Broadway Cares 2010 - Kristen Alderson Interview

We Love Soaps had the profound privilege of attending the Broadway Cares Equity Fight AIDS benefit concert in New York back on March 21, 2010, and speaking to many ABC stars about their reasons for participating in this event. Please enjoy this series of interviews spotlighting the commitment and devotion of these talented stars.

KRISTEN ALDERSON: (Performed "Honey, Honey" from "Mamma Mia" & "Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind" from "Spring Awakening" with Jason Tam)

We Love Soaps: I loved loved your number in this.  "Spring Awakening" is one of my favorite musicals. 
Kristen Alderson: I was so excited to do it, but I was really sad, because Brittany Underwood (Langston on OLTL) was supposed to do it with Jason but she was so swarmed with work and college so I stepped in and sang it instead.  I felt really lucky I was able to do it. 

We Love Soaps: It’s such a beautiful song.  On a more serious note, we are all here tonight to support a very important cause.  How is it important to you to support Broadway Cares?
Kristen Alderson: It’s been really important.  It’s always great to raise money, and to be able to do it in a fun way is really awesome.  It’s fun for the fans, it’s fun for us.  And on top of that, you’re doing it for a benefit.  It makes it ten times better.

We Love Soaps: And seeing you here is inspiring for me.  I work for an agency doing recruitment for HIV Vaccine Trials in Union Square.  I go out to bars and clubs and other events to talk to people about the trials.  I often find that younger people don’t seem to know much or care much about HIV. 
Kristen Alderson: My friend has HIV so it’s very close to my heart.  And her mother died of it.  So I’ve known about it for awhile. She is one of my very close friends. It’s a very serious subject that I think a lot of people need to be more aware of. 

We Love Soaps: I agree.  What would you say to a younger person who thinks this disease doesn’t affect them, or that it was something that happened to the older generation?
Kristen Alderson: It definitely affects everyone.  It goes along the line with teenage pregnancy.  I’ve worked very close to that.  So, “Use protection.  Be safe.  Not just because you don’t want to get pregnant, but because of HIV and all the other STD’s.  It’s very very important and serious.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to learn more ways to take action against the spread of HIV/AIDS, and want to learn more about the current HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials, please visit Hope Takes Action, or contact Damon at [email protected].

RELATED:
- WLS TV # 17 - Broadway Cares Event 
- Broadway Cares 2010 - Anthony Geary Interview
- Broadway Cares 2010 - Cornelius Smith, Jr. Interview
- Broadway Cares 2010 - BethAnn Bonner & Bree Williamson Interview
- Broadway Cares 2010 - Jason Tam Interview