#cats musical interlakes

[miasiegert]

Summerstock from the Pit, Interlakes 2022

David found this on Youtube late last night, thought it was neat. This was Interlakes last year when I was in the hospital. Can see a few glimpses of legs of our costumes.

Interlakes is a delightful small non-eq theatre in NH, about a 400-ish house. Production directed and choreographed by Chaz Wolcott. I'm not sure when this video was taken, and I honestly don't know much about the show as I was rushed out to urgent care then the ER during the second performance with acute complicated appendicitis (grateful to the in-house costume designer Ginny for finding me and taking me to urgent care, waiting, then driving me to the ER--that helped save my life for what turned out to be a super dangerous surgery where I almost didn't make it). I wish I was able to see the show. Some of the cast were super lovely, Yuka was the kindest person ever, and I also taught many people how to do make up in a crash course. And of course mini "arguments" over eyebrow placement (I was right/won that one lol--I say it with love and in jest). We do love that theatre and our dear host family. Highly recommend it to anyone in that area. Nancy does an EXCELLENT job casting singers.

[miasiegert]

You've figured it all out, @junkyard-gifs! And did you notice that he attacks Skimbleshanks, Munkustrap, and Mungojerrie who were all most definitely on the Choo Choo Train? HMMMMMMM? Can you blame Macavity? Old Dad--I mean--Deuteronomy got to ride the CHOO CHOO, SO WHY COULDN'T MACAVITY? Petition to have Macavity go to the Heaviside Layer. Instead of a farting tire or like a roller coaster or piano or I seriously forgot all the stuff that's been used in shows we do, he gets to ride the Choo Choo Train FINALLY.

I hope this uploads correctly. FWIW if it fails, I really, REALLY tried.

I was concerned about Macavity's wig coming off on opening night so I asked Rory to move around to make sure it was solid and wouldn't come off when he did that one front pass and the lifts (he was SO GOOD, so we're talking HARDCORE with lifts, the fight scene, flinging people around, etc.)

I thought it'd be a little head swinging...

I was treated to Skimbleshanks, the Macavity Girls' butt turn, and... Russian Kicks?!

SIDE NOTE: This was the only performance I saw! During Thursday's matinee, I got very ill and had to get emergency surgery for acute complicated appendicitis! I'm so lucky I'm here today! But hey, I am, and a bunch of the nurses who attended to me went to see CATS on their day off! (I told them where to sit so they'd get cat interactions!). Every few years, Interlakes plans to have CATS and we will always design for them. I highly recommend that lovely little theatre. Beautiful area! VERY small and intimate (about a 400 seat house maybe?).

[miasiegert]

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.