Alice Ripley

My mother is always the most vulnerable person in any room, and so I definitely have that part of her inside me.

There is genuine healing in a beautifully crafted musical theatre song, like Stephen Sondheim's 'Losing My Mind,' or a pop music gem like Joni Mitchell's 'Help Me.'

Don't get me wrong: I love having my own song and being the center of attention, but I also love being part of the group and making the show work in a more anonymous way.

I love every minute of my work.

I love having a basement.

I love New York City. I really do. I 'heart' New York.

I have fallen deeply in love with songs - musical theatre songs included - over the years, and this experience has taught me to hear and honor the writer's voice in my soul.

I love D.C. I love working there.

Oh my God, I love Max von Essen.

Springsteen's 'Thunder Road' and Carole King's 'It's Too Late' are examples of why I am a singer/songwriter. I practice these songs every day. The melodies are timeless in the rock world, the lyrics are words that I need to say, and they need to be heard again.

The selections on 'Daily Practice' are all what I consider standard rock songs that have been absolutely essential to keeping me alive.

I was 14. I went to see a production of 'Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,' and when they got to that final song, 'If We Only Have Love,' it was like the top of my head had blown off.