#Gerben Grimmius

[junkyard-gifs]

you know that thing big cats do, where they pretend not to notice their cubs sneaking up on them then they do a massive dramatic startle when they get pounced on?

(X)

yeah. that's the only thing I can think of when I see the way the cats on the tyre react to the WOO-WOOO!! of the kittens' train whistle in Skimble's number.

even though Tugger was already in Maximum Sprawl he still managed to fall over backwards.

(Munkustrap said. fix. pat.)

Dominik Hees as Tugger, Alexander Auler as Munkustrap, Rory Six as Deuteronomy, Gerben Grimmius as Skimbleshanks, and Matthew Levick as Mistoffelees. Vienna revival, two days before closing night! 24 June 2022, filmed by @falasta and @cryptidvoidwritings.

[falasta]

Happy birthday to George Maniadis! Never has a Cat danced a Full Body Eyeroll quite like his Alonzo:

He will deign to dance, but only so you can properly appreciate him.

(Also featuring Nick Li as Admetus, who is just perpetually Happy to be included, and Tommie Luyben as Fanboy Coricopat)

(Dominik Hees Tugger up there in the back causing chaos -- including giving Skimbleshanks (Gerben Grimmius) a lil cheeky kiss)

(From the Vienna Revival)

[cryptidvoidwritings]

The number of Vienna Cats related things still saved to my phone is silly. Here’s a selection because I misssssssssssssssssss theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmm.

Diane Bauer’s photos have the watermark. Do I remember where the rest are from apart from generally Instagram? Nope. 😅

[falasta]

Alright. I had to meditate on this and get feedback from others on their personal picks before I could get my thoughts in order.

Most of these will be performers I've seen in person because that's just how preferences work. I don't doubt for a moment that in all the thousands of Cats shows there are multiple marvelous performers that would make this list if I had seen or experienced them. And probably many performing recently that just don't have any footage. That said, here's my best shot. (Yes, we have multiples and alternates. Because. )

Alonzo: George Maniadis

Gus/Bustopher/Growltiger: Felix Martin, alt. Ian Jon Bourg

 Bombalurina: Birgit Arquin alt. Lucy Rice/Petra Ilse Dam

 Cassandra : Anneka Dacres

Coricopat: Jan-Eike Majert

 Demeter: Giulia Vazzoler alt. Anneka Dacres

 Electra: Vicky Riddoch alt. Sophie-Rose Middleton

 Etcetera : Katie Hutton alt. Sophie-Rose Middleton

George: Matt Levick

Grizabella: Jo Ampil alt. Barbara Obermeier

Jellylorum: Barbara Obermeier

 Jemima: Sophie-Rose Middleton

 Jennyanydots: Kathi Lochmann

Mistoffelees: Harry Francis alt. Xavier Pellin

 Mungojerrie: Andrea Luca Cotti alt. Tommie Luyben

 *Munkustrap: Alexander Auler alt. Matt Krzan or vice versa

 Old Deuteronomy: Brad Little

 Plato/Macavity: Nick Li alt. Thomas Inge

*Special bonus: alt. Alex Snova in imaginary case where he isn't playing Tugger

 Pouncival: Cian Hughes

 Rumpleteazer: Anna Carina Buchegger alt. Katie Hutton

 Rum Tum Tugger: Alex Snova

 Skimbleshanks: Gerben Grimmius alt. Hayden Baum

 Tantomile : Petra Ilse Dam

Tumblebrutus: Aaron Hunt alt. Matt Levick

Victoria: Hannah Kenna Thomas

SUPER SWINGS:

Jo Lucy Rackham

Riccardo Sinisi

Tommie Luyben

*To be fair, Jack Rebaldi would really be first choice. I mean, he's a legend and he's incredible. Also it was impossible to choose between these two. They are *completely* different Munks but I love them both. Also special shout-out to Florian Fetterle who just didn't make the list but should really be in there somewhere.

Cats Fans

CONGRATULATIONS

You get to cast your own version of Cats to be filmed and turned into a movie!!! the only problem is you can't pick anyone from the 1998 movie, Unless it's for a different role then they were in the move then it's ok but is has to be a role they have once played in the past even if it was as a swing/cover (EX: Fergus Logan as Misto or Veerle Casteleyn as Victoria)

They can be from any production no matter the year or language used and you can pick actors from non-replicas too

Characters like Gus jr., George, and Exotica can be removed if you can't think of anyone but everyone else must stay and you can add other swings of you want and if need be you can change who plays the Rumpus cat and Macavity can have his own Actor if you want. and if you want a actor but they played the character under a different name (EX: Sillabub, Admetus, Carbuckety, Bill Bailly) they are allowed just keep the names from the 1998 movie

Your list of characters

Alonzo Asparagus Bombalurina Bustopher Johns Cassandra Coricopat Demeter Electra Etcetera Exotica George / Rumpus Cat Grizabella Gus Jr. Jellylorum Jemima Jennyanydots Mistoffelees Mungojerrie Munkustrap Old Deuteronomy Plato / Macavity Pouncival Rumpleteazer Rum Tum Tugger Skimbleshanks Tantomile Tumblebrutus Victoria

Have fun and reblog this to share your cast

[white-cat-of-doom]

I never uploaded these pictures last year, so I figured now would be a fun time to celebrate Pride Month again. Who better than with my favourite cast of Cats in Vienna?

[lozeyart]

Fanart of Gerben Grimmius as Skimbleshanks! Totally meant to be a sketch, but it got away from me 😅

[whit-on-the-side]

“Where is Grizabella from?” “Africa!“

You heard it here, folks.

Ana Milva Gomes as Grizabella, Gerben Grimmius as Skimbleshanks, and Denise Jastraunig asking the question. Vienna revival, 29 April 2022.

[junkyard-gifs]

omg drumstick and then using it as a curling iron on his own ear baby boy!!!

Looks like: Andrea Luca Cotti and Anna Carina Buchegger as Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, Katharina Lochmann as Jennyanydots, Dominik Hees rocking out as Tugger, Petra Ilse Dam covering Bombalurina, and Gerben Grimmius as Skimbleshanks. (And I think that's a Giulia Demeter?)

Vienna revival, presumably early 2022 or late 2021 - though I assume @peterpandiedtoday has the date noted down somewhere.

Mungojerrie recovers Growltiger’s stick (and considers criming an oblivious Jenny)

[hysperia]

What about Second Cats, post 2/2

Vienne show report, now with the bows (post 2/2), continued from here.

From Wednesday, May 18th:

Riccardo Sinisi:

Nicholas -Eyelash Admetus Li- Being groomed by Riccardo Sinisi:

Dominik Hees:

The one everybody has: Petra Ilse Dam & Giulia Vazzoler:

Gerben Grimmius:

Carin Filipčić & Rory Six:

The entire tribe (performance of Sunday, May 22) with a casual knees over toes lunge from Fetterstrap and Nathan Luke mid flip.

[junkyard-gifs]

On most nights, during Tugger's number, Alonzo gets very needy about seeking out the Munkustrap affection and demanding cuddles.

And when Tugger drops Bomba he jumps and rushes over to Munkustrap (and sometimes Skimble) as if to say DID YOU SEE THAT PLS MAKE HIM STOP??

But not this night. On this night, he is not being played by George Maniadis but by Riccardo Sinisi. And poor Munkustrap (Alexander Auler)... is bereft??

"Oh, here he comes, now he will come over and lay his head upon my lap and I shall deign to pet his ears—no? Not even—not if I reach out my paw?"

sadly slumps :( "ok fine walk right by me I guess that's alright too"

"oh!! here he comes to complain about Tugger—to Skimble? I shall rush over and—too late. 😕"

They can be a little codependent and dysfunctional. as a treat.

With Gerben Grimmius as Skimbleshanks and Matthew Levick as Bill Bailey. Vienna revival, 23 June 2022; filmed by @falasta and @cryptidvoidwritings

[falasta]

1, 11, 24

💙

What is the first fandom you were ever a part of?

Star Wars! The first prequel had just come out and I was off to college and had proper internet access for the first time - ethernet, not dial up. I fell head over heels for the new film (always loved the OG Star Wars they practically brought me up as a child). I discovered the concept of shared fanfiction, internet boards and forums, and all the fun things that used to happen in fandom - Fic contests, events, awards, webrings, yahoo groups. I have such happy memories of that time :-)

11. Most unique merch you have for a fandom?

This 2023 calendar from Korea with pictures of the cats for each month! The flip side is either pattern or portrait. I need to make a special card to place over the dates to make it current.

This lovely little guy who's just gone to see Vienna Cats! Sent to me by the Best Beloved @peterpandiedtoday

24. Funniest fandom-related story?

Ok there are SO MANY I could put here. The Johnny Randall Couch Saga. Hiding from Cats performers on the train. Gerben Grimmius sizing us up as "hot for Cats". Everything about Il Sistina Macavity.

But one of my very favorites is the first time I met @peterpandiedtoday in Vienna. We had connected very briefly in a "oh hey we're going to be at the same performance here's what I'm wearing just in case you want to say hi". And "saying hi" meant having this wonderful person sit down next to me and just start talking about the performance and show like we'd been friends all our lives. And proceeded to drag me around the theater making sure I got to meet all the actors (in costume) who were collecting donations for Ukraine and took all the pictures, and then proceeded to take me home on the train and then walk me back to my flat because "I know what the tour books say but people do get murdered here!".

[junkyard-gifs]

Chaz Wolcott's turns are ridiculous, that is all.

getting his leg up just a bit higher and matching the girls' attitude

I don't think I've ever seen footage of his Misto solo from US tour 5 (the bootlegs we have of that production are from some years before before Chaz joined it), but his Misto in Wichita 2007 is already so much fun to watch.

as to mistoshanks, grumpy gay uncle and sparkly twink is an excellent dynamic. 😌 I've also seen a few productions where the actors decide to lean into that. Also sometimes tuggershanks—most notably the Broadway revival, thanks Tyler Hanes and Jeremy Davis!

(And Dominik Hees in Vienna wasn't averse to giving Gerben Grimmius a big old smooch to stop him fussing... while covers Alex Snova and Tommie Luyben got positively domestic and cuddly.)

also yeeeeees, let Tumblebrutus thirst for Tugger, it's what he deserves. 😌 Actually, it's interesting you mentioned in this post the old Australasian tours (before the 2015–16 revival period): in that, as in the Hamburg production (and often in US tour 5) Tumblebrutus was Vic's usual pas de deux partner (though it's Pouncival in the Chinese and Korean productions): combine that with the fact that he's usually more hissy and aggressive and he, like Victoria, has a bit of a 'coming of age' arc over the course of the show as he learns how to channel 'hormonal teenager' into something less disruptive. Definitely room there for him to be exploring Naughty Thoughts about Tugger too.

Back on the subject of the costumes: I do love the more vibrant and less literal costume colourings, and I had definitely noticed some influence from my beloved pre-revival Australasia designs! Were the Mexican productions an influence too, or were the similarities there just a case of 'great minds think alike'?

And Chaz is absolutely correct about that one costume, that's brilliant.

Hi Cats Tumblr People,

So I heard you like pics.

Please bear with me (AND TEACH ME) how Tumblr works/if I'm doing it wrong! I'm literally the "How do you do, fellow young people?" meme. Our Etsy is linked (unless I messed that up!) Right now it's bare (LOT of work and VERY old photos in the banner) but we'll be posting some cossies soon that are ready to retire. Some of our prices sadly will have to rise (we undercharge honestly for the amount of time put into them... we just LOVE making them). Anyway...

These are our original designs. We have taken inspiration from different productions, from the US tour to Gothenburg to Australia to Japan, less UK because it gets the most attention and we like COLOR! but this is all us. Our goal is to a) have characters be recognizable and b) make swing unitards in palates that could pass as at least 3 characters for emergency. When our rentals go out, swing unitards go with them, and ultimately it's the director who decides what makes the final cut (so a less yellow Demeter for example--but we LOVE that one).

If we ever do a production of Cats with Chaz, you'll notice one in Red, White, and some Black (but mostly Red and White, with fan ears, that is a design David created and is Chaz's FAVORITE design of all time. Any time he does a show, if we're hired, that costume goes. Usually Electra, but any ensemble/swing kitty and can cover for Sillabub or in a pinch Bombalurina. Yuka wore it at Interlakes before she did Victoria on the last US Tour! You might notice an Admetus in tans and GREEN undertones--that was my design he loved. We also did the purple twins (which was vetoed and I said, "Okay" then did it anyway because I knew he'd love it, which he did!), and REBA Gumbie Tap Suit was completely mine (everyone thought I was out of my MIND when I started making it! Even David! Then the shoulder pads came, and the belt, and tail, and BEDAZZLING!!! SO MANY RHINESTONES!!!!) Our Misto coat lights up but we still have a lot to learn about arduino since we'd eventually like to make it blink to music. The Misto coat is also created to fit a multitude of sizes, basically the theatre using their department for alterations since we make use of stretch fabric. I've known Bronson for almost as long as Chaz (he even designed my author website!!!) so when I saw him cast, I showed him his costume (a much, much browner/redder Gus than most see--I was serious about liking color) and let him choose between two coats. He said he wanted pants and we went, "NO! PANTLESS PRODUCTION!" because we thought he was joking! We didn't realize... HE REALLY WANTED PANTS!!!! SORRY BRONSON! So shout out to Wichita for making him pants! LOL!

There is a HUGE joke about Tumble thirsting for Tugger more than the girls so you'll notice that with the Tugger ABOUUUOUOUOUOUOUOUUUUUUUUUT THAT.

Hope that's of interest! And no, I'm not procrastinating on edits when my agent deadline is Sunday. Haha... ha... ha... ha... ha... Sera, if you're reading this I PROMISE I'M WORKING OKAY??? I DIDN'T KNOW WE GOT ON BROADWAYWORLD!!!

We also saw some comments about casting in general and some confusion/questions about different dancers doing different parts (Alonzo vs Plato). Would anyone be interested in learning more about the casting process in general and things that directors/choreographers need to take into consideration? Please note, I will not discuss ANY performers we work with. Ever. All are extraordinary and these are tough calls that aren't easy to make and based on other factors, including the ensemble at large, and sometimes huge changes are made.

[white-cat-of-doom]

Denise Jastraunig provides us with another backstage video full of questions and some interesting answers.

She seems to miss the Vienna Revival as much as the rest of us.

With Gerben Grimmius as Skimbleshanks, Jo Lucy Rackham covering Jennyanydots and Rumpleteazer, Anna Carina Buchegger as Rumpleteazer, Jan-Eike Majert as Mungojerrie, Florian Fetterle covering Old Deuteronomy, Felix Martin as Gus, Ana Milva Gomes as Grizabella, and Alexander Auler as Munkustrap.

[junkyard-gifs]

Concept: You are a Jellicle and have acquired a new item of clothing, known as a piping bag.

This flexible and fashionable garment offers you a range of choices:

1. cosplay as mouse

2. party hat 🥳

3: cone bra!

Thanks to our models, Electra (Vicky Riddoch), Jemima (Anastasia Bertinshaw), Victoria (Susannah Murphy), and Skimbleshanks (Tommie Luyben in the gifs, Gerben Grimmius in the photo).

Vienna revival: July 2020 for the photo, and the footage by @falasta and @cryptidvoidwritings on 22/6/22.

[falasta]

Let's hear it about Skimbleshanks for the ask game! <3

THANKS! Excellent choice ❤️

Give me a character and I will answer:

Why I like them:

He's Skimbleshanks! The Cat of the Railway Train! He jumps and dances and is everyone's favorite Train Dad and he's gentle and protective and fierce when he needs to be. But I think what I love most about Skimble is how much the other cats clearly adore him. Skimble's song is for Every Single Cat! Even Deuteronomy gets in the lineup! And at the end the cats literally won't let him go without a reprise.

Why I don’t: I do not see how it is possible to not like Skimbleshanks

Favorite episode (scene if movie): Skimble's song, obviously 😌.

Favorite season/movie: I'm going to interject favorite production here? I haven't seen that many but Props to Gerben Skimble for being the most 👀😳 and Tommie being the fussiest of Skimbles in Vienna. Hayden Baum for broadest smile. Gavin for being the Tiniest as well as exceptionally feline. Geoffrey Garret for being the Softest in his interaction with the kittens.

Favorite line: "It was very quiet when they found their little den with their names written up on the door" WOO WOO

Favorite outfit: His Bell is very important!

OTP: I don't really have one but I do have a very soft spot for putting him with Jenny mostly because they are so comfortable together. Also some people have written unbearably adorable fic about them together 😌

Brotp: Don't really have one? Skimble is friends with Everyone!

Head Canon: Skimble regularly finds kittens and lost cats as part of his job.

Also That train absolutely will not run without him. Call it superstition or loyalty but everyone knows that the train can't start until Skimble is at the helm.

Unpopular opinion: Look I wasn't sure about the Skimbletable until I saw Gerben Grimmius in Vienna. And that cat is intense. That pair needs help and Skimble is there to provide it 😌

A wish: My general wish to the universe is that they bring Vienna Cats BACK

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen: I suppose that ALW would do something as horrible to Skimbleshanks as he did to P&P and Growltiger 😩

5 words to best describe them: Protective, Inquisitive, Gentle, Energetic, Must Be Up in Everyone's Business

My nickname for them: Well we'll toss in the verb "Skimblefuss" XD

[hysperia]

I need to find some fitting pictures other performers who've done both shows:

Barbara Obermeier: Chorus/Sarah & Jellylorum/Grizabella Gerben Grimmius: Nightmare Solo 1/Chorus & Skimbleshanks/Old Deuteronomy Thomas Borchert: Graf Von Krolock & Rum Tum Tugger

Performers who have played both Graf von Krolock and Munkustrap

Steve Barton, Ivan Ozhogin, David Arnspeger, Jack Rebaldi, Robert D. Marx