PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Melora Hardin

By Ernio Hernandez
07 Jan 2009

Melora Hardin
Melora Hardin

Melora Hardin — who recently joined the cast of Broadway's Chicago — fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop culture tidbits.


Full given name: Melora Hardin. Melora is from a book, "John Brown's Body" by Vincent Bennet. My mom read it when she was 16 and loved the name.
Hometown: Born in Houston, TX; raised in California
Zodiac sign: Cancer / Scorpio rising / Aires moon
Audition song: The "Roxie" song from Chicago.
Special skills: Singing, dancing, songwriting, horseback riding
First Broadway show ever saw: Annie
If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be? Gwen Verdon in Sweet Charity
Current show you have been recommending to friends: Billy Elliot and August: Osage County
Favorite show tune: "If I Were a Bell" from Guys & Dolls.
One CD you couldn't live without: "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel
Last book you read: "The Tripping Point"
Must-see TV show: "The Office"
Last good movie you saw: The movie I just directed, titled "You."
Performer you would drop everything to go see: Barbra Streisand.
Pop culture guilty pleasure: Reading all of the gossip magazines while getting a manicure.
First screen kiss: In "Little House on the Prairie," with Matthew Laborteaux, who played Albert. He's still one of my best friends.
Favorite pre-show meal: Light pasta/hearty soup; during – a Cliff Bar or a banana
How you got your Equity card: I did an Equity TV variety show when I was nine years old.
Cats or dogs? I like them both but don't have any at the moment. I did once have five cats, from when my cat had kittens and we took in a stray.
Favorite cereal: Barbara's Shredded Spoonfuls.
Who would play you in the movie? Cate Blanchett…can she sing and dance?
Worst job you ever had: I've always been an actress – since I was six years old!
TV or commercial gig you most enjoyed: When I was nine years old, I starred as Cindy Prescott in a TV series called "Thunder." It was about a magical horse (a black stallion) with superpowers that came when I called him.
Leading lady role you've been dying to play: Medea