Sometimes, you get a unique opportunity to bear witness to a very special event and in your bones, you know that someday you will be able to say to your friends, "I was there!" OK, I am a big John Waters fan and got to see Cry-Baby The Musical recently the weekend after its official opening. One of the standout performances was from a young actress named Alli Mauzey. I have to say, she was absolutely terrific and played the role with perfection to the hilt, complete with great nuances. This is someone I predict is going to become a big star and we are seeing the beginning of a long and prosperous journey onward and upward for Mauzey.
Mauzey's credits include Hairspray in the Broadway cast and national tour, City of Angels for Reprise! LA, the West Coast Premiere of The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) at Laguna Playhouse, and 110 in the Shade at the Pasadena Playhouse. She can also be heard on Toon Disney's animated series A.T.O.M. as the butt-kicking heroine Lioness.
Fortunately for me, I got a chance to talk with her about her role as the schizophrenic wack-job Lenora and the show, which I now bring to all of you…
TJ: Congratulations on Cry-Baby, Alli. I have to say that your performance was truly wonderful. You must be so excited!
MAUZEY: I am super excited! It's been so much fun because I have been a part of it since the very first reading. It's been a long time coming. And it's so fun to finally do it on Broadway.
TJ: When was the first reading?
MAUZEY: About three years ago, maybe. It was at least two and a half years ago, if I remember correctly. There's like a handful of us who have been together with it since the first reading. So, it's kind of fun that a group of us have gone through this journey together for two and a half to three years.
TJ: Carly Jibson was part of the first reading, right?
MAUZEY: Carly was and so were Christopher Hanke, Chester Gregory and Peter Matthew Smith. I think one of the dancers, Eric Christian, was as well. I think I am leaving someone out but there was like six of us.
TJ: Has the show changed a lot since the first reading?
MAUZEY: Actually, it has…my part especially. My part is a lot bigger now than it was at the very first reading. Actually, we used to have kids in the show. Two kids and they were Pepper's kids. By the time we did the workshop, they had cut the kids out. That's where Christopher Hanke and I sing that song, All In My Head, where all the different Allison's and Cry Baby's come out with us. That song was new in the workshop and that gave me more to do. And then, they've gone through different incarnations of the jail scene, where they tap dance with the license plates on.
