Words From The Wings: Kaylee Olson of SPAMALOT Shares Pre-Show Rituals, Favorite Backstage Moments, and More!

BroadwayWorld is bringing you Words From the Wings, a new series of interviews that take fans behind the scenes of some of their favorite Broadway stars' backstage routines!

Today we're chatting with Kaylee Olson of Spamalot! Kaylee told us all about her pre-show rituals, favorite backstage moments, and more!

Check out her answers, along with photos taken by BroadwayWorld's Jennifer Broski, below!

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive to the theatre?

The first thing I do when I get to the theater is turn on my heating pad and place it on my chair before I start my makeup. Great way to start my physical warm up. By getting warmed up!

What’s the last thing you do before you go on stage?

The last thing I do before I go onstage is marvel that I made it to the Broadway stage. I've found my grail.

What’s your must-have backstage snack?

My must have backstage snack is any available sugar free candy and Welch's fruit snacks.

Pre-show ritual that others may think is weird?

For my preshow ritual I have a conversation with a fish. I use a fish prop, and every day we have a discussion about them behaving properly for me in the scene. There is also a tiny yellow cat depicted on the drop for the first scene and I pet him before the show starts. His name is Oliver.

What are five must-haves in your dressing room?

5 things I absolutely MUST have in the dressing room are: foam roller, heating pad, water, laughter and snacks.

What’s your favorite moment from the show to watch from the wings?

A scene that I love to watch from the wings is the Prince Herbert/guard scene. Prince Herbert wants to sing, but his father won't let him. And his father then attempts to have his guards watch the room. And the explanation of the guards duties does not go over well. Ethan Slater, Nik Walker, Michael Urie and Chris Fitzgerald are brilliantly funny.

What has been your favorite backstage moment in your time with this show so far?

My favorite moment backstage would have to be during Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer's solo "Whatever happened to my part." This is a special moment for several reasons. I get to hang with some of our swings and standbys in the green room (maybe sneak a quick snack), and we all sit and marvel at Leslie's excellence together. Our swings/standbys are amazing, and Leslie is a powerhouse.

About Kaylee Olson

Kaylee is jumping for joy to be making her Broadway debut at the St. James with Spamalot! Some of Ms. Olson’s favorite credits include the national tour of Anything Goes, the 1st National tours of Bullets over Broadway and Pretty Woman The Musical. As well as Crazy for You at Lincoln Center, Merry Widow at the Metropolitan Opera, Spamalot at the Kennedy Center and the world premiere of Summer Stock at Goodspeed Opera House. I would like to thank my mom Tracie, my dance teacher Molly from Innovative Dance, my voice teacher Marianne Wells, my agent Jim Keith with MTA, my friends, my family, and my tigers. @kaylee.is.the.olson kayleeolson.com

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