December 12, 2011 By Kyle Wright

What attracted you to La Cage?

Every three or four years I start thinking about doing a play. You need to morph and reinvent yourself if you want to stick around. I loved the show because the relationships are so interesting. The entire process of getting this going took nine months. Children come quicker!

Is playing such a flashy character going to ruin your clout with the opposite sex?

Not at all. The people who see this show—even the more conservative folks in Middle America—are touched by the universal emotions. In the beginning, La Cage was an anthem, and it still is. It’s about being true to yourself and those that you’ve loved.

What surprised you the most about acting in this show?

I had no idea what to expect. Chris Sieber has done both roles, so he gave me some tips. The first thing I noticed was that the dancers in this show are amazing athletes. I had never worked with drag and transvestite performers before. Guess what? They’re considerate, professional people just like everybody else.

What’s more challenging: La Cage or Dancing With the Stars?

They were two totally different experiences, but probably Dancing With the Stars. With this show, you have a rhythm and you learn a routine that you follow for a long time. The pressure on Dancing With the Stars is just so high and you need to learn new steps in no time at all. The rehearsals are grueling. I was so ready to be eliminated. I ended up having my knee replaced.

Are the kids from Jersey Shore stealing your tanning thunder?

The National Enquirer once said that I had skin cancer. They called me for a quote and asked what I was doing for treatment. I said “sitting on the balcony.” Since I’ve been on the road, my tan has definitely faded. I’m due for a vacation, though.

Any favorite memory from Boston?

I lived at 28 Chestnut Street in Beacon Hill when I was a kid. My mother was married to Carleton Hunt in the 1950s. They were “proper Bostonians,” but my mother was a true Southern belle. One year she decided to do a holiday drive for needy children, and it came up a little short. She went to Filene’s Basement and spent a fortune on gifts for strangers and was branded Mrs. Santa Claus. They got divorced soon after, and we left Boston.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus