By Matthew Blank
11 Sep 2012

Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager:	Peter Pan. I was 14 and didn't want to grow up, so it was very appropriate!
Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living:	My 3rd grade production of Mary Poppins. I was painfully shy, but I wanted to play Jane so badly, so I braved the auditions. It was about then I decided I wanted to dress up and tell stories for my job.
How you got your Equity card:	When I was cast in Wicked
Some favorite screen/commercial work:	"The Parent Trap" will always be special. I learned all about making movies and went on an awesome adventure.
Favorite pre-/post- show meal:	I love going to Casellula when I want to splurge after a show!
Favorite liquid refreshment:	Ronnybrook Farms chocolate milk
Pre-show rituals or warm-ups:	Doing a short 5 to 6 minute warm up and hearing about everybody's day!
Most vocally challenging role you have ever played:	Glinda in Wicked
Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap:	I threw 2 wands into the audience during one performance of Wicked. My aim was pretty bad.
Were you previously a fan of Chaplin's movies?	I didn't know a lot about Charlie Chaplin before auditioning for the workshop earlier this year. I knew of "The Little Tramp" and had seen snippets of movies, but that was about it.
What research went into this role?	I've been reading a biography on Oona. Also, there is a great little screen test of her online.
If you could trade roles/tracks with anyone in the show for a week, who would it be?	Rob McClure, so he could rest!
Leading lady role you've been dying to play:	Clara in The Light in the Piazza, Julie or Carrie in Carousel and Marian in Music Man.
Leading man role you wish you could play:	Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime and Javert in Les Miserables
Something about you that surprises people:	Don't know if this is surprising, but I'm totally an introvert.
Something you are incredibly proud of:	Going back to school this fall! I never finished my Bachelor's degree and it's a goal I want to accomplish!
Career you would want if not a performer:	Astronaut or nutritionist
Three things you can't live without:	Graham crackers, Scramble with Friends and my food processor.
"I'll never understand why…"	… we don't all wear vintage 20s, 30s and 40s clothes in life. Those were great fashion eras.
Words of advice for aspiring performers:	This job is amazing and I love it, but life is way more fun when it's not in the #1 priority spot.