noonan: And the visuals are stunning! I think the audience will be amazed by how we’ve transformed the space.

[19:04] Mike Abrams: It sounds like you all have put a lot of thought into this production. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

[19:24] Michael Ruehrmund: I think managing such a large cast has been a challenge, but it’s also been rewarding to see everyone come together.

[19:44] Michael Neary: Definitely! Communication is key, and we’ve had to be very organized to ensure everyone is on the same page.

[20:04] Meghan Noonan: And keeping the energy up during rehearsals has been a fun challenge as well!

[20:34] Mike Abrams: That’s great to hear. It sounds like you’re all really enjoying the process.

[21:04] Michael Ruehrmund: We are! And we’re excited to share this unique rendition of CATS with everyone.

[21:34] Michael Neary: It’s going to be a memorable experience for both the cast and the audience.

[22:04] Meghan Noonan: We can’t wait for opening night!

[22:34] Mike Abrams: I’m sure it will be fantastic. Before we wrap up, I’d love to do some rapid-fire questions with you all.

[22:44] Michael Ruehrmund: Sounds fun!

[23:04] Mike Abrams: Alright, here we go!

[23:24] Michael Neary: Bring it on!

[23:44] Meghan Noonan: Let’s do it!

[24:04] Mike Abrams: Great!

[24:28] Mike Abrams: Welcome back to The Wrong Cat Died. Today, I’m excited to have the cast and creative team from the Westerville Civic Theatre’s production of CATS. We have director Michael Ruehrmund, assistant musical director Michael Neary, and Jellylorum Meghan Noonan with us.

[24:58] Michael Ruehrmund: Thanks for having us, Mike!

[25:28] Meghan Noonan: Yes, thank you!

[25:58] Michael Neary: Excited to be here!

[26:18] Mike Abrams: So, let’s dive right in. I’d love to hear about how you discovered this podcast and what inspired you to bring your unique vision of CATS to life.

[26:38] Michael Ruehrmund: Well, I stumbled upon your podcast while researching different interpretations of CATS. It really resonated with me, especially the discussions around character depth and the Jellicle choice.

[26:58] Meghan Noonan: I found it fascinating too! It helped us think about how we could approach our production in a fresh way, especially with our setting in a community garden.

[27:18] Michael Neary: Absolutely! The podcast provided a lot of insight into character motivations, which we used to develop our own interpretations.

[27:48] Mike Abrams: That’s great to hear! Can you tell me more about the challenges you faced in producing such an iconic show, especially in a community garden setting?

[28:18] Michael Ruehrmund: One of the biggest challenges was adapting the choreography and staging to fit the garden theme. We wanted to create a sense of rebirth and growth, which is central to our concept.

[28:48] Meghan Noonan: And we also had to consider how to make it family-friendly while still honoring the original material. It was a balancing act!

[29:18] Michael Neary: We also had to work with a 66-member cast, which added another layer of complexity. But it’s been incredibly rewarding to see everyone come together.

[29:48] Mike Abrams: That sounds amazing! How did you approach character development and the dynamics within the cast?

[30:18] Michael Ruehrmund: We encouraged everyone to explore their characters deeply, drawing from the podcast discussions. It helped create a strong ensemble dynamic.

[30:48] Meghan Noonan: Yes, and we held workshops where cast members could share their interpretations and ideas, which really enriched our production.

[31:18] Michael Neary: It’s been a collaborative effort, and I think that shows in our rehearsals and performances.

[31:28] Mike Abrams: I can’t wait to see how it all comes together! What are you most excited about as you prepare for the show?

[31:58] Meghan Noonan: I’m really looking forward to the audience's reaction to our unique take on the Jellicle Ball. It’s going to be a special moment.

[32:28] Michael Ruehrmund: For me, it’s the transformation of the garden throughout the show. It symbolizes the themes of renewal and community.

[32:58] Michael Neary: And I can’t wait for the musical numbers! We’ve put a lot of thought into how to present them in a way that feels fresh.

[33:28] Mike Abrams: That’s fantastic! It sounds like you’ve put a lot of heart into this production.

[33:58] Michael Ruehrmund: Thank you! We really have.

[34:08] Mike Abrams: Now, let’s move on to some rapid-fire questions to get to know you all a bit better.

[34:18] Meghan Noonan: Sounds fun!

[34:38] Michael Neary: Bring it on!

[34:48] Mike Abrams: Alright! First question: What’s your favorite character from CATS?

[34:58] Michael Ruehrmund: I’d have to say Old Deuteronomy. There’s so much wisdom there.

[35:28] Meghan Noonan: I love Jellylorum! She has such a nurturing spirit.

[35:58] Michael Neary: I’m a big fan of Rum Tum Tugger. He’s just so charismatic!

[36:28] Mike Abrams: Great choices! Thank you all for sharing your insights today. I can’t wait to see your production!

[36:43] Mike Abrams: Welcome back to The Wrong Cat Died. Today, I'm excited to have the cast and creative team of the Westerville Civic Theatre's production of CATS with me.

[37:13] Michael Ruehrmund: Thanks for having us, Mike.

[37:43] Meghan Noonan: We're thrilled to be here and share our unique take on this classic show.

[38:03] Michael Neary: Yes, it's been an incredible journey bringing this production to life.

[38:33] Michael Ruehrmund: Our version is set in a community garden, which we thought would be a really good setting that I’ve not seen done before. It focuses on how gardens can fade and then regrow and rebirth.

[38:43] Meghan Noonan: It really adds a layer of depth to the story and the characters.

[38:53] Michael Neary: Absolutely, and it allows us to explore themes of renewal and community in a fresh way.

[39:03] Mike Abrams: That's fascinating! How did you all come together to create this vision for the show?

[39:13] Michael Ruehrmund: It started with a conversation about how we could make CATS more relatable to our audience.

[39:23] Meghan Noonan: We wanted to create a family-friendly environment while still honoring the essence of the original musical.

[39:33] Michael Neary: And we drew a lot of inspiration from the podcast, which helped us with character development.

[39:43] Mike Abrams: That's great to hear! What were some of the challenges you faced during the production?

[39:53] Michael Ruehrmund: One of the biggest challenges was coordinating a cast of 66 members.

[40:03] Meghan Noonan: Yes, managing that many people while ensuring everyone feels included and valued is no small feat.

[40:13] Michael Neary: We also had to think creatively about how to stage the show in a way that highlights the garden setting.

[40:23] Mike Abrams: It sounds like a lot of work, but also very rewarding. What are you most excited about as you prepare for the show?

[40:33] Meghan Noonan: I think the audience will really connect with the character dynamics we've developed.

[40:43] Michael Ruehrmund: And the musical numbers are going to be a highlight, especially with our unique arrangements.

[40:53] Michael Neary: Plus, the energy from such a large cast is going to be electric!

[41:03] Mike Abrams: I can't wait to see it! How has the creative freedom influenced your approach to the show?

[41:13] Michael Ruehrmund: It’s been liberating to reinterpret these characters and their stories in a new context.

[41:23] Meghan Noonan: We’ve been able to infuse our own experiences and perspectives into the production.

[41:33] Michael Neary: It’s really about making the story resonate with our community.

[41:43] Mike Abrams: That’s wonderful! Now, let’s move on to some rapid-fire questions to get to know you all a little better.

[41:53] Michael Ruehrmund: Sounds fun!

[42:03] Meghan Noonan: Bring it on!

[42:13] Michael Neary: We’re ready!

[42:23] Mike Abrams: Alright, first question: What’s your favorite musical number from CATS?

[42:33] Michael Ruehrmund: I have to say "Memory." It’s such a powerful moment in the show.

[42:43] Meghan Noonan: I love "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats." It sets the tone for the entire musical.

[42:53] Michael Neary: I’m a fan of "Mr. Mistoffelees." It’s so magical and fun!

[43:03] Mike Abrams: Great choices! What’s one thing you hope the audience takes away from your production?

[43:13] Michael Ruehrmund: I hope they feel a sense of connection to the characters and the themes of renewal.

[43:23] Meghan Noonan: Yes, and that they leave with a sense of joy and inspiration.

[43:33] Michael Neary: And hopefully, they’ll see the beauty in community and collaboration.

[43:43] Mike Abrams: Those are beautiful sentiments. Thank you all for sharing your insights today!

[43:53] Michael Ruehrmund: Thank you for having us, Mike!

[44:03] Meghan Noonan: We can’t wait for everyone to see the show!

[44:13] Michael Neary: It’s going to be a memorable experience!

[44:23] Mike Abrams: I’m sure it will be!

[48:57] Meghan Noonan: Because then it's like who's your other person that meets the criteria if he truly is making that the criteria for every year he does this.

[49:27] Michael Ruehrmund: Well, you know, I think he doesn't know.

[49:57] Michael Ruehrmund: And the reason he doesn't know is because he has to allow the group of cats to accept her back before he can make that decision. She has to be part of it's not that he's going to pick an outsider. They have in some ways they have to agree. And in the way it works in our production, she does get accepted by the cats. And then he makes his choice. So he waits and it's because I think what he does is he doesn't want to influence the decision and put it upon them when they fully disagree. He wants them to realize that she's worthy on their own without him stepping in. So they have free will. And so when you see the moment in, in the end of act one, where he sits on stage and then he ponders throughout intermission and comes back and sees moment of happiness, he doesn't get involved.

Anytime Grisabella comes out there, he doesn't insert himself. He lets the cats decide for themselves who they think is, is the, is the one. And they would choose her at the end before he makes his decision. So because they made that choice, he is now allowed to make the choice on behalf of all. So that's where I stand.

[51:01] Meghan Noonan: If she doesn't show up, though, who's going? Like, is he of a different criteria?

[51:03] Michael Ruehrmund: Well, so I think those are two pieces. Those are the two big ones that we focus on as far as why he picks Grisabella at the end. But there are several other things. You know, I don't like to think of it as a competition show. I know the movie really said, OK, I'm going to I'm going to compete for this. I think it's just a celebration. And it's and so when he picks somebody, it's somebody who's definitely worthy of it. So he wouldn't pick Macavity because Macavity is not worthy. You know, while Rumple Teaser and Mungo Jerry are fun cats and people like them and they're kind of ornery and stuff. They don't really fit that criteria. Plus, they're a little young. They probably wouldn't go. You think about Mungo Strap?

Maybe he's a leader in the community, but maybe he hasn't done enough. Maybe he hasn't felt enough of the darkness to understand the light. So maybe, you know, Gus wouldn't be a bad choice. He's just not the right choice this year. If Grisabella wasn't there, maybe he would be picked. And I like the idea of being worthy because independent of Michael saying, I actually, you know, I don't think Grisabella was the right choice. And even with the way we're staging it, like I hear the argument and I'm I'm OK with it. Like and I I want Ashley to be the right choice, but I actually think it should be Demeter. And I thought about this a lot. And the idea of it being worthy or need, I think Demeter's a lot of those are her kittens.

I think she has she is caring for people, but that poor cat lives her life on high alert. Like she's never I don't think she's excited from a cavity to come. At least the way our Demeter delivers it. It's always a bit of panic. And I think to myself, you know, there's a lot of people in relationships that they need to get out of and they don't have a way out. And I think Demeter is in a situation where it's dire. I think she needs a chance to start over a fresh life where the cavity does not know where she is. She does. And I think she's very worthy. She does nothing but bring up the other cats throughout the entire show. And never once like it's never a moment for her. You know, she's not like, yeah, Demeter, you know, the abused cat.

She like doesn't get a number. She just like. And so I just think Demeter would be a good choice of like someone who has put her time in, helped with the Jellicle community and just really needs a fresh started life. So that would be my argument for Demeter. And I don't think scambles in the running. I agree with some of your cast that said it. He has no interest. He loves his life. He wants to travel the rails. You have kittens throughout the country and come back in town. So he is he is not he's not in the running in my opinion.

[56:05] Michael Ruehrmund: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So anyway, that's my I like the Demeter. I like Demeter's. That's a good argument. And it fits your criteria because something to live for. And there would be a redemption arc to of all that she's been through. So I if I flew out, if I can make it work and come to one of the four productions, will you send Gus that that production?

[57:01] Meghan Noonan: Well, I'll make it happen. I'll get on there. I'm like, no, you asked. You asked earlier what we were excited or nervous about. I'm I'm excited for the chance to turn it over to everyone else and I can sit back and enjoy it. So whatever happens during those four productions, I'm my job's done at that point. There are no more notes from Michael or Katie. We are just sitting there watching this beautiful thing that the cast and creative team and crew is creating every night.

[58:15] Michael Neary: OK. OK. I'm going to I'm going to see I'm going to look at my at my. Well, this will come out after either way. So, yeah. So you'll hear this episode and it'll either be all over my social media that I was able to convince you all to do it one time or I will not be able to make the trip.

[58:32] Michael Ruehrmund: We'll have a seat for you. If you do, you've got to know where you are, because I'm going to look out right in the middle of that. And that counts for all 60 of us are because I want to I want to see the faith made when you see 60, 60.

[58:44] Meghan Noonan: I am I am I have already started to look to see if it's possible, but it is very, very quick turnaround from some other trips. But I cannot wait to hear how it goes. I hope you all keep in touch with me on on how the performances go. This obviously come out after several get to relive this moment with this episode, which is really fun, too, since I know you'll be again weeks after the show and you'll get to kind of hear the before and then it'll be over and you'll get to experience the after, which is really fun.

[59:13] Michael Neary: So how can people stay in touch with with you all and the theater in general?

[59:18] Meghan Noonan: I mean, we're kind of not able to plug tickets, but just other shows that you're going to do in the future. Yeah. So we we have the program runs throughout the summer and sometimes throughout the year. We have three big productions. We have a youth show like a little kid show. We have a teen production. They did Chicago this year. And then our big multigenerational full staged musical. And it's all backed by Westerville Parks and Rec through the city of Westerville. So unlike a lot of community theaters, we're blessed with a with a decent budget and we can put on some high caliber shows. And anything you want to know can be found at Westerville dot org slash arts. Everything lives there. Awesome. Yeah.

[59:59] Michael Ruehrmund: I mean, Michael, there's a lot of theater on his own. So you do other theater as well.

[1:00:05] Michael Neary: Yeah. I mean, we can always throw out our Instagram tags or something. But, yeah, we we perform around town. It's not just just in Westerville. But Columbus has a thriving theater scene, both both community, semi-professional and professional with a couple of equity houses. And it's pretty it's wild how much there is here. There is has a lot. Amazing.

[1:00:23] Meghan Noonan: I'll link the Instagram handles and stuff, too, and the episode notes so everyone can have that. Thank you all for coming on and sharing and have the most amazing run and production and have fun doing the show.

[1:00:36] Michael Ruehrmund: Thank you. This is so awesome. Thanks for responding to a stranger's Facebook messenger request. I really appreciate it. It was so fun to have you on and I get to hear about it. And I'm excited to hear the follow up after after you finish.

[1:00:50] Michael Neary: So thanks for coming on. And thanks, everyone, for listening to this episode of the rocket. The podcast breakdown, the catastrophe to follow along. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast. Follow us on social media. The rocket died or check our website, the rocket died.