Lenny Daniel: Age sixteen.
Dee: When did you first start singing?
LD: Age seventeen.
Dee: What is your vocal range?
LD: Baritone/basso.
Dee: When did you realize that this was what you wanted to do for a living?
LD: High school physics class: I realized I didn’t want to be behind a desk and I thought, what do I love? I came up with my dancing and theatre! And said, “Why does it have to be a hobby? Someone has to do it; why not me!”
Dee: What was your first big debut to the stage?
LD: My second grade school play. It was a play that took place in a hospital nursery of newborns waiting to be picked up by their parents. I was the head infant.
Dee: Did you play an instrument in school?
LD: I played the viola in fourth grade for about six months. I then outside of school took piano lessons for six years.
Dee: Do you still play the piano?
LD: I quit my senior year and have not played since. I know, I wish I could, but have a mental block.
Dee: Did you ever get to see Cats before you were in it?
LD: I saw the First National Tour in about 1984. I enjoyed it but had no idea what the show was about or what they were trying to get across and leave us with. What was the message? What was a Jellicle cat?
LD: No, just very proud to be part of the last cast on Broadway.
Dee: Do you own the Cats video?
LD: No.
Dee: Have you ever watched it?
LD: I have seen parts of it.
Dee: Do you think it is a good representation of the show, given that for many people it is their first exposure?
LD: I’m not a fan [of the video]. I feel it falls flat without the audience.
Dee: Do you have, or have you ever had a feline companion?
LD: No, I am allergic.
Dee: What kind of music do you like?
LD: I love all music, especially music with vocals, and I love lyrical song. I love the cello, classical, pop, jazz, blues, R&B, country…not a big fan of rap.
Dee: What are your favourite hobbies?
LD: Outdoor stuff is my favorite. I love plants or planting, skiing (water and snow), sailing, or getting a tan with a margarita in my hand.
Dee: What are your favourite stage shows to watch?
LD: Big musicals, intense drama, witty comedies, I love them all! West Side [Story], Crazy For You, Ragtime, Once on this Island, The Heiress, Witt, anything Cirque du Soleil, [Tale of] the Allergist’s Wife, etc, etc, etc.
Dee: Tell us what other roles you have played.
LD: Dream Curly in Oklahoma!, Big Deal in West Side [Story], Mike in A Chorus Line, Alonzo in Cats.
LD: Alonzo and Mike are my favorites, but Big Deal is a close second!
Dee: What roles would you like to play in the future?
LD: I am the type of person that is just excited by whatever door opens! I hope to do more TV/film. Right now I’m not dancing much so I’d like to do another dance show. You never know what adventure is around the corner.
Dee: What made you decide you wanted to be in Cats?
LD: My agent called, said I had an audition. Which I actually was not thrilled about; I really didn’t think I was right for Cats. The audition room was crowded, which upset me more. By the end of the long day when I was the only one left I finally was a bit excited! Ten minutes after I left the audition, I was in Times Square and my agent called with the words “You’re on Broadway. You got it!” To say the least I screamed with joy, cried, and called my parents, right there in Times Square!
Dee: What did you like best about being in Cats?
LD: Having a small waistline!!! Dancing till pure exhaustion, the great cast!! Having the audience and fans being so touched by something I love to do!
LD: The constant pain! The show consumes your life with body maintenance, chiropractic and massage therapy! You are constantly injured, some body part is always breaking down! The feeling that you couldn’t dance one more step! Not being able to sleep because you ache so much, and not being able to walk in the morning!
Dee: Speaking of which, we have all heard that on one occasion during the Macavity fight you and Keith suffered a mishap. Can you tell us exactly what happened, from your perspective?
LD: I was spinning Keith extra hard as I usually did. He was parallel to the ground. My shoe slipped and I knew we were going down! All I wanted to do was get underneath him to break his fall. I did partially, [but] his head did bounce on the floor. Thankfully his wig was very thick!! Once on the ground we scuffled to turn around and see each other eye-to-eye to see if the other was okay. We actually, with terror in our eyes, screamed, “Are you okay?” We acknowledged that we were and then scrambled to get back into the show and finish the fight sequence with the little music we had left! We did and then laughed our butts off, offstage!!
Dee: Tell us how you prepared for Cats, i.e. how did you learn to move and act like a cat?
LD: I was lucky to have been in London right before I started Cats in NY. My best friend was in the London cast! They were having a cast change. I was able to attend a rehearsal and participate in some theatre games tailored to becoming a cat! Mostly awareness exercises! And sensory exercises! Other than that you watch the other people in the show and steal from the good ones. Then develop your own Cat movement as you go!
Dee: On average, how long did it take you to turn into a Cat?
LD: Twenty to twenty-five minutes!
Dee: Can you tell us a little about what goes on backstage, e.g. pre-show rituals, things to do to pass the time, etc?
LD: I arrive at the theatre at 7:30 (just barely)! Ha ha.
Dee: Yeah, you are the chronically late one, aren’t you?
LD: I spend the next ten minutes or so chatting, catching up with friends and their day. Then I start the process of the Cats makeup. I actually enjoyed it. It was my time to focus and forget the outside world. (Although Keith and I sat next to each other so we would still chat a bit.) But for the most part it was a peaceful, calming time, [like] the calm before the storm or being shot out of a cannon. I would then stretch a bit, not too much (which was bad of me), jump into costume and run to make it for green eyes! The rest of my time was spent sleeping (between shows) or laughing about what someone did onstage! We laughed a lot.
LD: Towards the end of Cats people would come late and cause scenes or fight about someone being in their seat. We also have many loud drunks that would yell out comments or sing really loud during solos! For the most part we just tried not to laugh, or at least so the audience couldn’t see us laugh! But the ushers were always great about resolving the issue at hand. The most disturbing thing was when flash photos were taken! The flash truly blinds you. When that happened we would send the stage manager out to stop the flash.
Dee: We all know Grizabella was banished from the Jellicle tribe, but why was that?
LD: From my point of view! She was too into an alternative lifestyle, one I (as Alonzo) didn’t approve of, sex, drugs, etc!!! I didn’t feel she represented the tribe properly and that she was a bad influence on everyone! Real trash! I didn’t want her around polluting the tribe! What made her choose that lifestyle I don’t know, but through the show [Old] Deut teaches us many lessons, one being we have to have compassion for those worse off than us and everyone can change and deserves the chance and deserves some help when you can [give it]!
Dee: Now for some good old character interpretation! How do you interpret your character Alonzo?
LD: Alonzo to me is a young adult (is in or just finished college unlike Plato who barely made it through high school) He still likes to get rousty with his old friends (Plato, Tumble, etc), but he is also very smart, strong, and can hang with the older Cats.
Dee: Is he the second in command to Munkustrap as all the fans assume?
LD: Yes, if he stays on the path he’s on I think Alonzo is being groomed to take over when Munkustrap steps down. He is cocky and a big talker, but inside he is unsure he can live up to his talk! Through life’s lessons he is forced to step up to the plate! That moment [the fight with Macavity] is a life changing one and he is on his way to becoming a fine leader. Munk sees the leadership quality and strength in Alonzo and is his mentor (sometimes through tough love, a good scolding). Alonzo has the highest respect for Munk and is always looking for his approval.
Dee: What are some of Alonzo’s other relationships in the tribe?
LD: He has always had a crush on [and] flirted with Demeter, along with all the female Cats but more so Demeter. When he has to step in to save her he realizes he could be without her, she is his true love. Bomb I’m sure has taught Alonzo a thing or two about love, but they are really just great friends who love to play together. He is very protective of her also. Alonzo has no kittens that he knows of. He hopes for some someday with Demeter.
Dee: Can you share some of your favourite memories from being in Cats?
LD: My favorite memory is the last show! My parents sitting next to Betty Buckley. The whole theatre pulsing with electricity, excitement, energy, laughter, cheers and tears. Other than that, [the] cast itself made the experience so wonderful! Once I was listening to Griz sing “Memory” and I got so caught up in it that at the end I started clapping along with the audience. (I became an audience member.) Once I snapped back and realized [what I had done] I was mortified. A few Cats started to shake, they were laughing so hard!
Dee: And finally, if the chance arose, would you ever agree to be in Cats again, and if so, under what circumstances and what character(s)?
LD: Maybe, I would like to play Munk or Tug. Unfortunately they always want you to audition for the show even to play Alonzo. That I won’t do, not for Alonzo; for Munk or Tug I’d be glad to audition.
Dee: Thank you very much for your time, Lenny. We hope to see you onstage again soon!
