Thoroughly Modern Millie

Millie star Alison Luff receives “coo”dos from a NYC local

If you have not already gone crazy for Texas transplant Alison Luff after catching her critic-slaying performance in last year’s Like You Like It at The Gallery Players, then you’ll have a second chance this February to throw your butterfly net into the wind when Ms. Luff returns to play über-flapper Millie Dillmount in Gallery’s Thoroughly Modern Millie. We’d be meshugana not to ask this twenty-year-old triple threat from the Lone Star state…

Alison Luff, Houstonite?
Houstonian.

Actress, singer, dancer…what have I left out?
Nomad, wannabe cook, sister, girlfriend, tripper.

Er, “tripper?” Do you mean…?
I was actually referring to my footwork (clumsiness). Ha!

And, by the way, welcome to NYC. I hear you just moved here?
Thank you! You heard right. September 3rd, 2008, to be exact!

What’s the first thing you’ve seen in NY where you’ve thought to yourself, “Gee, I guess I’m not in Texas anymore.”
The first time I went to a Mexican restaurant and had to pay extra for my chips and salsa! What!?

I know! It seems The Gallery Players has you pegged as a rising star and has cast you in two musicals back to back, Like You Like It and now as the lead in Thoroughly Modern Millie. How much fun is it to play a flapper?
I am a huge fan of the ’20s. I love the music, energy and the dresses, of course! “Fun” is an understatement!

Alison Luff (as Millie Dillmount) said of co-star David Rossetti (as Jimmy Smith), “One thing that makes him so great is he never gets mad when I step on his feet.”. Photo by Neal J. Freeman

How is it working with handsome co-star David Rossetti? Does he step on your feet a lot in rehearsal?
Ha! I could not imagine a better sidekick! He is a blast on and off stage. He makes my job of falling in love with him easy. One thing that makes him so great is he never gets mad when I step on his feet.

Where’d you study musical theater?
I am 20 years old. As of now I have not attended college. However I have been studying since the age of 7. On-the-job training I like to call it.

What’s your favorite line or song lyric that you get to say in the show?
“I never read Tom Sawyer. Was he sexy?”

What’s the biggest challenge in playing Millie? Is it hard not to think of Julie Andrews or, more recently on Broadway, Sutton Foster when recreating the role?
For me the most challenging thing technically about playing the role is the tapping. Although I highly admire both of those women, I do not find it difficult to create my own version of the character. There are parts of Julie Andrews’ performance that I find very charming and enjoy playing with. However I am actually not familiar with Sutton’s portrayal other than the CD recording and the occasional YouTube clip.

How are you and Millie alike and not?
The obvious similarity I have with Millie is moving to NYC at a young age, filled with hopes and dreams. However we are different in the sense that Millie is a planner. She has her life perfectly planned out, or so she thinks. I, on the other hand, am spontaneous, to say the least.

What’s the best part about working again with the gang at The Gallery Players?
I’m not going to lie: I love the Slurpies at the 7-11 down the street. But even more than the Slurpies, I love the ridiculously close, family-like relationships I have been fortunate enough to develop. There is nothing like them.

What’s your prediction? Will The Charleston make a come back in 2009?
Well I did just buy a flapper-esque dress from Forever 21, so let’s hope so!

Thanks very much, Alison Luff!