Alex Highsmith will make her Pipeline debut this February in the role of the Tsarista (rhymes with Barista) in Beardo. Alex is a graduate of Boston University and, before joining our production, worked with the Intiman Theatre Festival in Seattle and traveled the country with the National Players (America’s longest running touring company!). Learn more about Alex in our interview below, and grab those pre-sale tickets to Beardo before they’re gone!
Pipeline Theatre Company: What attracted you to Beardo? What made you want to work on this project?
Alex Highsmith: I was attracted to Beardo for a number of reasons. First off, the music is freaking awesome. How often do you get to sing in falsetto about a rare, incurable and hereditary blood disease? NOT OFTEN. Also, I find Beardo to be a really twistedly sympathetic character. If you know about Rasputin, you know how it ends for this guy, but throughout the whole story of Beardo you’re sort of wondering if vindication or understanding or something like that will occur. I like how blurred the lines between right and wrong are in the show. Also I googled Kenyon and he looked cool AF so that kinda made me wanna work on the show, too, if I’m being honest here.
PTC: Where do you see yourself in your character?
AH: I’ll start with that I do see myself in her. And I think anyone who’s ever felt lonely and then guility for feeling lonely could relate to her, too. I mean, she’s super young, she’s got couture for days (I mean, I don’t have this but you see where I’m going), probably a ton of energy, but she’s trapped. I’ve been there. Life traps daily. So does the desire to be an artist. Or to be in love. Or be loved. I see myself in the Tsarista when I feel things but don’t have the words for those things…which is a lot of the time…
PTC: If you ruled the world, what would you be remembered for?
AH: If I ruled the world, I’d be remembered for my dismal fiscal policies, my excellent crock pot skills, my love of crafting, my questionable Katherine Hepburn impression, and my generally sunny disposition.
PTC: Tell me two truths and a lie.
AH: I’m from Utah.
I’m a natural red head.
I’m a twin.
PTC: If you could create a tagline for this show, what would it be?
AH: BEARDO: Get Royally Weird; BEARDO: Don’t let the beard go; BEARDO: Russia just got a little warmer.
