On The Road: Kristine Reese
This week's On The Road interview features the mega babe Kristine Reese! She has performed on Broadway in Les Miserables, toured with Mama Mia and Pippin and is a Wicked tour alumni, where she played Nessarose. Kristine has since left the Finding Neverland tour, but while it was in Austin, I set up a photoshoot for Kristine and her husband Billy (you can read his On The Road interview here) with my lovely local photographer Courtney Cope. They're my very first couple in this interview series and their pictures are crazy adorable! I hope you enjoy getting to know my gorgeous new friend.
How long have you been a performer?
I started getting into theatre in high school -- freshman year. I think by some standards that is kind of "late." I was really into sports most of my childhood.
Have you ever been on tour?
This is my SIXTH tour!! My first equity job was a mini-tour of Hello, Dolly. Shortly after I went on my first national tour, which was the second national tour of Mamma Mia!. Then about a year later I joined the Emerald City company of Wicked, then I left to open the Muchkinland tour as Nessarose. Recently I played Catherine on the Pippin Tour and now, here we are, at Finding Neverland part of our story. What's wild is when we go to a venue with "Wall tags" and I am on 3 or 4 of them. It's weird to think how many times I've been to some of these places!
What was your "big break"?
I would say my Broadway debut in the 2006 revival of Les Mis. I finally felt like I had made it when I got that call.
What is your favorite show you've ever worked on?
Pippin.
Who is the coolest celebrity you've ever met at work?
Working with Lucie Arnaz on Pippin was so great -- she was such a mom to us all. I adore that woman.
What are some items you absolutely can't live without backstage?
I am sure I will get bunch of crap for this, but I have to have my g2 packets that I put in my water. It's so often VERY dry backstage and I already drink like a gallon of water a day..but I need something more to stick in my throat. You won't see me backstage without my water bottle and straw.
What is the most interesting day at work you've ever had?
My husband, Billy Harrigan Tighe, and I did Wicked together for a brief time -- I was playing Nessarose and he was a Fiyero cover. The cast had just had this FABULOUS engagement brunch for us before the Saturday matinee and we were headed to the theatre and he got a call that he was going to have to go on for the Father speciality that afternoon for the first time. The reason? Some of the food at the brunch had given enough people food poisoning that this was the situation we found ourselves in. Ooops. So, he played MY FATHER at that performance and was hilarious.
What has been your most memorable moment on this tour so far?
My Sylvia debut, in Dallas. Playing opposite my husband for those three performances was probably the highlight on my career because it was so intensely personal.
What's it like being in the same cast as your husband and does touring together totally change your on the road experience?
Billy and I have been together for 14 years (married 7) so we've worked together a few times, but we've mostly done long distance, so we were thrilled to just be able to see each other with this frequency. The last time we worked together was on Wicked, which was before we got married.
We do have scenes together, but for the most part I DON'T see him at work except on stage and I think that is a good thing. We obviously spend most of our free time together - although I generally am called to a A LOT more rehearsal than he is - but I think it's important we have separate experiences, routines and relationships.
As for the on-stage dynamic, we definitely keep each other on our toes. We both want to be present in each performance...we like to keep it fresh... and we can often be very silly. We are always bringing that element to our scenes together. We are also both kind of known within our company to bring a sneaky silly move here or there or to make a totally different choice than the day before. Apparently, on our tour, they've called changing it up in a scene, "Pulling a Reese".
The actual touring part of the job is so much easier since we are together. We both have our roles and responsibilities and we help each other manage the touring life. It can be very lonely on the road, but we thankfully don't have to deal with that part of it and for that I am so grateful.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
I just love going IN on the creative process, embodying a character, living in their skin. When you've really done the work you don't have to think, it just happens and it feels exciting and liberating. I need it like I need air to breathe.
What is the most challenging part of being an actor on tour?
The traveling!.. and everything that goes with it. The actual travel day is never quick or easy, packing every Sunday night is a pain and I always wish I had that one thing that I left home. We also travel with our dog and while he is a REALLY good traveler and such a good boy, but it just makes it that much difficult. Oh yeah, and there is a different bed every week, a different climate, what is the food situation, what is the sound like at the theatre, what is my dressing room like, what time is the show, etc etc etc.
What piece of advice would you give your 25 year old self?
Be patient.
What advice would you give to a young person who wants to move to NYC and pursue a career in the arts?
Be patient. Work hard. Never STOP working hard and never stop learning. Take CLASS. Be kind, especially to your dressers!!!
FUN FACTS:
Where did you go to college?
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music
What was the first Broadway show you ever saw?
Jekyll and Hyde, with Linda Eder and Christian Noll. EVERYTHING.
What is your favorite costume in Finding Neverland?
My dinner party dress is the best costume in the show. Sorry everyone else.
What is your favorite costume you've ever worn?
I loved the purple beaded dress I wore as Catherine in Pippin -- it was absolutely gorgeous and COMFORTABLE. I prefer a comfortable costume to a fabulous one, because at the end of the day, you still have to sing. I also like to actually eat when I am doing a show, which is kind of hard in my present job (thanks, corset!).
