gave a breakthrough performance in the role of Dianna in the Broadway Musical “Next to Normal” on
Tuesday, 9 June 2009 at the Booth theatre in NYC.

      On the first performance post-Tony awards, the Tony Award winning Leading Actress, Alice Ripley, was absent from the performance causing the understudy, Phillips, to be put on for the 7:00pm curtain. Of course, there were many patrons who were upset by not being able to see Ripley, but those that stuck around to see this amazing show were very audibly impressed with what the newcomer had to offer to the role. After a brilliantly sung, “I miss the Mountains” there was an applause that delayed to performance from moving onto the next scene. The final curtain call was greeted with thunderous applause and everyone leaping to their feet the instant the first bow was begun. Incidentally, it was the first night for first-replacement Kyle Dean Massey to be put on in the role of Gabe.

     Phillips had perfect vocal control throughout this VERY vocally demanding production and managed to fulfill the composer’s requests with the greatest of ease. It was as if this role had been written for her. Her physical interpretation of the role, although a bit different from Ripley’s, was filled out with subtle nuances and many levels which are inherent in a character so bold as Yorkey and Kitt’s Dianna.As a complete fan of this show (this was the 9th performace that I’ve seen of it), I can honestly say that it was refreshing to see a new approach to such a brilliant character and will be well pleased to see where this young actress will progress in the next few years.