Get To Know 'Richard': Johnny Kyle Cook

Full name? Johnny Kyle Cook

Where you were born/where you were raised?   I was born and raised in Eastern Kentucky.  Louisa, KY, specifically. No, you've never heard of it. 

Your position/role within the A NEW BRAIN family? I play Richard, the nice nurse. 

How would you describe your character?   He's very odd. He's the funny fat friend. Delightfully self-deprecating and unpredictable. At his core though, he is very kind and compassionate. 

In 5 words, how do you describe A NEW BRAIN? brain, sex, eating, sailing, spring

How would you describe Bill's writing? I've loved the show for a very long time. The writing is sometimes all over the place, but that requires you to make very specific choices as an actor.

Fill in the blanks: ____magic_______ + ____emotion_______ = a song.

What was your must-see TV show as a kid?  Tiny Toons (I can still sing the theme song.)

If you could be best friends with any cartoon character in the real world, who would it be?  Arnold from Hey Arnold. That kid was way cool.

Who would play you in the Lifetime movie of your life?  As a child, someone with excellent bangs. Their headshot/resume had better be giving me pristine BANGS!

Special hidden talent?  When I was a kid I would memorize TV commercials.  I still know a lot of them by heart... So... memorization?! (Wow, I'm lame...)

Something you're REALLY bad at? Spelling

Favorite Chicago neighborhood?  Uptown

Current local show you have been recommending to friends?  Into the Woods (and A New Brain, of course)

Most played song on your iPod?  Beyonce - "Ego"

Pop culture guilty pleasure? Beyonce. No guilt; all pleasure. 

Three things you can't live without? My friends, music, and Netflix.

"I'll never understand why… birds can fly, but I can't."

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Come see Johnny in William Finn and James Lapine's A NEW BRAIN February 21 - March 9, 2014 at Rivendell Theatre. Ticketing and performance information can be found at The Brown Paper Box Co.'s site.