“Like the sunflower, I learn to turn my face to the dawn. I am waiting, for the day.” ~Sillabub.

“Growltiger had no eye or ear for aught but Griddlebone, and the Lady seemed enraptured by his manly baritone.” ~Growltiger’s Last Stand.

While the musical number may or may not be included in this current production of Cats (that’s all on ALW and the licensing folk) Griddlebone the Cat as well as Sillabub the cat are both cats who are still a part of Cats. And we’re about to chat with the actor who is playing both of them.

Thank you so much for giving us some of your time! Please tell us who you are and who you’re playing!

Anne Acerno: My name is Anne Acerno and I play Sillabub slash Griddlebone.

Tell me a little bit about Sillabub and Griddlebone.

Anne: So they’re the singing cats. Griddlebone is the opera cat, she sings the aria during the whole Growltiger and Gus the theatre cat part. So I’m mostly a singing cat, and I sing as an ensemble cat when I’m Sillabub.

Why did you want to be a part of Cats?

Anne: Really I just wanted to be in a Bambi (director Bambi Johnson) show. She’s so magical! I’ve never done a Bambi show before and I really just wanted to be a part of one. Also, I wanted to do a show with my daughter (Erin Acerno) who is a real dancer.

What does it mean to you to be a Jellicle Cat?

Anne: I think Jellicle Cat is an all-encompassing term for all the cats and their little quirks that make them special. I think it also indicated that they are all a family in their own way— just like our cast has formed our own little clowder!

Do you have cats?

Anne: I don’t, because I’m allergic. But I do love them! Everybody always yells at me when I’m petting them because they’re afraid my face is going to explode. But you don’t say no if they choose you to pet them, you don’t dare to say no. But we do have three dogs in our house. Mickey and Winnie and Jasmine.

What has the Cats experience been like so far?

Anne: It’s been wonderful. It’s just so nice to be a part of the whole thing. Watching the dancers do what they do is beautiful. Watching Bambi work and her process is fantastic. And I love the music.

We learn that all cats have three names. Griddlebone and Sillabub are your cats’ ‘more dignified names’ and while we can never know the ‘secret name’ that they call themselves, what do you think their ‘family daily use’ name is? What are the humans calling them every day?

Anne: Hmm. I hadn’t thought of that. Something very dramatic for Griddlebone, certainly. Aria, I think, because she sings the aria. And if Griddlebone’s everyday name is Aria, then Sillabub’s everyday name would have to be something simple. Like Fluffy.

If you had to sum up the Cats experience in just one word, what word would you choose?

Anne: Magic.

Cats plays September 16^th 2022 through September 25^th 2022 with Tidewater Players, in residence at the Cultural Center at The Havre de Grace Opera House— 121 N. Union Street in historic downtown Havre de Grace, MD. For tickets call the box office at 667-225-8433 or purchase them online.

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