Jenn Gambatese: It does feel a little different. It's a little more responsibility, and it's fun. I'm not going to lie. It's really fun to propel the plot and not be just a featured character.

When did you start performing?

I started performing for fun when I was a kid. I went to a summer drama camp between third and fourth grade, I think, where throughout the summer you'd take dance and art and all these classes in which we'd prepare to put up a show. And my first year we did Tom Sawyer, and I whitewashed his fence. That was the beginning. The first words I ever said on a stage were "I'll give you my marbles if you let me whitewash your fence." Except we had to say whitewarsh, with an "r."

Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Interestingly, the more I pursue this career the less attached to those rituals I get. When I started out I was very particular about doing things like that but the more I do it and the more I get comfortable with myself as a performer, I kind of relax a bit and try to just go with it. But that being said, I get here an hour beforehand. You know, you have to pin curl you hair, beat your face - that's what we say: "beat your face" - it means put on your makeup. You know, like drag queens are in "full beat" -- that's what they call it.

What was the out of town try-out like?

It's grueling - you're rehearsing from noon to six and then doing the show from eight to ten-thirty. I've been really lucky, both with Hairspray and with [All Shook Up]. We've had such competent and caring creative people so I don't think we ever felt like we were being led down a dark and scary path. They had a clear vision and we just trusted them.

The audiences must like the fact they're seeing something as it's being born.

Yeah, some of the people are real theatre aficionados and they've come here to see it after seeing it in Chicago and been like, "So much has changed!" or "I liked it there but I love it now!" It's cool. But an out of town try-out is definitely hard work.

Do you have a dream role?

I've been thinking about this. There was a role that I did in college that I'd love to take another stab at which is Dot in Sunday in the Park with George, because it's such an amazing show, and so glorious to sing. Those kinds of songs are right up my alley. And then, in a more challenging vein, Eva Peron would be pretty awesome. But that'd be pretty hardcore.

Maybe Mr. Sondheim gets this newsletter? [Laughs]

For a list of Jenn Gambatese's Broadway credits, click here.

The Muny is America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre. 2005
marks The Muny's 87th season in the heart of beautiful Forest Park, St. Louis. Each summer from mid-June through mid-August, The Muny produces seven
spectacular Broadway-style musicals under the stars. The 2005 season includes Jesus Christ Superstar, Mame, The Sound of Music, and more. For more information, visit www.muny.com.