Kristine is based mostly on Denise Boockvor. Denise came from the midwest and was very wide-eyed when she came to New York as a teen. The first place she stayed in was a strip joint. She was so mortified (she didn't know that she'd have to be a stripper), she cried her way out of it. Later she stayed at that apartment building for unmarried aspiring actresses, made famous in the movie "Stage Door" with Katherine Hepburn. (I forget the name of it) When she wrote to apply to stay there, she was so cute, she wrote "I'm a real nice girl, I don't even have a traffic
ticket!" When she was on her own, her mom came to visit. Her mom said "If I had known this was what New York was like, I would have never let you go!"
Eventually, Denise started getting work, but she still didn't know many people. She was in a show with Steve, and he kept asking her out. She kept saying No, but then realized, "I;m lonely, but if I never go out with anyone, how can I get married?" SO she
went out with Steve, and he took her to see the infamous all-nude musical, "Oh, Calcutta!" Steve said:"I was looking to get laid!"
The fact that Steve and Denise finished each other's sentances was something that Michael Bennett picked up on. This was combined with Renee Baughman's inadequate singing ability. Renee was a very sexy and confident dancer, but she was so nervous, she chanted and chanted to get the show (she was a Buddhist, which might be interesting to use for Kristine). The
authors thought she was perfect, however, and planned a song about her inablility to sing from the very beginning. (In fact, it was the first song written)
The main thing about Kristine is that she is basically a happy, well-adjusted, and sexy girl, she just can't sing. Al is very protective, and I think Kristine is a little meeker (Considering her background) so they have a very complementary relationship and work well together.
Other facts: Al is 30, so he's been around for awhile, and knows Sheila, Diana, Connie, Bobby, etc. Kristine has been in New York for 3-4 years, so she's done some work, but is not as experienced. Since Judy is from St. Louis, you might have a connection with her from the past. One funny thing I saw was Judy trying to "teach" Kristine to sing in the reentrance after Paul's monologue. Also, usually when Al gives Kristine his gum in the Opening, she reluctantly starts puts it in her own mouth. It's always a huge laugh if the audience can see it.
Kristine wears a wrap around brown leotard, which I don't know it they're available anymore (It's very 70's) As long as you found something sexy that emphasized dancing and demphasized singing that would be good. Al wears a sleeveless green TCKS tee shirt (which is also not available anymore) and dark dance pants. He also wore a red and yellow jacket at times and a little black cap (That was to cover Don Percassi's bush like hair!) Al is more athletic, so
he can get away with more athletic clothes if necessary. But he has been a professional
dancer for 14 years, so he's comfortable in dance clothes. They are fifth and sixth from
stage left.
