Pop Culturalist Chats with Alex Boniello
Alex Boniello is an actor, singer-songwriter, and musician based in New York City. Last year, he made his Broadway debut in Deaf West Theatre’s revival of Spring Awakening—where he starred as the Voice of Moritz. His impressive résumé includes Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 21 Chump Street, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, and Showtime’s Happyish! We chatted with Alex about Spring Awakening, his career, and he answered our spitfire pop culture questions.
Let’s kick this off with our Spring Awakening questions…
PC: It’s been a couple of weeks since Spring Awakening ended, have you had time to reflect on the experience? Is there anything that surprised you about making your Broadway debut? And, what was the biggest lesson you learned?
Alex: I have had a lot of time to reflect, yes. The more time I spend away from the experience, the more I realize how truly special every single moment of it was. Things like that just don’t happen to people. I made my Broadway debut in the role that made me want to be an actor in the first place, in a re-imagined production that worked directly with my specific skill set, with the most talented actors and wonderful friends I could ever ask for. I am very lucky.
That said, I learned far too much to choose just one lesson as the “biggest” or “most important,” but I want to share something with any young actors reading this. Try not to put “Broadway” on a pedestal. For years, I felt like once I got there, it would feel like I “made it” or like I would be secure. That is, unfortunately, not the case. It sounds like a cliché, but enjoying the journey is the important part, and I try to remind myself of that every single day.
PC: What was the experience like having two actors portray the same character? And, how difficult was it to stay in sync with Daniel. Did you two have any funny moments on stage?
Alex: The experience made me feel like a crazy person sometimes because I was speaking for someone else, and giving voice to someone else’s performance, but it was amazing.
Staying in sync with Daniel was a challenge from day one, and continued to be one as the show went on. That mainly came from my limited knowledge of ASL and learning it along the way. Daniel is profoundly deaf, which means he was born without hearing, has never heard, and will never hear. This means that ASL is his first language. He thinks in concepts and pictures, not English. It’s something we, as hearing people, can never understand. He is a beautiful and expressive signer, but he can be very fast!
This means that I had to lock in very carefully and make sure I understood everything he was signing so that the English would line up. All of this had to be done while making sure I was respecting his acting choices while giving a little bit of myself, and playing guitar.
It was a huge challenge but was incredibly rewarding. I loved working with Daniel and learned so much from him.
PC: Being a part of Spring Awakening, you performed at the White House, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and did a panel at Broadway Con—What was your favorite off-stage moment?
Alex: Seth Meyers was a HUGE deal for me because I’ve always loved him, his work on SNL, and his show.
But honestly, the best moments were just moments of hanging out with the cast. I honestly made some life-long friends doing this show. I can’t choose just one moment, but I know that the people involved in this show changed my life.
PC: The show attracted a lot of celebrities. Was there anyone you were starstruck by?
Alex: Sondheim! When I saw him walk in, my knees literally shook. I completely lost my cool. I normally never care who is in the audience. That stuff never throws me. But seeing him actually terrified me because, obviously, I am completely obsessed with his work and his legacy.
PC: Describe Moritz in five words.
Alex: Smart, scared, anxious, introspective, poetic.
Spring Awakening is launching a national tour in 2017—any chance you’ll be reviving your role?
Alex: 2017 is very, very far away in this business. I don’t even know what I’m making for lunch when I’m done with this interview!
Let’s chat about your career…
PC: You’re a fantastic singer and musician. Are there any plans to release a single or album?
Alex: Thank you! Yes. It’s being worked on now. Probably not a full-length album, but a few songs. I’ve been meaning to do it for a long time, and I think the right time is now.
PC: You’ve done film, television, music, and Broadway—which is your favorite?
Alex: I will always find TV/film amazing. Making movies is actually magical to me. The process and science of it is crazy. That said, no matter where my career takes me my heart will always and forever be in the theatre.
PC: Out of all the characters you’ve been, which one have you identified with the most?
Alex: I think I’m equal parts Moritz and Mark from RENT.
PC: Do you have any upcoming projects you can talk about?
Alex: Nothing that is real, yet. The only thing concrete are a few concerts at 54 Below.
What’s your dream role?
Alex: It was Moritz! Currently, I’m reading O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night and am being seriously swept away by Edmund.
Now it’s time for some spitfire pop culture questions!
PC: Guilty pleasure movie & television show?
Alex: I actually can’t think of any movies, but I am completely obsessed with RuPaul’s Drag Race. That show is the best.
PC: An artist(s) fans would be surprised to know is on your music player?
Alex: Kendrick Lamar. He’s so outrageously good, and I rarely go deep into rap.
PC: Favorite Broadway show?
Alex: Currently, probably Hamilton.
PC: Favorite book?
Alex: Ever?! Oh god. Probably the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or The Alchemist. Lame, I know.
PC: Favorite video game? We know you’re an avid gamer!
Alex: How dare you. This question has caused a moral dilemma in the coffee shop I’m sitting in.
I’m going to say “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” just because of how formative it was for me as a child, but I just want you to know that you’re cruel for asking and making me choose.
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Photo Credit: Luke Fontana
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