If you’re a Glee fan, you’re most certainly familiar with performer Ali Stroker who made it to the final episode and placed second on The Glee Project reality show, earning a guest role on show itself. Since then, Stroker has made history not only becoming the first actor who uses a wheelchair to appear on a Broadway stage in Deaf West Theatre’s revival of Spring Awakening. but also winning a Tony Award for her performance as Ado Annie in Oklahoma in 2019. In addition to her work on stage and television, Stroker is also an advocate for disability rights as well as a children’s book author.
In her new role as Amy, the classmate and friend of the titular character in the Big Nate cartoon, Stroker’s passions converge. Ahead of the premiere of the new season, The Beat had the opportunity to interview Ali Stroker to discuss a variety of topics including her experience in voiceover, becoming a mother, and much more.
Taimur Dar Obviously, your background is in musical theater. This isn’t your first animation voiceover project, but what was your experience going from stage to booth?
Ali Stroker: In so many ways it’s smaller. Obviously, there’s not an audience but you’re always aware of the fact that there will be. So, in telling stories and making choices for the characters you hope to really bring them alive. It’s similar when creating theater on stage. I just love doing animation work because I love to use my voice. I feel limitless when I use my voice. It’s such a dream and a joy to the voice the character of Amy.
Dar: Something I learned from interviews with showrunner Mitch Watson is for remote recording sessions, he would try to have as many actors as possible, sometimes a dozen, over Zoom. I don’t know if that was the case with you, but did you get to at least record with Bryce Charles who plays DeeDee?
Stroker: I had the opportunity to do one of those group sessions. It was so exciting because everyone on this show is so talented and so generous in scenes. We were able to be in that big Zoom and see each other and see each other act. It really made such a full experience. A lot of time you’re alone doing your lines. I came away from that session feeling like I won the lottery getting to watch these incredible voice actors do what they do.
Dar: Nickelodeon was a major part of my childhood. As a fellow ‘90s kid, I’d love to know if you grew up watching Nickelodeon and if so, any favorite shows?
Stroker: I loved Nickelodeon. I loved Doug and I loved the Rugrats.
Dar: Big Nate has been around for decades. I was casually aware of it when Nickelodeon approached me to do press coverage about a year ago. After researching and reading the actual comics, I instantly fell in love with the books and the cartoon thereafter. Did you have any familiarity with the Big Nate franchise before the show and have you since read the comics yourself?
Stroker: I didn’t know Big Nate until this show. I looked it up and I was blown away by them and I was so excited that they were making it into an animated series so that it can be a part of this generation’s content.
Dar: In addition to acting, you’ve also written a number of children’s books. What kind of satisfaction do you get working in children’s media whether it’s animation or books?
Stroker: I always felt passionate about creating children’s content and I did not feel like I had much representation as a kid. I didn’t see many characters in wheelchairs, specifically characters with disabilities who loved theater. When you don’t see yourself represented, you have these dreams and these goals, but you wonder if it is going to be possible. I have really supportive parents and people around me saying I could and then I began to believe in myself. But I believe representation has that power for young children that when they see themselves represented in storylines, they then believe they can be a part of that story. Creating these books was so exciting because the characters, like Amy in Big Nate, are multidimensional. They’re not perfect and we really get to know them as people and how they deal with their disabilities. It’s essential for children to see themselves represented.
Dar: Your response reminds me of one of my favorite shows in the last few yeas called Superstore. I don’t know if you ever watched it, but there’s a character named Garrett, played by Colton Dunn, who is in a wheelchair. I love the fact that they never defined the character by his disability but instead chose to highlight his funny and at times snarky personality. In your opinion, what is the best approach to representing people with disabilities?
Stroker: I love the question. And no, I have not seen Superstore, so I need to see that. Thank you for the recommendation. I always say first and foremost make them real and make these characters want something. I also don’t feel it’s always dramatically effective to try to explain disability. I think it’s much more powerful to just show it. Let people watch this person go out to dinner or to the park or do everyday things. When we allow the disability to just be in the room it is, I think, much more interesting than feeling like it has to be explained. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the writers of Amy in Big Nate. She’s not perfect. She has flaws and she gets into trouble. And I love that because I sometimes think people with disabilities in a wheelchair are innocent and angels. That’s such a stereotype. I just love that they are creating characters on Big Nate that are real.
Dar: Finally, has becoming a parent affected or changed the way you approach projects?
Stroker: I have to say becoming a mom has totally changed my life. I am more aware of, especially with the children’s content that I’m making, the authenticity that I try to bring to it. Young people are watching and listening and it’s really important to give them stories that are diverse and real and effective. Hopefully that will inspire them to do good in the world and go after their dreams.
Big Nate Season 2 premieres on Friday, July 7th on Paramount+.
