Ep219 - Naomi Naughton, Swing in Original Broadway Production & Director of 2025 Shawnee Playhouse Production of CATS

“I am barely five one. Macavity was not a role that I ever thought I would be in the running for because he's typically the tallest in the show but he doesn't have to be. He is the Napoleon of crime.” Join host Mike Abrams as he chats with Erik Simon, an actor with a deep history in the world of CATS. Erik recounts his journey from childhood fascination with T.S. Eliot’s poems and the original London cast recording, to experiencing the immersive Winter Garden Theater performance at a young age. Listen as Erik recalls his pivotal moments in high school’s first amateur CATS production in North America and his recent portrayal of Macavity in the Shawnee Playhouse's 2025 production. Discover Erik’s insights into character development, the shadow-casting of the 2019 CATS movie, and the enduring legacy of CATS in his life. This episode dives into fandom lore, unique staging choices, and personal anecdotes that show why CATS remains a beloved and complex piece of musical theater. 00:55 Erik's Early Fandom 07:43 High School Production of CATS 12:43 Shawnee Playhouse Production 17:17 Multi-Generational Cast Experience 19:26 Revisiting CATS After 20 Years 23:15 Shadow Casting the 2019 CATS Movie 31:59 Fandom Lore and Interpretations 40:13 Exploring Macavity's Character 47:47 Rapid Fire Check out Erik on Instagram: @curiousbeasttm Check out Shawnee Playhouse on Instagram: ⁠@theshawneeplayhouse⁠ Check out Shawnee Playhouse's website: ⁠www.shawneeplayhouse.org⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special bonus episode we celebrate the podcast's six-year anniversary with the show’s producer Alan Seales who is also the host of The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales and the Co-Founder of the Broadway Podcast Network. Mike and Alan reflect on the origins of the podcast, memorable moments, and the evolving journey of analyzing and interpreting the musical CATS. Mike shares his experiences interviewing Broadway stars, the unexpected depth of the CATS fan community, and his dreams for future productions. Listen in for fascinating stories, insights, and a look at what the future holds for The Wrong Cat Died. Check out The Theatre Podcast on Instagram: ⁠@theatre_podcast⁠ Check out The Theatre Podcast on Tik Tok: ⁠@thetheatrepodcast⁠ Check out The Theatre Podcast's Website: ⁠bpn.fm/ttp Produced by: ⁠Alan Seales⁠ & ⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠ Social Media: @⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Chrissie Cartwright wants more than anything, she wants specificity. So she doesn’t necessarily need to know what all of the relationships are that you’re playing, as long as it’s clear.” In this newest episode, we chat with Michael Robert-Lowe, the actor currently playing Old Deuteronomy in the International tour of CATS. They dive into Michael's journey with the show, his thoughts on the character dynamics, and how he interprets various elements of the musical. From discussing the musical's cultural impact across various countries to entertaining theories about Old Deuteronomy’s role, this episode offers fans an insightful and engaging look behind the scenes of this beloved production. 01:07 Michael’s Journey with CATS 07:07 Experiences on the International Tour 15:27 Interacting with Fans 20:36 Old Deuteronomy's Decision-Making Process 30:28 The Sacrificial Gesture of Old Deuteronomy 31:32 Interpreting Relationships and Hierarchies 33:06 Character Evolution and Cast Changes 36:38 Audience Interaction and Immersion 43:39 Rapid Fire Check out Michael on Social Media: @michaelrobertlowe Check out the International Tour of CATS: ⁠tour.catsthemusical.com⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Some people might say CATS is a ripoff of A Chorus Line. I don’t want to go that far but it’s remarkably similar. I think it’s sort of a doppelganger of A Chorus Line.” In this episode, host Mike Abrams welcomes David Armstrong, a fellow Broadway Podcast Network host and author of the newly published book Broadway Nation. They delve into the rich history of Broadway musicals, highlighting the significant influences and connections, including how the iconic musical CATS ties into this history. Armstrong shares fascinating insights about the evolution of Broadway from his podcast and University of Washington course, the criteria behind the Jellicle choice, and how reality shows like 'Queen for a Day' may have influenced Broadway storytelling. 00:53 David’s Broadway Journey 01:22 The Evolution from Podcast to Book 07:26 The Impact of A Chorus Line on CATS 08:17 The British Theater Transformation 12:16 The Reality Show Parallel 27:54 Assigning CATS to Students 28:39 Discussing the 2019 Movie 35:17 The Jellicle Choice Debate Check out Broadway Nation on Instagram: @davidatbroadwaynation Check out the Broadway Nation Podcast Check out the Broadway Nation Book Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"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 focuses on how gardens can fade and then regrow and rebirth." Join host Mike Abrams as he welcomes the cast and creative team of the Westerville Civic Theatre's production of CATS. Director Michael Ruehrmund, Assistant Musical Director Michael Neary, and Jellylorum Meghan Noonan share their journey in bringing this unique rendition to life, set in a community garden with a 66-member cast. Discover how the team found inspiration from the podcast and used it for character development. They discuss the criteria for selecting the Jellicle choice, the challenges and excitement of producing such an iconic and complex show, and their innovative approach to making it family-friendly. Don't miss their insights on character dynamics, favorite musical numbers, and the moments they're most excited about as they prepare for their performances. 01:13 Discovering The Podcast 06:45 Production Challenges and Unique Approaches 10:45 Character Development and Cast Dynamics 27:30 Excitement and Preparations for the Show 33:05 Creative Freedom in the Show 34:39 Rapid Fire Questions Check out Michael Ruehrmund on Instagram: @m.i.ch.ae.l Check out Michael Neary on Instagram: @michael.neary Check out Meghan Noonan on Instagram: @meghanknoonan Check out the Westerville Civic Theatre's website: https://www.artscouncilofwesterville.com/calendar/2025/7/17/westerville-civic-theatre-persents-cats Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I said I cannot wait to still be doing CATS with you in 30 years time because of course Grizabella’s brilliant. I can probably play it now for a good 30 to 40 years.” Dive into an engaging episode with Lucy May Barker who is currently dazzling audiences as Grizabella on the CATS international tour. Lucy shares her early love for the musical, recounting her first experience seeing CATS in London at the age of eight. The discussion delves into the complexities of Grizabella's character, theories about her past and relationships, and thoughts on the storyline's powerful themes. Lucy also reveals her thoughts on various characters, their roles, and the idea of an audience-chosen Jellicle choice. Don't miss her insights on the CATS community interactions, her favorite moments in the show, and future tour destinations. 01:19 Lucy's Journey with CATS 04:53 The Role of Grizabella 10:22 Performing Memory 15:49 Grizabella's Backstory and Theories 32:25 Audience Interaction Ideas 35:44 Rapid Fire & Jellicle Choice Check out Lucy on Social Media: @lucymaybarker Check out the International Tour of CATS: tour.catsthemusical.com Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We have 16 different Grizabellas for this production.” In this episode of The Wrong Cat Died podcast, Mike Abrams welcomes Naomi Naughton, a former swing in the original Broadway production of CATS (1992) who is now directing a summer production at the Shawnee Playhouse. Naomi shares her journey from first seeing CATS as a teenager, through auditioning and performing on Broadway, to her current role as a director. She discusses the challenges and joys of directing, including working with 16 different performers as Grizabella and staying true to the show's choreography and storytelling. Naomi also reflects on deeper themes of the musical, such as acceptance, forgiveness, and the meaning of the Heaviside Layer. 00:46 Naomi's Broadway Journey 04:45 Landing the Role and Broadway Experience 07:56 Reflections on the Show's Choreography and Story 22:24 Directing CATS: New Insights and Challenges 32:58 Teaching a Specific Moment in Time 33:29 Adapting Choreography for Diverse Cast 34:45 Exploring Grizabella's Backstory Check out Shawnee Playhouse on Instagram: @theshawneeplayhouse Check out Shawnee Playhouse's website: www.shawneeplayhouse.org Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the summer, we are working with the Fulton Theatre to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team from their new amusement park production of CATS. "Normally Grizabella does not start the show. We meet her about 20 minutes into it. I do think it’s really neat we see her right away." This episode features Sara Sheperd who plays Grizabella in this production. Sarah shares her journey with the musical, her thoughts on Grizabella, and the unique aspects of this particular production, including character backstories and her emotional connection to the role. Listen in for an insightful and fun conversation about one of the most iconic musicals of all time. 00:52 Sarah's CATS History 04:07 Crafting Grizabella's Story 06:36 Exploring Relationships and Dynamics 10:26 Grizabella's Return and Motivations 25:03 Audience Engagement and Reactions 29:51 Rapid Fire 34:53 The Rollercoaster Ride Experience Check out Sara on Instagram: @shepnailsit⁠ Check out the Fulton Theatre on Instagram: ⁠⁠@fultontheatre⁠⁠ Check out the Fulton Theatre's Website: ⁠⁠thefulton.org⁠⁠ Get tickets to Fulton's CATS: ⁠⁠thefulton.org/shows/cats⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the summer, we are working with the Fulton Theatre to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team from their new amusement park production of CATS. "At our Ball, Old Deuteronomy selects me as the homecoming queen and then I select my king. So I select Alonzo." This episode features Brianna Abruzzo who plays Victoria in this production. Brianna shares her unique journey into the musical, from her first introduction to CATS through her brother's fascination with the soundtrack, to the intricate process of auditioning and eventually landing the role of Victoria. Discover the personal backstory and character development she brings to Victoria, insights on working with the cast, and amusing anecdotes including her brother's unexpected love for the show. This episode offers an engaging behind-the-scenes look at CATS and the nuanced storytelling that brings the feline characters to life. 02:21 Auditioning for the US Tour 05:44 Victoria's Storyline and Character Development 09:50 The Jellicle Ball and Victoria's Role 11:59 Interactions with Other Characters 21:29 Experimenting with Relationships 23:13 Rapid Fire 29:09 Jellicle Choice Check out Brianna on Instagram: @briannaabruzzo Check out Brianna on Tik Tok: @briannaabruzzo Check out the Fulton Theatre on Instagram: ⁠@fultontheatre⁠ Check out the Fulton Theatre's Website: ⁠thefulton.org⁠ Get tickets to Fulton's CATS: ⁠thefulton.org/shows/cats⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the summer, we are working with the Fulton Theatre to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team from their new amusement park production of CATS. This bonus episode is with the "Coaster Kittens" who are the teen ensemble in the 2025 Fulton Theatre production of CATS. Hear each of them share their character's backstory and discuss all of the fun parts of being part of this production. Featuring: Elliott Evans, Trenton Breneman, Kendra Alexander, Conner Moodie, Mateah Bylone, Summer Turczynski, Abigail Gottshall, Ariana Stambaugh, Sophia Amaya, Ava Rosalía Graff Check out the Fulton Theatre on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@fultontheatre⁠⁠⁠ Check out the Fulton Theatre's Website: ⁠⁠⁠thefulton.org⁠⁠⁠ Get tickets to Fulton's CATS: ⁠⁠⁠thefulton.org/shows/cats⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices