Over fifty ferociously imaginative emerging artists are working together to bring our world premiere of Folk Wandering roaring into reality. Throughout the run of the show (until March 25!), we’ll be sharing interviews with each of these artists. These conversations will bring you inside this show’s very unique process of creation, and bring you a bit closer to this brilliant and wild group of emerging artists. Today, we are pleased to bring you a spotlight on assistant music director Simone Allen.
Read the full interview below and get your tickets to performances February 23 – March 25 today!
Pipeline Theatre Company: What first attracted you to Folk Wandering? What made you want to work on this project?
Simone Allen: Since moving to New York last June, I’ve been lucky enough to meet/work with some members of the Folk Wandering team such as Mike Brun, Annie Tippe, and Joel Esher. Folk Wandering is clearly such a passion project with an amazing community of creative souls, and I’m so excited that I can join this community for the Pipeline off-Broadway production. I’m in love with this unique, eclectic score and the heart-wrenching/hilarious story.
PTC: What aspect of the Folk Wandering story do you most relate to?
SA: I strongly identify with the concept of being a “wandering soul” literally and figuratively— I moved to Boston for college from San Francisco, I studied abroad for a semester in Edinburgh, and now I live in Brooklyn. I feel like I’ve been trying on many different identities in the past couple years, and recently I’ve found the ones that really fit. I’m fiercely loyal to my friends and family. And I try to maintain a sense of humor in just about any situation.
PTC: If you were to write a tagline for Folk Wandering, what would it be?
SA: Guitar, big heart, exploration.
PTC: What first attracted you to music direction?
SA: I’ve always loved musicals, but I wasn’t sure how to participate in them since I don’t have a big musical theater voice and I’m not much of an actor. I’ve been playing music my whole life and I started doing pit orchestra in high school on piano/flute. I started music-directing in my sophomore year of college and writing musicals junior year; I haven’t really looked back since then.
PTC: What big dreams have you been chasing recently (or would you like to chase)?
SA: I’m a singer/songwriter, music director, musical theater composer/lyricist, music arranger, etc. and I really just want to keep making good stuff with good people (and ideally support myself through music and theater!). Somewhere down the line I would like to have a dog and a good piano.
PTC: Two truths and a lie, go:
SA: I don’t like cheese, I can lick my elbow, and I’ve been to ten countries.
Folk Wandering is just opened and is running through March 25. Tickets are now available to all performances. Get your tickets today!
