Welcome to our inaugural interview for Broadway Babes. I had the lovely opportunity to interview one of my favorite people on the planet. We met through Twitter and have become internet best friends. She is absolutely incredible. She’s is a huge fan of Disney and the musical, Frozen. This lovely lady is also a huge mental health advocate and a fellow blog writer. It’s the real-life Disney Princess, Ally O’Brien!
What’s your name? Where are you from?
Hi! I’m Ally O’Brien, short for Alexa. I am 25, I use she/her pronouns, and I’m from New Jersey, USA. I’ve lived here all my life.
Tell me a little bit about yourself!
I graduated from Ramapo College with a BA in Literature and Education in 2016, I am a paraprofessional by day in a resource room classroom for third and fourth grade, and a nanny for a family of 6 on the Upper East Side of NYC on weekends.
On social media, you are known for your love of theatre, Disney and advocation of mental health awareness. What is your advice for using social media in a positive manner?
Social media has been a huge tool for me to feel less alone. I’ve made friends from all over the world. My biggest piece of advice is unfollow and block anything that is negative for you. Be kind to everyone, don’t respond to or feed trolls in any way, just disengage, and be honest. Sometimes we all have bad days, and social media is kind of a highlights reel sometimes where people just share how awesome life is! Sometimes it isn’t and we stare at the screen comparing ourselves to others. We feel like failures cause we only have a few followers or we feel left out cause other people seem to have amazing lives by comparison. But you can’t compare your life to a highlight reel. That’s why I try and keep my social media honest. I struggle with anxiety and depression, and I’m not ashamed. I really try to be an advocate for using social media in a helpful way
Check out Ally’s blog post that she wrote titled “Comparison is the Thief of Joy” https://onehopethenanother.wordpress.com/2019/02/09/comparison-is-the-thief-of-joy/
Favorite things to do?
Sit in pajamas and watch movies on a couch with friends, or even alone, go to theatre, shopping, eating delicious food.
What is your favorite part about Frozen? How many times have you seen it on Broadway?
Back in 2013, my friends immediately compared me to Anna as we left the movie theatre. I related to feeling shut out, being a serious optimist, and insanely awkward. I’d never in my life seen a character I related to that hard. As we were leaving the theatre, my friend confessed that she could really relate to Elsa in particular, and I said something I’d literally never told anyone: that I had anxiety and ended up crying. A lot of people saw me as Anna but I never saw myself as Anna, truly, despite my hope. Enter Patti Murin. She made this character real and made me feel like I was seeing myself represented for the first time (ever). I know the Elsa to my Anna felt the same way. In every movement Patti made, I saw a little bit of me. I’ve now seen it a LOT of times.
Last year you hosted your own panel at Broadway Con! Can you talk a little more about that? What the process was like? What was the experience like!
It was literally surreal! I hadn’t had the money for Broadway Con the past few years, but I had really wanted to go! My friend Nia hosted a meetup for Anastasia fans the year before And when I got the email to submit ideas, I thought a Disney on Broadway panel would be super cool! I literally remember getting the email that it had been approved in a dressing room at the mall and crying. It was one of the best weekends ever and I’m so proud it was successful!
Ally is hosting her panel again this year, so if you are going to Broadway Con this year, be sure to check out Ally’s panel!
You also have your own blog! Tell us more about your blog. What made you want to start a blog?
Patti Murin and Carrie Hope Fletcher and Eva Noblezada have amazing blogs and I was totally inspired!!!! I’d always wanted to be a writer in some capacity so I basically turned my thought processing journal into blog posts. It’s like therapy for me!
Check out Ally’s blog! https://onehopethenanother.wordpress.com/
What would your advice to young people/your younger self be?
It’s okay if not every single person loves you. It’s okay to make mistakes. You’re not horrible because you can’t do it all.
You’ve done a bunch of theatre! Would you ever perform again onstage? What are your dream roles?
I’d love to! I haven’t been on stage in almost four years, which is so sad to me, but I’ve been filling my need to create in other capacities like writing and doing some YouTube singing! My dream roles are Anna in Frozen, Casey in First Date, Zoe in Dear Evan Hansen, and Emma Nolan in the Prom.
Check out Ally’s youtube channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfKEgl-OJDMzK8eZ4kXcqjQ
Who is a woman in the theatre community who inspires you and why?
Eva Noblezada has really inspired me with her boldness, openness, and talent. I felt literally completely alone until I discovered her and Patti Murin and others who are open about mental illness. Eva is a great example of what it means to love yourself and represent young women of color.
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