“I always think of CATS as a picture book. Like a children's picture book come to life.” This episode features CATS veteran Tommie Luyben who has performed in the show since 2006 and recently assisted Chrissie Cartwright on the 2025 Australian tour (and the 2022 Asia tour). Tommie traces his early fandom from CDs, library recordings, and the VHS to joining the 2006 Dutch tour as a swing, then performing on the German tent tour as first-cast Mungojerrie and later Skimbleshanks, plus swinging for the Vienna revival while covering many roles. He discusses challenges of performing in German, how rehearsal rooms build character backstories without changing the show’s outcome, and a very unique Electra theory. An episode you won’t want to miss.

01:19 First CATS Obsession

05:53 Dutch Translation Secrets

09:46 Vienna Swing Life

11:15 Assistant Director Era

13:33 Building Character Lore

20:55 Wild Rehearsal Theories

22:54 Macavity Deep Dive

26:32 Why CATS Still Hits

34:32 Chrissie Wisdom Nuggets

44:48 Rapid Fire

• Check out Tommie on Instagram: @tommieluyben

Produced by:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alan Seales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadway Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Social Media: @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheWrongCatDied