Kirrilee Berger On The New CBS All Access Show “One Dollar,” Her Musical Goals & Shoshana Bean
Actress Kirrilee Berger started her career in the Broadway national tour of Mary Poppins in which she became the youngest actress to ever play the role of Jane Banks. She continued to shine in the Broadway National Tour of Billy Elliot, playing the role of Susan Parks. Berger then moved onto television, booking 2 concurrent recurring roles on Amazon’s Just Add Magic and Disney’s K.C. Undercover. This would lead to portraying numerous characters in Netflix’s The Who Was? Show, a historical comedy sketch series based on Penguin’s best-selling Who Was? book series.
Berger is set to lead the anticipated CBS All Access ensemble drama series, One Dollar. Set to premiere on August 30th, this original mystery/thriller is set in a small Rust Belt town in post-recession America, where a single one-dollar bill changing hands connects a group of characters involved in a shocking multiple murder. Berger will portray Danielle “Dannie” Furlbee, who is both daughter of the richest man in town and the valedictorian of her high school. Outside of the entertainment world, Berger is committed to philanthropic work, supporting a multitude of great causes including the Children’s Miracle Network, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption.
I had the pleasure of doing Q&A with Kirrilee Berger about One Dollar and other facets of her career. Berger can be followed on both Twitter and Instagram via @KirrileeBerger, while more on One Dollar can be found on the CBS All Access website.
How would you describe One Dollar to someone who hasn’t yet watched a preview of the show?
Kirrilee Berger: One Dollar is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The show takes place in a rust belt town right outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania struggling with gentrification and the fight to hold onto their history and tradition. With an influx of mega-wealth, you have a palpable divide between the wealthy and the mill workers barley scraping to get by. But when a shocking multiple murder occurs, a one dollar bill circulates the town revealing, maybe the two sides aren’t so separate after all…
One Dollar isn’t your first online-based series. When did you first realize that online-based shows were as great as what was on regular network television?
Kirrilee Berger: One Dollar is my third online based series. When I did my first online series, I didn’t know what to expect, however, the artistic freedom that comes with online content is an actor’s dream. My character, Danielle gets put into some very intense and even sometimes dangerous situations. With the show being on CBS All Access, I had the freedom to react to those situations organically. Sometimes that meant dropping a few curse words, but it made my reaction truthful in the moment. On network TV, I wouldn’t have been able to do that.
Within your series work, you have done both drama and comedy. Do you have a preference between the two?
Kirrilee Berger: I genuinely couldn’t choose. I’m just so thankful I get to pay my bills by doing what I love most.
I’ve read that you have sung the national anthem at Madison Square Garden. What can you tell me about your musical aspirations?
Kirrilee Berger: I really hope sometime in the near-future to release an original album. I’m constantly writing music about things occurring in my life. I probably have 10 albums worth of songs in my iPhone’s Notes! Being on a show with incredible musical talent like Grammy winners Sturgill Simpson and Leslie Odom Jr., as well as my TV best friend Gracie Lawrence of the band Lawrence, has certainly inspired me that much more to produce an album!
One Dollar aside, are there any upcoming projects that you are allowed to talk about?
Kirrilee Berger: Coming this fall to Nick Jr. I will be voicing the role of Poppy in ButterBean’s Café. I also did a really fun Christmas movie I’ll Be Next Door For Christmas starring alongside incredible talents, Nicole Sullivan and Juliette Angelo.
When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
Kirrilee Berger: I love spending time with my family. My family is my everything. Being Australian-American it can sometimes be a challenge to be an ocean away from my family. So when I have some time off I love going back to Australia and spend quality time with the most important people in my life.
What was the last concert you attended for fun?
Kirrilee Berger: SHOSHANA BEAN! I went to her record release concert in Los Angeles right before I left for Pittsburgh to film One Dollar. If you haven’t heard her newest record Spectrum yet you’re seriously missing out!
Is there something you wish that more people knew about Kirrilee Berger?
Kirrilee Berger: I live with a very common illness called Endometriosis. You may be thinking, why have I heard of that? It’s because 1 in 10 women have it. However, while incredibly common, research and treatments are limited and there is no cure. Women just like me often go years without a diagnosis and their pain is ignored by the medical industry. I myself went two years without a diagnosis. For my birthday, I held a fundraiser for the Endometriosis Foundation Of America. An organization spreading awareness for the disease. I will continue to educate, share my story, be a sense of support for my “Endo sisters,” raise money and fight until we find a cure.
Finally, Kirrilee, any last words for the kids?
Kirrilee Berger: Thank you for all your support and please tune into CBS All Access starting August 30th to watch One Dollar!
About the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
Related Posts
Sha’Leah Nikole: Sweet Songbird →
Josh Groban Announces New Album ‘Harmony’ →
Hamilton’s Leslie Odom, Jr to sing ‘America The Beautiful’ at Super Bowl LII →
