Arctic Monkeys, Joan Jett and Phoebe Gonzalez. And Beyoncé. Obviously.

With new comer Cherry Picking playwright, Phoebe Gonzalez, it's clear there's nothing basic.

What was your anthem at sixteen?
Hmm. Either "Fluorescent Adolescent," by the Arctic Monkeys or "Bruises," by Chairlift. I'll be the first to admit I was pretty basic. 

In the movie of your life, what song would score the montage of all the rebellious things you've done?

All my rebellions (except for the particularly grotesque ones of my youth) were pretty quiet and subtle. My rebellions were comfortable cozying up with me unseen and fueling me from the inside rather than announcing their presence to the world. I'd say something slow and sensual like "Playground Love," by AIR. 

Favorite song of rebellion or revolution- the one that makes you roll down the car windows or turn up the volume?

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" terrifies and excites me in its staying power. Why do all these lyrics still hit such a chord? Shouldn't we be better off now than we were then? The way song's words pour out faster than we can makes sense of them makes me want to break things - specifically our cisheteronormative capitalistic patriarchal society. 

If you could perform any combat-boot-kicking song with any Cherry Picker, which song would you choose and with whom?

Does my former teacher and current friend (dare I say??) Clare Mottola count? If so, I would 100% choose her. I want to head bang with this badass woman that I am confident knows a thing or two about head banging with the best of them. I would want to do it to one of those iconic angry/empowering songs like Joan Jett's "Reputation" or The Runaways' "Cherry Bomb." So... Definitely Joan Jett would be involved in some way.

Absolute rebel girl crush?

I'm lucky to know and love a powerful combat-boot-wearing lady artist named Seonjae Kim, whose been developing an adaptation of Antigone positioned against the backdrop of riot grrrl music. She is hardcore, radically empathetic, and keeps me on my toes at all times. The crush is real. 

Three must-have summer songs on your playlist?

My summertimes are always so full of nostalgia - the music I'll be listening to (outside of Beyoncé's Lemonade on repeat) probably won't be super contemporary. I can never stay away from Stevie Wonder for long, so I'd have to go with "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," for days I need to remember the world is good. Then, "Thinkin Bout You" for my melancholic days. Lastly, I'd go with "Don't Give Up," by The Noisettes for the days I need to lock myself in my room and be productive, but still want to feel like I've gone out to a party.

Any additional comments?

I feel significantly more badass by virtue of being a part of this crowd of awesome artists.

Phoebe's play, LOSING IT, marks her first year as part of the CP line-up. Don't miss it!