“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