im guessing the main goal of theater putting a cast of 20-year-olds to play characters that range from young to elderly is that they want any swing to be able to cover any character, which fucking blows because it just shows how little they care :[
Here’s a swing not in her 20s. They can cast swings not in their 20s who can cover a multitude of parts, too.
12 of last season's cats (Gracie Anderson, Megan Arseneau, Lexy Bittner, John Anker Bow, Michelle E. Carter, Max Craven, Dominic Fortunato, Tayler Harris, Kieran Macdonald, José Raúl Mangual, Tony Mowatt, and Brian Craig Nelson) have returned for the 2022-23 run of the tour!
Gracie is resuming as a swing and in her position as Dance Captain.
Megan is resuming as a swing has added Grizabella and Rumpleteazer to her other 6 tracks, bringing her to 8.
Lexy is resuming as Cassandra.
John is resuming as Gus/Bustopher. Most understudies have not been indicated, so it's unknown whether he will be understudying Old Deuteronomy again.
Max has swapped the role of full-time Mungojerrie for being a swing.
Michelle is resuming as Jennyanydots.
Dominic is resuming as Pouncival. He was also a Mistoffelees understudy last season and may be again.
Tayler is resuming as Grizabella.
Kieran is resuming as a swing and Mistoffelees understudy, and is now also Gracie's co-dance captain.
José is resuming as swing and has added Old Deuteronomy and Coricopat to their repertoire, bringing their total to 5 tracks.
Tony is resuming as swing, ostensibly covering Old Deuteronomy and Gus/Bustopher as he did last season.
Brian is now full-time Mungojerrie, and is still covering 6 other cats.
Rachael Haber, a Swing who covers Jennyanydots, Jellylorum, and Grizabella, did a takeover of the CATS the Musical Instagram account yesterday (19 March 2023) in US Tour 6 (Philadelphia, PA), where she answered fan questions, took us through her routines, and shared some backstage fun.
It was also her Jennyanydots cover debut! Congratulations Rachael!
CATS - US Tour 6 (Minneappolis, Orpheum Theatre) - October 29th, 2022 (Matinee)
My master (do not share link outside of tumblr)
Sam Bello (Sillabub), Lexy Bittner (Cassandra), John Anker Bow (Gus the Theatre Cat), Samuel Buchanan (Plato/Macavity), Michelle E. Carter (Jennyanydots), Ellie Chancellor (Bombalurina Act 2), Erica Lee Cianciulli (Bombalurina Act 1), Regan Davidson (Tantomile), Nora DeGreen (Demeter), Allyson Duarte (Jellylorum), Dominic Fortunato (Pouncival), Sammy Fossum (Alonzo),Taylor Harris (Grizabella), Wilson Livingston (Coricopat), Brendan Moran (Tumblebrutus),Brian Craig Nelson (Mungojerrie), Yuka Notsuka (Victoria), Hank Santos (Rum Tum Tugger), Cameron Shutza (Old Deuteronomy), Taryn Smithson (Rumpleteazer), Ibn Snell (Mr. Mistoffelees), Kade Wright (Munkustrap), John Zamborsky (Skimbleshanks)
Gracie Anderson, Megan Arseneau, Luke Bernier, Max Craven, Marisa Gorst, Rachel Haber, Clara Hevia,Kieran Macdonald, José Raúl Mangual, Tony Mowatt
Notes: Untracked. Includes full show to playout. Occasional crackling and rustling can be heard from time to time, particularly in Act 1, but nothing too distracting. Ellie Chancellor replaced Erica Lee Cianciulli as Bombalurina in Act 2.
Aww look, Carolyn Bacon shared a more photos (and a bows clip) from her Grizabella debut a week ago (16 April) (X)!
With Allison Lian as Rumpelteazer, Michelle Carter as Jennyanydots, Chelsea Nicole Mitchell as Bombalurina, Hyla Mayrose Perillo as Victoria, and Kayli Jamison as Jellylorum.
With Gracie Anderson as Tantomile, Megan Arseneau as Sillabub, and Elana Valastro out of costume.
... Deut here looks like first-cast Indalecio de Jesús Valentín but I’m fairly sure Tony Mowatt was covering that night...?
Updates (new roles): Nick, Paul, Sean
Entry updates (no new roles): Lauren, Devon, Aiden
Vinny Andaloro (Alonzo) --- Ensemble, Kinky Boots at North Shore Music Theatre (Beverly, MA), October 25th to November 6th
Travis Anderson (Rum Tum Tugger, 5/4/22-end) --- The Little Mermaid & Chicago with Lexington Theatre Company. Evidently dance captain.*
Zach Bravo (Rum Tum Tugger, 9/21-5/8/22) --- Ensemble & Magaldi Understudy, Evita at Bucks County Playhouse (New Hope, PA), September 23rd to October 30th.
Nick Davis (Munkustrap, 3/24/22-end) --- Ensemble, The Sound of Music at Paper Mill Playhouse (Milburn, NJ), December 2nd to January 1st.
Paul Giarratano (Mistoffelees) --- Performer, Nutcracker Rouge with Company XIV (New York, NY), dates through January 29th.
Brianna Kim (Sillabub) --- Dancer, Dance Lab New York Fall Cycle, Fall 2022
Lauren Louis Mariasoosay (Demeter) --- Attendant/Ensemble/Jasmine Understudy, Aladdin National Tour, October 16th 2022 with dates through July 30th 2023.
Devon McCleskey (Munkustrap, 9/21-3/6/22) --- Swing/Asst. Dance Captain, Pretty Woman National Tour, April 2022 with dates through May 7th 2023 (x)
Sean McManus (Tumblebrutus, 9/21-5/22/22) --- Ensemble, Beetlejuice National Tour, December 6th 2022 with dates through October 8th 2023
Hyla Mayrose Perillo-Wright (Victoria) --- Teaching, Summer 2022 --- Ballet Mistress, Okinawa School of Performing Arts, Okinawa, Japan starting Fall 2022
Aiden Pressel (Plato/Macavity) --- Ensemble, An American in Paris at Argyle Theatre (Babylon, NY), September 15th to October 23rd.*
Christopher Salvaggio (Skimbleshanks) --- [Unverified Role], The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live at Forestburgh Playhouse (Forestburgh, NY), October 2022
Elana Valastro (Swing) --- Performer, Phantoms by Firelight at Old Sturbridge Village (Sturbridge, MA), October 2022
🐱 Returning to Cats for the 2022-2023 Season: Gracie Anderson (swing), Megan Arseneau, Lexy Bittner, John Anker Bow, Michelle E. Carter, Max Craven, Dominic Fortunato, Tayler Harris (Grizabella), Kieran Macdonald, José Raúl Mangual, Tony Mowatt, Brian Craig Nelson.