By Matthew Blank
05 Mar 2013

Must-see TV show(s):	"The Good Wife" "Downton Abbey" "Mad Men" And I watch Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert religiously.
Some films you consider classics:	"Field of Dreams" "Back to the Future" "The Muppets Take Manhattan"
Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager:	I was a 17-year-old Tevye with a fake beard and I loved it.
Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living:	I think when I played Finch in How to Succeed in high school... and when I saw Ragtime.
Favorite pre-/post- show meal:	There's an amazing Shawarma place in Astoria called Duzan. It's on my way home and it's my guilty pleasure.
Favorite liquid refreshment:	Diet Coke. I live on the edge.
What drew you to this project?	I have always enjoyed doing impressions and broad characters and I grew up loving the old albums of Forbidden Broadway.
How did you research this performance?	YouTube is an amazing thing.
Most challenging role you have ever played:	I played Floyd Collins in college. So hard and so rewarding.
Any side projects or upcoming work you can talk about:	In addition to acting, I'm also a Richard Rodgers Award-winning musical theatre writer. Right now I'm working on a project called Eastburn Avenue that chronicles 3 generations of a modern Jewish family who fall apart over a will.
Something about you that surprises people:	I actually know some pop music!
Career you would want if not a performer:	A teacher
Words of advice for aspiring performers:	Always be learning and trying to improve your work. And remember it's 80% confidence. You must believe in yourself and your abilities to make things happen.