Ep256 - Kendall Grayson Stroud, Swing in CATS: The Jellicle Ball

“ I believe that Jellylorum is our mother and she spends so much bloody time with Gus, trying to help Gus and fix Gus. We just wanna get her attention.” This episode features Tannah Levick who performed as Rumpleteazer in the South Africa production of CATS and will be on the continuation of the international tour. Hear Tannah share about her CATS history, how mentors and rehearsal process deepened her respect for the show’s poetry-based story, and how she became obsessed by researching through podcasts and cast discussions. Tannah describes the “I’m in CATS” choreography moments, auditioning in South Africa, insisting on Rumpleteazer, and how her onstage relationship with Mungojerrie shifts depending on who she is performing with(siblings, friends, or lovers). She shares mischievous audience interaction choices, viral tour social media with castmates, connecting with other Rumpleteazers for injury advice, and memorable show incidents including Mistoffelees getting stuck, a tire malfunction, and a bat flying onstage. 01:07 First CATS Memories 02:51 From Hating to Loving 11:41 CATS Theories and Lore 15:04 Rumpleteazer Relationship Theory 21:19 CATS TikTok Goes Viral 24:27 Global Jellicle Community 27:42 Tour Mishaps 32:25 Cats Astrology 37:25 Rapid Fire Check out Tannah on Instagram: @tan_levick Check out Tannah on Tik Tok: @Tannlevick Check out Tannah on Spotify: @Tannahlevick Check out the International Tour of CATS: ⁠www.andrewlloydwebber.com/show/cats Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“My most treasured possession was that VHS. I played it every single day. And then I started teaching myself every single track.” This episode features Isabelle McCalla who is currently starring as Emma Tate in Schmigadoon! on Broadway. Hear Isabelle recount seeing CATS in 1998 at age five, petting the actress playing Cassandra, and becoming obsessed with the London VHS, learning songs and choreography in her parents’ ballroom dance studio. She talks favorite and hardest tracks, her childhood understanding of the show’s sensuality, and reactions to the new Jellicle Ball revival’s ball-culture framing and storyline, plus the 2019 Cats film and the viral “Mr. MESStoffelees” video. Isabella discusses the incredibly fun Schmigadoon! and then she and Mike cast the Cats into the show. 01:03 First CATS Encounter 02:39 1998 CATS VHS Obsession 09:13 Cats: The Jellicle Ball 18:28 2019 CATS Movie 20:08 Schmigadoon! 24:10 Schmigadoon Meets Cats 32:54 Rapid Fire Check out Isabelle on Instagram: @izzymccalla Check out Schmigadoon! on Broadway: schmigadoonbroadway.com Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Ballroom has been one of the most important pieces of my life so far.” This episode features Kendall Grayson Stroud who is a swing in Broadway’s Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Kendall joined the earliest 2022 workshop, performed as Electra at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, and is now a swing covering 10 characters. Kendall describes going into the project with no prior CATS knowledge and only a small introduction to ballroom, then receiving ballroom briefings that kept the production rooted in the community. They discuss developing Electra’s story, the shift to Broadway, and the demands of covering 10 roles, where improvisation and adaptability are essential. 01:46 Audition Story 04:35 Workshop Chaos And Ballroom Briefings 07:20 Building Electra At the PAC 10:25 Swing Tracks And Broadway Debut 17:49 Transfer To Broadway 21:12 Joining The Ballroom Community 29:41 Dream Judges 35:15 Rapid Fire Check out Kendall on Instagram: @kendallstroud Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Social Media: @catsjellicleball Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠catsthejellicleball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I have a dream that Skimbleshanks, as a representative of the MTA, is able to have a sit down with Zohran Mamdani to talk about the MTA fares.” This episode welcomes back the wonderful Emma Sofia for her third appearance on the show to discuss transferring Cats: The Jellicle Ball from the Perelman Arts Center to the Broadhurst Theatre, including how they adapted the PAC’s long runway into a proscenium space with tiers, onstage seating, boxes, and continued audience immersion. Emma explains how she maintains Cassandra’s boundaryless audience interaction, where Cassandra and Skimbleshanks tend to play in the house, and how the team expanded relationships and ballroom “family tree” lore. Emma talks about cast/story tweaks such as Leiomy as Macavity, Emma receiving the Legacy Robe, the pace of Tony season, and standout promo moments like Miscast and an upcoming MTA Sessions Skimbleshanks collaboration. 01:34 Broadway Transfer 04:00 Designing Immersion at Broadhurst 07:05 Cassandra Crowd Work 16:52 Legacy Robe 22:59 Miscast Experience 30:44 Dream Collabs 33:09 Award Season 40:03 Rapid Fire Check out Emma on Instagram: @emmasofiaokay Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Social Media: @catsjellicleball Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠catsthejellicleball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Junior does not have an agent or a manager. Junior has a community in front of him and we had to move through that in order to get the call.” This episode features the casting directors of Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” Victor Vazquez and Sujotta Pace of X Casting talking about casting the show from early workshops through the PAC run and to Broadway. They discuss their personal introductions to CATS, receiving the initial “ballroom CATS” pitch, and how evolving workshops shaped everything about the show. They describe prioritizing the ballroom community through dedicated open calls, using community networks to reach artists without traditional representation, and the challenges of assembling an ensemble while honoring CATS legacy. Enjoy this deep dive into the creative process and the intricacies of the show. 02:31 The Ballroom CATS Pitch 04:56 Writing the Viral Casting Call 07:34 Workshops and Role Discoveries 09:43 Finding Stars and Ballroom Legends 32:40 Casting For Representation 41:48 Honoring Elders Legacy 45:13 Icons Leading The Company 48:20 Rapid Fire Check out X Casting on Instagram: @xcastingnyc Check out Victor on Instagram: @victorvictorv Check out Sujotta on Instagram: @sujotta Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Social Media: @catsjellicleball Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠catsthejellicleball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think that the magic that MCs create and where they're able to activate someone. I think that's a gift and it's really incredible.”” This episode features Dudney Joseph Jr. who is currently performing as Munkustrap in Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the Broadhurst Theatre. Dudney shares his first exposure to CATS via VHS in Buffalo, roles he once imagined playing, and how the production grew through workshops into a Broadway transfer. Dudney explains blending musical theater narration with ballroom MC responsibilities, learning to “take up space,” and developing the Legend Statements and Stars (LSS) curtain-call chants, an idea he voice-noted to Zhailon after the Lincoln Center workshop, then built under tight timing at the PAC before it went viral. He discusses changes from the PAC to Broadway, collaborating with creatives to honor both Cats’ legacy and ballroom culture, and working alongside ballroom icons like Junior LaBeija and Leiomy, including how they supported and informed his performance. Dudney also created a custom “Wrong Cat Died” chant for a podcast curtain call. 01:00 Introduction to CATS 04:26 Jellicle Ball Workshops 07:01 Building Munkustrap as MC 11:12 Creating the Curtain Call Chants 23:19 From PAC to Broadway 28:45 Ballroom Meets CATS 38:11 Why You Should Go 44:00 Rapid Fire Check out Dudney on Instagram: ⁠@dudney_jr Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Social Media: @catsjellicleball Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball: ⁠⁠⁠⁠catsthejellicleball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It was a compliment when someone was like, your felinity was really beautiful. They’re really good at being a cat. Your hands up in little paws, maybe wash your little face. Looking back it’s probably one of the more ridiculous things I’ve done in my life.” This episode features Dee Roscioli who is currently a standby for Madeline and Helen in Death Becomes Her on Broadway and was Grizabella on the US National Tour 5 in CATS. Dee shares how CATS was her first Broadway show at 16, her lifelong connection to “Memory,” and what it was like playing Grizabella at 25, including what she recalls about auditions, rehearsal focus on felinity, and portraying an outcast despite being close with the cast. She recounts touring mishaps and backstage stories from her time on tour. Dee then shares her work in Death Becomes Her including the challenges of being a standby who covers two leads, including gaps between performances and viral audience expectations. We cast the cats into Death Becomes Her and discuss upcoming performances Dee has planned. An episode you won’t want to miss. 06:43 Auditioning For Grizabella 10:24 Building Grizabella Physicality 12:30 Cats Felinity 21:11 Wild Tour Stories in Costume 24:36 Death Becomes Her Standby Life 28:14 Viral Moments and Making Them Yours 33:58 Casting Cats Into Death Becomes Her 39:02 Rapid Fire Check out Dee on Instagram: @deeroscioli Check out Dee's Linktree: linktr.ee/deeroscioli Check out Death Becomes Her on Social Media: @deathbecomesher Check out Death Becomes Her's website: ⁠deathbecomesher.com Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You have to see it. It’s one of those things that if you miss it, you’ve missed a cultural moment in time.”  This episode features the incredible Ken Ard who originated the roles of Macavity, Plato, and the Rumpus Cat in the original Broadway production of CATS and is currently performing as DJ Griddlebone in CATS: The Jellicle Ball at the Broadhurst Theatre. Ken shares his experience hearing the West End cast album, auditioning as a gymnast-singer-dancer, and developing Macavity as a chaotic street cat without the fan-made “family tree” lore, while learning in rehearsal through acting exercises alongside Betty Buckley. He describes the dangerous Rumpus Cat star-trap floor stunt, a knee injury during the original run, and meeting celebrities backstage. Ken dives into how The Jellicle Ball’s ballroom setting makes CATS clearer and emotionally resonant for a new era, his audition path into the expanded DJ Griddlebone role, and why skeptics and even CATS haters should see this reinvention, praising key performances and the production’s inclusive cast and culture. 01:05 Auditioning for CATS 03:25 Creating Macavity 05:05 CATS Lore vs Reality 09:16 Rumpus Cat Trapdoor 13:05 Original Run Memories 21:33 Becoming DJ Grizabella 28:31 Ballroom Meets Broadway 33:54 Standout Moments 44:53 Rapid Fire Check out Ken on Instagram: @thekennethard Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Social Media: @catsjellicleball Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball: ⁠⁠⁠catsthejellicleball.com⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“In my head I think Jemima is the daughter of Bombalurina and Macavity.” This episode features Gabrielle Parker who played Jemima on the 2025 International Tour of CATS. Hear Gabrielle share how a ballet background and seeing Cats around age 10 sparked her obsession with the show and her early goal to play Victoria. She recounts auditioning soon after graduating, initially being seen for Rumpleteazer before landing Victoria, and explains how character work begins with the “three words,” including Victoria’s surprising trait of being “unselfconscious.” Gabrielle discusses later playing Jemima on tours through Korea, Taiwan, China, and Europe, including the challenge and audience reaction of singing the opening of “Moonlight” in Korean and Mandarin. She offers personal Jemima backstory theories, reflects on touring culture differences, shares memorable mishaps and emergency cover moments, and reveals she met her husband on CATS, joking about a “white cat curse.” 00:50 First Time Seeing CATS 07:18 Building Victoria and Jemima 12:08 Jemima Backstory  20:20 Singing Moonlight in New Languages 24:33 White Cat Curse Love Story 26:48 CATS Wedding Performance 31:53 Rapid Fire Check out Gabrielle on Instagram: @gabbyparker_ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I felt like it was finally something that came to fruition for me. I’m about to go to the theater and see a trans woman on stage and also in my favorite show.” This episode features actress and activist sis thee doll who is a longtime CATS fan. Hear sis share how her connection began with the CATS video trailer on Barney’s Great Adventure and later deepened through school speech competitions using T.S. Eliot’s poems and seeing the 2016 revival live. She discusses first hearing about The Jellicle Ball and auditioning in summer 2023, describes attending early previews at PAC NYC on Juneteenth 2024, and shares how the show’s impact as a milestone for trans, especially Black trans women, and the ballroom community on Broadway. This is an episode made for both CATS devotees and Jellicle newcomers. 00:57 Becoming a CATS Fan 06:31 Hearing About The Jellicle Ball 08:39 Audition Story and Dream Roles 11:21 First Night at PAC 25:49 Friends Debuts 30:56 Broadway Representation 41:03 Why This Production Matters 41:53 Rapid Fire Check out sis on Social Media: @ucancallmesis Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Social Media: @catsjellicleball Check out CATS: The Jellicle Ball: ⁠⁠catsthejellicleball.com⁠⁠ Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices