Alice Ripley - 2016

I wanted to discuss Alice Ripley's career at this point and bounce around ideas of roles that she could be perfect for.

She is currently in an ensemble role in American Psycho which is a disservice to her talent. I was expecting her to have a role that was influential to the story, but instead she plays 3 different small roles and performs with the ensemble in many of the dance numbers.Now, a job is a job, so I don't blame her for still being attached to the project, but having her previous Broadway credit earn her a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress seems like a huge dowsntep, and there is no way she could even be considered a featured character in American Psycho.

A previous cast member of the Les Mis revival, before full casting was announced, mentioned to me (no source) that Alice Ripley was the producer's first choice to play Madame Thernadier and she was onboard, but the part ended up going to Keala Settle and I never heard anything more. Does anyone have any more info on this, it would have been a great return to the stage for her (although perhaps not the right role either, but at least a meaty one).



Does anyone have any ideas for future roles she would be perfect for?

Ripley has mostly been doing featured roles and regional work since her Tony win and engagement in Next to Normal.

Heck, her first role after she finished up with Next to Normal was a very small role in a play off-Broadway at MCC.

She is clearly pursuing work that she thinks is interesting.

I wrote about this in the AMERICAN PSYCHO preview thread, but the truth of the matter is, Alice Ripley is a Broadway musical theatre actress of a certain age where there aren't that many major roles available to her. What would you have her do while she waits around for another lead role to showcase all her talents?

In the theatre - winning (ore even being nominated for) a Tony Award can be a curse as well as a blessing. Unlike films, you usually can't live for years from a single paycheck, so you have to constantly stay working. And if you suddenly are 'over-qualified' for most future work because you won or were nominated for a Tony Award, you are going to spend a lot of time knitting at home.

I'm sure Alice no doubt wants to stay creative, and also wants to pay her bills. Being a featured part in one of the most discussed new Broadway musicals this season surely beats doing temp work or (to quote a famous musical theatre character in the same situation) "teaching other people to do what I should be doing myself."

Updated On: 3/30/16 at 11:01 AM

Patti LuPone's first role after her Tony-winning performance in EVITA was at a regional theater in Minnesota, I think. She talks openly about this in her autobiography.

I'm paraphrasing, but she says something along the lines of "If I'd waited around for the next EVITA, I'd still be waiting."

You go where the work is, or play parts that interest you. Regardless of the size of the role, we get to experience Ms. Ripley's talents. And as long as she's enjoying herself, what's the problem?

It might not be the biggest roll in American Psycho but she's playing Patrick's mother, she's not ensemble

neonlightsxo said: ""It might not be the biggest roll in American Psycho "

Role."

Considering how fit and trim the cast is, I don't think there are any rolls in American Psycho at all.

"There are no small roles, only small actors."

And this is certainly fitting of Ripley in Psycho every time she appeared on stage my eyes went right to her. It reminds me of a quote from the TV show Sling in Arrows: This is the life of an actress. You play the Ingénues, you play the Queens, you play the dreaded Nurse, then you retire..."

I think there are still plenty of Queens ahead for Ripley she just making a stop in an exciting new musical at the moment.

There was a rumor of her doing a production of Gypsy in southern California...