I did my New York debut at 21. It was “On the Town” at the George Gershwin Theatre. New York is my artistic home.

I still feel like a novice when it comes to classical theater, but I don't ever want to become comfortable with anything. The greatest creativity comes from being nervous and uncomfortable.

This show does something very special for the gay community. There's a message hidden inside the totally gaudy package that is so fun to watch. It's all about loving and accepting yourself, and every season I'm surprisingly moved by it.

I wanted to be an actor because I wanted to be onstage. I wanted to do musical theater, and from that I realized I was interested in plays. I never imagined myself on television. I was so lucky to be onstage my whole life.

I kind of cheer the presence of any gay characters at all - I think the more we can saturate television with any gay character or lesbian character or transgender character, I think that's a really great thing. We're kind of getting past the fact that they're the punchline or that they're the novelty.

I don't have that kind of voice, the big baritone or rousing tenor sound. My wheelhouse was in the frothier pieces. So my appreciation for those older musicals and revivals grew.

Growing up, I was a very shy kid but I felt that being on stage or playing another character would somehow open me up. And I think it did.