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The Wrong Cat DiedGrizabella was the wrong cat to die. After seeing CATS the Musical for the first time in July of 2016, podcast host Mike Abrams was filled with a whirlwind of emotions. He was amused, confused, and a little angry. Almost exactly three years later when the 2019 CATS movie trailer came out, Mike had enough. It was time to speak his truth Grizabella was the wrong Cat to Die at the Jellicle Ball. In this podcast, Mike interviews CATS cast members, CATS superfans, CATS haters, and explores the backstories of the Jellicle characters all to make a case for why they were more worthy to ascend to the Heaviside Layer than Grizabella. Author: Broadway Podcast Network Language: en Genres: Arts, Music, Music Commentary, Performing Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Ep251 - Ken Ard, DJ Griddlebone in CATS: The Jellicle Ball & Macavity in Original Broadway Cast
Episode 251
Monday, 27 April, 2026
“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
