Final Bow: Laura Benanti Steps Out of Steve Martin's Meteor Shower

After making his 2016 Broadway playwriting debut with Bright Star, Steve Martin returned to the Great White Way this winter with the four-person drama Meteor Shower. Starring Amy Schumer, Laura Benanti, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jeremy Shamos, the play follows a happy couple (Schumer and Shamos), whose marriage is nearly derailed by two deranged dinner guests Laura and Gerald (Benanti and Key). The audience quickly learns that these two aren't your typical Gen Xers looking for a casual evening of polite small talk.

As the play's Broadway run draws to a close, Benanti joined TheaterMania in reflecting on her three-month run with the eccentric ensemble. According to the Tony winner, it's been an experience full of insightful revelations, onstage breaks, and crackers.

1. What is your favorite line that you get to say?
"No."

2. What is the best inside joke from among the company?
We all eat the crackers that are meant to be props.

3. What was the worst technical difficulty you experienced during the show and how was it handled?
We haven’t had any!

4. What was the most "interesting" present someone gave you at the stage door?
People have been incredibly generous to me and my daughter Ella. I’ve gotten some incredibly inspiring feminism and equality books for her.

5. Who is the coolest person to come see your show?
[Pearl Jam front man] Eddie Vedder.

6. In the play, Laura and Gerald are enigmatic characters. What do you think their backstory is?
I don’t think they’re humans at all. They are repression personified.

7. What joke or moment in the show caused the cast to break most often?
Amy's "Exploding head syndrome" made me laugh so hard for a week straight that I had to stop looking at her.

8. What nuggets of truth about marriage have you found in this play?
If you don’t deal with things immediately they will fester.

(Photo by Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)

9. In a word or phrase how would you describe each of your three costars?
Jeremy: He’s a real JerBear.
Keegan: Force of nature.
Amy: Fart face.

10. What's the most memorable interaction you've had with Steve Martin?
Just being in the same space as him is pretty memorable.