F. Murray Abraham Hides His Oscar on the Set of All His Broadway Shows (Exclusive)

Viola Davis keeps hers in her office. Anna Paquin, in the back of her closet. Tom Hanks has his among a sea of family trophies, while visitors to Kate Winslet‘s house can find hers in “the back of the loo.”

But F. Murray Abraham just might have found the best place to keep his Oscar.

Speaking to PEOPLE to discuss his role in Broadway’s The Queen of Versailles, the 86-year-old actor reveals that the Academy Award he won for his leading actor turn in 1985’s Amadeus is hidden on the set of every stage play and musical he does.

“Did you know he appears in all the plays I do?” Abraham asks. “Anytime I’m working in the theater — whether it’s on Broadway or anywhere else — I give him to the stage manager and they make costumes for him and they hide him around the stage.”

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On Broadway alone, that means eight different productions over the past four decades, including 1993’s Angels in America, 1997’s Triumph of Love and It’s Only a Play in 2014. Not to mention the many Off-Broadway credits Abraham has to his name.

“I started doing it right when I won it, because I love working in the theater and because of [that Oscar], I work even more,” Abraham says. “So in a way, it’s a nice little thank you.”

“It’s fun because nobody in the audience really knows he’s there,” the White Lotus actor says. “No one sees it except the other actors.”

So what about when Abraham is not working? Well, then the prize is also hiding in plain sight.

“I have him in a bistro, one of my favorite hangouts,” Abraham shares. “He’s up on a liquor rack, dressed like a bottle. And people think, ‘What kind of liquor is that?’ They don’t know!”

Fans hoping to spot Abraham’s Oscar in The Queen of Versailles will have to keep their eagle-eyes open in Act II — specifically during the song “Show ‘Em You’re the Queen,” which takes place during a yard sale. There, among the colorful clothes and bedazzled bags for sale, is Abraham’s statue.

“Even I can’t find him!” Abraham laughs.

The Queen of Versailles opened at Broadway’s St. James Theatre in New York City on Nov. 9.

An adaptation of Lauren Greenfield’s 2012 documentary of the same name, the musical follows the larger-than-life story of socialite Jackie Siegel (played by Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth) and her still-unfinished $100 million quest to build the biggest private home in the United States: a 90,000-square-foot mega-mansion in the middle of Orlando modeled after the French palace of the same name. Abraham plays Jackie’s late husband David Siegel, the self-proclaimed “Timeshare King” who died in April at the age of 89.

Prior to his death, Abraham met David, but “only twice.”

“The thing that really knocked me out was his attachment to his woman,” Abraham tells PEOPLE. “He’s a tough guy, and this was the thing that humanized him for me. It made it possible for me to show his romantic side.”

“I hope I’m doing him justice,” Abraham adds. “All you can hope for as an actor is that you tell the story honestly, and I think we’re doing that.”

Abraham and Chenoweth are joined on stage by Melody Butiu (as ‘Sofia’), Stephen DeRosa (as ‘John’), Greg Hildreth (as ‘Gary’), Tatum Grace Hopkins (as ‘Jonquil’), Isabel Keating (as ‘Debbie’) and Nina White (as ‘Victoria’). The company is also made up of Yeman Brown, David Aron Damane, Drew Elhamalawy, Christopher Gurr, KJ Hippensteel, Cassondra James, Andrew Kober, Jesse Kovarsky, Pablo David Laucerica, Travis Murad Leland, Ryah Nixon, Shea Renne, Michael McCorry Rose, Grace Slear, Anne Fraser Thomas and Jake Bentley Young.

Three-time Tony nominee Sherie Rene Scott plays Jackie at select performances.

Lindsey Ferrentino penned the book for the musical. Its songs comes from Stephen Schwartz, whom Chenoweth previously worked with in Wicked. The three-time Oscar winner and Tony-honored songwriter is also the composer behind such beloved Broadway scores such as Pippin and Godspell, and has contributed lyrics to a number of popular films such as Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted.

Direction comes from two-time Tony winner Michael Arden, the man behind Maybe Happy Ending and Parade.

“These people are the best in the business,” Abraham says. “That’s why I wanted to work on this show. You’re never going to get anyone better than Stephen Schwartz, or Lindsay Ferrentino, or Michael Arden, or Kristin Chenoweth. And the cast? They are absolutely the crème de la crème. And I’m not exaggerating!”

“There are not many musicals as big as this,” he adds. “But it’s also compelling. It’s a great story. I’m excited for everyone to come see this. And maybe you’ll spot [the Oscar] while you’re there!”

Tickets to The Queen of Versailles are now on sale.