By Andrew Gans
21 Aug 2009
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| Sasha Allen |
News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.
SASHA ALLEN
As soon as Sasha Allen opens her mouth to sing the first few notes of the Galt MacDermot-Gerome Ragni-James Rado classic "Aquarius," audiences at the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair know they are in for a thrilling ride. Allen, who was arguably the vocal find of the 2008-2009 season, possesses a lush, rich alto that simply soars throughout the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The young singing actress — who is featured on Christina Aguilera's "Back to Basics" DVD as well as on John Legend's "Once Again" and Babyface's "Playlist" — is currently making her Broadway debut in the '60s musical in a stellar ensemble cast that also boasts Gavin Creel, Will Swenson, Caissie Levy, Darius Nichols and Bryce Ryness, among others. I recently had the chance for a quick chat with the performer, who spoke about her Broadway bow, the 2009 Tony Awards and her plans for the future; that brief interview follows.
Question: How did the role in Hair come about for you?
Sasha Allen: I was actually in L.A. doing some other business, and I got a call from my agent, and she asked me if I wanted to come in and audition for Hair. I flew back to New York, and I had a pretty good audition.
Question: Was it a musical you were familiar with? Had you ever seen the show or done the show?
Allen: Not at all. [Laughs.] I was not familiar at all. When I got the audition I flew home, because New York is home for me, and I told my mother, and she was like, "Oh, my God, I love that show! I saw it in the '60s. It was great." So I got a little bit of information from her and then went in to audition.
Question: Do remember what you sang for your audition?
Allen: We actually had to prepare music from the show, so I sang "Aquarius" and "White Boys."
Allen: Thank you. It feels very uplifting … I don't know how to put it, but when I open my arms, I feel like I'm really opening myself to everybody. I just feel grateful that I get to be the first thing that they hear.
Question: How would you describe Dionne?
Allen: I would say that she is a sensual, sassy thang ! [Laughs.]
Question: Do you have a favorite moment in the show for her?
Allen: My favorite moment is "Aquarius," but a really fun moment, I would say, is "White Boys." At the end [of the show], when Claude is laying on the flag and I get to open my heart to the audience, it evokes an emotion in me and it evokes an emotion in them. I think that's the most powerful part that Dionne has.
Question: Do you think the show has a message, or what does it mean to you?
Allen: As the show's been going on, it's been meaning more and more to me. When you're working on it, you get what's happening and you're trying to dive into it. But now I feel like, now that it's settled, I'm able to be in the moment — really, really be in the moment — it's so powerful and so devastating. To hear some of the comments that the audience say to me afterwards — people that were actually there at that time and how moved they are, I just know that it's really for a purpose, a purpose of change. We always need change. The same things that were happening then are happening now, just in a different way. I'm just happy to be a part of such a powerful and moving piece of work.
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| Sasha Allen (center) with the Hair cast |
| photo by Joan Marcus |
Allen: Well, we just did "The View." That was lots of fun: Meeting all the hosts on "The View" — Barbara Walters was incredible, and Whoopi… all of these people that are so important in my life. I see them on TV all the time. Getting a chance to actually be in their presence was great. And "Letterman," I also had a really great time. I'm just lucky that they choose my song, and that's what they want to hear! [Laughs.]
Question: Tell me about Tony Awards night. What was that like for you?
Allen: That was my first Tony Awards. I've never been to the Tonys before. I've done a lot of work in the pop industry and the R&B world, so I've been to the Grammys a lot, but this was really great and very, very different. To watch all of the performances — just watching people take their art so seriously, and [they] are clearly very passionate about what they do.
Question: What was it like when the show won the Best Revival award?
Allen: Oh, my God, people were crying and jumping and acting completely crazy! It was a beautiful thing. The show is really an ensemble piece, and the fact that we won as an ensemble was great.
Question: What's it like backstage at the Hirschfeld? Is there a sense of community among the cast?
Allen: Oh my God, this is one of the best groups of people that I have ever worked with. In thinking about, eventually in the future, moving on to other projects, I just get heartbroken because I wonder if I'll ever meet another group of people as great as these guys.
Question: Since we've never spoken before, let's go back a bit. Where were you born and raised?
Allen: I was born in Harlem Hospital in Manhattan and raised in New York City.
Question: When did you start performing?
Allen: I originally thought I was going to be a classical pianist. I went to Manhattan School of Music.
Question: At what age did you start playing piano?
Allen: I started at six.
Question: When did you start singing?
Allen: At about ten, I guess, my mother realized that I could sing, so she put me in a theatre program. And then at 14 I started auditioning, and I got Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind [in Washington, DC].
Question: Was your mom or anyone in your family a singer?
Allen: Nobody else sings. [My mother] was a dancer, and my grandmother was a pianist. My dad has nothing to do with music at all. [Laughs.]
Question: Were there any artists that you particularly admired at that age?
Allen: Whitney Houston. . . . I got signed to Elektra. I kind of had a very all-over-the-place career, but it was always based on my voice. Continued...
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