Q&A with Ana Gasteyer

Currently starring as Elphaba in the Chicago production of Wicked, Ana Gasteyer is best known for her six seasons on "Saturday Night Live," where she brought to life such characters as music teacher Bobbi Moughan-Culp, NPR host Margaret Jo, as well as impressions of Martha Stewart and Celine Dion. Gasteyer's theatre credits include the The Rocky Horror Show on Broadway, as well as Off-Broadway productions of Kimberly Akimbo, Roulette, and The Vagina Monologues. Regionally, she played Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (Pittsburgh CLO). She is a Northwestern grad who appeared in Mary Zimmerman's original productions of The Odyssey and The Notebooks of Leonardo DaVinci.

In addition to her TV and film work, she is featured on the soundtrack of "Reefer Madness," as well as the newly released Actor's Fund recording of "Hair." Ana continues to perform her musical evening "Let It Rip" around the country.

We checked in with her during previews in Chicago. Stay tuned for additional interviews with the Chicago cast of Wicked.

What made you want to take on the challenge of playing Elphaba?

I wanted to extend my experience and my resume; I have been working hard to be taken seriously as a singer for some time and, while I have always been thought of as a funny woman with a pretty good voice, being able to sing Elphaba is a whole other animal. And honestly, this role is a crazy plumb. She's vulnerable, fierce, sexy and witty. She's like the Fanny Brice of the current Broadway lineup.

When did you first see the show?

I saw Wicked the fall it opened, but I'd been aware of it for a long time, as I'd been in the mix for a workshop at one point, while I was still on SNL.

How has the rehearsal and preview process been going so far?

Honestly, aside from the physical grind, really smoothly; the show just beats people up, so there are a lot of tired bodies. But "process-wise", this cast seems to share a kind of wisdom and actorly-ness, so there hasn't been any awkward trying-to-connect stuff. And, at the same time, no one's too serious or pompous or prone to conniptions, which is pleasant. Also, I adore working with Kate Reinders, she is a marvelous Glinda and it is a real on-stage partnership.

How do you intend to make Elphaba your own? Are you adding any humor to the role?

I don't really focus on making her my own. That just happens naturally. I do think Elphaba's funny, yes, but my job is to tell the story.

Will you be bringing your daughter to see the show and if so, how will you explain to her when she sees you kissing someone that's not her dad?

Oh, we've got to get past those monkeys first, and based on her backstage reaction, that ain't happening any time soon!

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Robert Diamond founded BroadwayWorld.com in 2003, which has now become the largest theatre web site in the world. He also serves as the site's Editor-in-Chief, covering Broadway and beyond, with specific local coverage for 100 cities in the United States, 30 countries worldwide and 15 other related areas of entertainment - including dance, opera, fashion, concerts, comedy, films, television and more.

The 2001 Syracuse University graduate (School of Information Studies) is also the owner of Wisdom Digital Media, an award-winning leading design company for entertainment and technology web sites. In his previous life, he held an executive position for the world's leading publisher of technology magazines, web sites and conferences and, as a result, was named among the "Top thirty magazine industry executives under the age of 30" by FOLIO Magazine.

Diamond got his start in the entertainment field, accidentally, when he created the 'official web site' (while in college) for Michael Crawford, the popular actor and original Tony and Olivier Award-winning star of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. (He still blames Crawford - and credits him - for anything that goes particularly right or wrong during an average day.)

As a respected member of the Broadway and theatre community, Diamond also served as Lead Producer for a series of sold-out shows using the BroadwayWorld.com 'brand' for a set of 'Standing Ovations' concerts, which also branched out into titles that included Holiday Shows and even more specific concerts like 'From Stage to Screen and Back Again' in tandem with publishers and movie studios. All proceeds were in turn donated to Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, the industry's leader in aid for performers in need.

Robert lives in Manhattan with his wife and two dogs, growing the business and getting little sleep. In addition, you can usually find him in a theatre many nights a week.

Robert's very popular blog, 'The Broadway Pulse' appears daily on BroadwayWorld.com and he also writes weekly about theatre for the USA Network's Character Approved blog.

In December of last year, Diamond was one of 5 Syracuse University Alumni, all having achieved success in the world of start-ups, business growth and venture capital, participating on a panel addressing young alumni who are currently pursuing their dreams of running their own business and experiencing the day to day challenges of a startup. It is part of the university's new Student Accelerator Program, for which Rob was recommended by Syracuse University's i-School.

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