10 on Tuesday with WHITE CHRISTMAS' Kristyn Pope

Northwestern Alumna Kristyn Pope is dancing her way through the holidays in Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS and took a break from the holiday merriment to serve up 10 on Tuesday. Here's what she had to say:

1) Show you first auditioned for (and did you get the part)? The first show I auditioned for was a local production of "The Nutcracker," pretty soon after I started dancing. It was a community enrichment program with a local ballet company, so they found a part for all of the children.

2) Where are you originally from? I was raised in Central Florida, just outside of Orlando, and I graduated from Northwestern University.

3) When did you know you wanted a career on the stage? In a way, I knew I wanted to be a performer since seeing my first Broadway show as a child, but I also wanted to be an archaeologist, a biologist, a doctor, a geologist, and a fashion model at the time. I took a roundabout route to theatre, focusing on academics and getting a degree in psychology. I danced growing up, but I started training for musical theatre much later.

4) What's your dream role/production? I have an ever-evolving list of dream roles and productions, but my current top three are Nicki or Helene in "Sweet Charity", Peggy Sawyer in "42nd Street", and any role in "Chicago."

5) Favorite post-performance haunt? Being a "homebody," my favorite post-performance haunt is usually my "home" at the time (whether it be my apartment or my hotel room). I can, however, be convinced to go some place with good "comfort food"...especially cheese fries and/or ice cream!

6) Living or dead, who would you drop everything to see perform? Again, I have an ever-evolving list. My current top five, in no particular order, include the Nicholas Brothers, Cyd Charisse, Bob Fosse, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Thankfully, YouTube helps make this possible to a degree.

7) What's your guilty pleasure? Anyone who knows me well would say my guilty pleasure is junk food, especially sweets, though I don't feel particularly guilty indulging in them. Life is short. It's important to have something to savor.

8) What do you value most about acting? What I value most about acting is that there's always something to learn and a new challenge awaiting you. It can be downright terrifying being out of your comfort zone. Once you trust, however, there are so many incredible discoveries to be made. It's such a rewarding journey.

9) What is the one song you never want to hear again at an audition? I can honestly say I've yet to encounter one. Music is such an integral part of what I do and I don't mind having songs stuck in my head. Music is inspiring and transformative.

10) Fill in the blank: "The thing I'd never change about theatre is..." ...the amazingly diverse people I get to meet, work with, learn from, grow with, and call my friends.

Pope appears in WHITE CHRISTMAS through Dec. 3 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph. Tickets $18-$100. 800) 775-2000 and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com

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