What bought you to NYC?

  My mom slept with my dad, and poof… but when I actually popped out, it was in NJ. I began doing NY shows at an obnoxiously young age, as soon as I could walk really, so my mom got us an apt. in the city. Yep, on my own at 4… WOO HOO, wild toddler parties!

Is it a career for you? How do you feel about that?

  It’s WAY more than a career – it’s a raw, fiery, all-consuming, co-dependent, torrid obsession. In fact, I don’t even do it, it does me. And I love it. I am its groveling slave. For a while, I tried to turn away… I didn’t think about it, didn’t return its phone calls, got a restraining order, etc., but there it was again, at my doorstep, demanding to be let in and claiming I couldn’t live without it. Thank God acting is a crazed stalker…

What do you like most about your character in Love!?

  Something I love about ALL the characters in Love! is their depth. Usually, in a big broad musical comedy, the characters are quite linear; the general school of thought is that the humor structure will justify the character’s actions. The writing in Love! is so good that it operates vice versa, with the characters’ actions & failings justifying, and organically creating, the humor. Everyone has a reason for everything, down to the tiniest detail. Jeffrey has no idea why he is a slovenly mess and sabotages any possible relationship. Until he finds out… I adore Jeffrey because he sees people for the way they truly are, and has a comment for everything, yet he is so extraordinarily self-unaware. If I could achieve even one-tenth the lack of self-consciousness of Jeffrey, I’d be golden!

Any personal stage stories we should hear?

  OMG I could write a book filled with these… I’m sure we all could! But, one that sticks out is when I was in FAME. In the finale, a taxi would drive right onto the stage and toward the audience as we danced on top of it. Well, one night the electronic brakes failed, and it kept going. We jumped off, but there it was, still careening for the front of the stage. Nothing we could do. Somehow, the brilliant stagehand who was inside it cut some wires or something, and it stopped JUST before sailing into the orchestra pit and killing all the unaware musicians.

Your favorite personal love story

  They say some atoms can immediately affect other atoms clear on the other side of the earth. Scientific proof of love? When I was recently getting ready to leave for a South-American tour, I visited my world, my grandmother, in re-hab. After talking with her for hours, I finally told her I loved her, we kissed, & I left. For some reason, when I got out into the parking lot, I just started crying. Not the nice quiet crying, but the really embarrassing sobbing, with all the heaves and seizures of a 6 year old. I couldn’t move to my car, I just stood there until my shenanigans were complete. Well, after I had toured for about a month, she died. I flew back, of course, and upon seeing my family, my mom told me that when I had left that day, the last day we saw each other, my grandmother immediately started crying with fervor. So the picture was clear: There we were, me in the parking lot and her in her bed, both sobbing like children. She knew, and I knew, clearly. We were completely connected through love.

Your favorite old love song?

  Either “She’s Got A Way” by Billy Joel, because so many people affect me in ways I can’t explain; or “Faithfully” by Journey, because I am always away so much and I connect with the sentiment. Also pretty much any old love song by Bryan Adams.

Favorite place for a date in NY and why

  My rooftop! My apt building has a huge roof on the 20th floor, and the view and climate is spectacular. During the day, picnics & cartwheels. During the night… well, everything. “It’s a Love Thing”!

Is romance alive today? How do you know?

  Even though the roles of men / women have evolved, which has muddled up the rules and “structure” of romance, the concept will never die. There’s nothing like that feeling of wanting to do something for someone, just so you can see that smile on their face, which flips your heart over and sends teeny people into your tummy.

Have you been in love? What is/was it like?

  I am in love all the time. I walk around in love. It’s a problem.

Any final comment for people out there on the great wide web?

  I love making memories in shows. I already have great ones from “Love!”, and we haven’t even begun performances yet. This is a brilliant show; Everyone involved is so wonderful, professional, and totally fun, which makes this experience a complete… orgasm!