Q&A with an actress and mom in “Funny Girl” on tour

We’re rolling out the welcome mat for a fellow mom named Christine Bunuan, who’s in Northwest Arkansasthis week and next week as she takes the stage with the cast of the hit musical Funny Girl, which opens next Tuesday, March 18th at Walton Arts Center. The show will have additional performances from the 18th through March 23rd. (Click here to see if you can still snag a ticket!)

We had the opportunity to interview Christine, who became a new mom while on tour with the cast and crew of Funny Girl. (She plays the role of Mrs. Meeker, and she also serves as an understudy for two other characters.) How does a busy actor on a national tour handle the whirlwind of pregnancy and new motherhood while acting, singing, and touring all over the country? Find out in the interview below.

We know from experience that the last few weeks of pregnancy can be extremely challenging (fatigue, aches and pains, false labor, anxiety, etc.). How did you take care of yourself on this busy tour in light of the physical and emotional demands of a pregnancy?

I was lucky to have an easy pregnancy. As one of the Poker Ladies in Funny Girl, I spent most of the time sitting at a table playing cards. Our little boy listened to his mama and her friends sing this great music and laugh all the time. I always made sure I had plenty of food and water with me at all times. I took naps when I could. I would organize mani/pedi dates with the cast. I also kept active by doing prenatal yoga or going on semi-long walks. At one point, I did have terrible acid reflux. So, I took some medication and ate a lot of ginger candies.

However, at twenty-six weeks, our little one was starting to grow quickly. It was also getting harder for me to breathe and sing. Toward the end of the week, I did take a show or two off to rest up. Our company was very supportive and encouraged me to do what I needed to do, so I ended up leaving three weeks earlier than I had planned. And it was a good thing I did.

Tell us about your baby’s birth! Close to the due date or complete surprise? What surprised you most about the experience? Which moments were the hardest, and which ones touched your heart the most?

During my last week on tour, I had a little accident on my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I thought, “Baby boy is kicking my bladder just like all those mothers said would happen during the third trimester.” Over the next few days, I went shopping at The Mall of America, did an understudy rehearsal and my last six shows. I flew back to Chicago to start nesting. The morning after my husband came home from visiting his parents, my tummy was a bit uncomfortable. Later that same day, I had my 30-week checkup. I told my doctor I had moments when I couldn’t control urine for the last two weeks and was having these little cramps that were about 3-5 minutes apart. It still didn’t register until she did an examination and said, “I can see your baby’s hair. You’re 5cm dilated. You’re having this baby today.”

All that to say, our son’s arrival was a complete surprise!  Because I am so tiny, we knew he was probably going to come early…but not ten weeks early!

What was most surprising about our whole experience was that we were very calm throughout the labor. How could I not know that my water broke or that I was having contractions? The nurses said I must have a high pain tolerance. It was crazy and funny at the same time. And when the time came for me to push, it was just one nurse, our doctor, Sean and me. This may sound strange, but it was a lovely and intimate moment. I did get an epidural which was helpful for me to focus on the pushing and not worry about the pain. Sean was an incredible coach. And when I had one more push to go, a swarm of doctors and nurses came in ready to take care of our son. I kept giggling to Sean, “We did it!” With tears of joy, he told me how proud he was. And then suddenly we could hear our little boy’s cry. Then I cried. We were parents of a beautiful baby boy.

Our culture often glamorizes the “supermom” stereotype, but we believe all moms are humans who deserve rest and a support system so we can be the best parents possible. What is your support system like and how has it helped you maintain your professional work on tour while also investing time and energy into your new role as a mom?

My husband is currently traveling on the road with us. We both take care of our son during the day and then he takes over while I go to work. Sean has been incredibly supportive of me going back to work. I couldn’t do any of this without him. He didn’t want me to forget who I am as an actor. He basically put his own acting career on hold so that we could finish out my Funny Girl contract. And though I will miss doing this show, I am very much looking forward to doing the same for Sean. He is truly our SuperDada!

This company has also been like a second family to us. Any time someone just wants to hold our little boy, sing to him, talk to him, or just spend time with our family — it has all been helpful to us. Our baby has learned so much from them. And we are grateful for that.

I do feel like I’m living the dream of having quality family time during the day and then sneak off to work for a few hours while everyone else is sleeping. Because I love being a mom, a wife and an actor, I’m happy to be tired doing all the things I love to do.

Tell us about that baby! How old is he now? What have you learned about him as a person in these early days?

Our son’s name is Gage Bunuan Fawcett. He is now 13 months old and is such a happy, loving baby. He came out of the womb very feisty and curious. He is very outgoing and friendly. Gage brings joy to everyone he encounters. He loves waving at people and making new friends wherever we go. He is saying Dada and Mama among lots of other cooing sounds. He is crawling and on the verge of walking. He can clap his hands, point to what he wants, and feed himself. He just transitioned from baby bottles to straw water bottle very easily.

We love seeing the world through his eyes. He sees things that we never would have noticed. Watching him learn and discover is extraordinary. We are so proud of him and his daily accomplishments. Though he may not remember all of these experiences on the road, our hope is that it will be a good foundation for him as a person. Learning how to adapt to different circumstances, enjoying the moment the moment, and seeing the world all around him.

Years from now, your baby will ask you to tell him about the story of his birth and what it was like in those first few months. What will you say you learned from being a mom on tour, and how has this experience changed you and your family? How has it impacted or deepened your work as an actor who relies on emotional connection to make characters come to life on stage?

Tour life is extremely challenging, packing and unpacking, living in a different hotel almost every week, adjusting and readjusting to a new city. It is not a glamorous life. But when I stop and take in these two incredible people, my husband and my son, I realize I have everything I need right here with me. I felt like the time I had with both my husband and son almost stood still. And then when I left them for work, it would speed up again. In general, people, myself included, are always trying to think of the next thing to do, all the while missing the moment that is happening right in front of them. I’ve learned to live in the moment more and try to focus on one thing at a time.

In the show, I also understudy Mrs. Brice and I felt like becoming an actual mother deepened my understanding of that character. Mrs. Brice sees her daughter going down the same road that she did with her ex-husband. All we want to do is protect our children, hope that they never have to feel the hurt that we have gone through. But there’s no way to learn that experiences for them. They have to learn from their own mistakes. Our job is to guide them, help them pick up the pieces and build them back up again. I am only just starting to understand that journey and I look forward to hopefully being a good example and mother to our son.

Thank you, Christine, for taking time out of a very busy schedule to tell us about your life as a touring actor and new mom. Welcome to the mama club! We hope you and your beautiful family and amazing cast and crew have a great week in Northwest Arkansas. 

Click HERE to check for available tickets to a performance of Funny Girl at Walton Arts Center from March 18-23rd.