Beauty News NYC reached out to the talented Tiffan Borelli, currently starring in a new musical called “Doris Day: My Secret Love.”
What was it like taking on the iconic character of Doris Day in “Doris Day: My Secret Love”? How did this role emerge for you, and what was your approach to building the character over time?
My draw was Doris herself. She is the only woman ever to be simultaneously No. 1 on the pop charts and at the box office. She is an extraordinary communicator. As a performer, I constantly strive to be equal parts actor and vocalist – it’s how I was taught by my late mentor, Florence Birdwell. I really focused on her vocals at first. As the incarnations progressed, I was able to examine her speaking style. Doris was raised in Ohio, and I had to study her midwestern tones with a careful ear. I enjoyed finding interviews of her speaking as herself, not a character, and would listen to them on repeat. When I see her on film, I do find parts of myself without having to work at it. I hear some similarities in our inflection, see them in some mannerisms and expressions, and observe them in some physical qualities, too. So, I worked to identify those and bring those out. It is a tremendous undertaking to embody someone whose creative output has made her so familiar to so many – she did 39 movies and hundreds of songs. As a result, I have given myself permission not to feel like I have to be a carbon copy of her. I show up nightly to give an intentional and present dedication to her and to the enormous contributions she gave to this world as a vocalist, actor, animal activist, and human.
How cool is it that playwright Paul Adams considered you for this role six years after your collaboration on “Urban Momfare”? What was it like being approached for this role years later, and what unique insights or experiences from your previous work together did you bring to “Doris Day: My Secret Love”?
Paul Adams, whom I will be thanking for this opportunity until the day I die, and I first met during “Urban Momfare,” a musical by Pamela Weiler Grayson. We won Best Musical at the New York Fringe Festival in 2014. Paul was producing it; we even did a reading of it at Emerging Artists. In it, I played Ellen, a new Upper East Side mom striving for perfection. Little did I know that when Paul asked me to do Doris Day six years later in 2020, it would be the very week my first (actual) daughter would be due! I hadn’t revealed to anyone in the business I was pregnant, and when I told Paul, he was so supportive. “I’m giving birth that week,” I said, “but I will be available to do it the following month!.” He said, “I want you to do it, especially because you love Doris. How about we give you a few months?” The next thing I knew, lockdown happened, and it was the fall of 2020. There I was, walking around pushing my newborn in a stroller and listening to a playlist of Doris Day’s songs on repeat. I was just beginning to learn them for our project, then titled, “Doris Day: A Sentimental Journey.” Having the task and challenge of getting her music in my voice and bones brought me so much joy and light during very uncertain times. I would approach it phrase by phrase, one song a day and singing—while masked outside! I had heard that Doris’s music has this uplifting effect on people, and I experienced that first-hand in a very special way…
Tell us about the challenges and joys of portraying such an iconic figure who had both a public image and a private life that was far from the spotlight.
In “Doris Day: My Secret Love,” Doris takes a very emotional journey. There is a transformation nightly that is certainly the greatest emotional journey I have attempted on stage thus far. It has stretched me as an actor, and I am grateful for that challenge. I consider it a major gift to have the space and opportunity to share her truths and hardships. Few seem to know about them. Doris’s work in her songs and acting is true, real, and deep, and I firmly believe that comes from her rich life experience, including her many hardships. And the ups and downs of life are something I think all of us face
and can connect with. It’s especially nice to celebrate the humanity of a beloved icon.
What have been some of the most rewarding moments or reactions you’ve experienced during the Off-Broadway run of the production?
I love this piece, especially because of the impact it has on our audience members. It’s the people it reaches and the personal connection with them after the performances that bring me the greatest fulfillment. After nearly every performance of the show, we have audience members who stick around with something in their hearts and minds to share directly with us regarding Doris Day. They have real stories about that one time they saw or met her, or memories of watching her movies with close relatives. It reaches them and resonates with them on personal and private levels, and that feels important. It is the icing on the cake to be complimented. I absolutely love it when people think we get it right. Whenever I read positive words, I think, “I hope Doris would be proud.”
Could you share some insights into the creative process behind the production, including working with the director, Melissa Attebery, and the rest of the creative team to bring this unique experience to the stage?
The creative team behind “Doris Day: My Secret Love” is second to none, and leading that is our director Melissa Attebery. Our story is very empowering, especially for women, and I think that is largely because of her vision. Paul Adams, our writer and Artistic Director of Emerging Artists Theatre, told us that this show came to him in a dream. And for me, the dream just keeps happening. Emerging Artists Theatre is really paving the way for new works like ours. Keep your eyes on them. When David Beck, who plays Les and others, was brought on for this, he had a strong point of view as well. He added more specificity and such nuance to his characters. There were weeks of collaboration between the four of us – Melissa, Paul, David, and I. Things were changing daily. It really started to take shape as we rehearsed, and it was one of the greatest collaborations I can remember. I’m very lucky to get to work with our cast and crew. It’s inspiring to be a part of something the world has never seen before, especially a story that seems to resonate with so many. I don’t want it to end, and I do hope the show continues in future iterations.
Catch “Doris Day: My Secret Love” now through October 29th. Get tickets HERE.
