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[0:15] Mike Abrams: Welcome to The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast breakdown of Cats. I'm your host, Mike Abrams, and today we have another amazing guest.

[0:20] Mike Abrams: He's been in, I believe, 12 Broadway shows, including the original production of Newsies, and more recently in Hamilton. But I know him from his performance as Skimbleshanks in the 2016 Broadway revival of Cats. So welcome, Aaron Albano, and thank you for joining me.

[0:35] Aaron Albano: Hey, thanks for having me. Long time coming.

[0:38] Mike Abrams: I know, it's been a long time. I've talked to most of the 2016 revival.

[0:42] Aaron Albano: Which is amazing.

[0:43] Mike Abrams: I know, and I've been wanting to have you on for a while, because I know you covered, you started as a swing, covered a lot of Cats, and then you were Skimbleshanks at the end, and then recently you posted some stuff about Cats.

[0:55] Aaron Albano: It's time. Clearly, Cats is on your mind.

[0:57] Mike Abrams: Wonderful. Oh, yeah.

[0:58] Aaron Albano: It's time to do it.

[0:59] Mike Abrams: Happy to be here. I always love to start with the beginning.

[1:02] Aaron Albano: Sure.

[1:03] Mike Abrams: What is your Cats history? When did you first see it?

[1:06] Aaron Albano: Here's the funny thing, because a lot of my company was Cats kids. I was not a Cats kid. I was a Newsies kid. And so I think my first introduction to Cats wasn't even the movie. I think it was, did you ever hear about that, it was this concert celebrating Cameron Mackintosh called Hey Mr. Producer?

[1:32] Mike Abrams: I did not.

[1:33] Aaron Albano: The concert, I think, done in London, it was basically a Here is Your Life of producing for Cameron Mackintosh, and it had Cats from Les Mis, and Phantom, and Miss Saigon, and there was one section, and I think they played it on PBS when they wanted some airtime at the end. They wanted people like, hey, viewers, whenever people, they would need sponsors, or what was it called back in the day?

[2:02] Mike Abrams: It was like when you called in to give money.

[2:05] Aaron Albano: Oh, yeah, yeah, like the telethons.

[2:07] Mike Abrams: That, yes, it was absolutely that. So they would play it all the way during then, and I remember being at home, and they had a big Cats section of the show, because obviously, why not? And I think they did, I think either part of the opening number or part of the ball, but it was just all of these cats just dancing up a storm, and I, it was beautiful, and it was wonderful, and I was like, this is amazing, what is this? This is Cats? Okay, cool.

[2:37] Aaron Albano: To which I then got a little bit, like, I drank a little bit of the Cats Kool-Aid, where I was like, I want to find out more about this. To which then, I discovered the film, the film, The Little Life Cap, to which I was like, okay, let's watch Cats. And, sorry to say, when I was watching that movie, I was, I think we got, I mean, back then, I didn't know the show, so I want to say we got up to like Bustopher, and I literally was like, yeah, I'm good.

[3:12] Aaron Albano: Like, because, you know, when you go in blind, and especially when you're like a teenager, you're like, what's happening? I don't, what's going on? Like, you're unaccustomed to the non-linear musical, because all you know is like Disney movies and or like book musicals.

[3:31] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[3:33] Aaron Albano: And so, my first experience of Cats as a whole, I don't even think I finished it. I think I got to about maybe Bustopher or maybe Mungo Rump, and I was like, is anything going to happen? And so, I didn't, I think I just then turned it off, and I was like, you know what, I'm fine with Cats.

[3:53] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[3:55] Aaron Albano: And so, I was like, all right, well, Cats is something that I, God bless, everybody loves it. People who like were raised on it must love it for some reason. No yucking their yum, but it's not for me.

[4:07] Mike Abrams: Fast forward then to...

[4:09] Aaron Albano: Yeah.

[4:10] Mike Abrams: Well, I love this though, because so you saw this, you saw a telethon, you just saw like a random number with a bunch of people dancing.

[4:17] Aaron Albano: Yeah.

[4:18] Mike Abrams: And you're like, okay, let's dig in. But if you go in blind, like I went in blind as well, and it is wild to go in blind. I think when you see it, like again, when it's like a Tony performance or like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, like it did exactly what it was supposed to do, where I was like, ooh, what is this? It's just people dancing, and I'm excited for it. But then when you approach it like, all right, let's go and invest two and a half hours into a story, and then you discover there's no story, at least in the obvious sense.

[4:46] Aaron Albano: Yes.

[4:48] Mike Abrams: You're like, okay, what's happening? And what am I watching? And I, let's go watch cartoons instead. Like, I don't know. It was like, it was definitely, I definitely did not jump on the Cats train quite yet at that point.

[5:02] Aaron Albano: Yeah.

[5:03] Mike Abrams: There's a production in Florida happening right now as we're recording this, or just starting, and actually they made a post and was like, here's how to have a good time, because I think it's part of their season. And that's a tough, Cats is a tough season, like, number, because if you're so used to, like you said, the Disney's, the Newsies, like those storylines, you're not going to get it. And the number one thing they said is, is like, let go of the story. Like, just come in with a, like, don't try to figure it out, just come in and enjoy the singing and dancing.

[5:31] Aaron Albano: And I thought that was actually a really smart post on their part, of like, don't even try. You either have to do that, or you have to, like, do what I did, which is you go all in on the story. And like, spend way too much time figuring it out, because it's there.

[5:44] Mike Abrams: Well, I think.

[5:45] Aaron Albano: But it's not there the first time you see it. It's really hard the first time you see it.

[5:48] Mike Abrams: Totally. You need, like, a Cats guide to watch Cats, for sure. Because I think I've discovered, like, my, like, sort of elevator pitch for the show when people are like, okay, what's Cats? And I'm like, you know what? It's chorus line, but Cats. Like, that's sort of the way I tell people, and they're like, oh, okay. I was like, they're all looking for a job, aka heaven, or whatever the heavy side layer is. And I'm just like, and they're presenting themselves to be picked.

[6:13] Aaron Albano: And I'm like, all right. And that's all you got. That's all you need. That's all that is there. Period. The end.

[6:21] Mike Abrams: Yeah. I had to do a, well, I got asked to give a work presentation in front of about 400, 500 people that was about this, about my experience doing this podcast.

[6:32] Aaron Albano: Amazing.

[6:34] Mike Abrams: Which was a very fun but silly thing to say yes to, to be in a very professional corporate setting, and then have to, like, explain how I ended up on the stage in Germany, you know, like, touring the set of the international tour. But I started with a, like, I think you should know the plot. And my plot was, like, very, very quick. And, like, I did it for a comedic effect, too, of, like, let's make this a little over the top.

[6:56] Aaron Albano: I feel like you have to.

[6:57] Mike Abrams: There's no other way. But it was, it was very simply, this is a cult of cats that come together once a year to decide to sacrifice one. I was like, they basically all explain why they think they should win. They end up in a, what I can only describe as a not work appropriate dance number. Beautiful. And then the one that hasn't been in the show the entire time comes back. They welcome her back. They send her off to her death. The end of the musical. Beautiful.

[7:17] Aaron Albano: And I was like, that's my, that's my, like, elevator pitch of it. Because if you, if you go from that, you actually can follow the rest of it pretty well. Because it's like, okay, this is why this story is why this cat should win. This is why this cat should win. If you go in trying to find the, I always call it the sitcom, like, through lines of the conflict resolution, point A, point B, plot A, plot B, everything coming together neatly at the end, you're not going to get that. And that's the Disney and Newsies and all the other, you know, all the other stories.

[7:46] Mike Abrams: That's just a normal, like, book musical.

[7:47] Aaron Albano: Yeah, well, everything else in the world.

[7:48] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[7:49] Aaron Albano: That's an Oklahoma book musical.

[7:50] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[7:51] Aaron Albano: But it's fun. So, you, but then you get cast.

[7:53] Mike Abrams: Yes.

[7:54] Aaron Albano: So, where is this in your Broadway journey?

[7:56] Aaron Albano: So, I get cast in, so, I think auditions for Cats were happening early 2016, for the revival of Cats, were happening early 2016. And I think at the time, I was just finishing up Allegiance.

[8:14] Mike Abrams: Okay.

[8:15] Aaron Albano: So, Allegiance was my eighth Broadway show at the, was that, is that right? Yes. Eighth Broadway show at the time. Fitting for this to be ninth. I was, and so, I was going in and I'd never worked for Andy Blankenbuehler yet. I had known him for ages, but I had yet to be fortunate enough to work with him in a professional setting. And so, when those began, it was sort of a, like, all right, I'd like, let's, let's go do Cats because, like, because, like, if there's any Cats that I think that I'll be wanting to, like, experience, because, again, remembering my, like, experience with, and again, this has all changed since then, obviously, but at the time, my, like, aversion to Gillian Lynn Cats, I was like, okay, if I'm going to get on board with this IP, maybe it'll be with Andy's Cats. So let's go, let's go see.

[9:16] Aaron Albano: Let's go see how this goes. And again, I was more there for the experience of another Broadway show to work with one of my, like, with someone that I'd looked up to for a very long time, and, you know, just hoping for the best.

[9:30] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[9:31] Aaron Albano: And then the journey started there. I think we learned, I want to say, like, four or five combos, three, three, four. I think we learned a tugger combo, a ball combo.

[9:41] Mike Abrams: That might, actually, that might be it.

[9:50] Aaron Albano: Yeah. Tugger combo and a ball combo. And I think the mistos learned a misto combo. And I think the women learned a Macavity combo. So I think that was the four combos, at least at the time, existed in the Cats audition process.

[10:09] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[10:10] Aaron Albano: But I remember during the ball, one of our instructions was, like, pick a cat, any cat, let's see what you do with it. And I think at that point, I just chose Skimble because I was like, all right, let's put a vest on me. Not even really remembering that he actually wears a vest in the show, but I was like, to be as, like, prim and proper and annoyed with Grizabella as I can. Let me, like, straighten, like, as we go and, like, attack her, let me, like, straighten my tux. Let me straighten my bow tie and then go and, like, swipe at her.

[10:49] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[10:51] Aaron Albano: And then, luckily, I was cast, I think, we found out maybe in April and we started rehearsal maybe in May or June.

[11:00] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[11:01] Aaron Albano: But it was, it was awesome. And then I ended up covering seven tracks.

[11:08] Mike Abrams: Oh, I have, I found my swing cards from the production back in the day. So I cover, back then, I covered Skimble, Carbuckety, who was the, who are my green cards? Corkapat. Um, who is this? They were all color coded. So let me, oh, Pounceful, Tumble Brutus, which I don't tumble, which I hear you're, you've been hearing a lot of Tumble Brutus covers that don't tumble. Um, Alonzo and Mungojerry.

[11:41] Aaron Albano: Was that seven? Yeah, that feels like seven. That's what I have from the fan Wikipedia page.

[11:46] Mike Abrams: So that's what, that's what they've got there.

[11:48] Aaron Albano: Oh, wow. Wait, I didn't. Okay, great. Oh, yeah. I can send it to you after. There's a nice little, uh, there's a, essentially a Wikipedia that has, I don't know who keeps up, like, it all up to date because there's a lot of stuff in there, but it's got, when people are in productions, it generally pulls in the, like, your start and end dates and when you're on. So it's a good starting point for understanding at least a rough idea of what people have done in the cats world.

[12:11] Mike Abrams: Oh, that's awesome.

[12:12] Aaron Albano: Yeah. So you started as a swing, you're doing seven cats covering everything. This is your first Andy Blankenbuehler show. Um, and I remember like, so I, when I moved, I moved to New York, right, like right as this was happening. And this was one of the first shows I saw when I was, when I was in New York, because a friend who worked on Broadway was like, you should go see it. It's coming back. But what was the vibe leading up to it? Cause I know there was like, I've heard a little bit of it. I know there was some, some stories with Nicole Scherzinger versus little Lewis and all that stuff. But like, but I don't like, I wasn't in the city and very in tune to the Broadway world at the time to know of like, was this a, everyone was pumped or was people like, was there some, I know there was some nerves with the super fans of Andy just purely because they're so Jillian Lynn purists. Um, like what was your experience in the rehearsal room of like the vibe coming into it?

[13:03] Aaron Albano: Well, in the rehearsal room, everybody was sort of on their best behavior. I think there was, I mean, especially because, you know, there's such, there's such reverence for the show. I have been very fortunate to be a part of a lot of quote unquote tribes of that exist in shows. Like I'm a Newsy, I'm a cat, I'm a dah, dah, dah, dah, dah. And ain't no show has stronger Kool-Aid than cats. Like, cause I remember before the show, like, I think there was like, um, it was a joke, but not a joke sort of thing where like it was announced and people were auditioning for it. But there was like a, like a sort of guerrilla campaign where like flyers would just show up in New York being like, let's stop this revival. Like, like people were like, stop.

[14:00] Mike Abrams: Oh, it was.

[14:00] Aaron Albano: And again, no one will we ever know if it was actually serious or if it was actually a joke, who's to say, but it was very funny. And those of us who did not have any cast history, who knew each other already, we're like texting each other these like things that were like, what are we about to do guys? And it was, it was hilarious.

[14:18] Aaron J. Albano: I first encountered CATS through the Cameron Mackintosh concert “Hey, Mr. Producer.” I was probably around ten years old, and I remember being fascinated by the concept but not fully understanding what I was watching.

[14:48] Aaron J. Albano: Later, I tried to watch the filmed version as a teenager, but I didn’t finish it because the show’s non-linear structure was a bit confusing for me at that age.

[15:08] Aaron J. Albano: It wasn’t until I got older that I really appreciated the storytelling and the characters.

[15:18] Aaron J. Albano: When I was cast in the 2016 revival, I had to dive deep into the material and really understand the world of CATS.

[15:28] Aaron J. Albano: One of the things I love about CATS is how it inspires such strong love and hate reactions from audiences.

[15:48] Aaron J. Albano: There’s this curiosity around Andy Blankenbuehler's revival compared to Gillian Lynne’s original staging, and I think that’s part of what makes it so fascinating.

[16:08] Aaron J. Albano: I remember when the “Stop Cats” flyers popped up around town before opening night. It was a wild time to be involved in the show.

[16:28] Aaron J. Albano: As a swing, I covered seven tracks, which was both exciting and challenging.

[16:48] Aaron J. Albano: The experience of being a swing really prepared me for the unexpected moments that can happen in a live performance.

[17:08] Aaron J. Albano: There was one time I was thrown on mid-show, and it was a whirlwind of adrenaline and excitement.

[17:28] Aaron J. Albano: I had to jump into a role I wasn’t expecting to play, and it really tested my skills as a performer.

[17:48] Aaron J. Albano: That experience taught me a lot about being adaptable and staying focused under pressure.

[18:08] Aaron J. Albano: I think that’s one of the things that makes live theater so special; you never know what might happen.

[18:28] Aaron J. Albano: The camaraderie among the cast and crew really helps to create a supportive environment, especially during those unexpected moments.

[18:48] Aaron J. Albano: I loved every minute of being part of CATS, and it was an incredible journey for me as a performer.

[19:08] Aaron J. Albano: The character of Skimbleshanks is so unique, and I enjoyed bringing him to life on stage.

[19:28] Aaron J. Albano: There’s a lot of energy in that role, and it was a joy to connect with the audience through his character.

[19:48] Aaron J. Albano: I think audiences really resonate with the different personalities of the Jellicle cats, and Skimbleshanks is no exception.

[20:08] Aaron J. Albano: Each performance felt like a new adventure, and I loved exploring the nuances of the character.

[20:28] Aaron J. Albano: The music and choreography are also such a huge part of what makes CATS memorable.

[20:48] Aaron J. Albano: I had the chance to work with some amazing choreographers and directors, which really helped me grow as a performer.

[21:08] Aaron J. Albano: The experience of being in the revival was truly unforgettable, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

[21:28] Aaron J. Albano: I think the legacy of CATS continues to inspire new generations of performers and audiences alike.

[21:48] Aaron J. Albano: It’s a show that sparks conversation and debate, and I think that’s part of its charm.

[22:08] Aaron J. Albano: I’m excited to see how the show evolves in the future and how new interpretations will continue to emerge.

[22:28] Aaron J. Albano: For me, being part of CATS was more than just a job; it was a chance to be part of something larger than myself.

[22:48] Aaron J. Albano: I hope to carry the lessons I learned from this experience into my future projects.

[23:08] Aaron J. Albano: It’s been a wild ride, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

[23:28] Aaron J. Albano: I’m looking forward to what comes next in my career and how I can continue to grow as an artist.

[23:48] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you for having me on the podcast to share my experiences with CATS.

[24:08] Aaron J. Albano: I hope listeners enjoyed hearing about my journey and the unique aspects of being part of the show.

[24:28] Aaron J. Albano: It’s been a pleasure to talk about this iconic musical and the impact it has had on my life.

[24:48] Aaron J. Albano: I encourage everyone to keep exploring the world of theater and to embrace the magic it brings.

[25:08] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you again for the opportunity to share my story.

[25:28] Aaron J. Albano: I look forward to connecting with fans and fellow performers in the future.

[25:48] Aaron J. Albano: Let’s keep the conversation going about CATS and the incredible world of musical theater.

[26:08] Aaron J. Albano: Until next time, take care and keep dreaming big.

[26:28] Aaron J. Albano: I appreciate everyone tuning in and supporting the arts.

[26:48] Aaron J. Albano: It means the world to me and to all artists out there.

[27:08] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you!

[27:28] Aaron J. Albano: I hope to see you all at the theater soon.

[27:48] Aaron J. Albano: Bye for now!

[28:08] Aaron J. Albano: Take care!

[28:37] Mike Abrams: A couple things you've even said today just makes me laugh a little bit in the sense of like there's you have some people that love Cats or hate Cats and you're on the you know in the rehearsal room respecting it together I'm like yeah there are people that love and hate their jobs and they're all gonna go do them and so like that's the same as most corporate jobs or more traditional corporate world but then even this it's like there's some like I expect like the you becoming the full-time person there's almost a refresh like whenever we get a new person on our team into a new role there's the learning curve of that but there's also like some energy that comes into it of like we got a new person that's bringing some new ideas and new thoughts into it and you got to work through that like team norm stage which is essentially what you did but it's basically you just explained everything that at least I deal with and I'm sure a lot of people deal with in corporate settings you're just doing it in a unitard dressed as a cat like you know it's like it's just really it's just a hilarious ridiculous version of it but still work at the end of the day like a corporate structure is corporate structure capitalism still capitalism in any format it comes in yeah I love it um I want to hear some fun memorable stories because again like your cast went through all kinds of craziness so like it's again it was early in my time of knowing the show and a lot of the cast I interviewed was very early in my time I was actually looking back at a couple of the ones I did more recently and one of them was Mackenzie and I was like oh yeah she was the one that got attacked by a service dog like you know like oh my gosh I completely forgot that so it's like there are these like random things but it's like what do you remember that I'll never forget I mean the one sort of thing that I do remember was more it was when I was a swing um because I do remember there was this day um because I was a swing slash booth singer so whenever I wasn't on stage I was booth singing um and so I was a full-time booth singer um and so I was just always singing and during the show we're in the booth we're singing singing singing singing and you know I we also have our phones or we have our hobbies or whatever we're doing and we're chilling because also we're just hanging like and during I want to say a good amount of the show especially at the beginning of the show we're we're singing we're just there and then I think our first sort of break that we get where we get to go out of the booth and hang out is uh Mungo Rump yeah Mungo Rump because it's only them two on stage um so the rest of the cast also comes down and like gets to finally see and say hi to all of us and so we're kiki-ing um and right next to the booth is the wardrobe room who which always has this like candy candy bucket that never fails we always just like go because also we're in the best shape of our lives in that show so like a Kit Kat like every what 15 minutes is perfectly okay so I go into the um I go into the the wardrobe room like and I think a few people are with me we go and like attack the candy bucket and we're kiki-ing all of a sudden stage management runs down and like at the door of wardrobe he's like he he like points to me he yells for me he's like Aaron uh Carbucket is out you're on for Carbucket-y as soon as you can I have like a Kit Kat in my mouth like mid bite to which I'm like I like on I forget if I like finish the bite and then throw the rest away whatever it is I like I'm like okay and I just felt like being like great and he's like all right let me know when you're ready and I'm like okay cool I I don't have enough time to like run back upstairs and get anything I don't have enough time to like go check my notes so it's just like okay I yelled at that point I like yelled to the like uh makeup supervisor I'm like okay Victoria I need this color this color and this color I need to do da da da I need like I was like and then I yelled to the wardrobe supervisor I was like I need my skins for Carbucket-y I just like start like yelling everything like in every which direction of what I need because I can't go upstairs and I'm like all right cool um and then we just we just start putting me together sort of like pit crew style I just like get in the chair I start doing my makeup one of my like one of the other people puts on my like eyes one of the other people like put puts me in a hairnet we get my mic like we get everything sort of on during Mungo Rump.

Mungo Rump is like just going like they're singing the song is going I think I'm able to get on stage so so we're still getting ready through Mungo Rump through Old Deuteronomy and I think the ball begins and I finally am ready to go I think they like because of course from from the moment he said like they like secretly my stage manager started like like hit a stopwatch and I think by the time I got on stage I was able to figure out like an entrance to get onto the boot which is the the trunk of the car um because I was like that's the easiest sort of way to get on stage that's not gonna like mess any choreography up or mess any lifts up let me get on there I think I got on stage and like from Kit Kat to on stage in about 12 minutes.

Wow. Which was like it was it was very and adrenaline has never been more high in that because I didn't get to warm up I didn't get to like the the way because we didn't get to tell the the like the only people who knew from the cast the onstage cast were the people who were in the wardrobe room with me who then had to go on stage for Old Deuteronomy so they weren't able to tell anyone the amount of people who would like look at me or look at my costume and then see my face and I would give them eyes being like hey yeah and they would be like like to watch all of their eyes sort of like squint and then get big because they realize I'm no longer the person who normally plays Carbucket-y. It was very funny and very fun and I it was the craziest ball I'd ever been and to this day I think about that experience whenever I'm like ain't no adrenaline like a mid-show swing on when you can't check your notes and you're just like all right let's just see what's in there and hopefully these jumps in second aren't going to like pull anything yeah yeah so that was a very fun day.

[35:06] Mike Abrams: That was an injury I assume right like somebody was out like hurt and then you're just for reference you did this in all the whole thing in 12 minutes when you did your makeup for Carbucket-y normally what was that timing it was a it was a pretty it's a it was one of the easier from what I remember I it was one of the easier plots I think it only required like two or three colors um I think probably 10 minutes 15 oh it's a lot yeah no it's definitely like like I think minimum all of them sort of took like minimum of 15 minutes yeah so you're doing that on the fly yeah you're also getting dressed and probably hydrating and doing whatever you can to get ready yeah like and then they go to one of the most physical demanding parts of the show oh yes first shot out of a cannon into the ball and I remember the first straight of dancing because I also remember the first time I went on for the ball I was playing Mungo I was playing Mungo my first time on for the show was Mungo Jerry and this was I think maybe a week into us running I don't know if it was during preview I know I think we were open at that point and my friend just the Prada who I did Newsies with was Mungo Jerry and he was the one that I was like I'll probably Jess is a workhorse he'll be in he's never gonna be out obviously I'm gonna learn his stuff because I'm a professional but like yeah it's gonna be a while fast forward to when he's my first one on and so like I said the only real break that the entire company has is Mungo is that yeah who doesn't get a break from Mungo Rump Mungo and Rump and so I'm there to do like I'm doing the show doing Mungo Rump adrenaline's high I get to Mungo Rump Mungo Mungo Rump is crazy it's such a hard number because it's also just them two and then we get to Old Deuteronomy and they're just on the boot the whole time because they're trying to recover we get through all of Old Deuteronomy and this and the ball begins and I turned to Shanika who was our Rumpleteazer at the time and I said I'm not recovered yet and she's like good luck and slides down slides off the thing and like leaves me alone and I'm like okay here we go 13 minutes later I think we get halfway through to what we used to call cat sex in the middle of the thing before like when we're all just sort of rolling around and Mungo and Rump are down stage left like quote unquote having sex just rolling around each other and I'm literally like pawing at her knowing that the hardest part of the ball is coming and I'm just point pawing at her trying to breathe and saying to her with like full eye contact I'm like I'm gonna die and so because also like no one no one warns anyone before they go into Cats about just how hot the yak hair is like because again like again also as a male identifying performer more often than not we don't have wigs so the women know this more than the men but the amount of air that needs to escape from your body that doesn't get to escape because it is caught with basically a winter hat was like I was lying down and I'm like I'm gonna die and she was like you got it you got it you got it and then we start and I was like oh my god we're about to do this and I'm not ready and it was it was the most reckless I have ever danced because how else do you do that number because I'm I literally thought that I was gonna die the first the first time I went on pure adrenaline adrenaline and it spent before the ball even started yeah it was yeah it was it that was a manic day um non-throw-on stories I think uh anything fun that used to happen I mean my number was always fun the ball was always fun when I finally got used to it um yeah I'm I mean again it was 10 years ago so now I'm trying to like remember things that I mean the the stuff that Tyler would like because again like we're really good friends and again like I think I heard in a couple of episodes like the Tugger the Tugger Skimbleshanks relationship was a little more fluid in our production than it has ever been in any other production yeah so you know we like he would like I don't know dare me to do things I'd be like sure why not let's just play and it was very fun um that was an early um an early fun part of this of this podcast was when there was a lot of like the headcanon that's on the the Wikipedia site and like lore of the show sure that's very clearly now that I've seen it you know in different productions is just friends playing with each other yeah knowing that there's not a lot of like like you can have a lot of loose uh interpretations of this like you just said you're Mungo and and Rump were were having sex and on top of each other like there's a lot that play a brother sister yeah and it's just because the two of them feel platonic and it's like they're not going to play it that way but early on I remember reading that there was like there is this this like lore between Skimbleshanks and Tugger and we don't really know where it's from but we think it's from the 2016 revival and there was like a little bit of like this weird quirky thing and so I was like again very early in me interviewing people and I interviewed Tyler and I'm like Tyler let's like let's bring this to life like yeah you ain't like I'm going directly to you can you answer this and it was so funny because and then I had Jeremy on later and it was just their friends yeah and they had a moment that some super fan caught where they were just kind of like laughing with each other and that fan brought it to them at the stage door and was like I think you all did this today and they were like yeah and then they kind of kept it because it was like oh like people enjoyed that and liked it but it's so funny to me that the lure of a show can be so simply from one night of two friends just having that look on stage or for all we know there's somebody that noticed your Carbucket-y that day and just you like being thrown on mid-show having a different look to somebody else of like the oh no I can't believe I'm actually out here could have been their version of why your Carbucket-y character was uh dating this person or friends with this person or anything because absolutely the levels of this show that people go into which is why I love it it's the part I love most and that's also I think why like part of my like hey Aaron chill out as a performer like came from sort of Cats because I remember hearing about a lot of this lore and hearing about all of this stuff and did it up but I was like okay cool but also if we're gonna get really nitty-gritty about it I'm like the source material are the poems yeah the songs like anything outside of that is extra and so like completely we can really do whatever we want outside of this like I remember also again Chorus Line sort of in the same way like there are the basic things that we know about those characters and obviously that's a different story in some ways because those were real people

[42:56] Aaron J. Albano: No one warns anyone before they go into CATS about just how hot the yak hair is.

[43:26] Aaron J. Albano: I remember the first time I saw CATS was through the Cameron Mackintosh concert “Hey, Mr. Producer.” I was probably in high school, and I was just like, “What is this?” It was so bizarre and so different from anything I had ever seen before.

[43:56] Aaron J. Albano: Then I tried to watch the filmed version as a teenager, and I didn’t finish it. I was just like, “What is happening?” The non-linear structure was really confusing to me at the time.

[44:11] Aaron J. Albano: But then, when I got cast in the revival, I had to dive deep into it. I had to learn all the characters and the storylines, and it was a whole new world for me.

[44:21] Aaron J. Albano: I think the best way to explain CATS to someone who’s never seen it is that it’s a series of vignettes about different cats, each with their own story and personality, all leading up to the Jellicle Ball where one cat is chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer.

[44:31] Aaron J. Albano: The love/hate reactions that CATS inspires are so strong. You either love it or you hate it, and there’s really no in-between.

[44:41] Aaron J. Albano: I think a lot of that comes from the fact that it’s such a unique piece of theatre. It’s not a traditional narrative, and that can be jarring for some people.

[44:51] Aaron J. Albano: I remember when the Andy Blankenbuehler revival was announced, there was so much curiosity around how it would compare to Gillian Lynne’s original staging.

[45:01] Aaron J. Albano: And then, of course, there were those infamous “Stop Cats” flyers that popped up around town before opening night. It was a wild time.

[45:11] Aaron J. Albano: As a swing, I covered seven tracks, which was a lot of fun but also a lot of pressure. You have to be ready to go on at a moment’s notice.

[45:21] Aaron J. Albano: There was one time I was thrown on mid-show, and it was a complete whirlwind. I had to jump into the role without any warning, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying.

[45:31] Aaron J. Albano: The adrenaline rush of being on stage in that moment is something I’ll never forget. It really tests your skills as a performer.

[45:41] Aaron J. Albano: I think that experience really solidified my love for the show and the character of Skimbleshanks.

[45:51] Aaron J. Albano: Skimbleshanks is such a fun character to play. He’s quirky and energetic, and there’s just something so special about bringing him to life on stage.

[46:01] Aaron J. Albano: The audience’s reactions to the character are always so rewarding. You can feel their energy, and it makes the performance even more enjoyable.

[46:11] Aaron J. Albano: I think that’s what makes CATS so unique. It’s not just a show; it’s an experience that you share with the audience.

[46:21] Aaron J. Albano: I’m really grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the revival and to have played such an iconic character.

[46:31] Aaron J. Albano: It’s a role that I’ll always cherish, and I hope to continue sharing the magic of CATS with others for years to come.

[46:41] Aaron J. Albano: Whether you love it or hate it, CATS definitely leaves a lasting impression.

[46:51] Aaron J. Albano: And that’s what makes it such a fascinating piece of theatre to discuss and explore.

[47:01] Aaron J. Albano: I think it’s important to keep the conversation going about shows like CATS, because they challenge our perceptions of what musical theatre can be.

[47:11] Aaron J. Albano: So, whether you’re a fan or a critic, there’s always something to learn from the experience of CATS.

[47:21] Aaron J. Albano: And I’m excited to see how the show continues to evolve in the future.

[47:31] Aaron J. Albano: It’s a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of live performance.

[47:41] Aaron J. Albano: I think that’s what keeps people coming back to CATS, time and time again.

[47:51] Aaron J. Albano: It’s a show that sparks conversation and debate, and that’s something truly special in the world of theatre.

[48:01] Aaron J. Albano: I’m just grateful to have been a part of it and to have had the chance to share my love for the show with others.

[48:11] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope that everyone who experiences CATS, whether on stage or in the audience, finds their own connection to the magic of the Jellicle world.

[48:21] Aaron J. Albano: It’s a unique experience that I think everyone should have at least once in their lifetime.

[48:31] Aaron J. Albano: So, if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend checking it out. You never know what you might discover.

[48:41] Aaron J. Albano: And for those who have seen it, I hope you continue to celebrate the joy and creativity that CATS brings to the world of theatre.

[48:51] Aaron J. Albano: It’s a show that truly has something for everyone, and I’m proud to have been a part of its legacy.

[49:01] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you for having me on the podcast to share my experiences and thoughts about CATS.

[49:11] Aaron J. Albano: It’s been a pleasure to discuss this incredible show and the impact it has had on so many people.

[49:21] Aaron J. Albano: I look forward to seeing how the conversation around CATS continues to evolve in the future.

[49:31] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope to keep sharing my love for this unique piece of theatre with everyone I meet.

[49:41] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you again for the opportunity to be here today.

[49:51] Aaron J. Albano: I can’t wait to see what the future holds for CATS and for all of us who love it.

[50:01] Aaron J. Albano: Here’s to many more years of Jellicle magic!

[50:11] Aaron J. Albano: And to all the fans out there, keep celebrating the joy of theatre and the stories that connect us all.

[50:21] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you!

[50:31] Aaron J. Albano: I appreciate the chance to share my journey with CATS and the incredible experiences I’ve had along the way.

[50:41] Aaron J. Albano: It’s a show that will always hold a special place in my heart.

[50:51] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope to continue spreading the love for CATS for years to come.

[51:01] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you for listening, and I hope you all have a wonderful day!

[51:11] Aaron J. Albano: Remember to keep the magic of theatre alive in your hearts.

[51:21] Aaron J. Albano: And don’t forget to celebrate the unique stories that each show brings to life.

[51:31] Aaron J. Albano: Until next time, take care!

[51:41] Aaron J. Albano: I’m excited to see where the journey of CATS takes us next.

[51:51] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope to continue sharing my passion for this incredible show with everyone I meet.

[52:01] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you once again for having me on the podcast.

[52:11] Aaron J. Albano: It’s been a joy to discuss my experiences and thoughts about CATS.

[52:21] Aaron J. Albano: I look forward to continuing the conversation and celebrating the magic of theatre together.

[52:31] Aaron J. Albano: Here’s to many more Jellicle adventures ahead!

[52:41] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you, everyone!

[52:51] Aaron J. Albano: I appreciate your time and support.

[53:01] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope to see you all at the theatre soon!

[53:11] Aaron J. Albano: Keep the spirit of CATS alive in your hearts!

[53:21] Aaron J. Albano: And remember to always celebrate the joy of storytelling through theatre.

[53:31] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you for listening, and take care!

[53:41] Aaron J. Albano: I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my journey with CATS.

[53:51] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope to continue spreading the love for this unique show for years to come.

[54:01] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you once again for having me on the podcast.

[54:11] Aaron J. Albano: It’s been a pleasure to discuss my experiences and thoughts about this incredible show.

[54:21] Aaron J. Albano: I look forward to continuing the conversation and celebrating the magic of theatre together.

[54:31] Aaron J. Albano: Here’s to many more Jellicle adventures ahead!

[54:41] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you, everyone!

[54:51] Aaron J. Albano: I appreciate your time and support.

[55:01] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope to see you all at the theatre soon!

[55:11] Aaron J. Albano: Keep the spirit of CATS alive in your hearts!

[55:21] Aaron J. Albano: And remember to always celebrate the joy of storytelling through theatre.

[55:31] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you for listening, and take care!

[55:41] Aaron J. Albano: I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my journey with CATS.

[55:51] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope to continue spreading the love for this unique show for years to come.

[56:01] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you once again for having me on the podcast.

[56:11] Aaron J. Albano: It’s been a pleasure to discuss my experiences and thoughts about this incredible show.

[56:21] Aaron J. Albano: I look forward to continuing the conversation and celebrating the magic of theatre together.

[56:31] Aaron J. Albano: Here’s to many more Jellicle adventures ahead!

[56:41] Aaron J. Albano: Thank you, everyone!

[56:51] Aaron J. Albano: I appreciate your time and support.

[57:01] Aaron J. Albano: And I hope to see you all at the theatre soon!