After making her Broadway debut as Wendy/Emily in the musical Finding Neverland, Emma Pfaeffle returns to Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre to star as the ultimate spoiled girl, Veruca Salt, in the hit musical adaptation Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
. This Veruca is a Russian heiress and a fierce ballet dancer who still wants it all right now. Scroll on as she talks to BroadwayBox about taking on the iconic bad girl, her craziest dancer story, and more.
1. My first introduction to the Willy Wonka property:
I read the book in elementary school.
2. The thing I wanted more than anything else when I was young:
To be a movie star!
3. Celebrity I would have died to meet as a kid:
Lucille Ball.
4. My favorite small moment with stage dad Ben Crawford:
Whenever we get into small "fights" on stage and bicker in thick Russian accents—it’s so fun being a bratty kid with him! We're great at improving with each other even when we're on the sidelines. I love my Papachika!
5. My most memorable audition:
I wore a long sleeved, white unitard to audition for Cats. I felt so confident with the movement and had so much fun making my friends laugh with my bold decision, it was one of the best auditions dance wise I feel I ever had. I ended up not even getting a call back because the feedback was that "they weren't into me"—I was myself, which is funny, gregarious and FULL OUT. I learned that not everyone is going to love you, but to stay true to yourself, because the next audition I had was for Charlie and I booked Veruca Salt, my first principal role! That audition taught me a wonderful lesson and I will never forget that!
6. The most intense experience I had in the dance world:
I once had to perform in Montreal with a torn anterior deltoid (my right shoulder) and the choreography was all sharp gestures. I let the adrenaline take over and delivered the performance even though I was in a lot of pain. Dancers are warriors!
7. When I’m dancing Veruca, I am serving you:
Ferocious ballerina lightning storm!!!
8. Moment I knew I wanted to dance and perform for the rest of my life:
I can't remember the specific moment because since I can remember I have known in my heart and soul that I was going to perform for the rest of my life. I've always known.
9. My favorite thing to do backstage:
Joke around with my cast-mates and make people laugh. I'm definitely a silly willy at the work place.
10. The movie I was truly obsessed with growing up:
The Wizard of Oz was my and my sister's favorite movie growing up. My mom told us that we used to watch it on repeat every day for years. I still love that movie to this day!
See Emma Pfaeffle as Veruca Salt NOW in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
