TASK DEFINITION: You will be given a trivia clue, and the category it belongs to. You should answer with the best answer that belongs in the category and is described by the clue. For simplicity, answers should be in all lower cased letters.
PROBLEM: Category: BROADWAY DEBUTS 
Clue: In 2006, in her first big project since giving birth to twins, she starred on Broadway in "Three Days of Rain"

SOLUTION: julia roberts

PROBLEM: Category: THE WINTER PALACE 
Clue: In 1881 the "Czar Liberator", the II czar of this name, asked to be taken to the palace to die after being fatally wounded

SOLUTION: alexander ii

PROBLEM: Category: AUTHORS' BIRTHPLACES 
Clue: Salinas, California (east of... Frisco) was the birthplace of this author, who often referred to it in his work

SOLUTION:
steinbeck