Pittman has appeared on Broadway in Good People and Passing Strange. Other theatre work includes Domesticated (Mitzi Newhouse/ LCT), Disgraced (LCT3), When Last We Flew (Fringe), Love in the Wars (Bard College/SummerScape), Neat (Kitchen Theatre) and Two Things (Denver Center Theater, world premiere).
Screen work includes "Blacklist" (NBC), "The Americans" (FX), "House of Cards" (Netflix), "The Good Wife" (CBS), "Law & Order" (NBC), "Law & Order: SVU" (NBC), "White Collar" (USA), "30 Rock" (NBC), "Kings" (NBC), "Medium" (CBS), "The Rewrite," "Begin Again," "The Bourne Legacy" and "Last Night."
| Full given name: | Karen Pittman |
| Where you were born/where you were raised: | I was born in Mississippi and raised in Nashville, TN. A true steel magnolia. |
| Zodiac Sign: | Aries |
| What your parents did/do for a living: | Both my parents were scientists and educators. |
| Siblings: | I have three sisters and one brother. |
| Special skills: | Unlike my character in Disgraced, I'm an excellent cook (and always give my kids homemade hot chocolate. NEVER macaroni and cheese from a box.) |
| Something you're REALLY bad at: | I have a very hard time receiving a compliment. It's awkward. |
| First Broadway show you ever saw: | Frankie and Johnny (at the Claire de Lune) with Stanley Tucci and Edie Falco. I still have the poster. (Also produced by Araca) |
| If you could go back in time and catch any show, what would it be? | Original Porgy and Bess |
| Current or recent show other than your own you have been recommending to friends: | Our Lady of Kibeho by Katori Hall (I read the script. It's gonna kill you...) |
| Favorite showtune(s) of all time: | "Ladies Who Lunch" by Stephen Sondheim |
| Some favorite modern playwrights: | Ayad Akhtar (I mean...), Bruce Norris, Lynn Nottage, Amy Herzog |
| Broadway or screen stars of the past you would have most loved to perform with: | Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr. |
| The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: | Viola Davis in Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel |
| Music that makes you cry, any genre: | Hip Hop Gospel (seriously), Yo Yo Ma, the overture to Porgy and Bess |
| Your personal acting idols: | Ruby Dee, Diana Ross, Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep |
| MAC or PC? | Totally MAC |
| Most played song on your iPod: | "XO" by Beyonce |
| Most-visited websites: | npr.org, nytimes.com, vogue.com and playbill.com of course! |
| Last book you read: | "Fire Shut Up In My Bones" by Charles Blow (breathtaking) |
| Must-see TV show(s): | "The Americans," "House of Cards," "OITNB" |
| Last good movie you saw: | "Towheads" by Shannon Plumb - BRILLIANT! |
| Some films you consider classics: | Most things by Spike Lee, Joel and Ethan Coen, Stanley Kubrick, Kurosawa |
| Performer you would drop everything to go see: | Beyonce (I know, it's a cliche but I love her!) |
| Pop culture guilty pleasure: | Perusing those glossy real estate mags in the Sunday Times with a ridiculously strong cup of coffee |
| Best holiday or birthday gift you ever received: | A boyfriend used to give me jewelry from Tiffany's for every birthday/anniversary. Sometimes spectacular but mostly just small lovely trinkets... |
| Favorite Halloween costume you ever wore: | Wonder Woman |
| Three favorite cities: | Paris, Vancouver, Barcelona |
| First CD/Tape/LP you owned: | Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814" |
| First stage/screen kiss: | Doesn’t every kiss feel like it's on stage or screen? |
| Favorite pre-/post-show meal: | Chicken Caesar salad and a Diet Coke (Bond 45 is delicious!) |
| Favorite liquid refreshment: | Sancerre (anytime of the year) or a margarita |
| Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: | I read my script, brush my teeth, put on my makeup, do my hair. We circle up 5 minutes before show starts, and then I meditate for 10 minutes alone in my dressing room, lights off. |
| Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap: | I've got good Karma. Nothing crazy yet... |
| What drew you to this project? | The story. It's original. |
| What has been the biggest challenge so far? | Living through the last 4 minutes of Scene 3. Just living through it... |
| What has been the most fun or fulfilling aspect of this show/character? | The most fulfilling part of this job is that I get to laugh with the audience. And then, make them giggle as well. |
| Any upcoming or side projects you can talk about? | I could tell you-- but then I'd have to kill you. |
| Leading lady role you've been dying to play: | Frankie in Frankie and Johnny at the Clair de Lune |
| Leading man role you've been dying to play: | King Lear |
| Something about you that surprises people: | I'm very claustrophobic. It's not debilitating but I do get anxious. |
| Three things you can't live without: | Art, beauty, love |
| "I'll never understand why…" | … people are mean. |
| Words of advice for aspiring performers: | Don't listen to advice. Listen to your heart. |
