Name: A-Rips, Ripples, or Alice Ripley
Age: Prime
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Occupation: Musician, Tony Award–winning actress, currently appearing in MCC Theater’s Wild Animals You Should Know at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.
Who’s your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
Deborah Harry. She pioneered and fleshed out the concept of the blonde bombshell rocker.
What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in New York?
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with my friend Melissa and her family uptown.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
All day I wait for my job, which I do at night, and once I get there, I walk a tightrope, jump through hoops, and take breathtaking dives.
What was your first job in New York?
The Who’s Tommy at the St. James. Oh wait, no! It was the re-creation of Elvis’s death on A Current Affair. I played Ginger Alden, the model who was staying with Elvis when he died.
What’s the last thing you saw on Broadway?
Two nights ago, I saw Godspell. I gave it a four out of four stars.
Do you give money to panhandlers?
Only if they entertain me.
What’s your drink?
San Pellegrino Limonata. Thirty-five grams of carbs, and worth every gram.
How often do you prepare your own meals?
Every day I place an order. Is that preparing? If not, does cereal count?
What’s your favorite medication?
Customized banana split. No strawberry! Instead, two chocolate scoops and one vanilla, with extra chocolate syrup instead of strawberry goo. No nuts. Whipped cream is optional, as are jimmies. I usually say yes to a cherry on top, so I can practice tying the stem in a knot with my teeth.
What’s hanging above your sofa?
Nothing is hanging on my walls. I don’t have a sofa, but I do have a shipping address if you have one you’d like to unload.
How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
Well, hopefully you can find a barber who will cut all of your hair at once. That will save you some $$.
When’s bedtime?
Whenever I finish filling out questionnaires, the day officially ends.
Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
The old Times Square. I’ll admit it. I have a soft spot for vintage movie houses covered in goo; what can I say?
What do you think of Donald Trump?
Uzo Aduba over at Godspell is doing an even more entertaining Donald Trump than Donald Trump’s Donald Trump.
What do you hate most about living in New York?
To make rent you gotta sell your shirt.
Who is your mortal enemy?
Energy suckers.
When’s the last time you drove a car?
My car’s a pony and I drove it a few weeks ago. (I bought a Mustang a couple years ago. One of the car’s strengths is “punctuated speed”. Kick it and it takes off fast. Calling it a pony feels right.)
How has the Wall Street crash affected you?
What broke and do I have to pay for it?
Times, Post, or Daily News?
I aim to get my news from lots of different sources, including those.
Where do you go to be alone?
If I told you I wouldn’t be alone anymore. Ha, jk. I go to sleep.
What makes someone a New Yorker?
The spirit of spontaneous generosity, mixed with the grit of tooth-and-nail survival mechanisms.
