THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY's Michael X. Martin
By: BWW Staff Mar. 21, 2014
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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 Michael X. Martin, who is starring as 'Charlie' in The Bridges of Madison County- currently playing at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?
First Broadway show I ever saw was PIPPIN at the Imperial. 20 years later I did my first Broadway show, LES MISERABLES, at that very theatre. 20 years after that, in the same theatre, I did NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT. Also, it was great to do A CHRISTMAS CAROL with Ben Vereen after have seen him in PIPPIN back in '72.
What is your most unique pre-show ritual?
Sorry to say, there is nothing unique about my pre-show rituals. I always am warmed up, to a certain degree, and that's about it.
What is your most memorable "the show must go on" moment?
I was opening a new show at the Denver Center in the mid-80s, CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. I got hit with the flu and had a fever of about 102 degrees for about 7 days. I went in and did the show every night. I'd be standing on the top floor of the parking garage, in a snow storm, shaking, thinking to myself, "Hey, and give up show biz!?"
What is the one role you want to play before you die?There is no particular role I feel I must play before I die. What unexpectedly pops up is usually interesting. I just hope the "dying" part isn't for some time.
Who is your Broadway crush?My first Broadway crush was in 1994 - Shauna Hicks in BLOOD BROTHERS at the Music Box Theatre. Talented, beautiful, and merciful enough to say "yes" when I proposed. My current Broadway crush is Cass Morgan, who plays Marge Riley, my onstage wife, in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. She "gets" me.
Where can people stalk me online? For anyone reading this Broadwayworld.com feature, they can probably answer that question better than I can.
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