BWW Interview - Special CATS Debut of the Month Series: Daniel Gaymon

This month, BWW's Debut of the Month column features four of the talented actors who are making their Broadway debuts in the exciting revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical CATS, now playing at the Neil Simon Theater. Based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," Cats tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of Cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn.

Today we speak with Daniel Gaymon, who makes his Broadway debut in the dual role of Plato/Macavity!

[NOTE: BroadwayWorld's fabulous photographer Walter McBride captures images of the Broadway stars profiled in our monthly column in a special photo shoot. Check out the pics of Mr. Gaymon throughout the feature!]

What was your first experience with Cats?

My first experience with CATS was watching the 1998 film version performance on VHS when I was 10 years old. That was the only production of the show I had seen prior to my casting.

Can you describe your characters?

My first character, Plato, is a playful flirtatious cat. He's there for the party known as the Jellicle Ball and there he gets to dance with Victoria, the white cat. She's quite timid at first but she eventually opens up to dance with him.

How does one learn to move and dance like a cat?

I had never sang professionally before I was cast but once I was, I enjoyed singing with my cast mates very much and when you're in character while performing the show, the felineness just comes out automatically. The original choreographer of the show, Gillian Lynne, gave us a lesson on the first day of rehearsal about being a cat in which we did an exercise just gently touching and eventually naturally improving with cat-like instincts, and that was extremely helpful early in the rehearsal process.

What do you think it is about CATS which makes it stand the test of time?

I believe what makes it stand the test of time is a combination of the music, which the brilliant Andrew Lloyd Webber composed many years ago, the extreme physicality, the dancing which the cats perform during the Jellicle Ball, and the storyline, which deals with acceptance as well as forgiveness in a beautiful way.

In what ways do you think the show revolutionized theater?

I believe it revolutionized theater in the way that it was performed, as a grand spectacle in a junkyard of all places. It also introduced characters that everyone could relate to, and of course the music, which has had such an impact for people of all ages.

What message do you hope audiences take away from the show?

I hope the audience takes away the message of forgiving yourself and in doing that you forgive other people. I think the message of treating people the way you want to be treated resonates brilliantly through the show and I think it's wise that people of all ages continue to pick that up for generations to come.

What has it been like to work with Tony-winning choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler?

Working with Andy Blankenbuehler has been stellar to say the least. Whenever we're at work he's always down to business as well as being able to relax and crack a joke every now and then. His understanding of what to say in the show and how to portray it has always fascinated me and his choreography is so immersed in every style of dance that it's very enjoyable to be able to perform it.

CATS features so many beloved songs. Do you have a favorite number from the show?

My favorite number every since I first saw a production of Cats was the Rum Tum Tugger number. It's a hyped part of the show and essentially a party when his character is around so it's so fun to perform that number every night.

What was it like to make your Broadway debut in Cats?

Well, I did not think I'd be making my Broadway debut this early in my career so to do it in a production in which I was such a fan of when I was 10 years old was honestly a dream come true and a testament that God works in mysterious ways. So I'm very blessed to have gotten my start in this legendary and thought-provoking show.

Daniel Gaymon started dancing at 9 at Columbia City Jazz Dance School. He has performed in companies such as Rasta Thomas' Bad Boys of Dance, Jaci Royal's Flux and Travis Wall's Shaping Sound.