Santino Fontana, Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, Tootsie

What is your process to turn from Michael into his alter ego, Dorothy?

There are six to eight dressers backstage. They all have flashlights and are yelling. They do my fingers, makeup, hair, corset, dress, and heels. Last night, the corset fell off backstage.

So you went on without it?

No way! It was fixed very quickly.

Do you have more respect for drag queens now?

I have more respect for anybody who deals with this stuff. It is a whole other life.

What’s the emotional switch from Michael to Dorothy?

Dorothy is effortless. She always exists without effort whereas Michael is aggressive. In the show, it’s “Cool down, warm up.” For Dorothy, I think of all the women in my life who take care of everyone in the room and who are always standing up for what’s right.

You hit such great high notes. Is that a falsetto?

Everyone wants to define my voice. My voice teacher Joanne—who taught me in exchange for me babysitting her kid—said when people ask, “Are you a tenor or a baritone?” just say “Yes.”

Are you afraid you’ll only get female roles from now on?

My team and I agree, “This is it.” I’m not gonna do La Cage aux Folles, the To Wong Foo musical, and Mrs. Doubtfire.

No, I mean actual female parts. You know, like King Lear.

Just watch Jerry Springer.

[Laughs] I did do a Medea monologue in college. Theater about killing your children to get back at your ex? I want to be there!

Exactly right.