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

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 Rob Maitner, who stars as 'Les' in A BETTER PLACE, playing at The Duke on 42nd Street.

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

For my twelfth birthday, my parents decided to take me to my first Broadway show. They went to buy tickets for Singing in the Rain... but it was closing. Instead, I got to see Debbie Allen, Bebe Neuwirth and Michael Rupert in the revival of Sweet Charity. Nothing was the same after that.

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

I stand backstage just before making my first entrance and I ball my hands up tight, take a deep breath and, on the exhale, I slowly open my hands. It's a physical reminder that I need to let go of my work and just do the damn show.

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

Picture it, Syracuse University, 1994. I'm playing Amiable, the baker in The Baker's Wife. It's the last performance and during the song "Serenade," I start to feel a bit...unsettled. Food poisoning was just about to hit and I couldn't get off stage until the end of act one. The lights come down and I dash off stage and...how do I put this delicately? Unswallow. There was talk of putting an ASM on in my role for the second act but hell no. So I steeled myself by listening to Judy Garland's "Battle Hymn of the Republic," wastebaskets and plastic bags were hidden all around the stage and I went out and finished the show.

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

Salieri in Amadeus. I will not shuffle off this mortal coil without first getting my shot at this...even if I have to produce it myself in a converted garage somewhere.

Who is your Broadway or off-Broadway crush?

Is Mark Ruffalo currently doing a show? No? Ok. Talent-wise, I'm obsessed with Danai Gurira. I'm a huge "Walking Dead" fan, but I wasn't prepared for the emotional wallop that was Familiar at Playwrights Horizons. It's an extraordinary play, and I hope it makes the move to Broadway. Speaking of Familiar, Joe Trippett who played Brad will also do as an answer to 'off-Broadway crush.'

Where can people follow you online?

People can find out more about me at www.robmaitner.com. I made the site myself, so be kind. I don't tweet all that much, but my Instagram game is pretty on fleek. @bobbiemaits at Instagram.