21 questions

Kristin Chenoweth Wants New York to Get With It and Get a Sonic Already

Name: Kristin Chenoweth
Age: 42
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Occupation: Singer/Actress. This fall she’ll be appearing in the ABC comedy Good Christian Belles. This fall also marks the release of her CD Some Lessons Learned, with the single “I Want Somebody (Bitch About),” available now.

Who’s your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
Leonard Bernstein, because he is my favorite composer. I did my master’s thesis on three of his works: Candide, Trouble in Tahiti, and West Side Story. He was not only ahead of his time musically but started orchestras for young people all over the world. He knew music was the universal language.

What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in New York?
John’s Pizza, pepperoni. Pizza is my downfall. Love it.

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
Hurry up and wait.

What was your first job in New York?
An Off Broadway show, Dames at Sea. It was the role of Ruby, originated by one of my favorites, Bernadette Peters. This was at a time when 42nd Street hadn’t been cleaned up (like it is now), but I still walked through it proudly, knowing that I was going to a job in New York. I literally made $50 a week, which was subway money. Just proves some of the happiest times don’t require being paid a ton.

What’s the last thing you saw on Broadway?
The Normal Heart (rocked my world).

Do you give money to panhandlers?
Sometimes. Mostly I offer them food.

What’s your drink?
Frozen Kahlua and cream. I do not make them for myself. Save them for special occasions.

How often do you prepare your own meals?
Maybe twice a week, turkey and Swiss sandwiches with a side of chips and ranch dressing. Everything tastes better with ranch!

What’s your favorite medication?
Benadryl.

What’s hanging above your sofa?
A gorgeous crystal light fixture. I picked it out of the window at Z Gallerie.

How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
Too much! An hour.

When’s bedtime?
1 to 2 a.m.

Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
It’s a combo platter: I miss the nostalgia of the old but like the safety of the new.

What do you think of Donald Trump?
I think, “He is SO RICH.”

What do you hate most about living in New York?
Winter. Where I live is off the river, and the wind is so strong that one time I pulled a Mary Poppins. I am always paranoid about getting sick, so the wind is not my friend.

Who is your mortal enemy?
Saks Fifth Avenue (I love it there).

When’s the last time you drove a car?
Yesterday, drove to New Jersey to get a Sonic Burger. Come on New York!! Get with it and get a Sonic.

How has the Wall Street crash affected you?
Like everyone else … it sucks. I had stock in several entertainment companies, and they all fell.

Times, Post, or Daily News?
All three, seriously. I like the Times for general news, especially the theater section. Love the Post for gossip, whether it’s true or not (I have been on both ends). The Daily News has been good to me so there is loyalty there.

Where do you go to be alone?
My parents’ home in Oklahoma near farmland.

What makes someone a New Yorker?
When you see someone yelling at someone for stealing their cab, you know they belong.

Kristin Chenoweth Wants New York to Get With It and Get a Sonic Already