Alex Rice

Alex Rice's career blooms in Welsh musical

By: Dan Rosenburg

It was a long and winding trail that brought Kahnawake-born Alexandrea Kawisenhawe Rice to Cardiff, Wales, where the 26-year-old Native actress has been appearing in a musical production called "The Quest for Madoc."

It's a play that celebrates the bicentennial of the journey of an explorer named John Evans who traveled from North Wales to the U.S. in 1792 in search of Welsh-speaking Indians.

Alex's mother, Melody Rice, will be among those in the crowd at Cardiff's Chapter Arts Centre in Wales tonight when the cast rings the curtain down on its final performance.

"Alex always showed an inclination towards show business," recalls her mother. "She took dancing lessons at four years old, under Charles Griffith in Chateauguay and Ethel Brunelle in Montreal. Then we moved to Brooklyn, N. Y. where she studied jazz ballet at the Albee School of Dance."

When Alex turned 14, she wanted to go into modeling, her mother recalls. "But I discouraged her because I wanted her to finish school," says Melody Rice.

After Alex graduated from Our Lady of Perpetual Help High School in New York, the Rices moved back to
Kahnawake. Alex continued her schooling at Dawson College and Concordia University, where she majored in library science.

"Three years ago she was one of two Kahnawake residents chosen to go to Los Angeles for an MIT modeling convention," her mom says. So she went and soon landed a job working behind the scenes on the Judge Judy television show.

While in California, Alex took acting lessons at Playhouse West. Then she auditioned for a role in "The Quest for Madoc" and was hired for the part of Scattercorn.
Now that the play is closing tonight, what's next on the horizon for Alex Rice?

Her mom is hoping the singing lessons Alex was required to take for "The Quest of Madoc" will stand her in good stead. "It was good experience," says Melody Rice. "She was taught how to use her voice without getting out of breath. She learned the Mizener technique, which is being promoted by (actor) Jeff Goldblum, and it's strenuous work."

In the meantime, Alex will hit the Internet in search of other auditions. "She'll keep pursuing this line of work," says her mother. Before she landed the role in Wales, Alex did commercials, public service announcements on PBS and had a bit part in the Austin Powers movie sequel that stars Saturday Night Live alumnus Mike Myers.

"According to Alex, Mike used to chat with her on the set all the time," says Melody Rice. "He's a nice, friendly guy. One thing that impressed her is that he stayed in character as Austin Powers all day long (even off camera)."

Before Alex gained fame (if not yet fortune), she worked at both The Eastern Door and the Kanien'kehaka Raotitiohkwa Cultural Centre as a summer student. One of her former employers, Editor-in-chief Kenneth Deer of The Eastern Door, was particularly impressed by her research skills.

"Alex is a responsible adult, who is pretty independent and can take care of herself," says her mother. "I don't worry about her as much. Sure, having grandchildren one day has crossed my mind. But right now her career comes first. The rest will happen when she's ready. I let things unfold naturally. I don't talk people into doing things and I never harp on marriage. Anyway, I firmly believe a girl should wait till she's 30 to get married."

Alex's dad, a Native ironworker, died of a heart attack when she was 16.
Melody Rice says her daughter is very health conscious. She does a lot of physical exercise and loves roller-blading and swimming.

"My wish for her is that she be happy to go to work every day," says Alex's mother. "When you've reached that stage, you've won the battle."

Hijacked from: Eastern Door, Volume 8, Number 8, Mar 19, 1999