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 Liz Larsen, who is starring as 'Genie Klein' in Beautiful- currently playing at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?
Fiddler on the Roof with Hershael Bernardi when I was 4. First time I saw my Dad cry. During a quiet moment in Anatevka, I looked across at my father and yelled at the top of my lungs: "Mommy Look! Daddy's crying!!!" Uck. Poor Dad. Sixteen years later, my first Broadway show was playing Chava In Fiddler with Hershael Bernardi.
What is your unique preshow ritual?
Embarrassing, but here goes:
As I walk across the back of the stage to get to places, I greet everyone separately. Diego: fist pump, Nelson: double high five, Nick: Shake his hand and say "how do you do sir", Gus: this wierd arm thing (complicated to explain). upon arriving stage left, I see
Alan Wiggins at the mirror. I say "Wiggins" in a poor English accent, pass Stacey and say: welcome to stage left. I go to the piano, test my cigarette, say: this sucks. As I sit at the piano, sound Nick checks my mike, a brief discussion about food, another fist pump, he says good show. I sit at the Piano, blow a kiss separately to Buck, Andrew and Stacey who are standing in the left wing as the piano pulls out. I then wave as if I am leaving home forever to the three of them until I clear the wing then look at the music as the lights come up.
Favorite moment: Andrew and Buck perfunctorily wave back (cause they know I need this) then walk to their duties. Stacey Zalonga (SM) always waves until I have to look away, (she has never stopped before I do) as the lights come up every night I have the same thought: how grateful I am and what a wonderful parent Stacey would be.
What is you favorite "show must go on" moment?
GODSPELL Bucks County Playhouse, 1979. We would run down the steps (4 of them) into the Audience during DAY BY DAY. (Early in the show!) I thought it would be super snazzy if I jumped up and did a split in the air touching my toes before I landed in the audience. (I had perfected this move recently in cheerleading, albeit on level ground). Upon landing, I broke my ankle and crawled through the rest of the show. I was in a cast for 8 weeks. Not THAT cast, I was replaced with someone who had two working ankles.
What is the one role you want to play before you die?
The lead in a show written for me.
Who is your Broadway crush?Noah Racey. Stokes.
Matt Morrison. They all know it too.
Where can people stalk you online?
Instagram:
LizzieLarsen
Twitter:
@LiztheLarsen
