It would be tough to be a scene stealer when you have comic actors like Ellie Kemper, Carol Kane and Jane Krakowski in the mix, but that’s exactly what Tituss Burgess does on Netflix's The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

The show was created by Tina Fey and Robert Carsick and, no surprise, it has a comedic sensibility much like their earlier sitcom 30 Rock.

for NBC but when they passed, Netflix wisely scooped the comedy up. At the start of the series, Kimmy (Kemper) has just been released from a doomsday cult (run by Jon Hamm!).

She moves to New York City where she ends up as roommate to aspiring Broadway performer, Titus Andromedon (Burgess) with Lillian (Kane) as their landlord.

While Kimmy tries to find her place in the world by working for socialite Jacqueline Voorhees (Krakowski), Titus strives to conquer the Broadway stage– or any stage– and be a star.

We talked to Broadway vet Tituss Burgess about the role.

You’ve seen him before: Broadway regulars know Burgess from roles in The Little Mermaid and Guys and Dolls but he also has some history with one of Fey and Carlock’s other series. “I had one line on 30 Rock,” said Burgess during the recent panel for the show at the Television Critics Association Winter press tour. “A couple weeks later, my agent called and said that these lovely people [Fey & Carlock] wrote an entire episode based around the character D’Fwan, and then it just sort of snowballed from there. These are very weird people, and I love them.”

To Sing or Not to Sing: With his powerful tenor voice, you’d think Burgess would be happy that singing was a part of his role in the series. “I actually did not want it to be,” he admitted. “I come from the world of musical theater and am largely known for music, so I didn’t feel compelled to expose that further. I spoke with Tina and Robert and I said, ‘Anytime I sing, it needs to be in jest and not masturbatory.’ There’s a couple of times where I legitimately do what I do, but the tonality of the show doesn’t give way to being closer to me so we skirt the line.”

Titus & Kimmy: On the surface, the two characters may seem be to very different but Burgess explained why they’d get along. “They’ve both been in isolation for a very long time. For Titus, his defense mechanism is to have this stern exterior to pretend like all is well and that big break is just around the corner. But I don’t know if he believes it until he meets her. I know what that feels like and that’s my entryway into Titus.”

What is Titus’s type: “His love interests have run the gamut during the season from muscle guys to bears,” Burgess said of his character, “so I think Titus just likes men.”

Titus and Tituss: How much is the actor like his character? “He’s really nothing like me, but I know him very well,” Burgess said, admitting he can relate to trying to succeed in what is often a very unforgiving business. “Titus is a little sad to me. He wants this career that has not happened. Feels sort of slighted by the world.”

Inspiration: “I always say this to Ellie, [Kimmy’s] like an adult Annie,” Burgess said of Kemper’s titular character. “If anyone should have a sour disposition it should be her, given the hand that she was dealt. But the fact is, it’s reversed. She goes and invigorates and inspires–sometimes accidentally– those who are sitting and stewing over the hand they were dealt.”

Nostalgia: Burgess said Kimmy’s energy and positivity takes him back to his past when he was first getting familiar with the Big Apple. “It reminds me of the New York I remember when I moved to New York. Her energy is a big dose of nostalgia for me. It’s easy to sneak into that world.”

Secrets & Romance: Later in the first season, Burgess teased we get a surprise involving Titus. “There’s a big secret that occurs later in the season and I think audiences will be shocked. I’m curious to see how it plays out in season two.” Hmmmmm…

Fashion Police: If you’ve seen the show, you know that Tituss has quite an interesting eye for his fashion. What would Burgess tell his character if he could? “Ooooooh! Start over is what I would say!” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know what that man is thinking! Tone it down! Have a seat! I don’t know what he is thinking!”

The first season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is currently streaming on Netflix.