Stage Debut Quotes

When I started off as an actress, I did at a play at the Taper Too Theatre here in Los Angeles, called 'In The Abyss Of Coney Island.' That was more of a dramatic play. It was a small theater house. This was the first time I was literally on the road, doing a play, for four months.

My father is a university professor so when the schools needed a little kid for their productions I was often the kid they used. The first time I was ever on stage was about 2nd grade.

My first dance ever on 'Dancing With the Stars' was to 'Let's Hear it for the Boy.'

My first gig was at Radio City Music Hall when I was 13.

At the age of 11 I did my first open mic show, and it was one of those lightning-bolt moments where I suddenly found what I wanted to do.

My first live performance was the lead in 'Peter Pan.'

When I started out in the late '80s, my act was pretty terrible, and for years, I kind of toiled in obscurity. I don't believe in a hierarchy in comedy; I feel that a person deserves respect the first time they get onstage, and after that, they just have to be funny and get more consistent.

'Rent' was my first professional job, ever.

My first big show in Denver was 'Ruthless! The Musical.' I played Tina Denmark at the Theatre on Broadway. It was my big break!

My first assignment was a curtain-puller for 'The Curious Savage.'

My very first role was when I was 2 1/2 years old; I was one of Nora's children in 'A Doll's House,' with my father playing Torvald.

The first time I was ever on stage, I was naked at 17. It was very cold!

I'll never forget my first words in the theatre. "Peanuts. Popcorn."

I played my first show when I was 17, and that was a big moment. I realized it was something I could keep doing.

I did my first show in second grade. I was a munchkin in 'The Wizard of Oz.'

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

My first professional role was in 'Romeo and Juliet,' and I played Tybalt, who was Romeo's enemy, in a small production of that in the U.K.

One day, when I was still living at home, a friend told 'Texas' Jean Valli about me. She was originally from Syracuse, N.Y., and lived in New Jersey but sang country. One night, she had me come up on stage where she was performing. I sang 'My Mother's Eyes,' and she was knocked out.

I was doing a Broadway play, and I was really new to this business. The Broadway play was my first job, literally. The play next door was a musical called Falsettos. The director got hired to direct this Michael J. Fox movie and was looking for a kid who could play brash and salty and mean [in Life With Mikey].

Cinderella is making her Broadway debut. It's an honor to step into that position and, in that way, I am creating a role because it's never been done on Broadway. I feel so honored.

I made my Broadway debut in the revival of Hair and followed it up with the bus and truck tour of Grease.

I remember my first moment onstage was at a 4-H contest at the Pratville Junior High School cafeteria auditorium around 1965. I had my first electric, a Silvertone with the amp built into the case, and I won first prize.

I did my fist show, 'Godspell', in my freshman year of high school.

I was an anguished little girl with just one wish: to become an actor. I debuted in live theater at 14 with Dario Niccodemi's 'La Nemica.'

I grew up in the theater. I began my career at 3. That was the first time I stepped onto a provisional stage.