- When he was first cast in "Rent", producers had just one problem: he always sang with his eyes closed. They brought this to his attention; he has never done this since.
- Attended and graduated from Syosset High School, along with Judd Apatow, Idina Menzel and Natalie Portman.
- Was nominated for Broadway's 1996 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Rent", but lost to Nathan Lane in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".
- Was on the cover of Newsweek magazine with his "Rent" co-star Daphne Rubin-Vega, who played opposite him as Mimi Marquez in the original Broadway cast.
- Released his second solo album, "Civilian" (2004), on Sh-K-Boom Records on November 2, 2004, the day of the presidential election.
- His character from the rock musical "Rent", Roger Davis, is modeled after the poet Rodolfo, from Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Boheme".
- He created the role of Radames in the 2000 original Broadway cast of Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida" with Heather Headley. He later returned on June 28, 2004 to reprise the role through September 5, 2004, when "Aida" played its final performance, ending its triumphant four and a half year run.
- His parents were both from Jewish families (from Romania, Russia, Austria and Poland).
- Received the 1996 Theatre World Award and Obie Award, as well as nominations for the 1996 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
- Released his debut solo album, "Model Prisoner" (2000), on Sh-K-Boom Records.
- Attended and graduated with a degree in communications from the New York Institute of Technology in New York City.
- Released his third solo album with piano player Larry Edoff, "Blinding Light" (2008), on Sh-K-Boom Records on April 30, 2008.
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