Interview: Alex Mollica Talks DOING IT MY WAY at The Duplex

An hour feels like no time at all, and on September 26, those filling the seats at The Duplex on Christopher Street will yearn to stop the speediness of 60 minutes when Fairfield native Alex Mollica takes the stage. Mollica himself will be savoring every moment of his second stint on the cabaret circuit.

Several months ago, the 23-year-old tenor approached the mic at Don't Tell Mama in the heart of Times Square. Despite the instruction of the venue's title, his wildcard singing range and one-liners got people talking, laughing, and shedding a tear or two. A YouTube video and a whim resulted in Doing It My Way, Mollica's upcoming autobiographical cabaret.

Though Mollica has been rehearsing fastidiously with musical director Christine Riley, his show about unapologetically pursuing dreams day-by-day is sure to have endearing candidness, a dash of self-deprecating humor, and a whole lot of heart.

How did you happen upon the cabaret circuit?

I was looking on Backstage, and [discovered that] Seth Bisen-Hersh does a talent showcase every week at Don't Tell Mama. I auditioned for him, and I got to do that cabaret. There was a video made of it. I took that video, and I sent it to the booking agent at The Duplex on a whim, saying "If there's an opportunity to perform, please let me know." And he got back to me within the week and said that they would offer me a show of my own. I'm very grateful for that, especially to Seth because he gave me the first opportunity.

As you know by now, an hour is a long time to fill. How have you gone about selecting your material?

I've been singing my whole life, so I've been exposed to many different types of music; my inner catalogue is very vast. There's gonna be some jazz standards; John Mayer's gonna be in there. There's some Disney - some obscure and some well-known. And of course, no cabaret is complete without a Sondheim or two. It definitely runs the gamut.

Why is Doing It My Way the title?

When I went to school for musical theatre - it's a lot of trying to figure out your type or what box you fit in. What songs you should sing because of how you look. I kind of lost the joy of performing in my pursuit of trying to find a box to fit into. So I named it that because I am doing it my way. I'm not waiting for a chance to perform. I'm not waiting for an opportunity to work on myself. I'm just going to do the work for my own enjoyment. I perform because it makes me happy.

If you could take a master class from anyone alive or dead, who would it be?

If I ever had the balls to sing a song in front of him, it'd definitely have to be Stephen Sondheim. (Laughs) His songs are like a Shakespeare monologue. They are very rich and complex and deep. And there's no such thing as nailing it. There's always a new shade that you can find. There's always something you can bring to it. And it changes every time you sing it because of the way that it's written.

What's great about his songs - yes, they can be taken out of context - but the lyric rarely ever repeats. It is like a monologue, so the best thing to do is to learn it separate from the music and let the lyrics speak for themselves because they're strong enough to do so. He's just brilliant. To be in the same room as him would be a gift.

If you could play any role EVER, what would it be?

Ideally, I would love to be in a room and create an original role from the ground up, whether it be in a musical or a play. If it had to be written already, there's two of them: Charley from Merrily We Roll Along. Sondheim again. That score is just brilliant. They start at the end of their friendship where everything has fallen apart, and you see their journey in a backwards progression. I think that'd be a great challenge as an actor.

And then - I don't care if you're a man or a woman - Anita in West Side Story. I just think it's the best musical theatre role ever written.

What's your favorite breakfast sandwich?

Oh my God - the fried egg sandwich from - I think it's called 'wichcraft? The one I go to is in the Lincoln Center Atrium. It's like a fried egg with bacon, lettuce, this like balsamic vinaigrette thing with blue cheese on like a brioche roll.

What Italian dish do you identify with the most?

I mean, chicken parm. It's just a classic. You can't go wrong with it. (Laughs)

What will your show tell those who know you well?

I don't really talk about my love life or the lack of a love life to my friends or family that much. I think people who know me really well won't know that side of me.

What will your show tell those who are meeting you for the first time?

Everything. I think you get a really good sense of who I am as a person and my philosophy towards life. We are literally here for a very limited amount of time. I'd much rather die failing at something that I love than live my life succeeding at something that I hate.

What do you want people to leave your show with?

I want them to pursue what they want to pursue, whatever that may be. Whether it be becoming a best-selling author or being the best parent they can be. I hope them watching me pursue my dream of being a storyteller will inspire them to follow whatever their passion is.

Missed Mollica's Don't Tell Mama debut? Watch the full vid below, and book tickets for The Duplex here.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Folmer

To post a comment, you must register and login.