NR: Have you considered doing a cabaret show or do something else like this?

KN: I've been thinking about it and my dear friend, Mary Mitchell Campbell, (who actually played the show at the Lambs because Ron had to play Pimpernel), suggested it. We talked about it a lot. I think it would be a great idea and I have some repertoire that I've been putting together. Nothing to announce as of yet.

NR: Do you have any dream roles that you'd still like to play?

KN: Dream roles - absolutely. I think number one on the list is probably Eva Peron. Also, the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods is a big one for me. I'd really like to play Fantine. Les Miz has been going for a quite awhile but it's always been a role that sort of resonated with me. I may be a little too young still, but I'd like to play Mother in Ragtime. I could go on...I won't bore you.

NR: What do you try to have time to do other than work?

KN: I'm very athletic so I love to roller blade, run, work out in general. About a year ago I did the Artist's Way which is a book by Juliet Cameron. It's about rediscovering the artist in you, not just as a working, performing artist, but sort of being an artist in all the rest of your life. It got me starting to sculpt some things, learning to play the guitar. (laughing) I'm not very good yet! Actually I've done a little song writing on the side and that's one of the reasons I'm learning guitar, so that I can help myself with that.

NR: If you sculpt anything you should put it in the Broadway Cares Auction.

KN: (laughing) There you go! I don't know if it's ready for an audience yet! (serious again) It just really helps me to stay a creative person all the time. I love to see theater and movies. Theater's a little tougher when you're working, but never look a gift horse in the mouth. It's good to be working. I do see the Actors' Fund Performances or things that have Monday nights. When I was doing Early One Morning, I had matinees off and so I got to see some things.

NR: You got two whole weeks off for that. That's unusual, isn't it?

KN: I hoarded my vacation. They haven't ever given leaves of absence from Pimpernel. It's just not part of their policy so I knew that that was going to be the case. I just didn't take vacation. I saved up till I had two weeks' vacation and it really worked out. It was perfect. I was very pleased that they allowed me to take the two weeks' vacation together back to back.

NR: That's great. Well, good luck with everything. I know we're running short on time so I'll let you go back upstairs. Thank you so much.

KN: You're welcome. Thank you.

I wish I could have had more time to spend with Katie but she had to get ready for a performance. She was one of those familiar faces that it was such a joy to see when I went to the Neil Simon for the first time. The CD she made with Ron is truly wonderful and I highly recommend it. Hopefully they will do Early One Morning live again and I'll be able to see it.

Questions suggested by:

Renee Girard, Jan Combopiano, Colleen Rosati, Kelly Honig, Stacy McInnis, Stephanie Henkin, Andrea Galeno

Interview conducted and photographs by Nancy Rosati.