Kitty Bungalow – Catstravaganza – Hamilton’s Cats

By: Taylor Gates

Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats is not an ordinary charity. Not only do they spay, neuter, feed and shelter homeless animals, but they also have their own special etiquette classes to help get feral cats ready to be adopted. Because they’re not an ordinary organization, it makes sense that they wouldn’t have an ordinary charity event. Hamilton’s Cats(travaganza) musical was anything but ordinary, each second more spectacular than the last.

The plot follows demanding but passionate director Hamilton (Eric B. Anthony) and his frazzled yet earnest assistant Kitty (Mindy Sterling) as they attempt to put on Cats the musical. They start running into challenges when word that Andrew Lloyd Webber himself is coming, as the entire town starts clamoring to audition last minute. An array of quirky characters ranging from Hamilton’s high school crush (Bethany Joy Lenz) and a local emo girl (Maiara Walsh) to the cranky theatre owner (Fred Willard) and his nurse (Carla Jimenez) come into the picture, lending their incredible pipes and hilarious comedy skills.

The show truly has something for everyone. Renditions of “Memory” and “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” pays homage to Cats while ultra-popular Hamilton songs “My Shot” and “The Room Where it Happens” are meshed in as well. Other songs include “Naughty” from Matilda and Charlene’s ballad “I’ve Never Been to Me,” sung by a hysterical, clarinet-loving Kirsten Vangsness.

The show lasted nearly three hours, raising tens of thousands of dollars in the process. One of the coolest parts of the night was the amazing energy strung throughout the entire event. Even the intermission was full of excitement. Although the charity’s founder Shawn Simmons was losing her voice, Hollywood’s biggest stars helped her out and auctioned off some once-in-a-lifetime experiences between acts.

“Bones” star Emily Deschanel is going to call one lucky audience member’s friend on their birthday, “MADtv” star Nicole Sullivan is taking a few attendees out to lunch and to the set of her new animated DC comics show, Mindy Sterling is joining a group at Veggie Grill and a couple of crowds are getting tours of Kirsten Vangsness’ distillery from the “Criminal Minds” star herself.

The talent wasn’t confined to the stage either. Performers floated through the lobby of the beautiful Montalban Theatre before and after the show. The Chicago-based folk duo Almond & Olive entertained the crowd beforehand as well as magician Fantastic Fig and his cat Newton. Some of the biggest names with some of the biggest hearts attended the red carpet before the show to share some of their own personal connections to the charity.

Nikki Hahn, who played mischievous youngster Persephone, spoke about Simmons lending her help. “We found cats in our backyard and needed help getting them inside,” she shared. “Shawn helped us a lot and now they’re tame and super sweet.”

The show’s lead Eric B. Anthony revealed he met Simmons at an audition a few years ago. When she called him up to ask for his help with the show, it was a no brainer. “I think animal welfare is really important,” said Anthony. He views helping animals as his duty since they don’t have voices with which to speak up themselves.

This show isn’t the first time his love of theatre and commitment to animals has overlapped, either. “The last dog I had was so special,” Anthony said. “She was actually one of the dogs they brought to Hairspray when I was on Broadway for ‘Meet the Pet’ week. The dog I held to the audience!” After that moment, he knew he had to be the one to take her home.

Although actress Emily Deschanel doesn’t currently have any pets at home, she’s hoping to change that soon. “I’m trying to petition for a dog eventually!” she says.. True, Deschanel doesn’t sing much in the musical, but her portrayal of rich control freak Alice Applebaum definitely stole moments of the show. “I have four daughters who I literally keep on leashes,” she says of her character. “I’m a total stage mom in the show within the show,” she laughs.

Animal activist Chanel Ryan said it best when she called Hamilton’s Cats(travaganza) a “fun, campy night of kitty cat theatre.” Additionally, “The Mick” star Carla Jimenez was right when she told us it would be “meowgical and purrfect” night!

Red Carpet Coverage