THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- Erik Altemus!

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 Erik Altemus, who is starring as 'Lewis' in Pippin- currently playing at the Music Box Theatre.

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

The first Broadway show I ever saw was THE PRODUCERS. Our incredibly talented dance captain/assistant choreographer Brad Musgrove was in the show and we figured out that I most definitely saw him while he was still in it. I remember being so in awe of everything happening on that stage...I had to keep myself from jumping out of my seat and rushing up!

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

Oh man, there have been so many over the years! I love our ritual at PIPPIN. I don't remember when it started (sometime in Cambridge) but as the lights go down for the top of the show Terry Mann sings "Everybody Dance Now" and we all get down! Patina throws in some riffs and everyone dances around like crazy people.

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

This is a great question! When I was a kid I played young Tommy in Tommy. I don't remember how it happened exactly but my wig fell off right at the beginning of this long sequence where I had to play the pinball machine while it rotated 360 degrees for the full 3 minutes of the number. All I had on my head was my wig cap with hair sticking out around the sides and through the netting and every time the pinball machine would turn to face upstage I would lose it and make crazy faces to all of my fellow company members who were also trying to keep it together. Definitely learned about the show going on that day AND of the importance of a bobby pin or two.

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

I would love to play any of Sondheim's leading men. People have been asking me this question since I was a kid and I have never been able to choose just one!

Who is your Broadway crush?

I have been trying to take Harriet Harris out to dinner for months now.

Where can people stalk you online?

You can find me on twitter @kitabaltemus and on instagram @lebananaman. I also have a website: www.erikaltemus.com.