THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- WICKED's Derek Klena!

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 Derek Klena, who is starring as 'Fiyero' in Wicked- currently playing at the GershwinTheatre.

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

Ironically enough, WICKED was the first Broadway show that I saw about 8 years ago! It was my first trip to NY with my family and seeing this show really sparked my passion and drive to pursue acting as a career.

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

I really don't have anything super unique that I do before a show, but while I was doing DOGFIGHT, all the guys would go into the rehearsal room at the five minute call to do pushups together. After the pushups, we would all come together, say a little something about the show, and the break as a group.

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

An incident actually occurred fairly recently that has been the most memorable. During the Oz Dust Ballroom scene in WICKED I am supposed to enter with Glinda at the top of the stairs, except Glinda was nowhere to be found. She does have a quick cross at that moment from another part of the stage, so I decided to "slide" on and make my normal entrance hoping that she would be running over any minute to join me. Well....she didn't. There I was at the top of the stairs, standing alone, trying to figure out how to proceed into the partner dance portion of the scene alone! Thinking back now in the calmness of my living room, I probably should have exited the stage to find her and then re-entered back with her later in the dance. But that's not what I did! In the moment, I decided to continue into the dance by myself with no one at my side. Fiyero ended up having a little dance solo in the middle of the stage while he nervously hoped and prayed that Glinda would soon show up to save him from this terror! She soon did return after fixing a costume mishap and the show continued peacefully there on out, but I will never forget that crazy minute on the Wicked stage. That's the beauty of live theater!

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

I remember seeing THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Orange County Performing Arts Center when I was maybe 7 or 8 and being blown away by the production. I have always loved the music and think it would be an amazing role to get to play.

Who is your Broadway crush?

Norbert Leo Butz. Hands down. Major man-crush on his talent and incredible career.

Where can people stalk you online?

People can "like" me at my Facebook page or find me on Twitter.