Alice Ripley | |
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 Ripley in 2009 | |
| Born | 1963 or 1964 (age 61–62) California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Kent State University (BFA)[1] |
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| Awards | 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 2009 Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a Musical Best Actress in a Feature Film forSUGAR! at the Glendale International Film Festival, 2016 |
Alice Ripley (born 1963 or 1964)[2] is an American actress, singer, songwriter and mixed media artist. She is known, in particular, for her various roles on Broadway in musicals, including thePulitzer Prize-winningNext to Normal (2009Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical) andSide Show. She most recently played three roles in the short-lived Broadway musical,American Psycho.[3] Alice Ripley has released albums with her band, RIPLEY, including the single, "Beautiful Eyes", released in February 2012.[4] She also performs as a solo artist,[5] while in February 2011 she releasedAlice Ripley Daily Practice, Volume 1, a stripped-down collection of acoustic rock covers.[6]
Ripley was born in California and graduated fromWest Carrollton High School outside ofDayton, Ohio.[7]
Ripley attendedDePauw University, where she majored in Vocal Performance, before transferring toKent State University where she received aBFA in Musical Theatre in 1985 and was a member of theDelta Gamma sorority.[1][8] While at University, Ripley performed in a number of stage productions, while her first paid acting job was at the Red Barn Summer Theatre inFrankfort, Indiana.[9] Following college, she was active in community theatre in San Diego, California, and subsequently received her Actor's Equity card at theLa Jolla Playhouse through a production ofSilent Edward, a musical written byDes McAnuff, who was Artistic Director of the La Jolla Playhouse at the time and who would later direct Ripley in her Broadway debut inThe Who's Tommy.[10]
In her 1993 debut, Ripley played a Local Lass and the Specialist's Assistant in the original cast ofThe Who's Tommy; she also understudied the role of Mrs. Walker.Broadway roles that followed were Betty Schaefer inSunset Boulevard (1994), Bathsheba inKing David (1997), Violet Hilton inSide Show (1997),Fantine inLes Misérables (1998), Molly Ivors inJames Joyce's The Dead (2000), Janet Weiss inThe Rocky Horror Show (2000), one of The Sweethearts inDreamgirls, the concert (2001), and Diana Goodman inNext to Normal (2009). With the exception ofLes Misérables, Ripley was part of the original cast of these productions.[11]
Ripley's performance as conjoined twin Violet Hilton inSide Show earned her and her co-starEmily Skinner critical acclaim, a cult following, and a shared 1998Tony Award nomination, making them the first to be co-nominated in a musical.[12] She was nominated for aDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.
From March 27, 2009 to July 18, 2010 at theBooth Theatre, Ripley starred in the Pulitzer Prize-winning[13]Next to Normal, a performance which earned her the 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.[14]
In 2016, Ripley appeared in the Broadway musical,American Psycho, playing the mother of the main character, Patrick Bateman, as well as the roles of Mrs. Wolfe and Svetlana.[3]
Ripley's 2008 performance inNext to Normal (Second Stage Theatre) earned her Drama Desk andOuter Critics Circle award nominations. AdditionalOff-Broadway roles include Nelly Bly inCather County (1993, Playwrights Horizons), Daisy Mae inLi'l Abner (1998, New York City Center), various characters inThe Vagina Monologues (2002, Westside Theatre), Olivia inFive Flights (2004, Rattlestick Theater), Marsha inWild Animals You Should Know[15] (2011, MCC/Lucille Lortel Theater), Mary Todd Lincoln, Lewis Payne, and other roles inA Civil War Christmas[16] (2012, NYTW), and Sook Faulk inA Christmas Memory.[17]
Ripley'sregional credits includeClybourne Park at theLong Wharf Theatre, New Haven, as Bev/Kathy in May 2013;[18]Next to Normal atArena Stage (Helen Hayes Award, Best Actress in a Musical, non-resident production),Little Shop of Horrors,Tell Me On A Sunday (Helen Hayes nomination),Company (Helen Hayes nomination),Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,[19]Show Boat,Shakespeare in Hollywood (Helen Hayes nomination),The Baker's Wife,Sweeney Todd,Carousel,Sunset Boulevard (as Norma),Into the Woods, andCarrie.[20]
On tour, Ripley played Fantine inLes Misérables (1993–94). She reprised her role as Diana inNext to Normal, the U.S. Tour (November 23, 2010 – July 30, 2011).[21]
Ripley's films includeThe Adulterer (2000),Temptation (2004),Isn't It Delicious (2013),Sing Along (2013),The Way I Remember It (2015),Bear With Us (2016),SUGAR! (2016), andMuckland (2015).
Ripley appeared in an episode ofGirlboss, a new Netflix half-hour comedy which premiered in April 2017.[22] She previously guest-starred onBlue Bloods andRoyal Pains, and played herself in the series finale of the TV comedy,30 Rock.[citation needed]
In 2010, Ripley used a homophobic slur in a Facebook post. Many within the theater community found it insensitive, while some came to her defense. Ripley soon apologized for her words.[23][24]
In 2021, allegations became public that Ripley had engaged in inappropriate relationships with underage fans, including engaging in sexual conversations, leading some to describe the behaviour as grooming. Four individuals claimed publicly that Ripley abused her position of power over them.[25][26][27][28] One individual alleged that Ripley kissed her without consent after she turned 18.[29][30] Ripley has denied the allegations.[31]
Ripley, 47
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