BWW Interviews: Alyssa DiPalma in AMERICAN IDIOT

Alyssa DiPalma starring as "Whatsername" in AMERICAN IDIOT is coming to Blumenthal Performing Arts Belk Theater, March 8-10. Based on Green Day's Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum album, AMERICAN IDIOT, featuring the hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the blockbuster title track AMERICAN IDIOT, music by Green Day, lyrics by its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, direction by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (SPRING AWAKENING), choreography by Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (BLACK WATCH), music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt (NEXT TO NORMAL), Tony Award winning set design by Christine Jones and Tony Award winning lighting design by Kevin Adams. Tickets are now on sale at the Blumenthal Box Office: 704-372-1000.

Alyssa DiPalma, youthful and full of enthusiasm in her first touring role of "Whatsername." She was on a break when I spoke with her.

LAW: Where are you now?

AD: We're in Hartford Connecticut.

LAW: How long have you been on tour?

AD: We opened in the UK in October. The US tour started in January.

LAW: Tell me about your childhood. Where were you born?

AD: South New Jersey, in a small town called Woodstown. My mom [Maggie DiPalma] was a singer, so I grew up with music. She would play the guitar and I would sing.

LAW: When did you start acting?

AD: In sixth grade I was in my first play "Alice in Wonderland" and that's when I got the bug and didn't stop. I went to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I was in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and then I moved to New York, where I worked in a restaurant [laughs].

LAW: What was your first professional job?

AD: [Laughing] This is! This is my first job, post graduation.

LAW: What was your most memorable experience in your profession?

AD: This is always going to be the most memorable experience for me. Three years ago, I saw this play with a friend. I heard the song "Letter Bomb" and I said to my friend, I have got to play that part.

LAW: "Whatsername" is an odd name for a character, tell me about her?

AD: She's tough as nails, a freedom fighter, a city girl. Girls that move to New York want to emulate her. She's passionate, wild and she's compassionate; she's got a good heart. Johnny, the lead character, was in a turbulent relationship with her. He remembers her as "Whatsername". He remembers her; he just can't remember her name.

Aly

LAW: How do you think you got chosen for the role?

AD: I have no idea. [Laughs] Really truly, I don't. I tried to bring all of her personality to the table. They liked me and cast me.

LAW: How did you prepare for the role?

AD: A lot of thinking, uh,... thinking about facets of her personality, thinking about what kind of character she is as a vigilante and also lyrically. What I haven't yet, but I am trying to take from her twenty-something strong personality.

LAW: Tell me about the music in the show.

AD: Wonderful, awesome, an all out rock show with poignant music. People who hear the music say this album has something humanly visceral. It speaks to our generation and the fear-based media after 9/11. The music allows us to face fear, and it's entertaining at the same time.

LAW: What's been the best experience being on the road?

AD: All of the UK, incredible. Bringing people out who never saw a show and seeing what theater can do... And Philly, coming back to the place where I went to school. It was like a homecoming.

LAW: What's been the worst experience?

AD: Oh, that's a hard one.... Being tired. It's a taxing show. I guess being exhausted, but when I get onstage, sparks start and it's great.

LAW: Who's Quigleys and Rachel?

AD: [Laughs] Oh, Rachel is my best friend, we've been through a lot together, she is my soul sister. And the Quigleys are family friends, they're like my second mom and dad, my second family. I'm an only child, but with them, I have Brothers and Sisters.

LAW: What do you plan to do when you finish this tour?

AD: Move back to New York, live in Queens and go on auditions to build up my resumé.

LAW: What's the takeaway message of the show?

AD: It's very much about following your heart. Go out there, if it doesn't work out, go back home with your core family and start over. It's a wonderful show, be prepared to hear great music and have a good time.

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