Alexandria Van Paris had made it. After 330 auditions and over a decade of anticipation, she was finally working with theater director and choreographer Susan Stroman. According to many, however, Van Paris’ real accomplishment isn’t getting cast in the “Crazy For You” workshop; it’s the determination, tenacity and heart she’s kept throughout her career.
“She is very driven and determined to do the thing,” said Ball State voice teacher Jodi Cotton. “She just kept her nose to the grindstone and is one of those people that went to every audition she could find.”
Van Paris began performing at six years old. Her father, a choreographer in Indianapolis, and her mother, who performed in college, inspired and encouraged her career. Van Paris continued to follow in her father’s footsteps by attending his alma mater, Ball State.
“Most of the schools I was looking at were conservatory schools, but myself and my parents thought I would benefit from a fully-rounded education,” she said.
During her time at Ball State, Van Paris improved her performance skills. While she’s always been a strong dancer and singer, associate theater professor Michael Daehn said it was most interesting to watch Van Paris hone her acting skills. The two worked together on the play “Reasons to Be Pretty,” the musical“Little Shop of Horrors” and a Muncie Civic Theatre production of “Chicago,” in which Van Paris played lead character Roxie Hart.
Daehn calls her a “known triple threat” and praises the energy she brings to a production.
“Alex is one of the most grounded, Indiana-homespun young ladies I’ve ever met in my life,” Daehn said. “Whether she’s playing an ensemble member or Roxie Hart, she attacks everything with the same commitment, fervor and passion. She’s always the most pleasant person in the company.”
Since moving to New York City following graduation, Van Paris has been cast in many contract shows, performing across the country in places like Georgia, New Jersey and Illinois. It was in 2015, in North Carolina, that she met Jeff Whiting while working on the world premiere of “Chasing Rainbows.”
Whiting happened to be Susan Stroman’s associate choreographer. After the show ended, Van Paris stayed in touch, and in 2017, Whiting called. Stroman was holding auditions for a one-night-only performance of “Crazy For You,” the show that originally won her a 1992 Tony. Van Paris knew this was her chance.
“Her shows are known for having a bunch of tall, leggy chorus girls,” Van Paris said. “And even when I was a kid, I was always tall and had long legs. People would say, ‘Oh, you have to work with Susan Stroman, she would love you!’ It’s been a long time coming for me to be able to work with her.”
But it almost wasn’t meant to be. Though she made it through several rounds of callbacks, Van Paris lost the job to someone Stroman had worked with before. But she didn’t give up hope; when Stroman confirmed she would bring “Crazy For You” back for additional shows, Van Paris auditioned again, and after three more callbacks, was cast in the show.
“She took a chance on me, and I could not be more grateful,” she said.
Van Paris is a swing for the show, a role she likens to a pinch hitter in baseball. She must learn all eight ensemble parts so she can step in if someone is unable to perform.
“As a swing, you could be playing a different character every night,” she said. “It just kind of keeps it fresh and exciting in a totally different way than being in the ensemble.”
“Crazy For You” completed its four week lab run early this year. The workshop allowed producers and insiders to view the show and consider providing financing to take it to Broadway. While it is unclear yet whether the show will make it, Van Paris is enjoying the journey.
Her best advice to aspiring theater students? Love every minute of the process.
“You have to love and find the joy in the auditioning process,” she said. “A lot of kids move to the city and don’t look at the audition or the callback as the success. You have to look at the, ‘I got up at 5 a.m. and auditioned and did really well,’ or ‘I did great at this song,’ as the success. If you can find the joy in it, you’ll be a happier and much more sane person.”
Another reason Van Paris has been able to succeed? Her support system. Fellow actress and friend Janet Dickinson echoed the sentiment.
“New York is very hard; you have to have a lot of chutzpah. It’s good to have friends because they can help you out, talk you off the ledge,” she said. “Alex is just so terrific in every way, and I’m just happy to see her finding her feet and finding success.”
For now, Van Paris will wait to hear about the fate of “Crazy For You” and continue to audition in the career field she loves.
Contact Carli Scalf with comments at crscalf@bsu.edu or on Twitter @carliscalf18.
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