I met Lizzie Klemperer when we were doing a concert together a year or so ago – and I truthfully cannot pinpoint the time, for when you get to know Lizzie, it’s as if you’ve known her for years. She’s warm, she’s talented, and she’s the type of actress I will always collaborate with! She made her Broadway debut in Bright Star, and is currently making her mark as Lily in The Secret Garden. I’m so happy to have her participate in this Q&A Series!
MM: When did you first realize you wanted to be an actress?
LK: I had an inclination from the very beginning because my parents are both professional musicians and to me that just seemed normal. I started dancing very young, like many kids do, and I was singing arias (poorly) around the house as soon as I could talk.
MM: Of all the roles you’ve played in your career thus far, which ones are the closest to your heart?
LK: Julie Jordan in Carousel and Charity in Sweet Charity
MM: When one walks into your home, what books are permanently on your bookshelf?
LK: The Alchemist, The Great Gatsby, Rebecca, and a ton of acting books that I probably haven’t read!
MM: If you were stranded on a desert island, what television shows and/or movies would you want available to you, (assuming of course you have a television and Internet connection?)
LK: Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Princess Bride, Sister Act II
MM: What’s the best piece of advice you’d want to offer aspiring actors and performers?
LZ: Be curious about everything. Try to learn as much about the world around you as possible. Stay up on current events and keep up with your other interests and passions because it will make you a better actor.
MM: What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?
LZ: I love the sound of bacon frying! I hate the sound of the subway screeching to a halt.
MM: What literary or musical theatre character is most like your personality? Least like your personality?
LZ: I think I have a bit of Elizabeth Bennett in me. I am probably least like Glinda the good witch.
MM: In today’s economic state, arts education programs are being cut. What reasons would you give to a school board or politician for preserving arts education programming in schools?
LZ: The ways in which the arts help children to develop and also to heal from trauma is incredibly tangible. The therapeutic applications of music and dance and theater cannot be understated. To deny children access to the arts is to strip them of a a piece of their humanity, and we cannot allow that to happen.
MM: Who is/was your greatest teacher?
LZ: My great aunt Helen was good at everything and she was an amazing teacher. I learned from her about jigsaw puzzles, jazz music, calligraphy, and numerous sports. She was the most interesting person I have ever known!
Thank you, Lizzie!
Live, Love, Learn,