Inspired by Christopher's attachments to his pet rat, teacher, and detective work, the cast reveals their favorite mysteries, childhood pets, mentors and more! 

TONYA BECKMAN (Judy)

1. Did you have a favorite pet as a child?

I grew up with a beautiful German shorthaired pointer named Velvet. She was the best dog a kid could have, and her ears really did feel like velvet…but I wouldn't have said no to a pet elephant!
 

2. What was your favorite childhood game?

We loved board games—my sister and I spent hours playing “Sorry!” and I also loved paper dolls. I spent a lot of time drawing and cutting out outfits for them.
 

3. What is your favorite mystery book, film, or series?

I love mystery novels and I read a ton of them when I'm not learning lines. My favorite is the Dublin Murder Squad Series by Tana French, an Irish author. She started out as an actress, and you can really see that background in her complicated, flawed characters. They're always so surprising and interesting!
 

4. What is your favorite phrase/word of British slang?

Am I allowed to swear? Because I adore "f*ckwit".
 

5. Who was your favorite mentor as a teen?

You know, I don't think I had one. I spent my teenage years trying to hide, actually. It wasn't until I went to college and found an acting teacher named Laurie Birmingham. She was the first person who got me to actually believe that who I am is just fine.
 

HARRISON BRYAN (Christopher)

1. Did you have a favorite pet as a child?

My first cat, "Kitty Cat" or "K.C.", was my favorite. My family was also the proud owners of "Krysa" our PET RAT! Rats make GREAT pets! Super smart, fun, and—as Christopher Boone says numerous times—"they're very clean!" 
 

2. What was your favorite childhood game?

I was a big N64 fan growing up, so...MARIO PARTY! For a birthday party once, my friends and I dressed up as the Mario characters and we played some of the mini-games LIVE outside of my house!
 

3. What is your favorite mystery book, film, or series?

Favorite Mystery Film: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Favorite Mystery Series: Scooby Doo!
Favorite Mystery Book: I've read a Sherlock Holmes novel once, and it was pretty good, but I stillllll think The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time might actually be my favorite.
 

4. What is your favorite phrase/word of British slang? 

PICCADILLY.
 

5. Who was your favorite mentor as a teen?

My parents. My dad was my baseball coach. My mom was my acting coach. 
 

LAURA C. HARRIS (Voice 1)

1. Did you have a favorite pet as a child?

We didn't have pets when I was growing up, and my husband and I are excited to get a dog at some point in the near future, but my current favorite pet is my BFF Jonathan's dog, Kima, who we take care of as often as possible.
 

2. What was your favorite childhood game?

Does theatre count?
 

3. What is your favorite mystery book, film, or series?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.
 

4. What is your favorite phrase/word of British slang?

Can't say that I have one, but my favorite new-to-me phrase I learned from this play is "Bloody Nora!"
 

5. Who was your favorite mentor as a teen?

My academic advisor/choral director/musical director for several years in middle and high school, Michael Querio. He was supportive, smart, talented, fun, committed to his students, all while taking zero sh*t, and I learned a lot from him.
 

TESSA KLEIN (Siobhan)

1. Did you have a favorite pet as a child?

I grew up on a farm, so I had lots of favorite pets. My favorite was our dog Beanie, a collie-shepherd mutt. I miss her.
 

2. What was your favorite childhood game?

Dressing up. Clearly, I've outgrown that! :)
 

3. What is your favorite mystery book, film, or series?

I've read Murder on the Orient Express about 100 times.Also, Sherlock is hands down the best television show ever. I LOVE mysteries. (Although I can't be in the house alone if I'm reading or watching one. I freak myself out.)
 

4. What is your favorite phrase/word of British slang?

Other than swears? Hmm. "Rubbish". (Specifically as in "I was rubbish". It sounds so much classier than "I was terrible".)
 

5. Who was your favorite mentor as a teen?

I had some great teachers in high school. I was terrified of one of them, but I've never learned so much in class and I think she's the reason I'm able to memorize lines. (We're Facebook friends now. It turns out she is one of the sweetest women in the world.)
 

CODY NICKELL (Ed)

1. Did you have a favorite pet as a child?

My family had many wonderful pets as I was growing up, but there was definitely a standout, especially when thinking about Christopher, the main character in Curious Incident. When I was in middle school and early high school, similarly aged to Christopher, we had a dog named Gurgi. (Yes, for those paying attention, the dog was named after a character in The Black Cauldron.) Gurgi was a Corgi, and was one of the smartest dogs I have ever met. As we all know, middle school is not an easy time for folks, and I was no different. During some of the more emotionally turbulent moments of middle school, Gurgi would sit with me and just be present. Looking at me knowingly, comforting. A truly noble beast.
 

2. What was your favorite childhood game?

Boy, favorites are hard. Ninja training? Super Mario Bros on original NES? Maddening games of Monopoly with my siblings? There were more games that I loved than not. But I can really remember hating a few: Truth or Dare, anything involving ghosts (Light As A Feather, etc.), and Kill the Carrier (which had a much worse name when I was a kid).
 

3. What is your favorite mystery book, film, or series?

I am a huge fan of the genre. Mysteries fill many of my book shelves. From hardboiled American noir, to British period pieces, I love them all. Two of my favorite series of late: The Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling), about a kind of Neo Noir type private detective in London, and The Highway 59 series by Attica Locke, about a troubled African-American Texas Ranger.  
 

4. What is your favorite phrase/word of British slang?

Tw*t. Can I say tw*t? If I can’t say tw*t, I will have to think about this more. But, tw*t.
 

5. Who was your favorite mentor as a teen?

Theresa Grywalski. Ms. G. She was my high school drama teacher and had a tremendously outsized influence on my life in high school, and has continued to be an influence in how I think about making theatre as a professional. Thank you, Ms. G.
 

KIMBERLY SCHRAF (Voice 6)

1. Did you have a favorite pet as a child?

A plucky miniature schnauzer named Charlie.
 

2. What was your favorite childhood game?

My friends and I played the card game “Hearts” for days on end.
 

3. What is your favorite mystery book, film, or series?

Like Christopher, I favored the stylings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes stories.
 

4. What is your favorite phrase/word of British slang?

“Jumper”—it’s a cardigan sweater, not a dress!
 

5. Who was your favorite mentor as a teen?

My mom. She still is.
 

KATHRYN TKEL (Voice 5)

1. Did you have a favorite pet as a child?

I did have a favorite pet. It was our family dog, Niner, short for 49er...my Dad got to name him.
 

2. What was your favorite childhood game?

Honestly, my favorite activity was watching TV. I also watched a lot of movies, but television shows got the most of my attention. They still do.
 

3. What is your favorite mystery book, film, or series?

My official answer is Veronica Mars. I’d also like to give an honorable mention to Murder She Wrote.
 

4. What is your favorite phrase/word of British slang?

Bollocks!
 

5. Who was your favorite mentor as a teen?

During one summer break in high school, I was in a play with ACT’s Young Conservatory. The whole experience was quite formative for me, but our director Domenique Lozano had a particularly positive impact. It was the first time I’d been in any kind of professional theatre setting and I’m still so grateful that it was Domenique who was at the helm.
 

CODY LEROY WILSON (Voice 3)

1. Did you have a favorite pet as a child?

I had a pet iguana named Iggy that I really loved. I fed him red leaf greens, they were his favorite. And he’d sit on our cable box to warm himself.
 

2. What was your favorite childhood game?

Hands down my favorite game was Pokémon Yellow on the first Gameboy Color. I went everywhere with it—my parents couldn’t get it away from me! I pretty much memorized the entire game.
 

3. What is your favorite mystery book, film, or series?

I loved the Sherlock Holmes books, and I love the series Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch currently.
 

4. What is your favorite phrase/word of British slang?

“Put the kettle on!”
 

5. Who was your favorite mentor as a teen?

My high school theater teacher Miss Pinnel got me into theater and was a really great mentor until graduation. I owe her a lot.