Broadway star, recording artist to shine at WMU
Jan. 9, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- She's an actress, a singer and now a popular recording artist, but on Jan. 14 she will be a guest artist at Western Michigan University.
Alice Ripley is a well-known Broadway star, who has established another career as an up-and-coming folk-pop singer. She will perform songs from her latest compact disc at an 8 p.m. concert in the York Arena Theatre of the Gilmore Theatre Complex on the WMU campus. In addition to songs off her CD, Ripley will perform selections from her Broadway experiences, including "Sunset Boulevard," "Sideshow," "Les Miserables," "Tommy" and "Rocky Horror Show."
Ripley has been touring the country this fall promoting her latest CD of original music, "Everything's Fine." While at WMU, she will also teach a master class for students in the Music Theatre Performance program, which is directed by Todd Neal. Neal and Ripley have been friends for many years.
Ripley is one of the most respected and versatile actresses working on Broadway today. Two years ago she played Molly Ivers in the groundbreaking and Tony Award winning musical production of James Joyce's "The Dead," and last year she received rave reviews for her portrayal of Janet Weiss in "The Rocky Horror Show." Her list of varied roles is topped by Tony and Drama Desk nominations for her critically acclaimed performance as Violet Hilton in the cult hit "Sideshow." She created the Broadway roles of Betty Schaefer in "Sunset Boulevard," the specialist's assistant in The Who's "Tommy" and Bathsheba in "King David," as well as having a long stay at the Imperial Theatre as Fantine in "Les Miserables." In 2002, Alice will be performing the role of Mary in "Company" as part of the Kennedy Center's celebration of Stephen Sondheim.
Tickets for Ripley's concert are $5 for students and $10 for non-students and are available now at the Gilmore Theatre Ticket Office. To purchase by phone, call (269) 387-6222 or visit the ticket office from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information about Ripley's music, visit <www.aliceripley.net>.
Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 269 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu