Christina Marie Leonard is carving out a space where horror and comedy don’t just coexist — they amplify each other. Drawing from personal experiences with mental health, chronic illness, and addiction, her work transforms vulnerability into connection, using dark humor as both a shield and a bridge. Whether on stage, screen, or in unconventional spaces, Christina creates stories that invite audiences to laugh, reflect, and ultimately feel less alone — proving that even in the darkest narratives, there’s room for light.
Christina, you work across acting, writing, and comedy. What draws you specifically to blending horror and comedy in your storytelling?
I think I find myself drawn to blending horror and comedy because while I love horror movies and grew up obsessed with Halloween at an early age (for the costumes and decorations, not just the candy!) – I also love making people laugh. Making a friend laugh mid-conversation when they are going through something tough is often more powerful than making a whole crowd laugh in a stand-up comedy setting. And, having gotten my start on camera acting in horror movies in Nebraska, I’ve experienced the behind-the-scenes of horror movies for quite some time. The cast and crew would always make jokes to lighten things up and that’s what made the on-set memories so unforgettable. When you’re stuck to a metal slab for hours a day covered with edible blood made of cornstarch and food coloring, you’ve gotta make it fun. (I did that in my first feature film and it was an absolute blast because of the people! I still smile every time I use lavender hand soap because that’s what they had in the bathroom that I would use to wash off the blood.)
Also, I love the classic horror tropes- like the virgin always being the one to survive and the killer not actually being dead, and everyone splitting up when you know they should stick together…the things the characters do when the audience is yelling at the screen, “No, don’t go in there!” Making fun of these tropes in satires like “Scary Movie” or “Cabin in the Woods” or “Brutal Massacre” is like an inside joke for all horror fans to have a good belly laugh together.
You’re currently developing a Frankenstein-inspired horror short, how are you weaving themes like mental health, chronic illness, and addiction into the narrative?
In my Frankenstein-inspired horror short, I decided to add themes of chronic illness, mental health and addiction because those are the things I have personally struggled with the most and I’ve learned that I am definitely not alone in those struggles. Mary Shelley’s original “Frankenstein” deals with themes of power and control- in fact, the actual original title is “Frankenstein or A Modern Prometheus” because, like in the story of Prometheus, Victor Frankenstein tries to take control of things that are not his to meddle with. Similarly, in my short, the lead character Mary tries to defy science and cure the things about herself that she is trying to control, such as her depression and chronic condition. The addiction piece comes in because once she starts with her experiments, she is not satisfied with her initial changes. She tries to change more and more things about herself and doesn’t know when to stop which leads her to that downward spiral.
Your one-woman show Bathroom Diaries tackles heavy topics through dark humor. How has audience response shaped the way you approach vulnerable storytelling?
Audience response from my show “Bathroom Diaries” has changed so much for me with my art moving forward. I was terrified to open up to the world about my chronic bladder condition, interstitial cystitis, and nervous to talk even more deeply about my struggle with addiction and mental health. Fortunately I got so much positive feedback from people who said they were previously afraid to talk about their own chronic conditions and felt really seen by the show, or people who opened up to me about having had similar experiences and feeling validated. Another of my fears, in addition to opening up so much personally, was that people would be uncomfortable and would not laugh at the jokes. Luckily, that was not an issue; every show had lots of laughter and got great reviews! I realized that by me being my authentic self, people felt comfortable enough to laugh along with me. There were also gasps and tears amongst the audience but those people reported having positive experiences as well. In fact, one of the people I saw crying in the front row said it was her favorite show at The Hollywood Fringe Festival. I do believe that both laughter and tears are necessary for catharsis, and as a viewer, I enjoy experiencing them both so I’m glad I could offer that to the audience. As a disclaimer, I do offer a warning in the playbill of live shows and at the beginning of the YouTube video as a warning about possibly triggering content to be mindful of people who might not be in an emotional place to watch content about self-harm or disordered eating behavior, both of which is featured in the show.
Performing in unique spaces like the “Horror Nerd” show in a mortuary is unforgettable. How do those environments influence your performance and connection with the audience?
I am so excited to perform in “Horror Nerd” at Missing at the Mortuary in Pasadena! I have seen two of Samantha Hale’s “Horror Nerd” shows and the last one I saw was at the mortuary. It was so cool because the comedians actually performed on stage in front of a coffin with creepy dolls and skulls strewn about the stage and inside the casket. The lighting was creepy and… I mean, we were in a real mortuary and we all knew it so I think everybody felt a little bit like we were kids telling ghost stories around a campfire. The vibe was spooky right away and made for a thrilling experience for everyone. It was also really cool because each comedian had an all-new set they had written specifically about horror movies (mine’s ready to go for my upcoming show and I can’t wait for you all to hear it!) Similarly to how I mentioned loving satire and horror comedy movies, this show is a great way to connect with each other and bond over our experiences watching our favorite horror movies and relive those moments all over again.
For viewers discovering your work on YouTube or through your upcoming film, what do you hope they feel or take away from your stories?
With both my solo show on YouTube and my upcoming short film, I hope people can walk away having laughed, cried, and most of all can leave feeling less alone. Something I recently heard said is “trauma shared is trauma halved.” If there is anything I want to offer with my creative work, it’s that.
Links:
- Bathroom Diaries solo show: https://youtu.be/
KiYYDy8d5Sk?si= mEtLEd3CBibkUCzZ - Horror Nerd (Missing at the Mortuary stand up show) tickets: https://www.
missingatthemortuary.com/ horror-comedy?fbclid= PAVERFWARGDc1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABz cnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyOD c0MTQAAacpJ50gFUFuI19VdC- uZmnqX7rS9hJElvCQpkNHCpZzGMiOT eXMuMUSlAKUtA_aem_ ZcnsAxV3jjAo2MW-x-GGXw&utm_ source=ig&utm_medium=social& utm_content=link_in_bio - Christina’s instagram: instagram.com/
christinamarieleonard
Image Credit:
Fringe_SK by SK Designs, Fringe_Haverty by David Haverty, Christina 320 by Joanna DeGeneres, Solo_AwakenedCreative by The Awakened Creative, NickAndrew
