I first encountered Andrea Alton's comic alter-ego Molly Dykeman at, of all places, a party in Southampton. Attendees' reactions to Molly ranged from adoration to horror, with most of us feeling a bit of both. I knew at that moment that she was destined for greatness. Not to be outshined by her creation, Andrea is a very gifted performer herself. Her turn as Connie in Mark Finley's The Chiselers at Emerging Artists Theatre was one of the funniest things I've seen this year. After a flurry of appearances at benefits, comedy clubs, and pageants (!) Molly makes her Fringe debut on August 13th in The Fucking World According to Molly. -JSB
1. Why must The Fucking World According To Molly be seen to be believed?
Andrea: There are so few plays out there that have a mullet wearing, vagina-loving lesbian poet/security guard as the leading lady. It’s also insanely funny and Molly’s breaking out some hot dance moves and highly inappropriate poetry. The biggest compliment I’ve got this past year is when people have told me they were feeling down and Molly snapped them out of their depression.
2. What theatrical experience has really rocked your world?
Andrea: I grew up in Hillsboro Oregon and when I was nine or ten my parents took me to a production of West Side Story at Hilhi High School. I was mesmerized by the singing, dancing and cute high school boys. I also remember that the performers seemed to love what they were doing and seemed so happy onstage. I was hooked. I wanted to go back and see the play over and over again.
Molly: The last play I saw was Murray Hill’s Miss Lez Pageant at The Knitting Factory. There were topless ladies. It rocked.
Andrea: That’s not a play, Molly.
Molly: Whatever, Andrea. Why don’t you go look at your hair. There was a stage, lights, and I bought a ticket. Therefore it was a play.
3. When people ask me if I consider myself more a playwright or an actor, I always respond with “Yes.” What’s your answer?
Andrea: I’m definitely both. I also consider myself a comedian now since I’ve been working and making money in clubs. It’s a nice little mix. It keeps things interesting and gives me a lot of freedom.
4. A big-budget Broadway musical based on the story of your life is in production. Sadly, the producers of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical About Andrea Alton do not see you as enough of a draw to play the titular role. Which Hollywood A-lister gets the job?
Andrea: I would love to see Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge or Wanda Sykes play me. They crack me up.
Molly: I’d like to see kd lang, Melissa Etheridge, Ellen DeGeneres, Sara Gilbert, and Portia de Rossi play you, and I’d like to sit in on the casting sessions.
5. What’s your favorite charitable cause or philanthropic organization? Why should everyone reading this rally round their flag?
Andrea: I like to support smaller theatre companies because I know they are so in need of funds. If a friend is showing up and walking for some cause, I’ll usually do my best to support them even if I can only afford a few bucks. The gay and lesbian community has been very good to me and Molly so while I sometimes make money from doing fundraisers I often give a discounted rate and I do a lot for free. I also support the “Cheryl B Fund at Astrea.” It helps writers that may have slipped through the cracks. I’m hoping to help them do some fundraising this year.
Molly: I like Butch Voices, Dykes On Bycles, PFLAG, Queers For Economic Justice, and the Harvey Milk School.
Andrea: Wow! Molly’s having a lucid moment.
6. We hear a lot about Molly’s bad habits, less about her good heart. I think that on some deep deep level, she’s an activist. Will we see a more conscientious Molly Dykeman at the Fringe?
Andrea: Molly at her core will always remain a lovable loop sided train wreck who loves processed food and the ladies but in this play her existence is more fleshed out. She also delves into areas such as mental illness, kids getting bullied and growing up with an alcoholic parent but it’s done in a slightly off kilter way that only Molly can do.
7. Has your family met Molly? Are they completely freaked out or what?
Andrea: My family spent Christmas at the Oregon Coast. Molly stopped by on Christmas day. They were cool with her but I think they may have been a little freaked out. At the end of the day, they are happy I’m doing what I love and as my Mom told me recently, she’s ready for my big break to come because she wants her dream house. If that comes via a lesbian poet with a mullet so be it. My family just wants me to be happy. I hope they get to see her onstage soon. I think my parents will be very proud and I don’t think they’ll stop laughing for a long time.
Molly: They loved me.
The World Premiere of The F*cking World According To Molly @ The New York International Fringe Festival. Written and Performed by Andrea Alton, Directed by Mark Finley. The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (btw West 3rd & Bleecker) Saturday, August 13th at 9:15 PM; Friday, August 19th at 6:00 PM; Saturday, August 20th at 8:15 PM; Thursday, August 25th at 2:00 PM; Sunday, August 28th at 4:15 PM
Tickets now on sale. $15 advance, $18 at door at www.fringenyc.org more info at www.mollyequalitydykeman.com.
Andrea Alton is a New York based actor, comedian, producer and award winning playwright. Favorite theatre credits include; Big Girl, Little World (NY Fringe Festival), The Strangest Kind Of Romance (Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival), The Chiselers (Emerging Artists Theatre), Reckless (Kaleidoscope Theatre), Blue Window (Firehouse Theatre, Or.) and Carl & Shelly, Best Friends Forever (co-writer/actor) which premiered at the 2008 NY Fringe Festival and had a month commercial run in 2010. Andrea also performs sketch comedy, stand-up, characters, improv and has performed at the Chicago, Toronto, Washington DC and San Francisco Sketch Comedy Festivals. She also recently performed at the SoloNOVA Festival and in three different HOT Festival shows at Dixon Place as her alter comedy ego Molly “Equality” Dykeman. She is one half of the comedy duo Carl & Shelly and is a member of Emerging Artists and TOSOS Theatre Company. www.mollyequalitydykeman.com
Andrea: There are so few plays out there that have a mullet wearing, vagina-loving lesbian poet/security guard as the leading lady. It’s also insanely funny and Molly’s breaking out some hot dance moves and highly inappropriate poetry. The biggest compliment I’ve got this past year is when people have told me they were feeling down and Molly snapped them out of their depression.
2. What theatrical experience has really rocked your world?
Andrea: I grew up in Hillsboro Oregon and when I was nine or ten my parents took me to a production of West Side Story at Hilhi High School. I was mesmerized by the singing, dancing and cute high school boys. I also remember that the performers seemed to love what they were doing and seemed so happy onstage. I was hooked. I wanted to go back and see the play over and over again.
Molly: The last play I saw was Murray Hill’s Miss Lez Pageant at The Knitting Factory. There were topless ladies. It rocked.
Andrea: That’s not a play, Molly.
Molly: Whatever, Andrea. Why don’t you go look at your hair. There was a stage, lights, and I bought a ticket. Therefore it was a play.
3. When people ask me if I consider myself more a playwright or an actor, I always respond with “Yes.” What’s your answer?
Andrea: I’m definitely both. I also consider myself a comedian now since I’ve been working and making money in clubs. It’s a nice little mix. It keeps things interesting and gives me a lot of freedom.
4. A big-budget Broadway musical based on the story of your life is in production. Sadly, the producers of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical About Andrea Alton do not see you as enough of a draw to play the titular role. Which Hollywood A-lister gets the job?
Andrea: I would love to see Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge or Wanda Sykes play me. They crack me up.
Molly: I’d like to see kd lang, Melissa Etheridge, Ellen DeGeneres, Sara Gilbert, and Portia de Rossi play you, and I’d like to sit in on the casting sessions.
5. What’s your favorite charitable cause or philanthropic organization? Why should everyone reading this rally round their flag?
Andrea: I like to support smaller theatre companies because I know they are so in need of funds. If a friend is showing up and walking for some cause, I’ll usually do my best to support them even if I can only afford a few bucks. The gay and lesbian community has been very good to me and Molly so while I sometimes make money from doing fundraisers I often give a discounted rate and I do a lot for free. I also support the “Cheryl B Fund at Astrea.” It helps writers that may have slipped through the cracks. I’m hoping to help them do some fundraising this year.
Molly: I like Butch Voices, Dykes On Bycles, PFLAG, Queers For Economic Justice, and the Harvey Milk School.
Andrea: Wow! Molly’s having a lucid moment.
6. We hear a lot about Molly’s bad habits, less about her good heart. I think that on some deep deep level, she’s an activist. Will we see a more conscientious Molly Dykeman at the Fringe?
Andrea: Molly at her core will always remain a lovable loop sided train wreck who loves processed food and the ladies but in this play her existence is more fleshed out. She also delves into areas such as mental illness, kids getting bullied and growing up with an alcoholic parent but it’s done in a slightly off kilter way that only Molly can do.
7. Has your family met Molly? Are they completely freaked out or what?
Andrea: My family spent Christmas at the Oregon Coast. Molly stopped by on Christmas day. They were cool with her but I think they may have been a little freaked out. At the end of the day, they are happy I’m doing what I love and as my Mom told me recently, she’s ready for my big break to come because she wants her dream house. If that comes via a lesbian poet with a mullet so be it. My family just wants me to be happy. I hope they get to see her onstage soon. I think my parents will be very proud and I don’t think they’ll stop laughing for a long time.
Molly: They loved me.
The World Premiere of The F*cking World According To Molly @ The New York International Fringe Festival. Written and Performed by Andrea Alton, Directed by Mark Finley. The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (btw West 3rd & Bleecker) Saturday, August 13th at 9:15 PM; Friday, August 19th at 6:00 PM; Saturday, August 20th at 8:15 PM; Thursday, August 25th at 2:00 PM; Sunday, August 28th at 4:15 PM
Tickets now on sale. $15 advance, $18 at door at www.fringenyc.org more info at www.mollyequalitydykeman.com.
Andrea Alton is a New York based actor, comedian, producer and award winning playwright. Favorite theatre credits include; Big Girl, Little World (NY Fringe Festival), The Strangest Kind Of Romance (Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival), The Chiselers (Emerging Artists Theatre), Reckless (Kaleidoscope Theatre), Blue Window (Firehouse Theatre, Or.) and Carl & Shelly, Best Friends Forever (co-writer/actor) which premiered at the 2008 NY Fringe Festival and had a month commercial run in 2010. Andrea also performs sketch comedy, stand-up, characters, improv and has performed at the Chicago, Toronto, Washington DC and San Francisco Sketch Comedy Festivals. She also recently performed at the SoloNOVA Festival and in three different HOT Festival shows at Dixon Place as her alter comedy ego Molly “Equality” Dykeman. She is one half of the comedy duo Carl & Shelly and is a member of Emerging Artists and TOSOS Theatre Company. www.mollyequalitydykeman.com
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