THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- A BETTER PLACE's John FitzGibbon

Welcome to THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with your favorite Broadway stars. Want to know what hooked them to a career in the theater? Their dream roles? Their Broadway crushes? Read on!

In this week's edition, we caught up with John FitzGibbon, who stars as 'Sel' in A BETTER PLACE, playing at The Duke on 42nd Street.

What is the first Broadway or off-Broadway show you ever saw?

The first show I saw on Broadway was a student production of Taming of the Shrew as performed by the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I had won a city-wide Shakespeare reading contest and my reward was an afternoon off

from high school with a ticket to see this show. I enjoyed it thoroughly, totally unaware who the author was: and when I looked at the program after the show, I could not believe it was William Shakespeare. It seemed so contemporary, so alive! A real eye-opener for me.

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

My pre-show ritual is to make the Japanese sign for "man" in the palm of my left hand between thumb and forefinger: it's really just a "V"; A Japanese theatre musician, Teiji Ito, whose father was a court musician and his mother a court dancer in Japan, showed me the ritual many years ago. I've used it since. You make the sign and then swallow it. This makes you at one with all the people in the theatre: so there is no distinction between "you" and "them." No division. You are all one.

What is your most memorable "the show must go on" moment?

As for my "the show must go on" moment. I had composed music for a sweet children's show The Canticle of the Nightingale, the libretto by Ron Tavel, and presented at the first season of the Manhattan Theatre Club when it was on the Upper East Side. Attendance was very slim, and at one performance, only my sister, my Mom and my 3 little nieces were in attendance. So for them, the show definitely went on!!!

What is the one role you want to play before you die?

At this point in my life, I suppose King Lear would be a role to undertake. If only to play the scene with Gloucester; and also the final scene with Cordelia.

Who is your Broadway or off-Broadway crush?

As for my Broadway crushes: I remember Dustin Hoffmann was auditioning actors for Death of a Salesman at Actors' Equity, and I heard he was in the room in front of me and was about to break for lunch. I remember being so starstruck that I could not even look up at him when he passed by. And as for a woman crush, I'm sure I would be thrilled to meet Linda Lavin, who has never failed to perform with such brilliance and panache!

Where can people follow you online?

As for following me online: as I don't have a website of my own, I'm not sure. I'm not even very conversant with Facebook. And I've never Twittered or sent an Instagram. If I continue to perform in the New York City arena, I suppose an old-fashioned letter could be sent to me in care of the theatre;, and that would be fun to open and hopefully find the time to respond. When I'm not working I mostly like to engage in composing music, which is a fully absorbing relationship; so I don't have too much time for any possible public following, though I would feel highly complimented if it should occur.