Music and acting have consumed Alicia Witt’s life since she was a young child. She feels the two artistic endeavors go together well.
“They are both about expression and getting to create for a living,” says Witt who is coming to Tin Pan on Dec. 4. “It’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to get to create things and have them as a source of income.”
When she was very young, Witt was playing piano and competing in classical competitions. Her movie career started at the age of seven. When her acting career took off, she took jobs playing piano at various hotels and restaurants to make money.
Acting became a full-time venture, and, fortunately for Witt, she was able to include some music in her roles. She has had prolific television and film career.
“In my 30’s, I started spending half my time making my own music. I can’t imagine why I took so long to do that,” she says. “Once I started, everything started to click. It made my acting feel better. Now, something isn’t missing for me professionally.”
Music is Her Energizing Force
Her music helps her to feel authentic. “When I am playing movie characters, someone else made them up. It’s not me. But, when I’m playing music, that really is me up there doing my best to be present and connect to everybody,” she says.
She did get the chance to write and develop a Hallmark Christmas movie — Christmas Tree Lane — and create the characters. “I also wrote the song for the end of the movie (which she performed). I ended up doing another Christmas song that I wrote,” she says, noting that her music is also in two other Hallmark movies.
While her acting career is still going strong, she is energized and enthusiastic about touring and sharing her music.
“I will be in a tour van, show up at a venue, load in, and play my own original music. People show up and know the words to the songs. At the end of the day, that is amazing,” she says.
She prefers to let others classify her music. It has references of singer/songwriters Carole King, Jewel, and Sara Bareilles. She is also influenced by Chappell Roan, one of her favorite new artists.
“She is brilliant,” she says.
Her musical tastes are all over the place, ranging from Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald to Randy Newman and traditional Christmas classics.
Over the years, Witt has been able to juggle both of her careers without too much rescheduling. “It’s worked out much more than you’d think,” she says.
During her Christmas tour, however, nothing will interfere with the dates she has set. “I do a combination of longer tours and weekend tours. It kind of works out, it just does,” she says.
She feels that she has become a better actor because of her music career. “The fact that music is part of what I do makes me appreciate the shows I do even more,” she says.
Visiting Richmond During the Holiday Season is Becoming a Tradition
Witt had the chance to play at Tin Pan last December, and she’s looking forward to returning.
“I feel so grateful wherever I am playing,” she says. “The Tin Pan was wonderful because it was so intimate and so full. It’s a beautiful thing to come to city and have the room be full.”
She loves being able to look out into the audience and see all the faces. “It feels like everyone is gathered in a cozy living room. It’s all about sharing that music, especially at Christmas,” she says.
It makes the Christmas season even more joyful, she adds. “It’s such a sacred time of year and to see families come out and know that I am part of their holiday celebration means the world to me.”
For information and tickets, visit tinpanrva.com.
