Dr. Seuss’s timeless children’s books are venturing into a new audio landscape. In a groundbreaking collaboration, Amazon’s Wondery podcast studio and network, under its Wondery Kids & Family division, has joined forces with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to bring beloved stories to life through podcasts. The inaugural project from this exciting partnership is “The Cat in the Hat Cast,” a whimsical variety show-style podcast fronted by none other than the iconic, red and white hat-wearing Cat himself. Set to premiere on September 18, this weekly series will be exclusively available to subscribers of Wondery+ via the Wondery app and Wondery Kids+ on Apple Podcasts.
“The Cat in the Hat Cast” promises to immerse listeners in “a world full of delightful mix-ups and exhilarating mayhem.” Listeners will be treated to a unique experience as the ever-mischievous Cat guides the perpetually cautious Fish through the intricacies of hosting a perfectly balanced podcast. Expect a playful mix of alphabet sing-a-longs, challenging tongue-twisters, and engaging wordplay, all designed to entertain and educate young audiences. Bringing the Cat in the Hat to life with his voice is Andrew Barbato, the “Cat In The Hat Actor” for this audio series, a versatile singer, writer, artist, and comedian hailing from New York City. Complementing Barbato is Brandon Zelman, an actor, improviser, filmmaker, and writer from Brooklyn, who lends his voice to the role of the Fish.
Andrew Barbato, the voice actor for the Cat in the Hat in "The Cat in the Hat Cast" podcast, bringing the iconic character to life in audio format.
Further expanding on their collaboration, the companies have hinted at forthcoming series in the weeks ahead, each with tailored distribution strategies. Susan Brandt, president and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, highlighted the growing trend of children’s podcast consumption observed during the pandemic. This surge in listenership prompted the company to explore opportunities in the podcasting realm. Brandt expressed admiration for Wondery’s creative approach, stating, “I was really struck with the creativity that Wondery brings to their projects.”
Brandt further elaborated on the synergy between the two entities: “Wondery Kids & Family has an incredible vision for how to bring to life our characters and stories in podcasting form. We believe this collaboration not only builds upon Dr. Seuss’ incredible legacy but also plays a key part of our bigger entertainment strategy for the Dr. Seuss franchise.” Dr. Seuss Enterprises already boasts significant partnerships with entertainment giants like Warner Animation Group, Netflix, and Amazon’s Prime Video, showcasing their commitment to expanding the Dr. Seuss universe across various media. Since its inception in 1993, Dr. Seuss Enterprises has been dedicated to philanthropy, channeling all profits to charitable organizations focused on education, health, animal conservation, and the arts, continuing the legacy of Theodor Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss, who passed away in 1991.
Nicole Blake, GM of Wondery Kids & Family and Wondery’s head of franchise development, revealed that Dr. Seuss Enterprises was Wondery’s top choice for a children’s podcast partnership. Interestingly, before Wondery could even initiate contact, Dr. Seuss Enterprises reached out to them, which Blake described as a fortunate alignment of interests. “The stars aligned,” she remarked, emphasizing the natural fit between the two organizations.
Brandon Zelman, the voice actor playing Fish in "The Cat in the Hat Cast," alongside Andrew Barbato, together bringing the beloved Dr. Seuss characters to the podcast format.
“This deal with Dr. Seuss Enterprises is a milestone moment in establishing Wondery Kids & Family as the premiere destination for engaging family content,” Blake affirmed. She further emphasized the shared mission of both Wondery Kids & Family and Dr. Seuss to “unlock kids’ curiosity, imagination and wonder,” underscoring the inherent compatibility of this collaboration. Wondery Kids & Family’s existing portfolio includes popular shows like the science-focused “Wow in the World,” hosted by Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas, the story-time podcast “Little Stories Everywhere,” and the puzzle-based “Whose Amazing Life,” aimed at families with children aged 3-12, demonstrating their established expertise in creating engaging content for young audiences. The addition of “The Cat in the Hat Cast,” featuring the talented “cat in the hat actor” Andrew Barbato and Brandon Zelman, is poised to further solidify Wondery Kids & Family’s position in the children’s podcasting landscape.
