I've worked since I was a five-year-old to be a performer.
Broadway was always sort of my trajectory before I found film and television - that would be really tremendous.
Don't know about a cabaret act right now, would actually prefer a role in a broadway musical.
When I was 20 years old, my mom flew me for my first Broadway audition for 'The Color Purple,' and I only found out about it because I knew that Fantasia was in it, and so I went online to ActorsEquity.com. I was not a part of the union, but I flew there for the audition, and the next week I made my Broadway debut!
Acting was always a secret desire of mine when I was growing up.
When I was 12, I did this show on Broadway called 'High Society,' so we moved to New York for the run of that.
Broadway isn't a very big career move. There's no money in it and it doesn't mean anything to your career. It's just a nice little jewel in the crown.
I really wanted to be a Broadway kid.
I had already played a lead on Broadway before I ever did a film. I had had three, four seasons of stock with good, fat parts, good supporting and leading parts. And I had done, oh, God, over 400 live TV shows.
This is my 25th year of being on stage. A lot of people who I kind of toed up to the starting line with are no longer in this position. I feel very, very lucky.
I grew up in Cleveland and started doing plays in high school. And I went to the University of Illinois, and I majored in drama. And after school, I went up to Chicago, because I didn't really know anybody in New York or Los Angeles, and I knew people who were doing plays in Chicago.
As a kid growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, all I wanted to do was be on Broadway in a musical. 'Spring Awakening' kind of answered all of my questions and fulfilled all of my dreams - beyond my wildest dreams.
I was Jenny in 'Jenny and the School for Cats' when I was five years old. That was my first big break. Then I got to play the Artful Dodger in 'Oliver Twist,' and that was the most fun I've ever had.
I did not see myself as a leading lady. I thought I was really funny-looking and I would never be the lead, and I certainly would never do film or television. I wanted to do theater. I wanted to be the grand dame of the American stage.
I did come to L.A. to try to get on TV and get in front of a camera, so I could have a stage career in New York.
I'll always be an Essex girl at heart but I've matured and I've evolved and with my work I'm in the West End all the time.
My first major role was in a play called 'Through the Leaves.'
I actually got a play from auditioning for something in 'Back Stage' magazine.
It never dawned on me I would do anything but show business.
I want to be a recording artist for my whole entire life. But Broadway is something I would come back to at any given moment. I love, love, love doing theater.
I moved to New York to do a play when I was 18.
I think coming East and doing something like Broadway would probably be a good career move.
You can't come out of drama school and think, 'It's all going to be amazing.' You have to expect to work in a bar for at least five years and be a waitress for maybe two!
I have fully retired as a choreographer. I do not have the patience now to make actors learn their steps. For me, that ship has sailed. I have enjoyed 22 years of it.
Maybe when my kids are grown up, I can go back to Broadway. It would be great someday, I suppose.
