Speaker 1: 0:08

Welcome to the Bubba Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson, and today we're talking with someone who grew up here in Highland Park and went on to shine on one of the biggest stages in the world Broadway. Christine Cornish is an HP grad who chased her dream all the way to New York City, making her Broadway debut in Cats, and now is starring in the Tony-nominated show Just in Time. She's danced on Good Morning America, the Colbert Show, and will be performing on this year's Tony Awards. But before all that, she was just a local girl with big dreams, performing on the same stage as many of our students still do today. Her journey is proof that talent, persistence and a lot of heart can take you from park cities to the spotlight. Now we are recording with her remotely because she's in New York, so the audio may not be what you're used to, but it's still an awesome interview, Christine.

Speaker 1: 1:02

Welcome to the show. Thanks for having me, Martha. I'm so excited. Well, so many people ask me how do I get ideas for guests and topics, and they come from a variety of ways, but I particularly love how you and I got connected. Same, you can go ahead and tell them.

Speaker 1: 1:21

Yes, so I worked with Christine's father many years ago and he just randomly reached out and he started telling me all about Christine and what she was doing and everything, and so he connected us and he's the reason that we made this happen and I'm super excited to meet you.

Speaker 2: 1:38

That's just my dad being a total dad.

Speaker 1: 1:42

Well, he's a proud father. I'll tell you that.

Speaker 2: 1:45

Well, I'm definitely a lucky, lucky daughter. So, yeah, I'm glad, I'm glad to meet you.

Speaker 1: 1:51

Yeah, absolutely. Well, let's talk about your current show, just in time, which has been nominated for six Tony Awards, which is absolutely amazing. It's so huge. What has been your experience been like and how are you feeling about your upcoming performance on the Tony Awards on June 8th?

Speaker 2: 2:09

Yes, it's been such a beautiful experience. I started with we did a workshop in the summer and that sort of a workshop is kind of to work out a lot of the kinks, and different producers come and people just come to give feedback, and so we did that version and then we did another version in the fall and finally made it to Broadway, which doesn't always happen. So it was exciting to finally make it. And they, jonathan Groff and the creative team, have been working on this show for almost eight years now, so it's been a long time in the making, but it's been a beautiful experience and it's been sold out every show, eight shows a week. So it's been doing pretty well.

Speaker 1: 2:57

Yeah, that is awesome. Well, you've had some really big moments with this cast already. You've been on Good Morning America, stephen Colbert. In fact, that was one of the many things your father sent me was your video on Stephen Colbert Wow Dancer. So what is your biggest kind of pinch me moment in this whole process?

Speaker 2: 3:19

Um, this it's. It's just been. You know, it's my fifth Broadway show, so a lot of the things I've done with this show I've done before, but it feels new again in a different sort of way, just after we had sort of a crazy year last year, and it feels like we're in a new chapter of life and so, yeah, it's also just such a wonderful cast and it's a smaller cast, so there's not really a big ensemble for this show. So it feels special that there's really only the three women and then Jonathan and we're able to do all of these different appearances. So, yeah, yeah, it's been a lot of fun. We did an appearance the other day for this like Bravo TV show and Hoda Kotb was the guest and I'm, like, such a huge fan of Hoda so that was definitely an exciting moment for me.

Speaker 1: 4:16

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Speaker 3: 4:42

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Speaker 1: 5:12

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Speaker 2: 5:57

Oh, yeah, I mean, highland Park is such a beautiful community to grow up in and I feel so fortunate that we lived there. And yeah, so I did choir at Highland Park, I did Lads and Lassies, I did all the musicals at the high school, I did middle school drama and I also was the dancer with the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, which actually is no longer, but it's in Snyder Plaza it was. But but yeah, I, I, when I was in middle school, my middle school drama teacher, miss Susan McCormick she doesn't teach at the middle school anymore, but we've remained like very good friends. She was at my wedding, you know she's, but she was sort of the first person that told me, hey, you should really do this, you know, and like kind of put the bug in my ear, and so I just sort of kept going with it. And then when I got to high school, I did a year of concert women and then got into lads and lassies and that's where I learned how to read music and became a lot more musical.

Speaker 2: 7:14

And actually my teacher, miss Natalie Walker, she was my teacher back when I was doing choir and she was a very influential part of my, like music life. So she's amazing. I think she just celebrated 20 years or 25 years at HP, but she's truly, yeah, a big influence. But, yeah, and the musicals I did with um, one of my biggest influences, which was, uh, linda Raya, um, she passed away a few years ago but she was the head of fine arts and um really did so much for that program and was a huge part of my, you know, highland Park time and she wrote all my college rec letters and all that. So, yeah, just so many good influences and I feel so lucky to have grown up at Highland Park.

Speaker 1: 8:13

Wow, yeah, that's quite a few people that helped influence you, and I'd love to hear that because, as you know, we're so sports centric here in this community, which is lovely and wonderful, and I think sometimes we forget that there's actually other things besides sports here in Highland Park for the kids to pursue, and it's so fun to hear your story of what inspired you at school and how you went on to be successful with it. It's a pretty amazing story. So you went on to train at CCM, which is one of the most prestigious musical theater programs in the country, and I want to hear about your transition to being involved in the conservatory and then going on to New York, because, as we always say, we live in a bubble here and it's a whole different world. So I would imagine those two things were a little bit of a shock to the system.

Speaker 2: 9:05

Yeah, yeah, I mean, it definitely was a transition, for sure. But you know, I think it's sort of what a lot of students probably have is. You know, when I was at HP you know they're not everyone wanted to go into musical theater or dance or anything. So I was sort of like a little bit of like big fish, small pond, not exactly like you know, okay, like I'm one of the only people that's really serious about this. And then going to CCM it was like oh wow, everybody's really serious about this, you know. So that was like, you know, just like raising the stakes.

Speaker 2: 9:43

But that was a really beautiful program and I had sort of gotten used to the kind of tough love technique that they had there. It's a conservatory, so it was very intense and very, you know, like people would leave the program if it wasn't driving with them. You know it was. It was very intense and I think because my training partly from Holland park but a lot from the ballet studio I grew up in, I was sort of used to that and I think it sort of prepped me to like face rejection and a lot of things moving forward.

Speaker 2: 10:20

But yeah, but yeah, it was a transition, but a very good one and I feel very lucky that it was pretty smooth overall and my parents were also so great about we would travel or try to make sure it was known that there's more outside of the HP bubble. My mom had a very nomadic childhood and she grew up kind of around the world and so I think it sort of helped me go. Okay, not everything is how it is in Highland Park and yeah, yeah, Does going to an oral surgeon sound scary?

Speaker 1: 11:00

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Speaker 1: 11:49

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Speaker 2: 12:30

Yeah Well, I, it wasn't like I was just waiting around for a night, Like I was. You know, I did other Broadway shows and did other jobs. But you know, like the actor's life in New York, you're kind of not always auditioning but you're getting in there. It's really you don't know how long your show's going to run, so you could be out of a job at any moment. So you got to be, like, you know, out there. And Chicago was always such a bucket list show for me.

Speaker 2: 13:01

I loved that the Fosse style of dance and I grew up on that Catherine Zeta-Jones, renee Zellweger movie. So I was like, oh man, that would be the dream and yeah, so I just go in there. And I think they probably finally got to a point where they were like, oh well, she's never gonna leave, so let's just put her in the show. I think I learned a lot about like, I think, by the time, because when I finally got it not that I had, I think I I finally sort of maybe felt a little bit like, you know, it's okay if I don't get like I think I was less desperate, you know, and I think that kind of worked in my favor. I also think that, you know. Finally, after I was, I was less desperate, you know, and I think that kind of worked in my favor. I also think that, you know.

Speaker 2: 13:49

Finally, after I was cast in the show, one of the creatives was like we had always seen you as Hanyak, who's the he's not guilty. She's the Hungarian woman who was wrongly accused. And I was like, oh, that's interesting, like I was trying so hard. I was like, oh, that's interesting, like I was trying so hard to like fit these other characters that they just were like that wasn't a fit, you know. So it was also a good reminder of like, you know, sometimes it's just not meant to be. You know, you have to keep at it and when the right moment comes, you'll be prepared for it and you'll be there. So, yeah, I'm glad I stuck with it.

Speaker 1: 14:33

So Absolutely. That's such a great story and it sounds like it landed at the right time for you, like, maybe if you had gotten it early on, maybe you wouldn't have brought the same grit and tenacity to the role.

Speaker 2: 14:46

Yeah, totally. I always have another moment and when I was auditioning for Cats, my final callback I had been in like nine times, like something, a crazy amount, and I was annoyed because I thought, oh, I'm just not going to get this. So I went in and I was like just pissed off, you know, and I think that actually worked in my favor because they were like, oh wow, all right, and then I ended up getting it. So I was like, ok, well, you know, you just never know what they're, what they're looking for.

Speaker 1: 15:22

And yeah, sure, looking for, and yeah, sure, well, I speaking of cats, I really want to talk about that because that is a huge deal. That that's how you made your debut to Broadway is starting in cats and you played the sassy cats, which makes sense to me that you came in angry. That probably helped, and I never can pronounce that cat's name, so help me out there.

Speaker 2: 15:41

Yes, it's bomb ballerina. Yeah, I'll be like well, reading it. You're like wait what? Where's the emphasis? Yeah, a lot of funny names in that show, but that was you know. It's funny because I remember before that I was like man, I'd be happy just to to be a tree, a replacement tree, in the back of a Broadway show like I. That that would be a dream come true. And so to have it be this kind of dream role in the original revival cast, um, and like getting to work with all the original natives and you know it, just, it really was like beyond what I thought would be my debut, Um, so yeah, I felt really lucky with that one.

Speaker 1: 16:28

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Speaker 2: 17:16

So that actually kind of started. I first met the choreographer who was doing the. His name is Andy Blankenbuehler. Um, he choreographed Hamilton, for example. Um, but I did a.

Speaker 2: 17:30

My first, my very first job was a national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and he was choreographing like a new version, and so I met him originally doing that and then when I got back from tour, I was doing workshops of some other shows with him. And then I was in Florida on a contract and I got an email from Andy saying hey, I'm working on a new revival of Cats and I really want you to come in. I was like, oh, okay, sounds good. And so, anyway, I think that really was having someone in my corner and someone that I'd worked with before. So there was a trust there.

Speaker 2: 18:12

There was like he sort of fought for me in the room because you know, to cast someone in their Broadway debut, you're kind of it's a leap of faith because you don't know, is this person going to show up? Are they going to be able to do eight shows a week? Are they going, know, be a good team player, like there's a lot of things you don't know when someone's new and um, so he really, I think, was the one in the room that was like no, no, she'll, she'll do a good job, you know. So, um, that always felt very special, just like that relationship sort of helped me get that first foot in the door. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:51

Yeah, it's always important to have an advocate and no matter what you're trying to do in life, I feel like, well, of all the roles you've played, which one do you feel like has challenged you the most as a performer?

Speaker 2: 19:01

Yeah, that's a good question. Probably when I was over at Chicago I covered Velma Kelly, which was a lot of fun and a dream role, and yeah, I think that felt challenging also because a lot of times I would be on very last minute so I sort of had to be ready at a moment's notice. But yeah, that's maybe the first one that comes to mind would be Velma.

Speaker 1: 19:33

Yeah, right. Well, our listeners are predominantly moms in the neighborhood and also a lot of the students and I know there's a lot of them out there listening that would love to pursue the same path that you have and wanted to see if you had any words for advice to share with them.

Speaker 2: 19:50

Oh, my gosh yes man. I guess my main word of it would just be say yes. And there's a time in your life to say yes and a time in your life to say no. And I think when you're in high school and starting college and starting your career, just like kind of being open to all the possibilities, because you just never know what's going to lead you to something. You know, I think it's easy to put blinders on and be like, well, I have this goal and it's then I can only do these things to get that one goal. But in reality it's then I can only do these things to get that one goal. But in reality it's like, well, you might meet someone if you do something sort of adjacent that that's eventually lead you to that goal. Like it's, it's never going to be a linear um path. So, just sort of being open to all the possibilities, um, you know what that career could look like.

Speaker 2: 20:48

I think is something important and being nice. I know that sounds so obvious, but I think there's this thing in in the arts where it's like, oh, you can be a, a diva and whatnot, and that's just not it at all. Not the case. No, well, because you get to the city and you go. Okay, everyone's talented, so it's really about Not the case, huh, who do people want to work with? So I think it's important to just cultivate quality relationships and just be a nice person, because I know that sounds so obvious, but it's important.

Speaker 1: 21:39

Yeah Right, you'd be surprised about how many don't follow that advice. Well, I think that is all excellent advice, really really good stuff. So during the summertime, as you know, so many people are traveling from here and I would have a feeling a lot are in New York right now, and you were mentioning that your show has been sold out, as are all the good ones. Do you have any insider tips or tricks of how people can score tickets at the last minute?

Speaker 2: 22:05

Ooh, um. Well, I definitely let's see. If you know in advance you're going to be in New York, like you know, a couple months, then try to get them in advance for our show, specifically because it's selling pretty well. But there's also a lot of ways. Sometimes we just walk up to the box office. Even on the day of. There'll be cancellations, there'll be rush tickets. If you're okay with standing. They sell standing room tickets, I'm pretty sure the day of. So there are ways to get in there. So don't give up hope. If you see online it's sold out, sometimes you just walk up to the box office and there'll be something.

Speaker 1: 22:46

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Speaker 1: 23:49

Martha from the Bubble Lounge sent you. Well, let's do a quick fire round. Ask you a few more questions. What is the dream role you haven't played yet?

Speaker 2: 24:00

I am a dream role I think I would love to play. I'd love to play. I'd love to play Dot in Sunday in the Park with George and that's sort of a niche theater. Nerd answer, but that's my answer.

Speaker 1: 24:27

I love it.

Speaker 2: 24:28

What about any pre-show rituals? Or must do things. One pre-show rituals. I just try to have a moment of like breath right before I go on stage to kind of ground myself and just doing a little bit of a physical warmup, you know, jumping jacks and some ballet bar or something to kind of get the blood flow going. But yeah, yeah, nothing, nothing like very unique and exciting really.

Speaker 1: 24:57

Yeah, that sounds pretty normal. What about your most memorable stage moment?

Speaker 2: 25:02

Most memorable stage moment it would probably be when I did Kiss Me Kate in 2019. I covered one of the leading women. I was in the ensemble and I covered one of the leading women and I got thrown on with no rehearsal, very last minute, like two days after opening, and we're talking like singing upside down on ladders, getting thrown around on stage like crazy. So that was a memorable moment because it was just like talk about go before you're ready, Like you just had to do it, but it paid off and it ended up being a really good experience.

Speaker 1: 25:44

Oh my goodness, I can't even imagine that.

Speaker 3: 25:46

Well, what about your?

Speaker 1: 25:46

snack, your Broadway snack of choice.

Speaker 2: 25:51

Oh well, this is probably naughty, I shouldn't say it. But jelly beans, I love a good like sweet treat right before going on stage, but don't tell my dentist that.

Speaker 1: 26:06

If Broadway had a yearbook, what would your superlative be?

Speaker 2: 26:13

Silliest, most silly cast member. I don't know Something like that.

Speaker 1: 26:20

Well, I would agree. I have been following your Instagram since we started working on coordinating this interview and you do look pretty funny. I've seen some really cute backstage moments with your fellow cast mates and you guys look like you're having a good time back there yeah, we definitely are.

Speaker 2: 26:36

It's, it's um a good. We feel really lucky to be working on it, so yeah well, I particularly liked seeing your um cast.

Speaker 1: 26:47

You were crawling up the stairs like cats.

Speaker 2: 26:52

Oh my God, I forgot about that. Yeah, that was like again musical theater, nerd, you know mashup of two different musicals.

Speaker 1: 27:02

You were combining the two. I know Well. You guys did a great job. Everyone was definitely a character.

Speaker 2: 27:12

I'm pretty sure the whole cast was like oh my God, do you want us to?

Speaker 1: 27:14

do and I was like, guys, it's gonna be good, let's do it. It was pretty funny. I like that. Well, so, looking back, what would you have to say to your high school self before the nine-year audition grind, the Tony nominations and the Today Show appearances?

Speaker 2: 27:27

What would I say to my high school self? Yes, ooh, yeah, I think. Just stick with it and have confidence and be kind that would probably be what I would say and just keep going. You know, I think it's easy to. You're facing rejections all the time and you're facing, you know, setbacks and all these things, and life can get pretty hard, but you just go. Okay, you know what. I'm just going to keep. What can I do today, in this moment? You know, what can I, how can I be present? And you know, just do one thing today. That'll get me closer to my goal, you know. So yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:18

Well, what does it mean to you to be a Highland Park grad and to come back and talk to the students and now you're the pro in the room giving them advice on the same stage that you performed on?

Speaker 2: 28:30

Oh my god, yeah, I mean it's so funny because, like I go back and I'm like I still feel like a kid, like I still feel like I'm a nervous high school kid, like doing my musical, so yeah, that was such a beautiful moment and you know, it feels really special to be able to like connect with them and and I remember being that kid. You know, I remember being like just so enthusiastic and in awe of like the older students and stuff like that. But yeah, I've that was really fun to come back. I'd come back, I think, when Soraya was still teaching and at the at the school and it just always felt so special, yeah, Right.

Speaker 2: 29:20

Right, yeah, I feel I feel so lucky to still have so many connections with HP and, again, just so many positive and beautiful influences from Highland Park that have really sustained me and like I still think about moments that I had at HP to this day, you know, so yeah, Well, it has been so fun spending time with you and getting to know you better, and you're my first Broadway performer I've ever talked to before, so this has been such a treat.

Speaker 2: 29:55

So exciting. I'm so honored to be on the show and thanks for having me. Thanks, Dad. Shout out to Alan Smith. Yes, Mr.

Speaker 1: 30:03

Smith yeah, like we said, you don't even need an agent, you have your dad. Yeah, like we said, you don't even need an agent, you have your dad. Well, how can people learn more about you and follow along?

Speaker 2: 30:15

Yeah, probably the easiest way is just my Instagram, your Instagram, yeah.

Speaker 1: 30:23

It's at Christine Cornish, yeah, and I'll include a link so you all don't have to remember that. But she's a lot of fun to follow on instagram. I highly recommend it. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us all the way from new york today, really appreciate it thanks, martha, have a great day that's been another episode of the bubble lounge. I'm martha jackson and I'll see you next time.