Return to the Jellicle Ball: Meeting the Newest 2024 Additions to the Clowder of Cockpit in Court's Cats: Starla

Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes…to dance by the light of the Jellicle Moon… and one such Jellicle Cat has taken herself up into the stratosphere to get as close to the moon as possible! Who knew that Jellicles could also freestyle on the Lyra Hoop?

Ariel Chaillou as Starla in Cats at Cockpit in Court

Thank you so much for joining us! Tell us who you are pretty please? And who you are playing this time around as we know you are Tidewater Cat in addition to being a Jellicle Cat!

Ariel Chaillou: I’m Ariel Chaillou and my cat’s name is Starla and she is the aerialist.

WOW. An aerialist? Tell me a little bit about Starla the aerialist! This is not a cat I have ever seen before.

Ariel: So this is a cat that I made up, based off of everything that’s going on. Our set is now in a warehouse, so we don’t necessarily have the moonlight, right? So Starla represents the moonlight! I do the Lyra Hoop apparatus.

That sounds amazing. How long have you been working with Lyra Hoop?

Ariel: I’ve been training for about six years.

And what made you want to get into Lyra Hoop?

Ariel: Well, I accidentally signed up for a class when I went to Florida. I meant to sign up for a silks yoga class but I didn’t know the terminology. So when I got there, I saw the hoop, and thought “but where’s the fabric?” And the instructor said “no, we’re working on that today.” And she gave me the option, she told me I could leave and they would refund me or she asked me if I wanted to stay and try. And I said, “I’m going to stay and try.” So that was back in 2016 I believe? In 2018, I found a local studio that actually trained in Lyra, so I started my official training in 2018.

That’s amazing and congratulations!

Ariel: Thank you! I’m really excited to get to perform with the Lyra Hoop in this space.

Ariel Chaillou practicing Lyra Hoop for Cats at Cockpit in Court

I’m excited to see it! Now how does Starla the aerial cat compare to what you did the last time you were with Cats at Tidewater in 2022?

Ariel: I was Grizabella last time. So with Griz, when she enters the room, the whole entire mood changes. And it goes down. But with Starla, she’s there to brighten things up. She’s there to give that wonder. You know Bambi, she always has that magic that she puts into a show? Starla is a part of that magic. It’s a magic that people don’t expect.

So true! Now why did you want to come out and audition for Cats again having done it once before?

Ariel: Oh because there’s literally nothing else I would ever want to do other than Cats. I’m so passionate about the show. I saw the show when I was 12 or 13 years old, and I’ve loved it ever since. I will never say no to Cats.

And this is your second time working with Bambi?

Ariel: Yes. Both times for Cats and it’s awesome. Bambi just lets me do my thing. I’ve been rehearsing in the studio and no one has seen what I’m able to do at this point yet. It’s going to be a big reveal for the cast, for the audience, and I think it’s going to be pretty wild.

I’m thrilled and can’t wait to see the reveal! What does it mean to you this time around to be a Jellicle Cat?

Ariel: It’s surreal, actually. It’s very surreal because once upon a time I only saw myself as Grizabella. And now, this is actually something that helped me really see a different side of the show. Because all I knew was Griz. So now, doing this part, it gives me a completely different view, a different perspective of everybody.

Ezra (six), who is not a cat, holding Jinzo (the dog, also not a cat) with his brother Alexander (11, still not a cat.)

Now I can’t remember from two years ago if you have cats…but I feel like maybe you didn’t?

Ariel: That’s correct. I have a dog! Jinzo.

And you also have some children at home, right?

Ariel: Yes. Two sons— Alexander, who is now 11, and Ezra who is now six, and both of them came to see Cats last time and both of them will be coming to see it this time. They loved it last time, and the little one left with the little kitten that got pulled out of the hat.

I’m really excited for them to get to see you be Starla the Aerialist Cat!

Ariel: Me too. Especially because this is my debut hoop performance, I’ve never performed hoop before, this will be the first time.

Now we know that cats have three names. The name that the humans call them or their daily use name, their more dignified name, and their third, secret name that we can never know. What do you think the humans are calling Starla?

Ariel: They’re probably calling her… you know? I think it’s just Starla. That’s just what it is. Because she’s up with the stars.

What has been your big personal takeaway from Cats this time around?

Ariel: Being seen as an aerialist is different. Normally when I do shows, I just go up there and sing and it’s theatre. So being the aerialist, the big takeaway is that I never thought that I could be looked at in that way. And Bambi said we’d be putting my aerial skills to work, and I thought, “Okay…it’s official.” I literally just got performer insurance and it’s real-real, I’m a performer.

That’s incredible. And you’re hoping this will lead to more Aerial Hoop performances?

Ariel: Absolutely. It definitely started off as a bucket-list type of thing. I was interested, then I was training but I wasn’t training for anything specific, just doing it because I love it. And six years later I still love it.

What is it that you love so much about it?

Ariel: It’s very challenging. It’s very hard to do. And I kick and scream while my trainer is getting me to do certain things but once you’ve done it you feel so accomplished! And then you feel like “I need to go back and learn more.” Six years later and I’m still learning. And I get bored easily and I’m not bored yet!

If you had to sum up your experience here at Cockpit in Court with Bambi and Cats using just one word, which word would you use?

Ariel: Amazing!

Cats plays July 19^th 2024 through August 4^th 2024 in the F. Scott Black Theatre of The Robert and Eleanor Romadka College Center at the Community College of Baltimore County Essex Campus— 7201 Rossville Boulevard, Essex MD. For tickets call the box office at (443) 840-2787 or purchase them online.

Follow along in the “Return to the Jellicle Ball” Series here: