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[0:17] Mike Abrams: Welcome to The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast breakdown of The Cat Statutory. I'm your host, Mike Abrams, and today we have another amazing guest.

[0:23] Melody Rose: Thanks for having me.

[0:31] Mike Abrams: I have been a little terrified of the twins as I've learned more about them, so I do want to get into that later. But I do always love to start by hearing about your cat's history. So I want to hear, did you do a childhood production? Did you do a production before the tour? Like, how much did you know about the show before you went on tour?

[0:53] Melody Rose: So I essentially was a young Cats obsessive fanatic when I was around 10 years old. My sister brought home the Cats VHS from, I think, Hollywood Video or Blockbuster, something crazy. And I remember her watching it, and I, like, went in and out of her room to, like, see bits and pieces of it. And I was so interested because I've been dancing since I was three, so I was super into musicals and any dance show. And then I was like, let's watch the whole thing. So I sat and I watched the whole thing. And I kind of put my own plot together and understood it at a young age somehow and created this whole story. And at the end of Mistoffelees, I was, like, bawling as a 10-year-old because it was so beautiful to me as a child.

And that's when I was just, I just became obsessed. And then I started showing it to all of my friends at sleepovers and being like, I want to dance like these people when I'm older. And then, of course, I saw it. I saw it on tour. I'm going to say 2007 or 8 when it came to the Hippodrome in Baltimore back in the day. And that was the first time I saw it live. And I was like, wow, it's just like the movie. Not putting too into that Jillian Lind did both productions. And then I saw the revival in 2016 a couple of times because I had a bunch of friends from school and dance competitions growing up that were in it. So I got to see that twice. And then a bunch of auditions happened while I was at school for that production. And that didn't work out. And then somehow ended up on the tour.

[2:23] Mike Abrams: That's amazing. OK, I want to break down a couple of these things you said in there. So one is it's an older, I'm assuming an older sister.

[2:29] Melody Rose: Yes. Four years older.

[2:31] Mike Abrams: OK, four years older. So she has it. Did she, what was her take on the show when she saw it? You know, you become obsessed. Did she enjoy it?

[2:37] Melody Rose: She enjoyed it. She really liked it. She was a big Mistoffelees fan, big Skimbleshanks fan. She even made me, fun fact, she even made me a little plush Mistoffelees. She's super creative. So I had a little plush Mistoffelees when I was younger.

[2:53] Mike Abrams: So you were really into this. OK. And what did your friends think when you showed them this? Like, was it well received?

[2:58] Melody Rose: Yes and no. It was very, it was a mixed bag of emotion. Like, what in the world is this? Like, who the hell are they? This doesn't mean anything. They couldn't think of a plot. They couldn't put two and two together. It was just they were weirded out by the half human, half cat thing. But some of my friend, most of the dancer friends were like, wow, these people are so talented. Even when we were young, it really didn't know much about the technical elements of the show. Yeah. Yeah. It was just mostly a mixed bag.

[3:32] Mike Abrams: I do. So I didn't even really know much about it until I kind of knew what it was. I knew it's a running joke and a punch line and a lot of different things. But I didn't really know. I didn't go as a kid. I didn't see it. I didn't grow up in theater. I didn't grow up singing, dancing or anything. So it's like I saw what came through occasionally through Indiana and I would only go to a few shows. And Cats just was never on that list. And so I didn't even know the 1998 movie or VHS existed until after I saw it on Broadway. And so I like find it kind of fascinating. I have seen that now, but I find it's like I can only imagine if somebody showed it to me as a 10-year-old. I'm like, what are you making us watch? Because it's definitely different. I mean, if you're a dancer or you're in theater, you're probably just like, yeah, this is incredible. But if you're not and you're just watching, it's like, what is this movie? What is going on?

[4:25] Melody Rose: Yeah, exactly. So you've been obsessed from day one. Did you growing up, was there a cat? They were just like, this is who I'm going to be.

[4:33] Melody Rose: Yes and no. I was so, of course, all little dancers growing up, they want to be Victoria, the white cat with the high leg. I remember watching her in the 1998 film and being like, how can she get her leg that high and hold it like that and go into a split? I did not know that was physically possible. And then I was going to work hard to be able to do that one day. And yeah, I just was obsessed with her. And I remember going into auditions and I kept being pulled for Victoria. So a lot of most of my audition process was around Victoria. It would be like, let's do the Victoria solo, Victoria solo. And then I was like, oh, I'm Tantomile. Cool. But it was funny how the road to it was mostly Victoria, Victoria, Victoria. But yeah, she was just so magical and she got to dance with Mistoffelees, who was my favorite. So that's who I looked up to the most when I was a kid.

[5:27] Mike Abrams: OK, so that is that's a very common dancer answer, right? Because it's like the solo, the dance number. So now tell me you get casted and you're one of the twins. And I have not really dug. I dug into a lot of the like the song characters. And then I have now learned about some of the other ones fairly deep. And the more I actually still have a page open because I'm like the twins fascinate me. Because the more I've learned about them, the more I'm like, what is going on? Like I never pieced together what like their powers and all the stuff that's happening. And the more I've heard about it, it's an experience. So tell me a little bit about like what you were told about your character and then like what it's like playing that almost psychic.

[6:14] Melody Rose: A lot of people are scared of the twins, which is so funny. They don't know why they're there. They're confused as to what their storyline is. Why are they always introducing Old Deuteronomy? Why are they psychic? What does that mean? So Tantomile and Coricopat, they're essentially timeless is what I was told. There are basically three categories of cat ages in the show. There's the kittens, there's the little teenager cats in between, and the adults. So the adults would be like Jelly and Skimbleshanks. And then teenagers like would be more like Alonzo, Tugger, and then the younger cats, Sillabub, Victoria, Rumble Teaser, all that. But the twin cats really don't have an age. Apparently they're so wise they could be 400 years old, that kind of deal.

And essentially my adjectives that were given to me, because all cats have the three adjectives that they are given at the beginning of the process. Mine were telepathic, suspicious, and tentative. And with Tantomile, she and Coricopat, they're always sensing if something is wrong. And they're the first people to realize that the energy is off in the room and they can sense Grizabella is coming or they can sense the happiness that Old Deuteronomy is coming and everyone can relax. So everyone in the show kind of looks to them to see how they should be reacting and they should be nervous, if they should be worried, if they can be calm, if they can be playful. They kind of look to the twins to make sure everything is OK.

It's kind of like the, I don't know, like how to keep it in moderation, the tribe moderation, if you will. But that's kind of what we were told. But yeah, a lot of people get creeped out by the storyline of the twins, but we're really just there to be the messengers of Old Deuteronomy and kind of transfer the energy to Sillabub to give her the courage to sing "Moonlight." To bring Grizabella back in, essentially.

[8:26] Mike Abrams: What about the relationship with Cassandra? Because isn't she also a little timeless and telepathic?

[8:33] Melody Rose: Yes. So we were told that she is also a psychic cat, if you will. There's no sibling relationship, but there's definitely a relation, maybe a long lost cousin. But there are moments in the show when we did pass Cassandra and kind of like give her a nod just because we know, we already know that she has the same sort of powers as us, not as strong. But we just kind of acknowledge that throughout the show. It's very, very small. The audience usually doesn't see it, but it is in there.

[9:09] Mike Abrams: Yeah, I think that was a piece where I want to see it again to see all the other nods of like you turn before everyone else. Like you kind of sense the show before it happens. And that to me is like not something I picked up on because it's such an experience when you're there. There's so much going on that like it's hard. I was still just trying to figure out the plot, let alone like anything else that's happening on stage. And I just now I'm like, OK, if they're psychic, how much power do you think that they really wield over the tribe? Like, is it a lot of understated power that they don't use every year but probably could?

[9:50] Melody Rose: I definitely think it's understated, and I feel like they save it for special events. They could use it, but I think they reserve it. For instance, in the show, there's a couple of ways that you can see that they can sense change before all of the other cats. Like at the end of the Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer duet, they all go in slow-mo when they throw their bags of cash or when they rob the house, when they throw their bags over. It's in slow motion to the audience's eye, but to Tantomile and Coricopat, they're essentially stopping time because they sense that Old Deuteronomy is coming. And then they have a duet, and then they see that Old Deuteronomy is coming, and they kind of like bring Mistoffelees into that.

Mistoffelees says, "Old Deuteronomy," they sing their little line, and then Old Deuteronomy starts coming down the stairs, and then everyone breaks out of their slow-mo. So it's kind of like they don't see it because they're in motion, and then they kind of turn around, and then they're like, oh, broken out of the slow-mo. It's very, very complex, not complicated. And then there's also during the ball, at the end of the ball, right before the judders in the song, where it's like dun-dun-dun-dun, or whatever. But the first people to turn around, it's right after the Plato-Victoria duet. The first people to pop up are the twins when that music comes in right before the big ball music. And that's because we sense Grizabella first, and she's in the upstage left corner.

And we kind of sense it first, and then Mistoffelees gets up, and then I think Cassandra gets up, and then kind of everyone's realizing something's wrong, something's wrong. Because the twins are messed up, Mistoffelees is messed up, people are like, the hair on their neck is standing up, something's wrong. And then you realize Grizabella's in the upstage left corner, and they start to dance all together and shoo her away.

[11:52] Mike Abrams: So how much influence do you think that they probably could have had on the tribe? Everyone's looking to them. Do you think that they recognize how important they are? Or are they just so old at this point because they're timeless, they're just like, yep, I got it, this is our job, we're going to keep doing it?

[12:10] Melody Rose: I think they're pretty far removed. I think that the adult cats are the ones that they look to for kind of what move they should make in accordance to how they should act when a different cat comes out and does their number. Like when Griz comes out, they're all like, get back, get back. They don't really look at the twins for that. They kind of just look at the twins for safety, I think, more so than how to react. I don't know. We don't have power over the tribe. We just kind of have, hmm, never really thought about that.

[12:44] Mike Abrams: That's what I'm here for, to ask the questions that no one else is asking.

[12:47] Melody Rose: I don't know.

[12:49] Mike Abrams: OK, what else were you told? What other pieces, not just for Tantomile, but for everyone else, what else are you told about, here's the relationships or the stories that you need to kind of know to play your character?

[13:04] Melody Rose: Well, we know that we are kind of, I don't want to say servants, but we are the messengers and pretty much the altar boys for Old Deuteronomy. So if Old Deuteronomy wants to bring wisdom to the tribe, we are the ones to deliver that message because Deuteronomy isn't going to take his time to interact with each individual cat. We kind of deliver the message telepathically through touch. And there's a moment, like, there was a moment where we, because Victoria is the one who touched Grizabella at the end. She knows that she's chosen, which is strange in the plot line, but I understand it. But there's a moment where Coricopat and Tantomile crawl over to Victoria and touch her right before Gus's song.

It's very unnoticeable to the audience, but we actually touch Victoria. And that's kind of when we send the energy to her to be the one to be curious enough to touch Grizabella at the end. She's always curious, but she is kind of removed because the adults tell her to stay away. But she's still curious, not as curious as Sillabub.

[14:20] Mike Abrams: So you are the one that gets Victoria to go touch Grizabella at the end. You give that message.

[14:25] Melody Rose: I did not pick that up.

[14:30] Mike Abrams: Very subtle.

[14:32] Melody Rose: That might have been just something that we made up, that we believed for our characters. Because we obviously all have the artistic freedom to kind of make up our own plot line through our cast. But I can't remember if that was a stage direction, but we created that moment because we felt it was right and everyone kind of knew about it.

[14:56] Melody Rose: I think there is, um, yeah, I mean, there has to be some artistic freedom in that. And I think there is so little, not little, you're given some, like, but there's, you're not given a ton about every character. And so there has to be a little bit of like, okay, what else? Backstory. Did you create more to your backstory than what was given? Let's hear it. I want to hear, kind of create our own backstory. Of course, I had the whole three adjectives thing done. I had the telepathic side down. I was psychic, got it, witch cat, check. And, um, after that, I kind of relied on my, not relied on, but worked with my twin, um, to kind of find the energy to portray the characters in a true manner to ourselves and our personalities personally.

And it was interesting because I had so many different twins, because my twin Maurice, he's choreographer in the tour, he was the misto cover. Um, so every time misto was out, I'd have a new twin. So it would, it would change and change and change. So with everything, there was a different story that we told somewhere a little bit more playful, somewhere more reserved, somewhere more technical and stoic. It was very interesting. Um, because as a twin, you can't really have the freedom to find your own, I don't know, style of movement. You have to move the same with them or off. Um, and thankfully one of my twins was one of my best friends from college and school that we danced together. So we just like kind of knew I could just kind of like take a deep breath and relax when he was on stage, because I knew how he danced so well that I could just turn that side of my brain off and just work on the character.

Um, and yeah, we just kind of like created a plot where coracle pat was a little bit more reserved rather than playful. And like I would like during, like during Tugger, when we're sitting on the oven, you can't really see the twins, but we're on the oven while everyone's dancing. And, um, the whole point of Tugger is that all the men cat wants to be like him and all the women cats want to be with him. And like, I like kind of like broke out and like into the more playful kitten side of my character and coracle pat would like shoo my paw away and be like, all right, let's get back to how we watch over the dog, calm it down. Um, so my tantrum, I was a little bit more playful, more kitten-like than it should be, I think. Um, but it worked. Um, and yeah, we just kind of created the storyline of how we would watch over the tribe, kind of like watch cats in a way, um, make sure everything was a okay in the junkyard.

[17:53] Mike Abrams: Yeah. So you kind of have a role that is almost like an observer throughout. What is that like to be able to do the, a little mix of like, you have a real part to play dance to play and numbers and stuff to do, but also kind of like an audience member in a, in a, in a sense of like overseeing, is that a hard, like what's that balance?

[18:00] Melody Rose: Um, well, I, I enjoyed it because I could really study all of the characters and their adjectives and their motions. And I kind of like could sit back and be like, I sit back and be like, I already know what's going to happen. I already know what happened in the past. I already know what's going to happen a hundred years in the future. Kind of. Um, I know it's going to happen. I'm calm and cool and collected and like watching the audience and kind of like smirking at them being like, oh, you have no idea what's about to happen, but I know, um, kind of that, like, I don't know, pre-notion of every movement that they're going to make. Um, yeah, it's hard to describe. Yeah. It's, it's, it's a, it's kind of a unique thing.

I want to, I wonder how much as a tantamount thinking about, like, I know everything, I know what's going to happen. I'm going to be there. Did you ever come up with your, what's going to happen next year's Joke-A-Ball? Like, you know, what's happening in next year's Joke-A-Ball. Grizabella is going to be picked for this year. You're going to go about your business this year without her. And you already know what's, what's Joke-A-Ball two, like what's happening there?

[19:28] Melody Rose: I think in my head, what I would make up is that we'd come back. Everyone's a little bit older. There's a couple new kittens coming for the first time. I think Victoria would start to become her own Grizabella in a sense, just because she is the cat that everyone was crazy about last ball. And I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this on your podcast in the past, but in Andy Blankenbuehler's revamping of Jillian Lynn's choreography, Victoria partners with every single male ensemble member in the ball. And she's the only one to be lifted by every single one of them. And it's kind of like, they all have to touch her in the ball. I don't think I've mentioned that.

[20:11] Mike Abrams: That's really cool. I don't think I pieced that together too. That's like a very unique piece. So she's now, yeah. So that's, that's awesome. I learned something new every time I talked to anybody about the show, because there's so much happening. So, so, okay. So she's now. She's like the hot commodity on the street now. And then I'm sure people will, who is, who would be the next Griz? Because no one's really that, I don't want to say disheveled or has that bad of a past unless McCavity would come back and kind of ruin it all.

[20:52] Melody Rose: McCavity would come back and kind of like, hope for, I don't know, his own redemption. Yeah. That would be kind of cool. I think. Yeah. Is, is Gus still around in your second joke of all this? He died in between. I mean, he's already on his last four legs there. And I always thought that Gus should be the one to be reborn.

[21:21] Mike Abrams: We're going to get there. We're going to get there. Don't worry. That's coming. That's one of my, that's my last question for you. I want to hear the Gus argument. Okay. One other question, a little bit about the twins, since I think it's really interesting. You said, you know, you had different twins at all times in that kind of scenario. Do you really try to lead the, and they try to kind of play into your twin or do you kind of come a little bit more to them or is it really pretty mutual?

[21:43] Melody Rose: Well, with my normal twin, it was very mutual. Like we knew each other back and forth and we were, I kind of like became, we became telepathic in a way. Yeah. Like we knew which way we were going to move. If we like moved our hand a certain way or like pointed a certain way, we were there. But the other two, definitely I could say that I would be the one leading them or I'd be like, let's go over here. Like the ones who would do it like two times a month, it would kind of be a little bit, it wasn't their main track. It was kind of like their five out of six swing tracks. So I would just kind of be like, okay, so we're going to go for the oven or like, and then they would, they would relax a little bit.

But yeah, no, definitely with the two other twins that I worked with, it was a little bit more me leading, which is interesting because I enjoyed that because I'm normally, I also, I get in trouble a lot in partnering class because I always want to be the one initiating the movement or being like the momentum giver. And I always get yelled at because the men are supposed to lead the ladies, whatever that means. But yeah, so that was fun to, yeah, as a dancer to be able to kind of do that.

[23:05] Mike Abrams: That's, that's really cool. That's, that's kind of a fun piece. What would you, I wanted to give you the scenario of you, the tour's coming through and you have one of your friends that you showed this crazy VHS two from Blockbuster years and years and years ago. And you're going to say, Hey, look, you don't remember what you saw. Here's what you're going to go witness. How would you give them a rundown of like, here's what cats is. And you're going to go to the show. Here's what you're going to see.

[23:33] Melody Rose: Okay. So how would I explain cats? Okay. I would say one that a year, all the cats in the Jellicle tribe, all Jellicle cats come together at the junkyard once a year when the Jellicle moon is full and risen to dance for old Deuteronomy, who makes the Jellicle choice of one cat that will ascend to the heavy side layer. And it happens once a year, one cat gets to be reborn into one of their new nine lives, however many they're on. And basically it's a contest of dancing cats to sum it up. Well, um, dancing for their lives, if you will.

[24:12] Mike Abrams: Love it. Love it. Friends come, they enjoy it. What about, did you have to, did you bring anybody to go see the new, like the new movie, the one that came out that was in theaters? Did you kind of have some, some people come with you?

[24:21] Melody Rose: We were actually on tour with cats in Toronto when cats, the movie came out and a group of us went to go see it together, actually.

[24:32] Mike Abrams: And what was that experience like knowing you saw it probably on an off day or just like a matinee before you were going to go do the show that night?

[24:39] Melody Rose: It was, I think it was right before I was put into the show. So I think it was a week. No, it was after I was in, I think it was, we were, it was on a day off. So we all went and it was very interesting. Um, there were people in the audience that were kind of reacting as if though it was kind of a midnight showing of Rocky horror is the best way I can describe it. And, um, I could, I couldn't believe the reactions and watching the movie, incredible cast, incredible choreography. The editing was extremely distracting and did not do the dancers service at all. Um, all of the dancers are so talented, Robbie Fairchild and, um, all of them just so wonderful. And the editing just made it look so strange and you couldn't even see the choreography really because of the quick cinematography changes.

And I was just as such a diehard cats fan of the 98 film. I was just so sad. I was like, these are going to be like the younger generations experience of what cats the musical is. And it's, it's, it's not.

[26:00] Mike Abrams: I find that really interesting. Cause the reason I wanted to ask you as like, you know, as a dancer, that was my biggest gripe with the movie. I mean, there are plenty other questionable decisions, but I was excited when I first heard about it to see it more so because of like, there was some really talented dancers and then there were some really powerful singers. And I was like, okay, this will be really cool. Even if it's not well edited or done, they're put together. Like, you know, there were a lot of questions about like, oh, the cats are really big and they're really small. And all these other weird kind of decisions. I was like, all of that won't be that big of a deal if the dancing and the singing is really good. But it was really hard to see any single movement from a dancer because it was moving around so much.

[26:41] Melody Rose: Yeah, it was, it was the tails for me. Like all of the, we barely even touch our tails in the show and it just kind of is like a, um, a second thought and it's not supposed to be highlighted at all in the choreography, really. And I just remember watching Victoria and her, the fur was CGI'd over her pointe shoes. And I was like, why would someone do that? So yeah, it was very, I don't want to say it, but it is, it was disappointing for me. And the night that I went home after seeing the show, I actually downloaded the 1998 film on iTunes so I could watch it.

[27:27] Mike Abrams: So I can cleanse your palate. And I love that. So you go buy it, go watch it, make sure you're ready to go. Please come see the stage first. And I promise you'll understand it better and get a more joyous experience of it.

[27:41] Melody Rose: Yeah. I do think that's, um, that was a piece that I hope people go get to see a live version and that that's not, they're like not turned off because of the experience that they had. Cause it's so, it's so different. It's so different. But I also like feel like that even with the 1998 movie, I still feel like even that was, that is kind of still a stage version, but a film stage version, but I was like, it's still very different than seeing a stage version.

[28:13] Mike Abrams: Agreed. Okay. Let's go into a little bit of rapid fire. A couple core questions I want to ask. So then we can have our hearty debate. Um, who else, like if you could put any cat at any moment, who would you want to be?

[28:32] Melody Rose: I would have to say I understudied her. I never got to go on, but for, I would have to say Victoria.

[28:37] Mike Abrams: Yeah. I figured that that was going to be the answer. I was like, you know, that's the, as a dancer, that's also what you grew up wanting to do.

[28:43] Melody Rose: Um, what if I take her out of the running? Who would be number two?

[28:50] Melody Rose: Number two. I think I am secretly obsessed with tapping. So I would think Jenny.

[28:57] Mike Abrams: Jenny. Okay. Are, do you, are, do you tap?

[29:03] Melody Rose: Yes. Love to. Okay. So Jenny would be fun. Does that mean you could do, doesn't skimble tap too?

[29:09] Melody Rose: Well, not in the stage version. Just in the movie.

[29:15] Mike Abrams: Just in the movie. Okay. Um, what is your, who's your favorite and least favorite cat?

[29:22] Melody Rose: My favorite cat is Mr. Mistoffelees forever will be so magical. So, uh, I fell in love with Jacob Brent when he played it in the 1998 film. And ever since I was obsessed, um, least favorite cat, I don't know. That's hard for me. I might have to say, oh, I don't know. That's going to be a tough one. It might be a long pause here. Um, I don't know. I don't want to say Mungo because I guess as a twin, like you don't want to be a.

[29:52] Melody Rose: I had a little plush Mistoffelees when I was younger.

[30:16] Melody Rose: I was a huge CATS fanatic growing up. I remember going to see the show for the first time and just being completely mesmerized by it.

[30:40] Melody Rose: The characters, the music, everything about it just captured my heart.

[31:04] Melody Rose: And then, when I got the opportunity to play Tantomile, it was like a dream come true.

[31:30] Melody Rose: The Twins have such a unique backstory. They are kind of the observers of the Jellicle Ball, and they have this special connection to the other cats.

[32:00] Melody Rose: I think that adds a layer of depth to their characters that a lot of people might not realize.

[32:30] Melody Rose: Plus, I love how they have this mystical quality about them.

[32:40] Melody Rose: They can sense things that others can't, which makes them really interesting to portray.

[33:10] Melody Rose: I also think Gus should be the Jellicle choice because he represents the nostalgia and the history of the Jellicle cats.

[33:36] Melody Rose: His stories remind us of the importance of remembering where we come from.

[34:02] Melody Rose: And I think that's something that resonates with a lot of people.

[34:32] Melody Rose: There's a beauty in honoring the past while also looking towards the future.

[34:42] Melody Rose: I mean, who doesn't love a good story about a cat who was once a star?

[34:52] Melody Rose: It just adds so much richness to the narrative.

[35:12] Melody Rose: I also think Gus has this vulnerability that makes him relatable.

[35:42] Melody Rose: He’s not just a faded star; he’s someone who has lived a full life and has so much wisdom to share.

[36:12] Melody Rose: I think that’s why he deserves to be the Jellicle choice.

[36:22] Melody Rose: And honestly, I think the Jellicle Ball next year is going to be something really special.

[36:52] Melody Rose: I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds and what surprises they have in store.

[37:20] Melody Rose: It’s always exciting to see how the production evolves over time.

[37:30] Melody Rose: Each cast brings something new and fresh to the table.

[37:50] Melody Rose: I think that’s one of the beautiful things about CATS; it’s always changing yet remains true to its roots.

[38:10] Melody Rose: I’m just so grateful to be a part of this legacy.

[38:40] Melody Rose: It’s a show that has touched so many lives, including my own.

[38:50] Melody Rose: And I hope to continue sharing that magic with audiences.

[39:10] Melody Rose: It’s truly a gift to be able to perform in such an iconic show.

[39:30] Melody Rose: I just love being able to connect with the audience through the music and the storytelling.

[39:50] Melody Rose: It’s an experience like no other.

[40:00] Melody Rose: And I think that’s what keeps people coming back to CATS time and time again.

[40:20] Melody Rose: There’s just something so enchanting about it.

[40:30] Melody Rose: I feel lucky to be a part of that enchantment.

[40:50] Melody Rose: And I hope to inspire others to find their own magic in the show.

[41:20] Melody Rose: Whether it’s through the characters, the music, or the overall experience, I think CATS has something for everyone.

[41:30] Melody Rose: It’s a celebration of life, love, and the bonds we share.

[41:50] Melody Rose: And I think that’s what makes it so timeless.

[42:10] Melody Rose: I’m just excited to see where the journey takes me next.

[42:20] Melody Rose: I know there are so many more stories to tell and experiences to share.

[42:40] Melody Rose: And I can’t wait to be a part of it all.

[42:50] Melody Rose: Thank you for having me on the show.

[43:20] Melody Rose: It’s been a pleasure to share my thoughts and experiences with you.

[43:50] Melody Rose: I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming Jellicle Ball and continues to celebrate the magic of CATS.

[44:00] Melody Rose: Thank you!

[44:31] Mike Abrams: And thanks for listening to this bonus episode with Melody Rose on The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast breakdown that cast Sasha Fee.

[44:37] Mike Abrams: To follow along, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

[44:41] Mike Abrams: Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at TheWrongCatDied, or check out our website, thewrongcatdied.com.