THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- Chilina Kennedy

Welcome to THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As With Your Favorite Broadway Stars. Want to know what hooked them to a career in the theater? Their dream roles? Their Broadway crushes? Read on!

In this next edition, we caught up with Chilina Kennedy who is currently playing Mary Magdalene in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the Neil Simon Theatre!

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

CATS. I was 11 or 12. And we had booked the wrong night so we ended up buying partial view seats. I loved how the cats came right up to us in the balcony. So fun for a child. And I was amazed at how intimate the theater was - I expected every theater on Broadway to seat thousands of people. It was a really good first experience.

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

Not to tell too many secrets but when I first get to a new theater, I like to get on stage by myself and physically feel the floor with my hands and experiment with sound. It's like hanging out with a scene partner for a little while before you start working together to get a real sense of each other.

What is your most memorable "the show must go on" moment?

Unfortunately, I have 2. The first was during Mamma Mia! when I was playing Sophie on the 1st US National Tour. I ran up the jetty to confront Bill, my possible dad, and I tripped up the stairs and not only fell flat on my face but slid on my belly toward him from the momentum. He turned quickly toward the audience (to avoid laughing I'm sure!) and I had to pick myself up and get on with it. The second was when I was playing a stripper in Gypsy. I was showing off for someone in the audience one night and I tripped on my bustle and went down like a potato sack. Not sexy. Lesson learned.

What is the one role you want to play before you die?

Too many to count. What role don't I want to play! More Tennessee Williams, more classics and maybe Florence in Chess. And Dot in Sunday In The Park With George.

Who is your Broadway crush?

Tom Hewitt....obviously

Where can people stalk you on the web (twitter/facebook etc.)?

Twitter and chilinakennedy.com (coming soon!)