Ep272 - Antoine L. Smith, Swing on US National Tour 5 & Berry Gordy in MJ The Musical

“CATS really showed me how important it was to be a team player and how to take care of each other on stage and off stage as much as you can.” This episode features Antoine L. Smith who was a swing on the US. National Tour 5 of CATS. Hear Antoine discuss his lifelong connection to the show after watching the VHS daily in college and becoming inspired by Ken Page’s Old Deuteronomy. Antoine describes auditioning via open call, joining a brand-new tour cast, and the intense self-driven work required of swings, including felinity coaching and learning multiple tracks like Old Deuteronomy, Bustopher Jones, and Gus. He shares his character backstory for Old Deuteronomy, his belief that Deuteronomy always knows the Jellicle choice, and a memorable mid-show emergency where he had minutes to get into intricate makeup and costume.

00:50 First CATS Obsession

08:29 Old Deuteronomy Backstory

09:48 Jellicle Choice Theory

12:39 Importance of Swings

16:52 Tour Chaos

24:49 Discovering The Jellicle Ball

36:27 Rapid Fire

Check out Antoine on Instagram: @antoinelsmith32

Check out MJ The Musical on Social Media: @mjthemusical

Check out MJ The Musical's website: newyork.mjthemusical.com

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