THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- VIOLET's Ben Davis

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 Ben Davis, who is starring as 'Preacher' in Violet- currently playing at the American Airlines Theatre.

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

Well, I saw a touring production of CATS in... oh lord... '85-ish??? I didn't see my first Broadway show on Broadway until my Dad and I drove out from Indy back in 1996. We saw STATE FAIR, MISS SAIGON and MOON OVER BUFFALO.

Cool story about that trip: My dad took a picture of me pretending to go into the stage door of the Broadway Theatre where MISS SAIGON was playing. Little did I know I'd actually be opening that door for real about 7 years later for LA BOHEME!

Well, this is unique to VIOLET, and I hope Alex Gemigniani doesn't get upset with me revealing this. Alex is my dressing roommate. At the 15 minute call, we like to look in our mirrors and do self-affirmations. Stuff like, "Wow, Ben. You're in a show with Sutton Foster. How lucky are you?" or "Geez, Ben. You've really made it in this biz. You get to dance with Annie Golden every night". After a couple of those, Alex and I like to give each other affirmations like, "Wow, Alex. Have I ever told you how ruggedly good looking your beard makes you?" or "Shucks, Alex. I thought playing opposite you in Les Miz would be my career highlight, but this really takes the cake". Stuff like that.

Oh, I also HAVE to do calf stretches on the stairs before every show.

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

I was touring with Les Miz and was playing Feuilly (one of the students) and understudying Enjolras. One day, before opening night in Cincinnati, I get a call from the stage manager. Our Marius was on vacation, the 1 understudy was out with a knee injury and the remaining cover came down with Impetigo (an infectious skin rash) that day. They asked me if I thought I could do the role that night. So I went in and rehearsed for about 1/2 hour and went on that night!

Funny story: Sutton was our Eponine. During "A Little Fall of Rain" as Sutton is there breathing her last breaths in my arms, I guess I had a vice grip on her boob. I was so freaked out that night, I had NO idea and every time she would try to wrest away from me, I would grab tighter. Sorry, Sutton. There's actually a bootleg of that night floating around somewhere.

Hmmm.... Well, I'd love to do Don Quixote someday. But truly, I'd love to see a NEW SHOW written where the main character is a legit baritone. That's the role I wanna play.

I'm too shy to come right out and say but their initials are:

SF

KO

AM

MM

BW

Where can people stalk you online?

http://www.benjaminjaydavis.com/