Elizabeth Ann Berg went from spoon-feeding British children sugar as the title character in Mary Poppins to keeping company with puppets, porn addicts and closeted Republicans as the leading lady of Avenue Q. Berg, who makes her off-Broadway debut in the Tony-winning musical, chats with BroadwayBox about her pals Kate Monster and Lucy, her Bravo fandom and that one overly enthusiastic "Step in Time".
1. If Kate Monster were my best girlfriend, the thing I would love most about her is:
She is so genuine. It's always surprising to me how sweet and caring she is. She truly wants the best for the people she loves—maybe not Lucy but that's personal :)
2. And the thing that would drive me crazy about Kate is:
Because she is so sweet, she can be a little naive and needy. She would ALWAYS want to talk about Princeton…that would probably get old.
3. Three songs every romantic mix tape has to have:
"I Will Always Love You", Whitney duh Houston
"I Just Called to Say I Love You", Stevie Wonder
"At Last" the Ella Fitzgerald version
And let's throw in Blue Seude's "Hooked on a Feeling" because I currently have it on repeat.
4. When I want to make myself feel special I:
I FaceTime with my two-year-old nephew who lives in Minnesota with the rest of my family. When he looks at the phone and says, "Love you Auntie Libby", I feel like the most special person in the world.
5. My craziest Mary Poppins tour story:
I have so many amazing memories it's hard to chose! There was one night I got REALLY excited as "Step in Time" was starting and as we dove into a held pose at the edge of the stage with our chimney sweeps, my tap got caught and I ended up toppling over the edge of the stage onto a small lip that was a few feet under the main stage. Thank goodness it was there though because if not, I would have been in the pit. Pretty hilarious to think about everyone holding a balanced pose and me just falling down and rolling below the stage.
6. My Muppet spirit animal is:
RIZZO THE RAT! He has been my favorite Muppet ever since I watched The Muppet Christmas Carol, my favorite Muppet movie of all time. He and Gonzo are hilarious and constantly making me laugh. "Light the lamp not the rat, light the lamp not the rat!" THE BEST!
7. The most embarrassing TV show I love to watch is:
The Real Housewives of any and every location. It's a little embarrassing but come on, the DRAMA—it's priceless.
8. Line or lyric from Avenue Q I’d want as an inspirational poster:
"Don't stress, relax, let life roll off your back, except for death and paying taxes, everything in life is only for now."
"For Now" has such a poignant message but is delivered in a simple, down to earth way. It's always relevant no matter what's happening in life. I love getting to say those words every night…it's a great reminder that life is short and should be enjoyed!
9. Performance that made me want to be an actress:
My parents raised me on musical theater and I think in a way I always knew! We listened to showtunes every day in my house but when I was five, my sister played an apple tree in a production of Wizard of Oz. Wanting to be exactly like my brother and sister growing up, I knew I was destined for show biz :).
In a more serious way, when I was looking into college/thinking seriously about going into theater as a profession, Kelli O'Hara's performance of Clara in The Light in the Piazza was an inspiration.
10. When I want to really laugh, my go-to TV show and movie are:
The Office and Friends are always a good option. And of course, the classic, Anchorman.
Let Elizabeth Ann Berg steal your heart in 'Avenue Q' at off-Broadway's New World Stages.
