5 Questions with SING STREET's Skylar Volpe!
Kevin Ray Johnson
I would like you to meet the very talented Skyler Volpe. Skyler will be making her Broadway debut in Sing Street (which was seen previously at The New York Theater Workshop) performing the role of Anne. Skyler played Suzanne Prevôt and the acoustic guitar in the world premiere production of The Hello Girls with Prospect Theater Company. Skylar also played and sang on the original cast album and on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. Some of her favorite credits include Anita in West Side Story (Barrington Stage, Outer Critic’s Circle Award), Edwina/Mariana/Sudabey in Passing Strange (Playhouse on Park), and Mimi Marquez in the inaugural cast of the 20th-anniversary tour of RENT. Sing Street is truly a show that I am very excited to see make its way on Broadway and it was a complete honor to have the chance to interview Skylar!
1.) How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a performer?
I’ve been performing since I was a little kid, so being a performer had always been on my mind, but I really decided to pursue performing as a career literally weeks before my college graduation.
2.) Where did you study? Are there any mentors that truly helped make you the performer you are today?
I actually didn’t study acting- I majored in dance, sociology, and french (yes, all three !) at Connecticut College. My dance professors had a huge impact on me and helped shape me into the performer I am today. Marlies Yearby (the original choreographer of RENT) and MiRi Park (the associate choreographer of the RENT 20th anniversary tour) have also shaped and continue to shape me into the performer I am today.
3.) Congratulations on Sing Street! With previews on Broadway beginning on March 26th, what can you say you are most excited about?
I am extremely excited to make my Broadway debut!!
4.) Are there any other shows that you have done in your career that will always be near and dear to your heart?
Playing Anita in West Side Story was really special for me- it was one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my career so far. The Hello Girls is also a show that I will always hold near to my heart. It was my first actor-musician show and my first cast album.
5.) What advice would you give young performers who want a career in this business?
I would tell young performers that performing is a really hard and oftentimes thankless job, and to be prepared for that. Find your inner strength, lean on your mentors, and make sure that there is nothing else in the world you can imagine yourself doing before jumping into this business.
If you would like to learn more about Skylar make sure you visit her official website at - http://www.skylervolpe.com; and to learn more about Sing Street please visit -https://www.singstreet.com