Erin takes on Cue & A

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Playbill.com has a series of interviews they do with well known theater performers, so I thought I would take on the same questions! Here are my responses:


Full given name: Erin Quinn Cronican

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio, baby!

Audition song: “Will He Like Me“ from She Loves Me.

Special Skills: Naming the 50 US States alphabetically in less than 30 seconds.

First Broadway show ever saw: Noises Off. ADORE Faith Prince in any role!

First West End show: Jesus Christ Superstar. Ah-mazing.

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be?: Original cast of West Side Story.

Current show you have been recommending to friends: Rock of Ages. C’mon, I’m a child of 80s/90s hair metal.

Favorite show tune: Egads, how the hell can I narrow that down? I know, I’ll check my iPod’s play count... Winner is ”Still Hurting“ from The Last Five Years. Hmm... that can’t possibly mean anything.

The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: When I saw Jesus Christ Superstar in London. It was magical.

MAC or PC?: I’m a Mac user from way back (thanks, Brent!) I have 2 laptops, an Apple TV, iPhone and an iPod.

Most played song on your iPod: Non-musical is ”Morning Song“ by Jewel.

Web obsession: Statcounter - where I can see what brings people to my websites and what pages they visit. Yes, I am a super geek.

Last book you read: Just finished ”The Last Picture Show“ and am starting Eckhart Tolle’s ”A New Earth.“

Must-see TV show: ”Fringe.“ Holy bejeezus, that’s a good show.

Performer you would drop everything to go see: Bernadette Peters

Pop culture guilty pleasure: COPS (filmed live on location with the men & women of law enforcement!)

First CD/Tape/LP you owned: Well, technically they were the Disney records I listened to as a young child. But the first cassette tape I bought was Whitney Houston’s self titled album.

First stage kiss:         Hmmm... probably ”South Pacific“ in high school.

Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager: Definitely Gloria in ”Wait Until Dark“ - I got to throw all kind of pots, pans, silverware, plates
and made a mess on stage. Brilliant.

Favorite pre-show/post-show meal: Pre-show - coffee. Post-show - buffalo wings

Pre-show rituals: I always get to the theater super early, read through my script & warm up, and then sit in the theater and think.

Worst costume ever: My first ever play at the age of 9 - ”Charlotte’s Web.“ I was the Gander and had my first experiences with spirit gum... on my chin (for the beak!)

Who would play you in the movie?: Naomi Watts on my dramatic days, Amy Adams on my quirky days.

Worst job you ever had: Working as a personal assistant for a crazy woman. I actually did that twice -- never again.

Leading lady role you've been dying to play: Amalia in She Loves Me or Glinda in Wicked. I also have always wanted to play Sandy in Grease.

Favorite team/athlete: San Diego Padres!!!! Keep the faith!

How you got your Equity card: Good story. At holiday time in 2000, I was out with some friends looking at Christmas lights and we decided to stop by a restaurant to get something warm to drink (which, looking back, is silly because I lived in San Diego and it was probably 60 degrees.) While there, a man I’d never met pointed at me and said, ”You - are you a member of Equity?“ I said no, and he scoffed, saying that he needed someone ”just like me“ for a gig at the San Diego Repertory Theater. He said, ”I don’t even know if you can act, but you look perfect.“ I reminded him that he could, in fact, audition me and then offer me my card, but he said he did not want to have to Taft-Hartley anyone into the union. So, I smiled and gave him my business card, and told him to call me if he changed his mind. A month later I received an audition appointment, and 2 weeks later the role (and my card) was mine.

Worst onstage mishap: Egads, there have been so many. Probably my biggest lesson was to avoid eating a huge meal before I go onstage, especially in a musical. When I did the national tour of Suds, one of the venues was a casino and we got the ”all you can eat buffet“ added to our contract. My character has to do a dance that ends up with her body upside down (vertically!) in a washing machine, being ”agitated.” I nearly barfed up a lung in that performance. Never. Again.

TV or commercial gig you most enjoyed: Shooting my very first episode of “Veronica Mars.” Being on my first network TV set was magical.

Three things you can't live without: My dog, contact lenses, and my iPhone.

Artist you would most love to work with: Raul Esparza

I’ll never understand why…”: People let others determine their destiny.

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has toured nationally with plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. For more information, please visit http://www.erincronican.com.