“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

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