Jellicle Cats are choreographical cats!

While this cat is no stranger to cats…she’s on the techie-side layer for this production…please meet the first of two threepeaters, our very own— Queenie Cat!

Thank you so much for joining us, Whitney! We’re thrilled to have you back with us again! Now you are a rare cat— just one of two— who is what we call a magical Threepeater!

Whitney Russell: I am! I’m the assistant to the choreographer this time around, as opposed to last time and the time before where I was in the actual show. Bambi is using all of her same choreography and I am helping to teach and make sure everybody gets her vision.

That’s excellent. Why come along and want to be a part of Cats for the third time?

Whitney: Well I love Cats and of course I love Cats with Bambi. I just couldn’t commit to being in the show, with weekends and schedules and other commitments, but I wanted to be involved in whatever way possible and becoming the assistant to the choreographer has allowed me to still be involved and I love it.

Now you performed both in the 2016 production of Cats with Bambi and again in the 2022 production at Tidewater Players. And were you different cats or the same?

Whitney: So in 2016 I played Exotica. And when we did it again in 2022, the character’s name was Etcetera, but Bambi basically made her sort of like the same cat as Exotica. They were similar but with different names.

Now if you could be any cat— just write your ticket to be the cat of your choice in Cats, who would you be?

Whitney: I used to always say Victoria. But now that I’m older, I think it would be Bombalurina. I just love her sexy attitude and of course I love the song “Macavity.”

What is the most challenging part about being assistant to the choreographer for you?

Whitney: Most challenging, I would say is kind of knowing when to step in and help take over and when to back up and her do her Bambi thing.

Now if you had to give your assistant to the choreographer persona a cat name, what would you be calling her?

Whitney: Oh gosh. This one is hard. My name…last time I said Queenie and I’m going to stick with Queenie because I love it!

Love it. Why are you hoping people will come out and see Cats at Cockpit in Court?

Whitney: Oh my gosh, so Bambi and I were just talking about this the other night! There are so many new people and the talent is amazing and it’s just so different. It’s just completely different; it’s fresh! Just the way that they interpret their characters, the way that they sing— I think this is the best singing cast she’s ever had for Cats.

What has been your big personal takeaway this time around?

Whitney: I’m loving getting to learn everything behind the scenes and what goes into making the show, more than just what goes into being on stage and performing it.

You’ve worked with Bambi outside of Cats, right?

Whitney: Yeah, I’ve done several shows with her.

Why is Bambi is a person that you want to come out and do shows with?

Whitney: Just from this show’s standpoint— getting to learn the behind-the-scenes has just been so eye-opening and I love to learn and Bambi is a great person to learn from.

I think when we spoke two years ago, you had a dog…not a cat…

Whitney: Yes. And I still have that dog. Alfred.

Ah yes, Alfred. Still-not-a-cat. Now, 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?

Whitney: I’m going to go with fresh.  

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:

Sillabub

Carbucketty

Plato

Bill Bailey

Electra

Saffron

Aria

Pouncival

Coricopat

Tantomile

Etcetera

Griddlebone

Skimbleshanks

Starla