THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE's Catherine Walker

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 Catherine Walker, who is starring as 'Phoebe D'Ysquith' in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder- currently playing at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

The first Broadway show I ever saw was Phantom of The Opera. I came on a bus trip from Lancaster, PA (my home town) with my Mom and Nana. We had been listening to the soundtrack for months and finally came in to see the show. I was about 12 or 13 and it was life changing. When I saw all those gorgeous costumes and the theater reverberated from the decibel level and Christine hit the high E, I thought, how can I get to do that?!?! Incidentally, we were at the souvenir shop across from the Majestic when Neil Patrick Harris walked in (I was obsessed with him from Doogie Houser, remember, this was the 80s.....I'm aging myself!) and I was so nervous that my Nana had to ask if he would give me an autograph. He was very sweet. It was an epic, NYC- magic kind of day for me!

Hmmm. I don't know how unique it is, but I get to my dressing room and get the air purifier and the humidifier going. Then I begin prepping my hair, doing makeup and warming up my voice. Because we wear corsets in the show, I can't eat very close to showtime and often only eat soup, especially on two-show days. I should really buy stock in Westerly's Chicken Noodle Soup. I have almost an hour break between the opening number of the show and my first scene as 'Phoebe', so I will often retreat back to my newly glamorized dressing room and finishing warming up and sing through my first song, 'Inside Out'. After that I may catch up on some email or watch 'Tangled' on my kindle. I watch it ALL THE TIME. It just makes me feel happy and calm. If that doesn't work, I turn on my girl, Britney.

When I was in 'Mary Poppins', I had to go on as Mary for the first time about a quarter of the way through Act I. The show stopped for 20 minutes and people descended upon me, stripping off and replacing clothes, wigs & mics. I took a moment to surrender and trust all the work I had put in. It was one of the most incredible and surreal experiences of my life. Everytime I came offstage my castmates and crew were in the wings crying or cheering me on. I could not have done it without them lifting me up. It's one of the most glorious things about our Broadway community. It's the same here at GGLAM. Anytime over the past year that I have had to go on while understudying Phoebe and Sibella, my cast and crew and stage management have supported and encouraged me and made me braver than I ever could have been on my own.

I grew up listening to lots of Broadway recordings that my parents loved and played for us. I especially loved anything Julie Andrews sang (duh!). Something about the story of 'Camelot' has always fascinated me, I just love it. So it would be a dream to play 'Guenevere' at some point.

I guess I've got a girl crush. My 'Phoebe' predecessor, Lauren Worsham, would have to be my Broadway crush. She is the coolest girl in school. She is somehow glam and rock-n-roll, funny yet sincere, vulnerable yet so incredibly brave and strong. She has a heart of gold and I am so very lucky to call her my friend.

Well, I am on Twitter & Instagram (trying to be more diligent about it), Facebook, Pinterest (I love pretty pictures!) and I am also in the process of building a new website where I will be updating with upcoming events and trying my hand at BLOGGING!. Other than that, come see the show & visit in person at The Walter Kerr!

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