And NOW. THIS.: Quick 5 with Kristi Szczepanek

Name: Kristi Szczepanek

Position in Now. Here. This.: Female Understudy

1) What is your spirit animal and why?
Whales. They are incredible communicators, able to connect to other whales over thousands of miles. They are family oriented, usually staying with one pod their entire life ("pod" goals?). They can dive deep and endure tremendous pressure, but eventually they have to come up for a breath. All things I find important to be conscious of in my own life. Also, humpback whales communicate in song. They basically live in a musical. What's better than that?

2) What is your favorite section of a museum and why?
I'm a sucker for a good Olde Thyme display. Give me some mannequins dressed up in period clothing. Even better if it's a whole scene, like an 1800's school room or something. I sometimes feel like I was born in the wrong time period. And then I see a mannequin in 17 layers of clothing with a butter churn and a oil lamp and I'm reminded that I'm pretty happy where I am.

3) What does the phrase "more life" mean to you?
"More life", to me, means welcoming experiences into your life (even the bad ones) that grow your soul and help you define who you are and how you fit into the world. 

4) What is your most embarrassing middle school memory?
My most embarrassing middle school memory involves my period and is maybe too much for this blog.

5) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Hawaii, London and Norway. I went to Hawaii last year and I'm going to London two weeks after the show closes! I don't have any particular reason for wanting to go to Norway, other than every photo I've ever seen has been gorgeous and I like the word "fjord".

What does the phrase #morelife mean to you? Share and let us know! #NHTChi #bpbco

The Chicago premiere of Now. Here. This. runs July 22 - August 21 at Rivendell Theatre in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. Click HERE for tickets.

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