Before her date with The Prom, Caitlin Kinnunen had been on Broadway first as a replacement in the original production of Spring Awakening and then in The Bridges of Madison County as the daughter of Kelli O’Hara’s Francesca.
Now, with this leading role, Kinnunen is nominated for a Tony Award in the same category as her former stage mother.
READ: She Auditioned to Play a Cheerleader in Broadway’s The Prom But Snagged the Lead Instead
A musical theatre kid, Kinnunen grew up loving The Secret Garden and “anything from Evita,” but her first production ever was in elementary school. “It was an original production about a snowflake finding its way to earth,” she says with a laugh. “I was one of the background snowflakes.”
She’s stepped into the limelight now, wowing audiences with her pristine vocals and her grounded performance amidst the organized chaotic comedy of The Prom. As Emma, an Indiana teenager ostracized for wanting to take her girlfriend to the prom, Kinnunen brings a balance of vulnerability and self-assuredness to a character that has become an inspiration for Broadway audiences.
Here, she reveals the Tony nominee she is most excited to meet, the title of her would-be bio-musical, and her quote to live by.
Videography and video editing by Roberto Araujo.
