ANDY DRACHENBERG: Why is The Bridges of Madison County a project that you wanted to work on?
CAITLIN KINNUNEN:What made it so that I really wanted to be a part of the show is the amazing creative team. I am such a fan of Bart Sher, Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman. Marsha actually has written two of my favorite musicals so that was very exciting.
AD: What is the story at the heart of The Bridges of Madison County?
CK: The key elements at the heart of The Bridges of Madison County are love, sacrifice, family and finding yourself. It’s about the choices you have to make in life and where they lead you. It’s about making the decision between two great things. Even though both of those things are amazing and ideal, there’s no right or wrong answer. You get to watch Francesca find herself in making those decisions. Working on a musical that doesn’t have a right or wrong answer or an obvious good or evil is challenging because the audience can’t place blame on anyone. What I love about the story is that the audience gets to choose for themselves. It’s so fascinating that people can have such different experiences with the show.
AD: Tell me about your character Carolyn – what is her journey in this story?
CK: Carolyn is very different from the character in the book or the movie. In the book and the movie the children are mostly book ends to the story. In the musical you really get to see the children as flushed out characters. They have so much going on, they have a back story and they’re trying to figure out their lives. You see the children grow into adulthood.
AD: Describe the process of working with the creative team on The Bridges of Madison County.
CK: Working with the creative team and building the show from the ground up has been incredible. They are so giving and caring and smart, and this show is incredibly collaborative. There has never been a moment that is completely set in a certain way. It’s always a discussion and I never hesitate to ask questions. It’s important to collectively figure out elements of a show, especially in this show that is so much about community. The cast, crew and creative team give 100% every single day.
AD: How is this experience different from your previous Broadway and Off-Broadway experiences?
CK: This is the first time I’m originating a role, so I really get to create it. I get to ask questions instead of following guidelines within a script. I can say that something doesn’t really feel right for how I’m crafting the role so that’s been an incredible opportunity. Also being in the room when Jason Robert Brown is writing a new piece of music for you is insane and wonderful!
AD: Do you have a favorite moment, scene or musical number in the production?
CK: My favorite moment of the show has to be when Francesca sings “Almost Real”- the music is incredible, the staging is gorgeous and everything about it is right. I get swept away by that scene every night.
What do you hope audiences experience in the show?
When audiences come and see the show I hope that they take away life and I hope that they think about what they’re doing and the choices that they’ve made. I want them to know what makes them happy and be able to make those choices to make themselves happy.
CAITLIN KINNUNEN(Caroline) is thrilled to be back with the Bridges family! Broadway: Spring Awakening. Tour: Next to Normal. Regional: Williamstown Theatre Festival, The 5th Avenue, Village Theatre. TV/Film: “Law & Order: SVU,” It’s Kind of a Funny Story, Sweet Little Lies. Thanks to her family, M, and The Luedtke Agency!