Debra Messing

Debra Messing, Debra Messing, the star of NBC’s “Smash” (Mondays, 10 p.m. EST), got a big surprise when she stopped by “Live! With Kelly” (weekdays on ABC) to promote the new musical drama: a visit from her high school drama teacher.

While talking about her upbringing and growing up in Rhode Island, Messing was surprised to hear applause from apparent Rhode Island fans in the audience. Little did she know it was her high school drama teacher, Jim Metcalf.

“He’s the reason I’m an actress, this man.” Messing said while pointing to her former teacher in the audience.

“I wanted to be a hoofer, I wanted to sing and dance and be on Broadway, it didn’t really go that way for me,” Messing said of her career. But now, she’s living that dream on the Broadway-themed musical “Smash.”