West Side Story Interview with Karen Olivo

[LadyKikiism]

Why is it always the actual Puerto Rican as Anita while Maria is usually white?

[haleydayiscool]

Her Dad was my Old Art teacher!!

[joyandlady]

I went to WSS just see her in May--and that night she broke her ankle after the final scene. I saw her basically crawl offstage as she exited "the bar" and she didn't make the curtain call, for obvious reasons. I'm so glad I got to see her perform, but I couldn't believe that happened!

[ThePennsylvaniagirls]

i saw this play and she was amazing in it!

[MichaelJCaboose98]

i went to the show and got to meet her! =D

[whitetiefilms]

A Boy Like That is pretty much powerless to me in Spanish.

[Crossfire92x]

@whitetiefilms Learn Spanish and you'll change your mind.

[KenzTheMac2]

she's so coool omg its amazing

[gscevoli]

Just Saw the show tonight.. She is absolutely amazing, could've watched Anita (Karen) dance and sing the entire show.

[rhino79]

I just saw West Side Story today and after the show I saw Karen walking down the street. I asked her if she would please autograph my Playbill. But I didn't have a pen! She was so sweet and nice. She dug through her own purse to find a pen. I felt like a jerk, but she couldn't have been nicer. And in person she is strikingly beautiful.

[gayputa]

she is puertorican and Domincan and Chinese shes latina

[yonitonstage]

the last part of her speech makes me get choked up, always.

[sigursiggi]

oh my little karen is so grown up!!!!! i've never seen this and am both amazed and sad. you are so good!!!!...but i kind of miss the little girl who taught me the chewingum song. anywhoo, you became so flawless. your are seriously the shit, karen. i love the hell outta you. i'm very proud of you. tell your mom i said hi and pass on that chinese spaghetti recipe (pretty please!!)

[nivelandia]

tremenda voz!

[westsidestory97]

if i was in that play, id want to be the girl who was like "i know you do!" haha

[bluesun7777]

@westsidestory97 Haha. That's Consuela. ^_^

[InvisibleT3]

i saw the show and met her afterwords it was AWESOME! she was kinda quiet when i met her tho...probobly tired after all that dancing! haha. she is remarkable.

[Bball12Sball12]

LATINA!!!!!!!!!!!! thats what she is

[BwayDreamer1128]

oh my GOD her voice is nothing short of FANTASTIC!!! I want to be her!!!

Just out of curiosity, what heritage is she? She looks black to me, but I can't be sure...

[dreamingofastranger]

Domincan and Chinese on her mum's side, and Puerto Rican and Native American on her dad's.

[heringtonchick]

Whoa. No wonder she's gorgeous.

[jybys]

i love how honest her personality is!

[gnvyorker13]

i agree.

[ppkiwi0305]

I actually know her personally. Her mother-in-law is my voice teacher. Karen is a talented actress and totally deserved the Tony Award.

[BritneyBreon]

I love her...a great role model and beautiful :)

[zexionswisdom]

was she Vanessa in In The Heights??

[madskittlez1122]

yes <3

[ExAxLxPx12]

yes she was, she originated the role

[BroadwayBoundDreamer]

she would make an ASTOUNDING rosie in bye bye birdie!

she should play her insteasd when it comes on broadway!

[JeffyJeffjeffm31191]

YEA!!!!!! I'm not the only one who thinks so. Who do you think for Albert? I'm thinking Neil Patrick Harris...as much as I like Stamos...

[BroadwayBoundDreamer]

well besides the fantastic karen olivo. ashley brown & gavin lee r perfect 2gether so maybe them.☺

[greensun92]

SHE IS AMAZING!!!

[mfzambrano]

She is so beautiful!

[saguaroangel]

Karen seems so nice in real life! She seems so down-to-earth, but also real...even though she was undoubtedly an amazing dancer before West Side Story, it's inspiring to see that she still continues to work so hard. Also, as much as no one can EVER be Chita, it's so nice to see an Anita with the perfect voice! Not only does it seem like she has the dancing and acting down (judging by her interview, since I haven't seen it), she also seems to have the strong voice...and few Anita's can do all 3!

[luvin40]

She really is nice in real life. I don't think that being a star has changed her one bit. I think it is a mistake to choose an "Anita" based on solely on dancing ability. Singing and acting MUST come first with that role or it completely flops. Although Karen admits she is a "mover" not a dancer, Broadway found a true gem for this role and she really brings herself into it. She is amazing in EVERY aspect! I'm so proud of her!!

[ExAxLxPx12]

she is AMAZING as Anita!! fully deserved the Tony win!

[vonne1100]

She definately has an amazing voice. I'm glad to see she won the tony last night.

[jlyfan]

AND A FREAKIN TONY AWARD WINNER!!! So thrilled for her! <3

[liuxgrace]

110% agreed

[gtb224]

OMG she is awesome!

[elphiegreen]

i loved Karen Olivo on In The Heights!