This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:01] Mike Abrams: There's a cat over here. There's a cat over there. And the wrong one died. And the wrong one died.

[0:16] Mike Abrams: Welcome to The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast breakdown of the Cats Ashby. I'm your host, Mike Abrams, and today we have another amazing guest. She's currently performing as Rumpleteazer in the South Africa Tour, which is now, I think, just the international tour. So welcome Tannah Levick, and thank you for joining me.

[0:29] Tannah Levick: Thank you. Oh my god, I'm so excited.

[0:32] Mike Abrams: I'm excited to have you because this is like, you are on a break right now while we're recording this. I know you just finished in South Africa, but you're going like all over the world, including a bunch of places where I lived for a period of time. I lived in Singapore for a little bit.

[0:45] Tannah Levick: Oh, wow.

[0:46] Mike Abrams: So I cannot wait for you all to experience that region of the world.

[0:49] Tannah Levick: Yeah.

[0:50] Mike Abrams: And for Cats to be back in that region of the world because they love it there.

[0:54] Tannah Levick: I mean, some fans are already following us on Instagram and TikTok. I mean, every person I've met, their whole TikTok for you page is just Cats. So people are really following us. It's quite cool.

[1:06] Mike Abrams: Amazing. Well, let's start with your Cats history. When was the first time you saw it and got introduced to the show?

[1:12] Tannah Levick: So I think that... I can't remember, but when I was young, I saw a DVD of Cats. The original DVD video tape.

[1:20] Mike Abrams: The 1998 movie. Yeah.

[1:24] Tannah Levick: Yeah. So I mean, I don't have a vivid memory of it, but I just remember... I don't know. You know when you have just a memory of it? And I thought, wow, this looks like a hard show. It looks like a hard show to do. And then there was a production of it in South Africa. I think it was one of the first shows in South Africa, one of the first musicals.

[1:49] Tannah Levick: Yeah. If I'm not wrong.

[1:50] Mike Abrams: Really?

[1:51] Tannah Levick: I think so. I'm pretty sure.

[1:52] Mike Abrams: That would be right. Yeah. That makes sense.

[1:55] Tannah Levick: Yes. Peter Turin for Cats. Yeah. And it had many of my mentors now in that original production. And it was... I just remember seeing it as a kid. And like a really, really young child and being like, wow, this is just mesmerizing. You just remember being mesmerized by the show.

[2:17] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[2:18] Tannah Levick: And I remember when I was at college, when I was studying musical theater at NAMTA, we did a lot of rep classes, and the rep classes consisted of Cats. But I remember when I was doing that, I was like, I hate this show. I was like, this show is too hard. It is just... And then I remember sometimes coming home and my mom would ask me, how's college and whatever. I'm never doing Cats. It's too hard. And then here I am in Cats. But I love it now. I really do. It's changed my life, this show.

[2:51] Mike Abrams: Yeah. How old were you when you saw it on stage the first time? Were you really young? Or was it kind of like the teenage years?

[2:59] Tannah Levick: I think I was young. Young, young. Like seven.

[3:03] Mike Abrams: Young. Okay.

[3:04] Tannah Levick: Yeah.

[3:05] Mike Abrams: So you have this moment. You love it. You know it. You know you want to be in musical theater. So it's kind of a dream. And then you get to college and you're like, this is so hard.

[3:15] Tannah Levick: It's so hard.

[3:16] Mike Abrams: I don't know how people are doing this eight times a week.

[3:18] Tannah Levick: Oh my goodness. And we were just doing sections of the ball.

[3:22] Mike Abrams: Not even the full thing.

[3:23] Tannah Levick: No. Just pieces of it.

[3:25] Mike Abrams: Oh my goodness. And I was like, I hate this. But I think that... I don't know. I don't know what switched, but I gained a lot of respect for the show. And our mentors, Matt Krazan and Talia Burts, who taught us the show, had a different sort of approach and respect for the show. And you immediately, when your mentors that teach you the show have this love for it, you immediately are more invested.

[3:53] Tannah Levick: Yeah.

[3:54] Mike Abrams: So I've learned that your love for the show all depends on how it's taught to you.

[4:02] Tannah Levick: Completely. It's pretty weird. So if you're not used to it or ready for it or knew that kind of stuff growing up, there's that fandom, then the first time you see it, it can be a little jarring probably to learn it. But when you've got these people that are... Matt and Talia, they've been in a bunch of productions and they really know the show super well. They bring a different energy to show the story and all the layers to it.

[4:29] Tannah Levick: Yeah, it's crazy. And I mean, there's still moments when I'm doing the show after we've already done about like 77 shows. And there's certain moments that Matt and Talia taught us in the show. And they said, this is a moment where you're like, I'm in Cats. Like, I'm in Cats. So I still have those moments in certain parts of the show, specific parts of the ball. And it's just, it's amazing. Oh, I love it.

[4:54] Mike Abrams: What are those moments?

[4:56] Tannah Levick: So there's certain parts of the choreography where like, they have different names. So we do that move in Copeland. That moment, it's just like, I'm in Cats.

[5:06] Mike Abrams: Yeah, we do the arm back.

[5:08] Tannah Levick: Yeah, yeah. And then when we go, it's just like, I'm in Cats. And then the lights change and you feel the lights change. And the moment in Act Two where we just stand, that's also an I'm in Cats moment. It's those specific moments. And obviously, when I come on for Mungojerrie, Rumbleteazer, I still get nervous every time. It's crazy.

[5:32] Mike Abrams: Yeah. So we'll come back to some of the performances and stories and fun there. But yeah, when you got the show, you know, you've learned to become, you know, super fan and love it and everything about it. Did you have kind of that moment where like, I didn't want to do this, but now I got the job and now I'm like, really excited? And like, what was that from audition to getting the job kind of moment like?

[5:57] Tannah Levick: Yeah. So in South Africa, everyone kind of goes for every audition, but I'm sure that's how it is in every...

[6:04] Mike Abrams: Yeah, I think that's kind of everywhere now.

[6:05] Tannah Levick: Yeah. So even if I was not keen on Cats or Chicago, you kind of go to the audition because you can't control what you are destined for. That's just what I've learned. And I really enjoyed the audition. I was really surprised by that. And then I kind of said to myself, okay, Tannah, let's just reel it in. And I said, if there's any role that I want, what do I want in this crazy show? I said, I want Rumbleteazer. So I said to myself and I said to my agents, I want Rumbleteazer or I'm not doing the show.

[6:38] Mike Abrams: Really? Okay.

[6:39] Tannah Levick: Yeah. So I don't think I would have done it if I didn't get Rumbleteazer.

[6:44] Mike Abrams: Interesting.

[6:45] Tannah Levick: Yeah.

[6:46] Mike Abrams: Was that something that you as a child, that was like the cat you gravitated towards? Or is it just like, as you've been learning theater in college, everything just being like, this is the perfect role for me?

[6:56] Tannah Levick: I just knew it was me. I had no... I mean, even in our audition, we didn't have Chrissy Cartwright or the international team with us. And so our resident director, Dwayne Alexander, was taking videos. So he was sending them overseas. And I remember in the one video, they were making us do cartwheels and tricks and stuff. And I kind of finished the cartwheel and pulled my tongue at the camera. And I was like, Oh my God, why did I do that? But it was like a tick. And then a friend of mine said to me after the audition, he was like, you're going to get Rumbleteazer just because of that. And I was like, what? It's just like a silly little quirky thing that I did. And I just, I just love the character. I always am drawn to what's hardest and like something full of personality.

[7:49] Mike Abrams: Yeah, that's definitely there's a few characters like they all have very unique personalities.

[7:54] Tannah Levick: Yeah.

[7:55] Mike Abrams: But there are a few that I'm like, you kind of get to have a lot of fun with them. And Rumbleteazer, Mungojerry, Tugger, like some of those are the ones where you really get to kind of play around. But yeah, so you get the job. And I always go back to like the rehearsal room when you're learning the story.

[8:11] Tannah Levick: Yeah.

[8:12] Mike Abrams: What was that experience like? Because like, you probably didn't know the depth of the Cats actual plot, watching it and doing pieces of it in college. So what was that moment like where you got to learn the story?

[8:25] Tannah Levick: Yeah, I remember when I got there and I said to my friend, what's your character's name? Like, I didn't know anyone with Rumbleteazer.

[8:30] Mike Abrams: Yeah.

[8:33] Tannah Levick: I was like, huh? Like what? And I knew it's just so funny. I probably knew the least out of everyone. But now I probably know more than anyone there just because I got obsessed with it. I just got completely obsessed. But I remember the first few days we had like a video call with Chrissy and Harry and Phoebe, who are the UK members in our cast, were not in South Africa yet because of the visa situation. So they were also on Zoom. And then Chrissy was giving us our adjectives and describing our characters and the story. And yeah, I just remember being so detailed. And I was like, wow, this is actually amazing. And I was really locked in. For someone so ADHD, I was very locked in. So it was really, really interesting. So we spent a lot of time doing that sort of thing for the first few days is like knowing the characters and really like where it comes from. And you know about Gillian Lynn and just the history of Cats.

[9:40] Mike Abrams: Yeah, yeah. I mean, is there? Was there a moment when you were listening that you were like, I never would have thought about that, like that part of the story or all of it?

[9:50] Tannah Levick: Yeah, just 100% pretty much all of it. Because sometimes I feel like if you don't know details of the show, and you don't. And at the end of the day, I always tell people that the story is based off a book of poems. So it's like, you know, if you go and see a Shakespeare, you should probably go and research a little bit. It takes you have to be intellectual like about it, you know, it's not just a sort of there is deeper meaning and there is it's poetry. So, you know, if you're going to go and see Hamlet, or you're going to go into a little bit of research before you watch it, because it's not like direct. So yeah.

[10:27] Mike Abrams: No, you're totally right. Because you could do but I think the beauty of Cats is you could do both. You could either do a lot of research and be informed and kind of understand a little bit of what you're watching. Or you could do none and just go appreciate the dancing.

[10:39] Tannah Levick: Exactly.

[10:40] Mike Abrams: Like there is a you could do both. And I think like my challenge was I did none. And then I got there and realize, as someone who does not know, I you know, I could see how physically demanding and challenging the dancing is, but I don't know how difficult that is. I don't dance. I'm not a dancer or singer. Like, so I'm I was impressed. But I was also just was like, this looks really hard. But I then walked out trying to spend too much time where I should have done some research because it would have helped me follow along when I was watching.

[11:08] Tannah Levick: Yeah.

[11:09] Mike Abrams: But I do like the beauty of that you don't need to, you could watch it in any language and you'll probably still follow the general story arc.

[11:15] Tannah Levick: Yeah.

[11:16] Mike Abrams: You speak the language or not. And that's, I think, another beauty of Cats.

[11:20] Tannah Levick: Yeah, I agree, actually. So it's if you can tear it apart and find a lot of meaning and so many different like plots, and oh, this one's connected to this one. And this one's family with this one. And or you can just watch it and appreciate it because at the end of the day, it is a spectacle. And that's also what I love about it.

[11:43] Tannah Levick: You're now obsessed. How did you start your deep dive? Like, how did you figure out, like, where did you go to research and read and do everything you can to figure out? Well, your podcast, I would be on my way to rehearsals every day with a new podcast on every day. And I would be so, like, confused because I'm like, No, but yesterday we said this and yesterday you said that. And but now I thought Victoria was the reborn cat. And now this one's saying this, but no, but I like that theory. So I'm gonna go with that theory. So, I would bring that information into the rehearsal room. I think sometimes people would get a little bit annoyed at me. But I was like, No, I have to tell these people.

They're part of this show with me. We have to know. So some people always laugh at me. But I loved it. I love that moment of me doing research, listening to your podcast, because there isn't like a lot of information out there, I guess, if you want to do your own research. But we also obviously learned what Chrissy was telling us in the room and everything you learned in the room. And whatever your interpretations you brought to the room. So that obviously, I got a lot from your podcast.

[12:50] Mike Abrams: Yeah, well, thank you for listening. I love it. That was something I never expected. And I learned that probably two or three years ago, that a regional production in Atlanta was doing that. Yeah, the first time I'd ever heard that where I was like, Oh, that makes sense. And so I've actually told people when you know this, obviously, there's a parody and joke around the theme of this music. But at some point, I realized I'm like, it's not just that I'm at some I'm like capturing some of cats history from various perspectives. Yeah, because there is no right answer to a lot of stuff. And we'll get into your Rumpleteazer question, because that's a character that there are a lot of ways to play that relationships. Yeah, or different cats. And I have a very interesting answer.

[13:30] Tannah Levick: Okay, yeah. But that's a cool part about this. I think that's the more I've interviewed people that have helped direct and put on the show and teach the show, the more I've also realized, we're like, we don't really care that much about this, because we want every production to be slightly different. Yeah, like we want, we want the core to be the same. We want people to still see Cats. But it takes the people to figure out what version they want when they're having those other moments. And as long as you're staying within your three words and your character, it doesn't really matter if you're viewing that character as a sibling or a relationship or something else, as long as the other moments stay the same.

And yeah, I kind of love the beauty of that. And like, like you're saying, like, I've had people tell me, Victoria was last year's choice. And then there's no way she was last year's choice. And then she's this person's daughter. And then she's like, but there's, there isn't an answer. And it's kind of it's kind of crazy that even you and your cast members can have completely different views on the show. Like, it's, it's so funny. But yeah, I just I think that's also so beautiful about it is that, and Chrissy had said that to us, she was like, this is your production, because it is kind of stressful doing a production like Cats, where it's like, so famous, you feel, you feel pressured, because Chrissy's worked with so many companies, you're like, Oh, my goodness, we have, but she was like, so amazing. And she was like, this is your production. This is a new show for you guys. This is a different show.

[15:02] Tannah Levick: And that's also so amazing. We're gonna take a quick break, and then we'll be back for more of The Wrong Cat Died. So let me hear your Rumpleteazer. Like, what is your story? So what I figured out was, it depends on your partner, right? Okay, this is my theory, because I never realized this until I had my understudy on with me. So I am me and Austin, Austin plays Mungojerrie. And we've known each other for very long, because he also studied in Atlanta. So we already had like a great friendship and connection. We've known each other for quite a while. And so we were like, no, straight away, they're, they're siblings, like, that's it. Okay, they are sister. Yeah, because we have that energy between us.

And we had no doubt about that. And also Matt and Talia had kind of said, because they taught us before Chrissy had come. They were like, no, they're siblings, like, they're siblings. So we were like, yes, we thought that we all on the same page here. Fabulous. And then Chrissy came, and she was like, no, they're like lovers. And we were like, yeah, no, we were like, it's too late for us. We are siblings. But then she explained to us, well, actually, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter, because they're cats. They could be siblings and lovers. And that really screwed my mind up. No, I have to make a decision. I'm a Virgo. I need to make a decision.

[17:11] Tannah Levick: So yeah, but then I had both my Mungojerrie understudies go on during the run. I first had Darren come on with me, he plays Cory Capat. So with him, it was kind of like Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were like friends. I don't know. I'm still figuring it out with him. And when Michael had come on, and which was, this was his dream role. So it was such a special moment to share with him. Mungojerrie is his dream role. Like, so I was like, oh, my God, this is amazing. I was crying. Oh, my God, it's so amazing to see someone's dream come true. And we immediately we were like, no, we're lovers. That's it. We you just felt it. We were like, the energy we had between us was so naughty and flirty. So it really does depend on the partner and the energy you have with the partner. I'm convinced.

[17:56] Mike Abrams: Yeah, yeah. No, I mean, I think that's a lot of it. And that's where the lore of Cats comes from. So much of it comes from just relationships offstage. Yeah, bleeds into the characters on stage, because you can't really change that. If your best friend is on stage with you, and your characters are not supposed to be friends, it's still pretty hard to like, to have those moments where it's like, okay, we're gonna still act like we're gonna still do our job and stay in character. But it's still like one of your close friends. Yeah, you have those things where those a lot of those moments that have happened. And a lot of the lore does come from that. Yeah. And so I love hearing that you honestly play it differently, just depending on who's there.

But do you does that change also? Because like, one of the tours that I talked to had probably the most in-depth Rumpleteazer, Mungojerrie theory, which is that they were dating, they were lovers. Jenny Adas was the mom, and most of the show was them trying to prove that they should be together. So I forget if it was Rumpleteazer's mom or Mungojerrie's mom, but it was like, meet my boyfriend, meet my girlfriend. And we're trying to make sure that you're going to approve of our wedding type of thing.

[18:32] Tannah Levick: Wow. Okay. Yeah. That's interesting. Yeah, no, I've never thought about it like that. It's like I said, it depends on who's on with me. When it's Austin, we're very much siblings. And, and also a lot of the time, like, um, some people have said that the Rumpleteazer is quite, um, the Mungojerrie is quite dominant over the Rumpleteazer. But in our case, like, I am so naughty towards him. Like, I start everything. And I think it's just me, me on stage. And I mean, I do things that are, I really do push a little bit. And I get in trouble sometimes. And then I'm like, No, that was just a choice. Yeah, that was a choice. I think that's, yeah, that's a Rumpleteazer is like beauty, though, is that you're supposed to be mischievous.

Oh, my God, I've gotten in trouble a couple of times where I would take Old Deuteronomy's tail and I would like flick it at other cats. And my director was like, you can't do that. Like you're, you're pulling the attention. People are supposed to be focused on what's happening there. And people are laughing at Rumpleteazer playing with Old Deuteronomy's tail. And I'm like, sorry. Like I really do take the mischievousness and naughtiness a bit far.

[19:45] Mike Abrams: Do you? Do you all do green eyes and some of the other like in audience? Yes. Moments? How much devious do you get in those sections?

[19:49] Tannah Levick: And well, with green eyes is quite quick. So and a lot of the time I am on the balcony. So it's I have to like quickly and so I can rush all the way around to get backstage. But me and Mungo do the part before act two, we are in the audience. And that's we go crazy. Me and him, we literally, we grab people's programs, we steal them. The one time there was, and this was actually in Joburg now, it was quite recent. Someone had like a really beautiful Chanel purse. And I ran up to them and I took the purse. But obviously, I went back and but it was just they always say to us that you should stay in character when you're in the audience. So like, I mean, I always see Cassandra. She's also in the audience. She's quite like standoffish. So we really keep to our character. So people love to have fun with me and Mungo. We really do take it a little bit far, but people love it. That's their favorite part. Often people's favorite part about the show is that interaction.

[20:50] Mike Abrams: Yeah, because it's kind of also too in the age of social media, it's the spots where people are still like phone out because the show hasn't started yet for Act Two. Some of those fun moments where you two are a lot of them because you're two are the ones that are causing some chaos.

[21:06] Tannah Levick: Yes. And there's so many, I mean, I've seen stickers of me on social media. People will watch a TikTok and post a sticker of me and I'm like, wait, what's this? And then I think, oh, that was in the audience. So there's a lot of stickers of me.

[21:18] Mike Abrams: Yeah. So speaking of social media, you and Cassiel are having a lot of fun with your vlogging and podcasting and all kinds of other things you're doing. So how, obviously a tour is challenging. You're moving around, you're doing a lot of stuff, you're going to a lot of different cities. How has this helped or has this been kind of a fun way to just be part of your cast and do other things? Or is it just social media because you're enjoying it and having fun? I love the cat social media because I think it's primed for it because you're doing transitions and makeup and you're already in some kind of weird outfits to begin with. But I've loved watching the two of you kind of have fun with it.

[22:00] Tannah Levick: Shane, people have said that it's amazing that people have really loved the rapport between the two of us. And I'm so glad because it's genuine. We have such fun together. And the reason we originally were in the wig room because we got into a bit of trouble, our makeup wasn't good enough. So we were being monitored for our makeup because everyone else was doing so well. And they were like, no, Tannah, Cassiel, you need to come sit in the wig room and do your makeup because you need to be watched. So originally, actually, the wig ladies were not fond of us. And now they love us because we just have such fun with them. And so that's how it started because we were doing the makeup not good enough because me and her are quite chaotic and all over the place.

So just in general, like the social media, we all have so much fun with the social media part of it, the TikToks. And it's gone completely viral, which is crazy because I mean, I'll speak to friends that I haven't seen in months. They'll be like, oh, my gosh, I saw Harry and Phoebe and your TikTok and I'm on Cat's TikTok and they haven't even seen the show and they're watching all these Cat's TikToks. It's gone so viral. It's crazy. It does super well because it's a little weird. And so there's like a moment of like the viral moment of like, well, I got to keep watching because I don't really know what I'm watching for the non-Cat's fans. And then there's a very...

[23:55] Tannah Levick: And Savannah was in an Australian cast of Cats playing Rumpleteazer, and I was like, how can I fix this? And they gave me advice. It was just amazing, because I've never experienced being able to relate to someone in a show that's at the same time as me, playing the exact same character as me. It's such a cool thing. Yeah. So when people learn I do this, especially at work, where it's not discussed as often, and then they're like, when can we go see it? I'm like, well, it's really actually not in New York right now. The Joker Ball is about to start. It's probably running by the time this comes out. But that's a different version. That's different than Cats. That looks very different. But then I replied to them, because people send me every production that's happening, and I was like, when we're recording this, I think a few will be over by the time this comes out.

But when we're recording this right now, you're all on break. The international tour just ended. Royal Caribbean still has theirs going. They're about to change their cast. Yes. There's a production in Long Island, just outside of New York, that's happening for about a month. There's a production in Skokie, Illinois, which is just outside of Chicago, happening for about a month. And there's a production in Florida, in I think Palm Beach, that's happening for like six to eight weeks. So there's three productions just in the United States that I know of.

[26:13] Tannah Levick: How amazing. Which is, exactly. It's like these are, and you know, these are small regional houses, you know, not dinner theaters and stuff like that. And I know probably three or four more already that are happening later this year in the United States in various places. And so I'm like, you can see it, a lot of places, if you're just, you know, at the right time or going around. And I think it's because Cats has rebuilt, not rebuilt a brand, like it's always been a big brand. But since the US tour stopped, a lot of licenses have popped up in the US for people. And then since the international tours now, you're all going to different places. So it's, it's kind of everywhere, if you really want to find it.

[26:53] Tannah Levick: Yes, it really is. It's, it's amazing. And I just, I've loved being able to reach out to other Rumble pieces. And it's such, it's such a great feeling being like, did you struggle with this part? Yes, Tanner, I struggled with that part. Do this. It's amazing. It's amazing. It is a big Jellicle family. The amount of people that are like, yes, once you've done it, you're part of like, they're, you know, the group that's done it, that's kind of, and it feels like a little bit like you've suffered through it, because it's so demanding. You've made it, you've made it to the other side, or you're in the process of doing that, that it's, you know, once you've got it on your resume, it's like a thing.

[27:31] Tannah Levick: Yeah. And I've realized that once you have Cats on your resume, people have a different sort of respect for you as a performer. It's quite interesting.

[27:41] Mike Abrams: Wow. Okay. I want to hear some fun stories from your first, you said 77 shows. So what are the things from this first, this first leg of the tour that you're never going to forget?

[27:53] Tannah Levick: Oh, well, I'll never forget when Mr. Mastoffele's got stuck up at the top there. Oh my goodness, we had a show stop. It was crazy. He got stuck.

[28:00] Mike Abrams: Just didn't drop down?

[28:02] Tannah Levick: We had to stop the show because the thingy wasn't working. So he couldn't come down. The tire didn't work at the end of that show. It was crazy. So we had the backup plan we had to do, and I was on with the cover. So the cover didn't know the backup plan. Oh my goodness, it was crazy. I was like, that's totally me. But how...

[28:20] Mike Abrams: Isn't the backup plan just walking off stage, right, for Grizabella?

[28:24] Tannah Levick: Yes, but the Manga Jai and Rampartita, we got up the ladder. So...

[28:28] Mike Abrams: Oh, okay.

[28:29] Tannah Levick: Are you going the wrong way? And then recently, February the 13th, it was a Friday the 13th, we had a show. And we were all just like, you know, you just get scared on Friday the 13th. It was like, we're doing a show, it's Friday the 13th. There was actually a bat that flew out one of the curtains or somewhere, and the bat was flying across the whole stage during that show. And it was so distracting. I was so scared that in Manga Jai and Rampartita, it was going to just... And it was flying low. It was the weirdest thing. We were all like, freaking out. We were like, how are we even going to get rid of this bat? It was there for the next two shows as well. It was crazy. As a cat, playing a cat, are you supposed to bat at it if it flies by you? Or are you just trying to avoid it?

[29:19] Tannah Levick: No, we were just trying to avoid it. And I mean, I get the giggle. So I'm like, I can't even look up. At the beginning of act two, it's like flying around, and I put my head down. I'm like giggling. I was like, no, no, no, this can't be happening.

[29:32] Mike Abrams: Wow. I just imagine you doing your cartwheels, and it's like one kick, and you take it out.

[29:37] Tannah Levick: Oh my goodness. That was actually my worst fear, and I was so scared. Because before that number, I'm like a different person. I'm like, stressed. I'm like, freaking out. I'm like, okay, no, no, no. Because every time you do it, you have to focus, especially Mangajeri and Rumpleteazer. You can't lose focus for a second.

[29:55] Mike Abrams: Yeah, because it's only you two. All eyes are on you two.

[29:59] Tannah Levick: Yeah. And I mean, I always say, and it's not just because I'm playing Rumpleteazer, but Rumpleteazer and Mangajeri are two of the hardest characters in the show to play. Because especially act one, the way that you go from your number into the ball is a different level of fitness. Because the ball in itself is just so hard.

[30:20] Mike Abrams: Yeah. And you get like, what, a half a second break to run off and then come right back in?

[30:25] Tannah Levick: And you've got to change. So it's not like you're breathing. You're changing, you're getting out of the number piece. You're getting back into your normal. So it's exhausting. I remember the first time we did it, I was like, how are we going to do this eight shows a week?

[30:41] Mike Abrams: And you do.

[30:42] Tannah Levick: For months and months and months.

[30:45] Mike Abrams: Because you two hide essentially before your number.

[30:48] Tannah Levick: Yes.

[30:48] Mike Abrams: Do you have a calming mechanism before to kind of get yourself ready to go on stage?

[30:53] Tannah Levick: Oh, yeah. We have a whole ritual. And I'll tell you the ritual. So basically, we change. I have to do the exact same thing. So then I put a mint into my mouth. And I make sure that it's a strong mint. So it opens up everything. And then I have like a Vicks stick and I stick it into my nose. So I open up everything there. Because I find that if I'm getting tired, and I can smell like the Vicks on my nose, it distracts me. And I'm not thinking about how tired I am. And then Austin is waiting by the boots behind the boot there with the two bags. Because from rehearsals, he has to give me the bag. I don't know, it was just a thing. He has to give me the bag. And he has to give me the bag with the thicker rope.

Otherwise, I won't take it. I don't know. It's just such a crazy thing that we came up with. So he gives me the bag. And I quickly do like a little splits. And then I like I say a little prayer. And I could say, please just let me get through this number. And then I always have to end the prayer with and Austin and let him also get through. Because sometimes he's like, what do I mean?

[32:00] Mike Abrams: I love everything about that. That is so fun. But I mean, superstitions are like a part of everything. I guess the biggest thing in sports and other stuff. So I was not surprised. I've heard so many performers that have that. And so it's kind of like what's yours?

[32:27] Tannah Levick: Yeah. I do want to go back to ask you one other question, because you said it very quickly. And I did an entire episode about this. I don't know if you found this episode. But you mentioned that you're a Virgo. And I don't know anything about astrology. But I was fascinated because I found somebody that plotted all the cats. And then I had somebody on for an episode to kind of talk through like someone who writes the... Actually, me and Cassiel spoke about this. We spoke about what we think each cat's astrology sign is. That's my question for you. What do you think is Rumpel Teaser?

[33:02] Tannah Levick: She's a Leo.

[33:04] Mike Abrams: A Leo? Interesting. So this person that mapped it out, I have no idea if it's true or not. It's just in the head canon thing. Has her as a Virgo though.

[33:08] Tannah Levick: Really? Yeah. Wow. Maybe she's a Virgo. Virgo Sun, Leo rising.

[33:20] Mike Abrams: First time I learned about that was the episode I recorded with Johanna. But I have to go back to see what Jo said, because she writes the horoscopes for Playbill. And I had her on to basically try to assess all the cats. And so we did a full episode about that. I love that, again, the level of fandom is that somebody went through every cat and tried to decide what they would be.

[33:45] Tannah Levick: I love it. Me and Cassiel spoke about it. We were like, no, Victoria is a Cancer. She's soft. She's very emotional. And what did we say, Mango? Did we say Mango was a... Maybe he was a Leo. I'm not sure. But we went through everyone. It was such fun.

[34:01] Mike Abrams: Every single person.

[34:02] Tannah Levick: Yes.

[34:02] Mike Abrams: It was so much fun. Oh, my goodness.

[34:05] Tannah Levick: Do you now... I mean, if you don't do this, you should. This should be your party trick. But as you're meeting friends, are you like, this is what cat you'd be?

[34:13] Tannah Levick: Oh, my goodness. I should do that. I should do that. But I sound crazy. Because friends that don't know cats, they're like, Rumpelstiltskin?

[34:23] Mike Abrams: Yeah. But people... There's going to be a group that knows cats. And if not, it's like, this would be when you watch the show, when you come see your friend do this show, here's who you should watch. And then they're either going to be like, that's me, or they're going to be offended by what you recommended.

[34:40] Tannah Levick: There's no middle.

[34:41] Mike Abrams: Yeah. I'm actually going to do that. But it's something so random. But it's quite crazy how many people actually recognize me. And I was in a Pilates class yesterday. And this girl comes up to me afterwards. And she goes, were you Ryan Bautista? And I was like, how did she even see that? Without your makeup, it is so confusing. How would she even... But there's quite a big fandom now. So it's amazing.

[35:05] Mike Abrams: That is impressive. I do think that's like one of the maybe...

[35:38] Tannah Levick: I think one of my first memories of CATS was actually watching the 1998 film version. I remember being so captivated by the music and the choreography, but I was also a bit confused by the story. It wasn't until I saw a live performance that everything clicked for me. The energy of the audience and the performers was just electric.

[36:08] Tannah Levick: Over time, I went from hating the show to absolutely loving it. I think it was the depth of the characters and the poetry of the lyrics that really drew me in. I started to appreciate the nuances of each character and their backstories, which made me want to dive deeper into the world of CATS.

[36:38] Tannah Levick: I remember during rehearsals, my respect for the show grew immensely. The way the choreography is intertwined with the storytelling is just brilliant. I found myself researching more about the characters and their relationships through podcasts and discussions with fellow cast members.

[37:08] Tannah Levick: One of the most interesting aspects of playing Rumpleteazer is the dynamic with Mungojerrie. Depending on who I'm performing with, that relationship shifts. Sometimes it feels like we're siblings, other times it feels more like a romantic connection. It really adds a layer of complexity to the performance.

[37:38] Tannah Levick: I also love the moments of audience interaction. It’s so much fun to play with the audience and see their reactions. There have been times when I've made choices that really resonate with them, and it creates a unique experience every night.

[38:08] Tannah Levick: Social media has played a huge role in our tour. We've had some viral moments on TikTok that have really connected us with fans. It's amazing to see how the global Jellicle community comes together online, sharing their love for the show.

[38:38] Tannah Levick: Of course, there have been some mishaps on tour too. I remember one night when Mistoffelees got stuck during a scene, and we all had to improvise around it. There was also a time when a tire malfunction caused a bit of chaos backstage, and let’s not forget the bat that flew onstage during a performance!

[39:08] Tannah Levick: Each of these experiences has made my time in CATS unforgettable. I feel like I've grown so much as a performer and as a person through this journey. The camaraderie with my castmates has been incredible, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[39:38] Tannah Levick: I also enjoy exploring the idea of CATS astrology. It's fascinating to think about how the characters might align with different astrological signs and what that says about their personalities. It adds another layer of fun to the show.

[40:08] Tannah Levick: When it comes to Rumpleteazer, I think she embodies a mix of mischief and loyalty. She's always looking for attention and trying to get Jellylorum's love, which I think resonates with a lot of people. It's a relatable struggle, wanting to be seen and appreciated.

[40:38] Tannah Levick: Overall, being part of CATS has been a dream come true. I feel so lucky to be able to share this story with audiences around the world, and I can't wait to see where this journey takes me next.

[41:08] Tannah Levick: I think the most rewarding part of this experience has been connecting with other Rumpleteazers. We've shared tips and advice, especially when it comes to dealing with injuries. It's great to have that support system within the community.

[41:38] Tannah Levick: I also love hearing the stories from fans who come to see the show. Their enthusiasm and passion for CATS really inspire me to give my best performance every night.

[42:08] Tannah Levick: As we continue on this international tour, I hope to keep spreading the joy of CATS and connecting with audiences in new ways. It's such a timeless story, and I believe it will continue to resonate for years to come.

[42:38] Tannah Levick: I can't wait to see what the future holds for me and for CATS. The journey has just begun, and I'm excited to be a part of it.

[43:08] Tannah Levick: Thank you for having me on the podcast! It's been a pleasure sharing my experiences and thoughts about CATS. I hope everyone enjoys the show as much as I do.

[43:38] Tannah Levick: Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and TikTok to keep up with my journey and the latest updates from the tour!

[44:08] Tannah Levick: And if you haven't seen CATS yet, I highly recommend it. There's something magical about experiencing it live that you just can't replicate.

[44:38] Tannah Levick: Thank you again for this opportunity to chat about my love for CATS and my role as Rumpleteazer. It's truly a dream come true.

[45:08] Tannah Levick: I look forward to connecting with more fans and fellow performers as we continue this adventure. Let's keep the Jellicle spirit alive!

[45:38] Tannah Levick: Until next time, Jellicle friends!

[46:08] Tannah Levick: Remember, every performance is a chance to create something special, so let's make the most of it!

[46:38] Tannah Levick: See you at the theater!