TV Summer ’14: The Voice Alum Sasha Allen Does Pippin
By Delaina Dixon | July 9, 2014 | Entertainment
The Voice is turning out stars that are dropping hit records … and defying gravity!
TV DivaGal is talking about fourth season alum Sasha Allen, who has just been cast in the pivotal role of Leading Player in the award-winning musical Pippin‘s tour company.
I spoke with the talented star to find out how she’s mastering the acrobatic moves in the show’s latest incarnation, her thoughts post-Voice and happy home life with hubby and babies!
How does it feel to be cast in the role of Leading Player, originated by stage legend Ben Vereen?
The process to get to something like this can be so grueling, long and hard, so actually landing it is like a piece of chocolate cake with a glass of ice-cold milk. It’s really good. Ben is so iconic that putting myself in his shoes is impossible. I’m just going to try to do my best and make him proud.
How have you been preparing for the acrobatics in the show?
I’m on a trapeze in the show, so I started training at circus school. And it’s totally hard. I’ve been training for about two weeks and my shoulders are on fire — the rope burns I have on my arms and the calluses; I have tremendous respect for people in the circus now. And I know going to have the body I’ve always dreamed of.
Many people know you from your time on The Voice. What do you remember most about your performances?
I think I had pretty good song choices. I wish you had a little bit more time to work on them, cause you only have a few days to learn the music and the choreography. It’s so much work and pressure, but I think it was the best training ground for anything else that would come my way. It is life changing, and I think the Pippin opportunity came faster because of it.
You’ve worked with so many top music superstars. Who were some of the biggest influences on you?
One of my favorite people that I’ve worked with was Christina Aguilera. She’s one of the hardest working celebs. There’s Usher, just by watching him dance and work and sing and how he works it all out. It’s a great lesson on the discipline it takes to get to their level, and they can do it with a smile on their faces. That’s the part that’s so inspiring to me.
You starred in the infectious musical movie Camp. Is it ready for a stage incarnation?
It was such a small film and it’s become this cult piece. I think it would be great for Broadway.
You are a wife and a mom, and you have the cutest baby boy. What lullaby does he like you to sing to him?
Right now, he’s really into monsters and screaming! When my daughter was a little younger, I used to sing her “You Are My Sunshine,” and with my son I sing “Here Comes the Sun,” from The Beatles. So anything with the sun works for me.
Pippin‘s national tour starts on Sept. 10 in Denver, Colo.
