Allie Trimm
It certainly has been a stellar season thus far for young performing artists on Broadway. The Olivier-winning production of Billy Elliot—The Musical, which recently opened at Broadway's Imperial, boasts three young leading men who literally soar through their performances. And, the new Jason Robert Brown-Dan Elish-Robert Horn musical, 13, which ends its run at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Jan. 4, 2009, boasts its own share of wonderful teenage actors. Standouts include Graham Phillips, who plays bar mitzvah boy Evan, whose life is upended when he abruptly moves from New York to Indiana, and Allie Trimm, who plays Patrice, the caring friend he makes in his new hometown. Thirteen-year-old Trimm, who boasts a beautiful and powerful voice, also possesses a rare, natural onstage warmth that is reminiscent of such Broadway favorites as Emily Skinner and Bernadette Peters. She also gets the chance to deliver what may be the show's best song, "What It Means to Be a Friend," and she does so movingly and with vocal control and an interpretative ability well beyond her years. Earlier this week I had the pleasure of chatting with the young actress, who is currently making her Broadway debut in the funny, charming and ultimately touching new musical 13; that brief interview follows.

Question: Congratulations on making your Broadway debut.
Allie Trimm: Thank you so much!

Question: How did you originally get involved in 13?
Trimm: I auditioned in L.A., and I auditioned for the Connecticut run. After that they just brought everyone over [to Broadway].

Question: Do you think that change helped the show?
Trimm: I do. I think the show is a lot better now. Even from Connecticut, it just makes a lot more sense — it flows better.

Question: How about your character? Did Patrice change at all?
Trimm: My character, script-wise, hasn't changed a whole lot. Personally, I've become more of the character. In my head it's developed so much, and I've learned so much about Patrice. I've become so much more a part of her, and it's come out when I'm acting. I feel like I'm so much more her than I was when I first read the script.

	Allie Trimm with Graham Phillips in 13
	photo by Joan Marcus

Question: How would you describe Patrice?
Trimm: She's kind of not the most popular girl, but she knows who she is, so she doesn't care that she's not popular. She doesn't try to make herself cooler to fit in. She doesn't try to be part of the popular crowd, because she knows that that's not who she is. She's really levelheaded and smart, and she's just a nice girl. She wants people to understand who she is and not judge her by her clothes or other things like that.

Question: Do you have a favorite moment in the show for her?
Trimm: The song "What It Means to Be a Friend" is probably my favorite part of the entire show, personally. It tells such a true story, and I relate to it so much. I think everyone can relate to the Patrice character at some time in [his or her] life. [People] always feels like they need to try and fit in, but that's what Patrice's story is telling them. She's saying that looks don't matter, and it's not about how you look and talk and what you wear. It's about who you are, really. "What It Means to Be a Friend" is her telling a story about how she wishes people would act and how she wishes people would treat her and other people.

Question: The musical is a lot about various cliques in a school. Has the cast managed to avoid forming cliques? Do you hang out with each other after the show?
Trimm: Totally. The cast — we're such a big family, and we have so much fun together. I'm having so much fun working with this cast. I can't describe how many amazing relationships I've made and friendships that will last forever.

Question: How have you found performing eight shows a week?
Trimm: I'm having so much fun! When you think about it, it sounds like it would be tiring and stressful, but I am just loving it.

Question: Does anything stand out in your mind from the Broadway experience so far?
Trimm: I've learned so much, and I've grown so much as a person. I feel like everyone I've worked with has taught me something. I've learned so much about how to act when you're working professionally, and I've also learned just about being a person. I don't even know how to describe it. I've found who I am here, and I've become so much more true to myself.

Question: How has the cast reacted to the show closing in January?
Trimm: Everyone is really, really sad. We all started crying when we first heard, because we all love the show so much and we love being together everyday. On our days off we literally call each other and say, "Hey, you wanna hang out?" [Laughs.] We're all bummed that the show is closing, but with the economy the way it is and everything that's going on — a lot of shows are closing. It's really sad, but I'm sure everyone in the cast has a great future ahead of them and so much to look forward to. I'm trying not to dwell on the sadness and trying to look ahead and think of the positives about it.

Question: How have you been able to keep up your schoolwork while doing the show?
Trimm: In the beginning of rehearsals and tech, we had to do three hours of school a day, and we would all be tutored together. That went well. Once the show opened, we all had to go off on our own. ...I'm doing school online at my house. My parents — [when] fourth grade came along, they said, "Alright, you're on your own. I don't know how to help you anymore." [Laughs.] I've become very independent…I'm not too far behind, but I'm catching up.