Alex Chester
Minnie Faye, National Asian Artist’s Production of Hello, Dolly (April 2013)
Alex Chester grew up in southern California. She started performing professionally at a very young age. At 5 she began her career in modeling, and was the cover for such magazines as Parenting, Woman’s Day, and Victoria Magazine. She modeled children’s clothing lines on The Home Show, along with posters for malls, catalogues, department store and newspaper ads.
It was in the genes. Alex’s mother was also a dancer. Alex was always exposed to theater growing up and she always knew from the get go that she desired to be on stage.
With a successful modeling career underway Alex ventured into commercials and became the face that introduced the Chevy Geo to the world. Many commercials later Alex has once again introduced a new vehicle, this time the Ford Kuga to Europe.
Television followed commercials, including such shows as 7th Heaven, Boston Pubic, ER and The Closer. Alex filmed the title role in the Independent film, The Mermaid, produced by the award winning production company, Walter Robot Studios.
Alex even had a stint in the pop world as a member of the girl group, Dream, produced by P. Diddy.
Theatre has always been in Alex’s life. She saw her first live production when she was 4.
By the age of 5 Alex had a role in Gigi at the now defunct Equity dinner theatre in Anaheim, The Grand. She worked for Norwegian Cruise Lines at the age of 7 playing Tootie in Meet Me In St. Louie, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz in the Broadway Review, and singing for the Captain’s embarkation parties. Alex has been seen a Mary Rogers in the West Coast premier of The Will Rogers Follies, The Dead Girl in East/West Players production of Six Characters In Search of An Author, flying across the stage as Peter Pan, performing for the Royal National Theatre’s tour of An Inspector Calls, dancing as Eliza in The King and I at the Welk Resort, Punky Who in How The Grinch Stole Christmas at the Pantages Theatre, The Magic Carpet in Disney’s Aladdin Spectacular and Connie in A Chorus Line for the Berkshire Theatre Festival.
Alex has had the pleasure of working with Jeff Marx, co-creator of Ave Q, who wrote the role of Connie for her in his 15 minute musical, Oh God, We’re Gonna Die, the track of which can be heard at http://www.anmt.tv.
Alex is very pleased to have once again landed in Whoville, this time at Madison Square Gardens in December 2012.
Alex is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in theatre through St. Mary's College LEAP Program and was awarded The Caroline H. Newhouse Scholarship for Dancers.
All of this paved the way for her brilliant performance, evoking images of the original Sondra Lee, in the National Asian Artist’s Project’s Hello, Dolly, produced by Baayork Lee and directed by the most logical choice, Lee Roy Reams! With this production, fully staged, the company had a total of forty hours rehearsal. It was all helped by the fact that Lee Roy, assisted by Randy Slovacek, was so crystal clear about what he desired. That clarity made Alex’s work very easy. Lee Roy knew EXACTLY what he wanted and how he wanted it done.
All Alex had to do was take his direction and put it forth in the right direction.
Alex also had the added bonus of having done the show twice before. She didn’t play Minnie Fay at that time but it certainly influenced her as to who and what Minnie Fay is all about.
Both previous times that Alex did Dolly, she portrayed Ermengarde. She did it once at the Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theater in California with Barbara Hendrickson as Dolly and once at The Welk Resort with Cathy Gene Greenwood.
With the National Asian Artist’s Project, Alex saw at Actor’s Equity that auditions were coming up. She definitely desired to now play Minnie Fay AND in this production.
It had been a goal of hers to play that part. It was a history making production. It was the first time this classic American musical was done by an all Asian-American Company. It is important to note that Asian American actors, as well as other nationalities and races should have the same opportunities that are afforded Caucasian actors.
For her first initial audition, she sang The World Must Be Bigger than An Avenue, which is from another Gower Champion musical, Irene, which starred Debbie Reynolds.
Baayork asked Alex if she could tap and Alex gave an affirmative. She then did a few shuffles and wings for Baayork. She was told she was wonderful and was called in for a callback. They gave her Minnie Fay’s “Cherries and Feathers” monologue and a scene with Mrs. Molloy. They also had her sing again. She got feedback from Lee Roy and repeated some of this. Watching and hearing him say some of the lines, Alex thought he would make a great Dolly! She would LOVE to see him play Dolly.
Lee Roy was at both auditions. Alex got the part the day after her callback.
When Alex is cast in a role, she likes to get the script right away. She likes to show up at the first rehearsal completely off book if possible and familiar with the music, especially when there is only going to be forty hours of rehearsal. Alex is quick with blocking. When she knows the script, she doesn’t need to write things down. She knows where she is required to be.
When in production, if she gets a big laugh, for example on a bit. She puts that in the back of her mind in order to replicate it. While doing this, the goal is to keep it very fresh, otherwise, it will get stale.
After completing the two shows of this production, Alex walked away with self confidence in her work. She feels better as a performer after proving to herself that she could do this. She is also taking away wonderful new friendships that she made. It was an overall beautiful experience for Alex. She remembers seeing the 1994 tour with Carol Channing when she was a young girl.
The company, itself, had a huge impact on Alex.
When Alex was a few years younger, she worked on a cruise ship. One of the dancers in the show had appeared in the 1995 tour. She actually remembered seeing him in it. She would have loved to have been in his shoes and work with Carol Channing.
If there were NO restrictions, Alex would LOVE to play Cornelius. The character is so quirky and full of innocence and love and life and such a goofball that it must be a fun role to play.
The most difficult moment for Alex occurred due to a missed rehearsal. She was out because of a call back. She literally had twenty minutes to pick up all of her steps for the Dancin’ number which is one of the most intricate aspects of the show. Everyone was gracious enough to let her out of rehearsal but it was a difficult pick-up. She ran it, they told her to remember it, and they moved on.
Alex is very happy with the entire end result with her involvement with this production. She, like Minnie, is a happy-go-lucky girl who has a bright outlook on life.
Hello, Dolly, to Alex has wonderful message about love and taking chances. It teaches everyone to live their lives the way they desire to live their lives.
Her favorite piece of music in the show is a piece that she was not of. It is the Waiter’s Gallop. She feels that it is truly perfect as originally conceived. She always loves the way that it integrates with the scene.
As of this writing, Alex is in the process of getting her B.A. The advice that she would give to anyone desiring to go into this profession is “Don’t give up”. There is a lot of negativity and rejection in this business. It is the nature of the business.
Hello, Dolly, to Alex, once again is reaffirmation for one to never give up on their dreams and to go after what one desires in life and not wait for someone to hand it to you on a plate. She certainly lives by this philosophy!
Thank you Alex Chester for the gifts you have given to the world and will continue to give!
Can't wait to see your next appearance!
With grateful XOXOXs,
The Other Players
- I Put My Hand In (The Original Players)
- Nicole Barth
- Mary Jo Catlett
- Marge Champion
- Gordon Connell
- Joel Craig
- Terry DeMari (Dance Captain 1965-1968)
- David Hartman (Rudolph)
- Jerry Herman
- Lee Hooper
- Charles Karel (Standby for Cornelius and Ambrose Kemper)
- Sondra Lee (Original Minnie Fay)
- Saul Schechtman
- Ron Young (Townspeople, Waiters, Etc.)
- TO A TRUMP LADY FAIR: Channing was replaced by Hollywood glamour queen Ginger Rogers on August 9, 1965.
- Betty Grable Broadway Company: June 12, 1967- November 5th, 1967
- Mary Martin International Company
- Ethel Merman Company
- Betty Grable Tour
- Pearl Bailey/Cab Callaway 1967 Broadway Company
- Yvonne DeCarlo Company
- Carol Channing’s First Road Company (1966)
- Carol Channing 1983 (20th Anniversary) road Company
- Pearl Bailey 1975 Revival
- Eve Arden Chicago Company 1967
- Carol Channing/Jay Garner 1994 Tour and 1995 Broadway Revival
- Dorothy Lamour Bus and Truck Company (1967 40 Week Tour) and Las Vegas (August 1967)
- Barbra Streisand, Motion Picture
- Danny La Rue’s London Company
- Press Agents
- Regional Theaters/Summer Stock/Community Theatres
- Kate Baldwin
- Jack Bannon
- Gary Beach
- John Beasley
- Mo Brad
- Rick Bumgardner
- Mark Chapman
- Walter Charles
- Wayne Cilento
- Marcia Milgrom Dodge
- Beth Fowler (Irene Molloy in Molly Picon’s Hello, Dolly, Summers of 71 and 72)
- Matt Loehr
- Brad Kenney and Jayme McDaniel
- Nancy Opel
- Larry Raben
- Mary Robin Roth
- Deborah Savage
- Tony Sheldon
- Tours
- Directors
- Madeline Kahn/Conrad John Schuck Production
- Musical Arrangers/Conductors
- Various Companies
- Friends and Fans
- 2017 Broadway Revival
- Charles Strouse
- Three time Tony Nominee Lewis J. Stadlen: Horace Vandergelder to Andrea Martin, Leslie Uggams, Randy Graff, Lee Roy Reams…and upcoming: Betty Buckey!
- Michael McCormick
- Gower Champion