School is back in session, and that means an exciting new Broadway season at the Wharton Center is set to kick off with a bang — a head bang, that is. Broadway’s “School of Rock” runs from September 18-23, 2018. Show and ticket information is available here.
Lexie Dorsett Sharp stars in the U.S. tour of “School of Rock” as Rosalie, the uptight principal at Horace Green who just might have a little rock star inside of her, waiting to be set free. I spoke with Lexie about originating the role in the national tour, her life on the road, and her Instagram-famous dog, Chip.
Stefanie Pohl: As you became interested in musical theatre, did you ever imagine you would be performing in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical? I see you’ve also performed regionally in “Evita” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” I bet “School of Rock” is the type of show you hadn’t even imagined as far as a typical Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
Lexie Dorsett Sharp: Oh yeah, I mean he’s a legend. He’s an icon, and a staple of the musical theatre community. I think having the opportunity to lead the first national tour of “School of Rock” is absolutely a highlight of my career at this point.
Pohl: What was it like meeting him? Were you nervous, did you gush?
Dorsett Sharp: Of course I was super nervous. He came very early on in the tour to see us in Columbus, Ohio, and has come back to see us several times. He’s very involved in the project. He’s very gracious. He cares about the shows and the quality of them. It means a lot to all of us that no matter what he has going on, he comes down to give the show the attention it needs. I don’t have a tendency to gush. I have a tendency to get very quiet. It’s almost like I’m trying to tell myself to remember the moment.
Pohl: Can you tell me the story of how you were cast in the role of Rosalie for the “School of Rock” tour?
Dorsett Sharp: This is actually kind of an interesting story. I was originally brought in for Mrs. Sheinkopf, with a possibility of covering for Rosalie and covering for another track in the show, Patty. Then toward the end of that process, they had me come in and do the Rosalie packet. Along the way, I became the role of Rosalie. I often say that if I had been brought in for Rosalie from the beginning, I probably wouldn’t have booked it. The show has been running in the U.K. and on Broadway currently, and I’m not quite exactly the same type of woman that they have cast in this show as Rosalie. I think if I had been brought in for her from the beginning, I might have thought they were looking for something different and tried to adjust my interpretation of the piece to fit what had been before me. I think it was the perfect storm of thinking I was just going in for the cover and so I did it my way. That freedom and that individuality of doing it my way is what got me the job. The team has been really great in the fact that they’ve let me have ownership of the role, and not trying to emulate the movie or the actors in the other productions. That’s what makes our touring production unique.
Pohl: It’s wild to think that in future productions, your version of Rosalie might end up translating into others’ performances of the character.
Dorsett Sharp: Absolutely. It’s really cool.
Pohl: The character of Rosalie has a love for Stevie Nicks. Who are some of the singers you like to play to help you let loose a bit?
Dorsett Sharp: I listen to a bunch of different types of music. I love Janis Joplin. I listen to a lot of Aretha Franklin. I listen to a lot of Ella Fitzgerald and jazz, which is probably not what you might use to get pumped up. It’s not exactly rager music. More of my process before the show is actually listening to piano music and sometimes different guided meditations. My tour calls me the Oils Witch Doctor because I always have my essential oils. My prep for the show is far more about calming agents and getting focused than getting hyped up with music.
Pohl: A highlight of the show is the child performers. What is it like working with them, and can you explain the process for their roles on the tour?
Dorsett Sharp: It’s fascinating. I have to say, the company has it down in a wonderful way that emulates how they deal with graduation for Broadway. The kids are contracted six months at a time. That’s because, for one, they could grow, and two, a lot of them after six months are ready to go back home. About every six months, we have some kids that leave the tour and we call it graduation. We make it a really special day for their last show where they get a diploma and they’re wearing graduation caps and we sing. These kids are the stars of the show. We travel with sixteen kids, between the ages of nine and twelve. There’s twelve on stage, and we don’t rotate the kids. But we have four off-stage swings and those kids can do multiple roles. A lot of our on-stage kids play multiple instruments. They’re like quadruple threats: they’re singers, actors, dancers, and then proficient in at least one instrument.
Pohl: How do like to unwind when you’re on tour? Do you get to explore the cities you’re performing in?
Dorsett Sharp: I’ve seen nearly every state from touring at this point. I’ve seen almost all of the things you’d want to hit in the guidebook across America. It’s an amazing life. I really try to make sure I see things. With the demands of the show and eight shows a week, it’s tough. With this role, it hits nearly every note in my vocal range. I work hard to keep myself well and healthy, so that requires sleep and not exerting myself. But I do try to get out and have at least one day of exploring. That’s one of the benefits of tour, being able to see all of these things.
Pohl: What do you hear from audiences in terms of their reactions to the show?
Dorsett Sharp: A lot of the times at the stage door, what I hear from adults is the whole idea that they brought their kids thinking it was going to be maybe something their teenage daughter would like. But they’re surprised at how they loved it, too. Our production towards the end has the lights come up and we throw guitar picks into the audience, and you become involved in the production. In that way, it’s the perfect musical, because if you love music, this is a great piece to introduce you to musical theatre. The other thing with our show that sticks out to me with audience response is the way that children are inspired by the show. It helps make kids think “I can do this.” Our kids play their rock instruments live on stage. I’ve seen a lot of kids say that they want to pick up a musical instrument. That’s been the best.
Pohl: I was reading a little bit about your company, Sharp Studios, and it sounds like your work with young actors is similar to the Take It from the Top program at Wharton Center. Can you explain a bit more about what you do?
Dorsett Sharp: Most of our client base is online, which is a lifesaver and great so that we can be traveling for work and still help our clients. It’s all ages, with the youngest client being in first grade. We also have clients that are into their mid to late 20s and working with my husband to apply for different grad programs. We work on audition prep, and a lot of high school-aged kids interested in majoring in acting or musical theatre. I got my BFA in musical theatre in Cincinnati, and my husband has his masters degree; he does Shakespeare work, he’s done film and television, voiceovers, etc. Between the two of us, we’ve been able to coach a variety of different people. It’s a great way that I’m able to stay in touch as a teacher and have something else going on beyond the project I’m working on. I’ve really enjoyed it.
Pohl: Finally, my last very important question is whether or not it’s time for your dog Chip to get his own Instagram account?
Dorsett Sharp: (Laughs) You know, people ask about it all of the time! Maybe eventually. Managing my social media as it is is exhausting. He’s with me and he’s great on tour. You never know how they’ll travel. At this point it’s like old hat for him. He hangs out at the hotel and has his toys. He’s been easy, and brings a lot of comfort to me. It’s nice to have him.
Be sure to check out Lexie Dorsett Sharp and the rest of the cast of “School of Rock” when it makes its tour stop at the Wharton Center, September 18-23, 2018. Click here for show and ticket information.