By Matthew Blank
25 Dec 2012

Three favorite cities:	NYC, of course. Siena. Seattle.
Favorite sport/team/player:	I love watching the Knicks this year. They're playing like a real team. Fun to see.
First CD/Tape/LP you owned:	"Zenyatta Mondatta" by The Police. Vinyl.
First stage kiss:	With my dear pal Esme in high school. Me: Will. She: Ado Annie. Oklahoma!
Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager:	I loved getting to play El Gallo in The Fantasticks. Way too young to understand it -- and way too much fun.
Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living:	After my apprenticeship in Louisville I was invited to join the company the next year. I felt like I had won the lottery!
How you got your Equity card:	See above.
Favorite pre-/post- show meal:	I do love the matzo ball soup from the Edison Cafe.
Favorite liquid refreshment:	Hmmm. How about a root beer float?
Pre-show rituals or warm-ups:	I love tongue twisters. Send me some!
Most challenging role you have ever played:	Yikes. Prior in Angels in America maybe? More recently, Max in Blue Flower (I had to create my own language...) Or maybe Charley in Merrily We Roll Along .
Craziest audition experience:	For a Robert Altman movie, I danced with the wonderful Cynthia Nixon as we said words that began with the letter "A." Yep.
Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap:	I pulled a Leslie Uggams and made up some ancient tongue during a line or two of a song from Big River in '85. Still recovering.
Worst costume ever:	All of my costumes have been stunning, of course. But I did wear a football helmet in a production of Julius Caesar once. An homage to their sporting culture. Perhaps a bit misguided...
Some favorite screen or commercial roles:	"Tanner '88" with Altman was a blast. We traveled around, following the presidential campaign with a candidate of our own. Such fun.
Who have you played on "Law & Order"? What editions?	A doctor, a doctor, a priest, a lawyer and.. a candlestick maker. Kidding. All editions but the short-lived LA version. They never should have left NY, yo!
What drew you to this current project?	I love the play. Period.
What research went into the role?	Reading, watching documentaries, going to my first boxing match!
Leading man role you've been dying to play:	I'm one of those that doesn't think that way. I love doing what's in front of me. And I've been crazy lucky.
Something about you that surprises people:	That I can bench-press 400 pounds. Which would surprise me, too!
Something you are incredibly proud of:	Wow. I love watching my boys enjoy each other. But... I'm a little afraid of pride, to be honest.
Something you're embarrassed to admit:	Um. See above...
Career you would want if not a performer:	So many! Cook/baker, lawyer, carpenter...
Three things you can't live without:	My sweet family, the pursuit of beauty, really good coffee.
"I'll never understand why…"	... people don't move into the middle of the subway car.
Words of advice for aspiring performers:	Keep learning!