THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- ON THE TOWN's Michael Rupert

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

As a teenager, I came from Los Angeles to NYC to do my first Broadway show, THE HAPPY TIME. Having a night off before rehearsals started, I headed straight to the Imperial Theater and saw the original production of Kander and Ebb's CABARET. I'd read a lot about it and it was everything I'd hoped for - dark, smart and spectacular.
What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

In ON THE TOWN, I make my first entrance an hour into the show. That gives me lots of time to drink my pre-show coffee, answer my email, surf the internet and read. Oh yeah...and I warm up a little bit, too.

A few years ago, during a performance of LEGALLY BLONDE, at the Palace, I headed into the lift room in the basement to make an entrance on the elevator. I was joking around with Bryce Ryness, not paying attention, and as I entered the dark room a huge piece of scenery fell on me slamming me to the floor and practically knocking me out. I got up, whoozy and bleeding from a couple of cuts on my head, but still made my entrance 15 seconds later. Fortunately, the scene was very short as I looked like I'd been in a fight.
What is the one role you want to play before you die?

There really isn't a role I want to play before I die.

Don't really have a Broadway crush, except maybe a professional one on the entire company of ON THE TOWN. I've been doing theater for many years now and I can honestly say I've never been with such an amazing group of actors. Not only are they a joy to be around 8 times a week, the depth of talent on that stage is astonishing. I love them all!

Follow me at Twitter: @MichaelJRupert and Facebook: www.facebook.com/MichaelRupertOfficial