PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Kristen Johnston

By Ernio Hernandez
15 Dec 2009

Kristen Johnston
Kristen Johnston

Kristen Johnston — who co-stars in the Off-Broadway revival of So Help Me God! — fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop culture tidbits.


Full given name: Kristen Johnston
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Zodiac sign: Virgo
Audition monologue: Are you kidding? You mean back in the 80's? It was Ophelia, I'm embarrassed to say.
Special skills: Nothing, why do you think I'm an actress?
First Broadway show ever saw: Burn This
If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be? Carrie: The Musical. Any show that has a song where a bunch of women throw tampons at someone, while singing "plug it up!"...that's my kind of show. Seriously, I'd love to have seen Colleen Dewhurst in Moon for the Misbegotten or Tallulah in Skin of Our Teeth.
Current show you have been recommending to friends: Wishful Drinking
Favorite showtune: I love "Money" from Cabaret and, I'm not embarrassed to admit "Defying Gravity" from Wicked KILLS me. Idina Menzel's voice makes me cry every time.
MAC or PC? Mac
Most played song on your iPod: Changes every week...but I love Harper Simon's "Wishes & Stars"
Last book you read: "Lessons in Becoming Myself" by Ellen Burstyn. Brilliant! Every actress should read it.
Must-see TV show: "So You Think You Can Dance"
Last good movie you saw: "Little Children" (I know, I know, I'm way behind)
Favorite board game: Scrabble
First stage kiss: With Mary McCann in a show with my theater company, Atlantic.
Favorite post-show meal: If uptown, Un Deux Trois. Jose, the manager, is the greatest guy ever. For my show @ The Lortel, I go to 50 Commerce or Alexandra.
Worst flubbed line/onstage mishap: I did The 24 Hour Plays a few years ago and went up on my lines. I was in a fight, and said angrily, "Well, I'd have a clever retort but I have no idea what I'm supposed to say!" The audience laughed their asses off. Gabby Hoffman, my co-star, thankfully got us back on track. But what makes it bad is that Page Six wrote "Actress has Meltdown on Stage!!" and that I was yelling at the crew, etc. Which never happened. But it turned into this big story.
Worst costume ever: Black wool in Twelfth Night in the park. BLACK WOOL IN SUMMER....
Pets' names: Well, Stella & Lulu recently passed on. Now there's Pinky, my white pit bull.
Favorite junk food: That peanut butter/grape jelly spread..."Goober." I love it.
Who would play you in the movie? A very beautiful drag queen.
Worst job you ever had: Selling dancing Christmas trees in the cellar.