Rebel Girl, Hollaback Girl, and Samantha Mueller.

One of CP's newest playwrights, Samantha Mueller, is unafraid to rock and ready to roll.

What was your anthem at sixteen?

At sixteen, you would have found me blasting My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade.” No shame. Honestly, you can still find me blasting it in 2016. 

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

“Anna Sun” by Walk the Moon. I have the lyrics “rattle this ghost town” tattooed on the inside of my right arm. Every time I hear this song, I think about all of the times I’ve run away to new cities even if I didn’t know anyone there and all the times I’ve acted purely on youthful impulses.

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

“Q.U.E.E.N.” by Janelle Monae. “Cold War” by Janelle Monae. Any Janelle Monae song, really.

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

I’m definitely choosing fellow playwright Phoebe Gonzalez, who was the person to first tell me about Cherry Picking. We’d probably jam out to Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” or Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl”. In fact, I’m pretty sure we have jammed out to both of those songs before.

Absolute rebel girl crush?

It’s a tie between Natalie Dormer and Samira Wiley. 

Three must-have summer songs on your playlist?

There’s a song called “All We Have Is Now” by a band called The Modern Electric. When I was trying to decide if I was going to move to New York City for the summer, I stumbled upon this song. The opening lyrics are “honey, you should be here” and as soon as I heard them, I knew I had to say goodbye to Chicago for just a little while.

Chance the Rapper’s “All Night”. Try to listen to it without dancing, I dare you. At the beginning of the summer, I danced to this song in a Chicago warehouse full of candy and coloring books. Ever since then, it’s been on every summer playlist I’ve made.

And if you aren’t listening to Beyonce’s “Don’t Hurt Yourself” this summer, then I don’t know what to tell you. 

Don't miss Samantha's play, Him/Her/Dinner, onstage at this year's Cherry Picking.