THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- Wayne Alan Wilcox!

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 Wayne Alan Wilcox, who is starring as 'Sydney' in CHAPLIN- currently in previews at the Barrymore Theatre (opening September 10)!

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

I came here as a kid for the first, and i thought only, time. On a school trip. We saw GRAND HOTEL, CRAZY FOR YOU, and THE SECRET GARDEN. I craved more. I knew I was home. Also, I thought "what about when people don't sing? Can we go see a play too?".

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

I write. I write before every show. Sometimes it has to do with my character, sometimes it's just about me. It's a focusing technique, and it works every time. I'd be lost without it.

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

I remember when I was on stage with Elaine Stritch. She walks up to me, opens her mouth and says, "What? I'm up. What is it?" and I gave her her line. She leaned on my shoulder and mouthed, "thank you" and she said her line. I thought, "Well, we better keep going. We've got a whole scene to get through, and she has a song coming up. She's gonna need me. Jeez". At that performance (THE FULL MONTY, I was 'Jerry'), the audience loved her so much she jumped into an encore right after she sang her song. Everyone on stage had the same thought, "Well okay, let's do it.....Elaine Stritch, ladies and gentleman!" I'll never forget the lessons I learned from Stritchie. She's a sage.

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

'Luis' or 'Valentin' in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, 'Bo' in BUS STOP, Myself Live at the Palace, 'Willy Loman', 'The Gentleman Caller', 'Pippin', 'Hamlet', 'George Seurat', 'The Baker', 'Sweeney Todd', 'Mercutio'... wait, I have to pick just one? Really?

Who is your Broadway crush?

Every dancer in my show. CHAPLIN has everything in it, and everyone dancing in my show CAN do ANYTHING. I'm in awe every night. I am crushing on all of them. We're in previews now- the only dates I'm getting are call times for rehearsal and notes from Warren C., our fearless leader.

Where can people stalk you online?

You can find me on twitter @Waynewilcox or @ChaplinBway. I can't wait until I'm allowed to tweet from backstage. We're sitting on a big secret that audiences can't wait to see. Truly, you can hear them gasping at things you've never seen before on a Broadway stage. Bring it!

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