The lovely Montego Glover took time out of her very busy schedule - she had a five show weekend! - to answer some questions we had for her. The Tony nominated actress can currently be seen as Fantine in Les Miserables
and will also be taking on the MasterVoices production of Gilbert & Sullivan's classic operetta The Pirates of Penzance this week. We asked her about why she wanted to return to this piece after doing it in 2013 at the Public Theatre, what genres she loves to do the most, and she picked her favorite Sondheim tunes.

You're returning to do The Pirates of Penzance, what drew you back to this production? What makes it irresistible?

Gilbert & Sullivan is classic. This particular work is fun and funny and very very clever. I have the chance to perform at City Center, make my debut with Master Voices, and work with an incredible group of artists from Broadway and Opera accompanied by the Saint Luke's Orchestra. Pretty amazing.

MasterVoices is doing a great job in preserving operatic works. How can audience members help keep the artform alive?

Audiences can help keep the art form alive by coming to see and more importantly hear these works. Attendance and sharing the experience with others insure continued production of these works while introducing new audiences to the art form. In that way the love of the art form and the need for it never goes away.

From It Shoulda Been You to Les Miz, is it easy to jump from comedy to drama? Do you have a favorite genre?

The transition is easy. For me it's all about storytelling. Comedies and dramas provide different contexts, but in every case I'm playing women who have interesting stories whether they're hilarious or tragic or anything in between. I don't have a favorite genre. I just want to tell compelling stories.

You thrive when doing ensemble shows, and always seem to be enjoying your performance, which is quite contagious to see as an audience member. Does our energy affect your performances each night as well?

Thank you! And yes! One of the things I love about the theatre is that it is a live communion between audience and artist. I'm moved by the gasps, laughter, applause and even the silence of an audience. It's all part of the experience we're sharing in real time for those two hours every night. It's magical.

You originated the part of Felicia in Memphis. How was it to be part of creating a character other women will get to play in the future? Do you feel especially protective of her?

Creating a role is a gift that I had always hoped to have. I'm so grateful that I've gotten the chance. Having my prints on a role, on the arc of a character is exciting work. And no, I am not at all protective of Felicia Farrell. I'm delighted to share her with any actress who is willing to tell her story. My hope is that the role of Felicia Farrell will challenge, inspire and excite other actresses. It certainly did all of that and more for me!

Theatre is so much more diverse than film and television when it comes to casting based on gender, race and sexual orientation. What best practices should those other industries be copying from Broadway?

I think any form of entertainment seeking to reflect the kind of world we actually live in is moving in the most positive direction when it comes to diversity. The theatre is very often focused on the stories of the characters being presented. And that focus opens up endless possibilities when populating the worlds of plays and musicals. Endless possibilities means a much wider net and an ever increasing level of inclusiveness. We say in the theatre, "the play is the thing" as long as the story is really central the diversity of a cast is inevitable.

What actresses would you like to collaborate with in the future.

Viola Davis. Julianne Moore.

Name your three dream Sondheim roles and three Sondheim songs you love to sing.

Dream Sondheim roles:
Dot (Sunday in the Park with George)
Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd)
Fosca (Passion)

3 Sondheim Songs:
"Loving You"
"Miller's Son"
"Last Midnight"

You can see Montego Glover in Les Miserables, and MasterVoices' The Pirates of Penzance on October 15 and 16. For tickets click here.