THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- Felica Finley!

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 next edition, we caught up with Felicia Finley, who is starring as 'Tanya' in MAMMA MIA!- currently playing at the Winter Garden Theatre!

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

My first Broadway show was the show I debuted in! I had never been to New York, and I was in the tour for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. It just so happened that the same people cast SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ on Broadway.
 They asked me to audition in between shows and I went to New York from Philadelphia and got the job on the spot! So the first show I saw was SMOKEY JOE’S!

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

In MAMMA MIA!, the boys do a drag show- there’s a drag bag that I may have contributed to, and when they call 15 minutes, the boys put on a lot of wigs and costumes. Part of the runway is my dressing room! I think that’s quite unique.

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

I was in AIDA when 9/11 happened. Idina Menzel was supposed to join the cast that week and I wasn’t supposed to take over until January of 2002, but because of everything that happened with 9/11, I had to go on for the rest of the week. Doing that first show that week was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.

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

I have played everything I want to play! Everything except being a real-life mother. That’s on my to-do list- actually having babies. I love comedy and I love making people laugh, so if I HAD to pick one I think it might be ‘Dolly’ in HELLO, DOLLY!

Who is your Broadway crush?

Gwen Verdon, hands down. I had the great honor of getting to follow her for two weeks and be her assistant. It changed my life. I’m so grateful that I had that time with her.

Where can people stalk you on the web?

Both at www.feliciafinley.net and www.feliciafinley.com. I have an album on iTunes, and I’m on Facebook and Twitter, though I’m not the best Twitterer!

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