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Ivy Hopper is a teen columnist who talks with authors and fans of books that are currently being read by today’s youth.
Hey, girls! I want you to go see a play called “Baby It’s You!” It is playing at Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena at 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. It ends Dec. 13 and tickets are $67-$74. (626) 356-7529. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.
It is the new musical about the ground breaking girl group, The Shirelles and Florence Greenberg, the New Jersey housewife who discovered them. With the help of African-American songwriter, producer Luther Dixon, Florence took on a male dominated industry and revolutionized pop music. Her company, Scepter Records, created the most important songs in the golden era of rock ‘n roll, from artists including
The Isley Brothers, The Kingsmen, Chuck Jackson and Dionne Warwick. I sat down with actor Allan Louis who plays Luther Dixon in the play.

Here is what Allan Louis had to say to me:
Ivy: How familiar were you with songwriter Luther Dixon’s work before this play?
Allan: I knew nothing about Luther Dixon.

Ivy: What are the plans for “Baby It’s You?
Allan: We will probably move one more time and then head off to New York
in 2010.

Ivy: What was the best advice you got on playing Luther Dixon?
Allan: He smiled when he was angry.

Ivy: What is your favorite musical?
Allan: “Ragtime.” I had the opportunity to be in the American premiere.

Ivy: Why did you start acting?
Allan: Because from the word “Go,” there was nothing else I wanted to do with
my life.

Ivy: Where did you grow up?
Allan: I was born in Haiti. I moved to Miami where I grew up.

Ivy: Do you have a dream role?
Allan: I have two dream roles: One is the demon barber in Sweeney Todd. I would also like to star in a contemporary version of “Guess Who’s Coming To
Dinner.”

Ivy: Who is your favorite actor?
Allan: Sidney Poitier.

Ivy: What is your favorite song in this play?
Allan: My favorite song is Dark End of The Street.

Ivy: What do you hope people will leave “Baby It’s You!” with?
Allan: A sense of hope that we can get through adversity if we work together.