I thought I'd be doing weird, Off Broadway theater after I graduated.
A lot of people now don't know I've been on Broadway.
I actually got a play from auditioning for something in 'Back Stage' magazine.
Broadway has been my dream since I was 5 years old.
If it's not in New York, let's say it's in St. Louis, then they've got to find a place or get with someone who knows about the work... they've got to find a place like that and do scenes, and then try to get in plays.
I grew up performing and singing. And acting, the idea of it just sort of fell into my lap. And I was a little hesitant at first, but I was like, 'Okay, I'll try it.'
There are many actors who'll make their living in other areas, and they'll say they don't like theatre. What they're saying is that they're afraid of theatre because they know it will separate those who can from those who can't.
I'm an actor. I started as an actor. I started on Broadway doing 'Hair' and Shakespeare in the Park.
When I went home from Juilliard, I couldn't find acting work.
I was the teenage kid growing up in New Jersey watching the Tony Awards and thinking, 'Oh, maybe if I'm lucky I'll make it to Broadway by the time I'm 40!'
I went to the University/Resident Theatre Association auditions. Deans come and watch you in this theater. You have three minutes, and you have to do two contrasting monologues - at that time, this is 2003 - one classical and one contemporary.
I worked consistently on Broadway from when I was 8 years old through 'Spring Awakening,' which I left in 2008.
Ever since I got on Days I've been doing theater.
Any types of auditions will be posted in trade magazines.
I'm never offered any sort of roles. I need to audition in a typically lengthy process to receive roles.
I'd love to do a Broadway show, but I can't because of the style I sing.
I've done a couple of Broadway shows and sang before I did any acting.
People don't see me in traditional roles; I'm not getting cast in the revival of 'Company' as Bobby.
My family weren't actors, and we didn't know any actors. It wasn't even something I was aware you could do as a job. I thought you had to be a Redgrave or a Barrymore before you were allowed to go to drama school.
I'm a Broadway baby! So, therefore, I started in the theater.
When I left drama school, there were dozens of rep theatres you could apply to where you got a good training.
At 14, 15 years old, I started reading 'Backstage' regularly. Eventually, I got enough courage to look at the auditions section.
I loved to sing and I loved to act, and I didn't want to continue opera because I wanted to act.
It's nice to establish yourself as an actor first and a singer second. Proof is such a tremendous piece of work, and I'm incredibly lucky to be a part of it. I'm sure that the musicals will happen in the future, though.
You have to get through the Hamlet hoop as a young actor. Your classical qualifications are based on the quality of your Hamlet. And then, as an older actor, you have to get through the Lear hoop. And I'm approaching the Lear hoop.
