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Friday, August 29, 2014

Spotlight On...Alex Trow

Name: Alexandra Michelle Trow

Hometown: Highlands Ranch, CO

Education: Yale undergrad, Yale graduate school (cue New Haven jokes!)

Select credits: London Wall (Miss Hooper, Mint Theater); Owners (Mrs. Arlington/Alec's Mom, Yale Rep); "Twenty Five" (Taylor, web series).

Why theater?: Theater because of the thrill of the real live event every night. I.e. if you say that line a little differently, I’ll probably say my line a little differently, and then where will we be by the end?! WHO KNOWS?!

Who do you play in Flamingo?: I play mysel… I mean. “Caroline.”

Tell us about Flamingo?: Like the title suggests, it’s a play about birds. But here’s the twist, not just flamingos, also another kind of bird. Two types of birds. Our marketing team is gonna kill me. That is not what the play is about.

What is it like being a part of Flamingo?: Much like being myself, with important differences. Any time my character is un-likable or un-cool or a bit crazy, that is not at all like being myself, and I really have to dig to find those moments. Also, the people involved with Sanguine Theatre Co. are the best people. So it’s been a delight.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: All of it, I guess! Especially the top 2% and the bottom 2%, for educational purposes. I’m staring at a book about Vincent Van Gogh that’s sitting on my bookshelf. I really like him, because it seems he was a little sad and crazy, but also so good and so dedicated to spending vast amounts of time getting better at his craft, plus did cool artist stuff like carry jewel-tone yarn around to check the effectiveness of different colors against one another when deciding how to paint things. I love the idea of having contrasting jewel-tone yarns lying around my brain for when I’m trying to watch and remember and write things.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: All the fun big ones (Lady M, Blanche, Vanda), plus some cool new ones that haven’t been written yet, like: the young CEO of a major corporation who’s got a sweet dark secret, like maybe she’s dead but still coming to work? Also, it would be fun to play a mastermind villain in an action movie. And a nun who’s a sniper.

What’s your favorite showtune?: "Holiday Inn" from Seesaw: A Musical. I’d like to dedicate that answer to my good friend, the talented actor Mr. Seamus Mulcahy.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: The Holy Mother Meryl

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: It would be called "Flamingo: A Narcissist’s Tale", and I would play myself. I’d probably do the adaptation, too. And maybe cut all the other characters.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Oh my gosh, I have so many talented buddies! I’d like to give a special shout out to Bones in the Basket, a devised show based on Russian fairytales (read: nightmares) that has been in the works for years, and only gets better with each iteration. Also, this awesome new ensemble called Old Sound Room is developing October in the Chair, a piece based on Neil Gaiman short stories. Also, Flamingo.

What’s the most-played song on your iTunes?: First by a long shot is “Tightrope (feat. Big Boi)” by Janelle Monae, but I think mostly because I left that song on repeat for a full 24 hours accidentally after a fairly long one-song-only dance party. Next we have “Allegretto” by Cecile Chaminade (I write plays and things while listening to her!) and then “Dissolve Me” by Alt J.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Sometimes I eat cake mix out of the box with a spoon. Like… dry.

What’s up next?: Feeling super sick about all that cake mix. And a bunch of plays about super cool things! Like one about home-grown terrorism, and another about dealing with friends you hate, and a third about an ex-con rock star with a Jesus-complex up her sleeve.