Friday, 17 October 2008

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Katie Holmes 'very, very excited' after Broadway debut

Actress's entire family show full support

Katie is enjoying herself on Broadway

Katie Holmes made her much-anticipated Broadway debut Thursday night, sharing the stage with respected Broadway veterans John Lithgow, Dianne West and Patrick Wilson. As if that weren't challenging enough, she also had to tackle the high-drama of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. So, was she nervous?

"I was very, very excited!" Mrs. Tom Cruise told PEOPLE after taking her bow. "We had my whole family. Tom's whole family. Friends flew in. It's exciting."

Those friends included Jada Pinkett Smith and Patricia Clarkson, who costarred with Holmes in the movie Pieces of April. Barbara Walters, Blythe Danner and Isabella Rossellini also filled out the star-studded audience.

After her performance – which Cruise's mother, Mary Lee Mapother, declared, "Fantastic!" – Holmes chatted with PEOPLE:

PEOPLE: The show has been in previews for weeks. Did it feel different onstage tonight?

KH: There was definitely a lot more energy. The whole cast, we all got there about an hour and a half [early] and we had gifts for each other and we were running up and down the steps .... It felt like Christmas.

PEOPLE: Is Tom supportive?

KH: He comes [to the theater] a lot. He came to the dress rehearsal. I was so nervous, and I saw him out there, and he made me feel so much better. Every time he's there, I just feel like it's going to be okay.

PEOPLE: Is it difficult balancing your theater work with being a mom?

KH: It's a great schedule, because [Suri and I] get to spend the whole day together and then I go and do the play. Then I come home and we play some more!

PEOPLE: And Suri had her own dressing room at the theater?

KH: Yeah, we have a dressing room that is transformed into a playroom. It has a little piano.

PEOPLE: First motherhood, then a marathon, and now your Broadway debut. What's your next big challenge?

KH: Thanksgiving!