Full given name: |
Mary Catherine Garrison |
Hometown: |
Born in Mississippi and raised in New Orleans. |
Zodiac sign: |
Sagittarius (quadruple, in fact) |
Special skills: |
Well, my minor in college was in oil painting, so I paint, draw and create any kind of craft - I make and design stationary, screen-print, sew, create cloth dolls, sew clothes from vintage patterns, cook, bake...I could go on and on. If I can — I will figure out a way to make anything. |
First Broadway show ever saw: |
The Heiress with Cherry Jones and I will never forget it; it was an amazing night for me. |
If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be? |
Oh, that's easy, that would be Colleen Dewhurst and Jason Robards in A Moon for the Misbegotten. |
Favorite showtune: |
I don't really have a favorite, but I really like "Being Alive" from Company. |
MAC or PC? |
I'm a MAC girl. Hardcore. |
Most played song on your iPod: |
Right now it's Bessie Smith and Alice Coltrane. I love music from the 20s and 30s. |
Last book you read: |
"A Moveable Feast" by Hemingway |
Must-see TV show: |
"The Wire." RENT IT. And "Top Chef." |
Last good movie you saw: |
"Piccadilly" from 1929 with Anna Mae Wong. |
Favorite card game: |
I love all cards but the mother of all card games is Bridge, and I will happily spend the rest of my life learning to play it. I'm on a mission to make it cool again! |
Performer you would drop everything to go see: |
Willie Nelson |
Pop culture guilty pleasure: |
"Little Miss Perfect" on TLC. Somebody needs to stop me. |
First stage kiss: |
In grad school at UCSD in a production of Charles Mee's Big Love. |
Favorite pre-show meal: |
I have a huge appetite and love food, but I can't eat a lot before working, so its salad/edamame and miso soup from Kodama. |
How you got your Equity card: |
I actually received my Equity card with my first show here in NYC - The Man Who Came to Dinner. |
Worst flubbed line: |
During Assassins, I was onstage with Becky Baker and I said the first sentence of what was a relatively long monologue, at which point I went totally, completely, tragically blank. I didn't even know my own name. After what seemed like 3 hours of silence and 7,800 calories burned, and since my character was smoking a joint, I muttered some nonsensical phrases about peace and love and ran off the stage. Not my best moment – laughing. |
Who have you played on "Law & Order"? Which edition? |
I've only been on the original "Law & Order," about 10 years ago, and all I remember is that I was sad over my sister dying of heroin and I wore a horrible, horrible pale chartreuse sweater set. |
Pets' names: |
Earl and Cricket. |
Favorite junk food: |
Anything and I mean anything fried. |
Worst job you ever had: |
In high school, I was the lone waitress at a small Chinese restaurant. There were roaches. Lots of them. |
TV or commercial gig you most enjoyed: |
There have been a number of them. Guest starring on "The Good Wife" and "30 Rock" this past year was wonderful. I also met one of my best friends when I was a series regular on "Inconceivable" on NBC. It was a fun show, and I loved being part of an ensemble cast. |
Leading lady role you've been dying to play |
Hmm...weirdly enough I don't think I have a list of roles like that. I do have a soft spot for the Tennessee Williams' ladies, but I'm also a happy audience member for those. I loved seeing Cate Blanchett doing Streetcar last year at BAM. I thought both she and the production were just beautiful. |