“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: @⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDiedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices